Album review: Florida Georgia Line prove their country roots with their latest album

Hannah Schaeffer
Tue, 19 Feb 2019 23:45:53 +0000
Arts & Life, Music, News, album review, can't say I ain't country, country, country roots, Florida Georgia Line, music, new album

Florida Georgia Line at the 2019 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Credit: Courtesy of TNS

Florida Georgia Line has received plenty of heat in the past regarding its music and many have claimed that the band does not create real country music. Although some of their songs have pop and hip-hop undertones, especially when they collaborate with pop artists such as Jason Derulo, Bebe Rexha and the Backstreet Boys, Florida Georgia Line has always had good songs that find their way onto country radio stations and speak to their fans.

Florida Georgia Line’s new album “Can’t Say I Ain’t Country,” which was released Friday, is a country comeback for the duo. In my opinion, this is one of the best albums the band has released, featuring 19 songs that talk about women, life, country boys, small towns, trucks, drinking and God.

Throughout the album, there are four “skits” that feature the duo’s friend playing a character called Brother Jervel, which added something unique to the playlist. The band collaborated with Jason Derulo in the song “Women,” and Jason Aldean in “Can’t Hide Red” as well as HARDY in “Y’all Boys.”

Florida Georgia Line tells critics that the album was inspired by ’90s country, when they grew up listening to Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks. Music reflecting upon ’90s country seems to be a popular trend in music this year, as Lauren Alaina and Walker Hayes have both released music evoking the decade.

“Can’t Say I Ain’t Country” includes some of the band’s singles this year, such as “Simple,” “Talk You Out Of It” and “People Are Different.” I especially loved the song “Speed Of Love,” which was fast-paced and reminded me of real country music, and the songs “Sittin’ Pretty” and “Colorado.” The only song from the album I didn’t enjoy as much was “Swerve,” which had that hip-hop and pop undertone that the band seems to fall back on.

Not only has Florida Georgia Line released this new album, but the band has also announced its “Can’t Say I Ain’t Country” Tour with special guests Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, Canaan Smith and HARDY, which will be making stops in Cleveland and Cincinnati in August.

Overall, this was an album inspired by ’90s-era country music and is ultimately Florida Georgia Line proving to their critics that they are real country.

Rating: 5/5