This is the best genre bending country album since Taylor Swift's Red in 2012. Hunt includes R&B, rap, and pop influences in with his country songs. There are songs on this record like "Raised on It", "Leave the Night On" and "House Party" that are typical bro-country songs on the radio today and could be at home on a playlist with Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean. There are also some songs where he uses his signature talking vocal delivery along with some parts sung. The song "Break up in a Small Town" has his vocal delivery but also has a dub step breakdown at the chorus, but still is country because the dub step is instrumented by electric guitars, not synthesizers.
Hunt also shares Swift's songwriting ability. Hunt has the ability to take a phrase or words and change them to mean something totally different. In the opening track and second single to country radio, "Take Your Time", Hunt doesn't want his girl to take her time getting ready to go on a date, her wants to take her time up do she doesn't have any time for anyone but him. And in his song "Ex To See", he could be singing about a girl who wants him to protect her from a drug dealer selling her ecstasy, but he really is singing about his girlfriend using him to make her ex jealous.
Another thing that makes Hunt stand out is his compassion for the girls he loves. In many bro-country songs on the radio today, the guy just want to make love to the girl and have a beer with her (I'm looking at you Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley.) But Hunt has some masterpieces of breakup songs in this album, bringing back the idea that maybe guys do actually care about the girl they bring home. Especially in "Break Up in a Small Town", where he feels "the county lines closing in on me" and he comments that "she's leaving the same mark in someone else's arms." Based on the radio these days, it's like no men have feelings, but Hunt brings the compassionate guy back into country music.
Another thing that makes Hunt stand out is his compassion for the girls he loves. In many bro-country songs on the radio today, the guy just want to make love to the girl and have a beer with her (I'm looking at you Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley.) But Hunt has some masterpieces of breakup songs in this album, bringing back the idea that maybe guys do actually care about the girl they bring home. Especially in "Break Up in a Small Town", where he feels "the county lines closing in on me" and he comments that "she's leaving the same mark in someone else's arms." Based on the radio these days, it's like no men have feelings, but Hunt brings the compassionate guy back into country music.
One strange thing about his record is the inclusion of the song "Cop Car." As many country radio listeners know, this song was recorded by Australian singer-songwriter Keith Urban for his album Fuse. There was a whole scandal about how Urban stole the song and how Hunt included it on Montevallo anyway because it had a place on the album.
I disagree. This song was done way better by Urban. His vocals fit the song better and his guitar playing just makes the song. After hearing his version first and then hearing Hunt's version, "Cop Car" should have stayed just on Fuse and off of this album.
On the other hand, one highlight of this album is "Speakers." This song shows off Hunt's vocal ability more than any other song on the album. The lyrics are those of a typical bro-country song, with the must have inclusion of the tailgate, but the chorus makes it seem like it's way deeper than it is. He sings "I'm on fire" in a voice that make him seem like he's proclaiming his love for her. There's still a definite hip hop influence in this song, but it seems more like a traditional country song than any other song on the album.
This album could be considered country, but has so much outside influence it almost doesn't have a genre. In Hunt's case, it almost works for him. Almost.
Best Tracks: Break Up in a Small Town, Speakers, Ex to See
Throwaway Tracks: Raised On It, Cop Car
Overall Rating: 3 crowns
I disagree. This song was done way better by Urban. His vocals fit the song better and his guitar playing just makes the song. After hearing his version first and then hearing Hunt's version, "Cop Car" should have stayed just on Fuse and off of this album.
On the other hand, one highlight of this album is "Speakers." This song shows off Hunt's vocal ability more than any other song on the album. The lyrics are those of a typical bro-country song, with the must have inclusion of the tailgate, but the chorus makes it seem like it's way deeper than it is. He sings "I'm on fire" in a voice that make him seem like he's proclaiming his love for her. There's still a definite hip hop influence in this song, but it seems more like a traditional country song than any other song on the album.
This album could be considered country, but has so much outside influence it almost doesn't have a genre. In Hunt's case, it almost works for him. Almost.
Best Tracks: Break Up in a Small Town, Speakers, Ex to See
Throwaway Tracks: Raised On It, Cop Car
Overall Rating: 3 crowns
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