Eric Church - Mr. Misunderstood

Eric Church
Mr. Misunderstood
2015
Eric Church - Mr. Misunderstood

Eric Church very well may be the pop star that Country music fans can get behind like hip hop heads get behind Drake. He seems to tow that line where those who don't really like Country Music can still be kind of into Eric Church. His album last year had 10 number one singles and this album was released almost in secret a la the major artists of the day. Without building buzz people can just be shocked and excited all at once and let that excitement linger for months to come. This record however is not the big venue country that was the staple of his last album, Church has paired things down and become more of a rocker even referencing Elvis Costello on a track. This record seems to be more about writing interesting and heartfelt songs then having thousands of people sing-a-long. The record is better for it too, there are a few of the usual country tropes but somehow they are less egregious or grading. When Church sings about his high school or drinking a breakup away it is not the same of praising Bud or talking about how you'll only drive a pickup.

"Chattanooga Lucy" is a straight up dance groove with Church singing a falsetto over that you would only expect to come out of the deepest sweatiest bar in the south. This particular song shows that He really doesn't give a shit about fitting into the Country mold and would rather make music that speaks to him. The missteps come when Church slows things down. He is perfectly able of singing a ballad and the addition of Susan Tedeschi on "Mixed Drinks About Feelings" is quite pretty but they are such a strong jolting stop on the record that they make the listener feel a bit uncomfortable. "Round Here Buzz" also slips into the usual country tropes and has a few eye rolling lines. Church clearly is at his best when he is channeling his inner Springsteen or Hank Williams Jr. This album may very well go down as one of the best of 2015 so don't let Eric Church's country twang stop you from really getting into Mr. Misunderstood.

8 out of 10