Despite economic hardships, a loving family finds ways to enjoy what little it has (“Can’t Buy You Money”). The cautionary “Note to Self” is about a guy whose chronic romantic blunders eventually cost him. “Ain’t No Right Way” rails against abusive dads and politicians who’d remove prayer from schools. Unable to afford a fancy gift, it’s the thought that counts on “Brand New Bow.”
It takes Keith two packs of cigarettes to kill time pining over the woman who left him (“A Little Too Late”). “Get Drunk and Be Somebody” insists the only joy in life is clocking out on Friday night and getting smashed at the local watering hole. Similarly, “Grain of Salt” relies on tequila to ease pain. A promiscuous ex-lover invites the singer to fly in for a romp, after which she kicks him out and sleeps with someone else (“I Ain’t Already There”). To help a friend score, Keith plots to get their overweight dates to a local motel and “drink them skinny”—an act of charity that causes him to miss another party with “coeds swimmin’ naked” (“Runnin’ Block”). “Crash Here Tonight” confuses sex and love. “H—” is a common profanity that even appears in a song title.
Toby Keith serves up the usual here, a few noble songs about blue-collar life that get folded up like an old John Deere ballcap and stuffed into the back pocket of musical jeans sewn together with boorish sex and alcohol.
After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.