There was a new anthem for drinkers all over the U.S. this past summer. Brad Paisley's single, "Alcohol," reached the top of the charts and played at parties and bars throughout the country. This song took a unique perspective, as Paisley sang along with a melodic twang from the viewpoint of the alcohol itself.
As entertaining as this song may be, it is just the beginning for Paisley's most recent album, "Time Well Wasted." The album, released on Aug. 16, takes country fans through a range of emotions with a perfect mixture of old-school country twang, beautiful melodies and comedy sprinkled in between.
On his fourth and best solo CD yet, Paisley finally seems to fall into his own comfortable slot in country music. Although his style on "Time Well Wasted" is not significantly different from that on his previous works - like his most recent, Mud on the Tires (2003) - Paisley continues to show growth and seems more at ease in his own chart-topping shoes.
His talents as a songwriter and musician shine through on "Time Well Wasted," leaving little room for the fluff that was present on his other albums. Instead of focusing in one distinct direction for each song, the words and meanings behind them flow effortlessly. Although, unlike many albums, it only takes one listen of this disc to infer Paisley's message.
"Time Well Wasted" showcases Paisley's signature talent of combining beautiful ballads with comical twists at just the right times. He addresses a woman's tendency for lateness in an endearing way on the sentimental ballad "Waitin' on a Woman."
Paisley's relationship with his wife, Kimberly Williams Paisley (on the sitcom "According to Jim"), seems an obvious influence on his song writing. In songs like "Love is Never Ending," "She's Everything" and "The World," he belts lyrics of love. The songs are sweet enough to make a girl swoon but not quite over the top enough to make the skeptic gag.
Paisley's lighter side comes out in the song "Flowers," which mocks a man's feeble attempts for reconciliation using flowers. The chorus sums it up with the lyrics "Stop the endless killing / Can't you hear the roses cry / I've asked you to forgive me at least nine dozen times / Tell me how many flowers have to die."
Brad Paisley began his song-writing career when he was just 12 years old. He counts George Jones, George Strait and Alan Jackson as some of his greatest influences. These legends' influences are evident in "Time Well Wasted."
One of the highlights of listening to a Paisley album is also the chance to hear the beautiful duets he does with some of country's greats. "Time Well Wasted" is no exception, with duets featuring Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton and a small snippet from Pat Green.
Paisley's new album has already reached No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 Chart, but it's doubtful the accolades will stop there.
If Paisley continues to release singles that cause a stir like "Alcohol," it's a pretty good bet he'll be spending more time on the stages of award shows, and maybe even get another stint on country's largest stage, the Grand Ole Opry.
