Thirty years and twenty albums deep into his career,
Kenny Chesney
isn't about to tinker with the formula that has turned him into an institution.
Born
arrived in March of 2024 accompanied by a promotional campaign where
Chesney
claimed the process behind the record was unusually loose, fostering a free-floating creativity -- notions that can barely be discerned on a record that's preoccupied with good vibes, clean surfaces, and harmony. Those qualities have been what has unified
's catalog since the early 2000s, when
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
recast the country singer as the unlikely heir to
Jimmy Buffett
's beachside bard. Always considerably more clean-cut than the shaggy
Buffett
,
prized sleek studio craftsmanship, a sound he achieved with the assistance of
Buddy Cannon
, a producer who has collaborated with the vocalist since 1997. The two have a history and a shorthand that's evident throughout
, which is as cozy and comfortable as any album they've made in the past. It's as appealing as anything they've ever cut, too. Bright and cheerful without being cloying,
has an easygoing gait and a welcoming warmth; the melodies don't announce themselves but sink their hooks into the subconscious all the same. The surprising thing about
is that nothing feels either fresh or unexpected -- the gloss looked shinier a few decades ago, the bruises on the ballads have faded -- yet the album works all the same because
and
Cannon
have such a firm grasp on their strengths. It's tuneful, mellow, and sunny, not swaggering but comfortable. It's confident enough to not be hurt if you choose to pass it by, but if you choose to stay, you're bound to have a good time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine