Darius Rucker - When Was The Last Time

Darius Rucker
When Was The Last Time
2017
Spotify

Here's the deal. Darius Rucker can sing a country song, there really is no buts about it. Each new album he puts on on his own is usually good to quite good with his damn near legendary vocals at this point. You know you are hearing Darius Rucker, even if it isn't under the Hootie and the Blowfish moniker anymore. The album is almost straight country across the board, not to many frills either way. It's perfectly fine with some heartfelt tunes, some stomping call and responses not to mention a real sense of goodwill. Rucker seems happy singing these songs, it seems like He has found his lane in the world and is totally comfortable but also still has something to say. It's pretty incredible. He finds a really great blend between the country stuff He is doing now and still keeping the influence of the early Blowfish stuff alive. Here is the thing though, if you don't like Country Music than this album is never going to have a chance. It's heart is right on the surface the sound is right on the surface and unfortunately it really is a sound we have heard over and over again. In popular Country it seems like no one wants to step up and push the boundaries all are content with the same beer drinking hard loving lifestyle that it has been synonymous with for so many years. "Straight to Hell" which is basically a big jam sesh featuring Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Charles Kelly is a big boys party anthem, which feels really pretty forced.

That's really where this album falls apart. You get some goodwill hearing his voice again feeling how loose and fun the album is but then it never changes. You get this one note throughout the entirety of When Was The Last Time even when He tries to switch things up. The ballads sound like the fast songs and vice versa leaving you desperate for something new. Keep waiting though because you are never going to get it. Fans will likely be happy but I doubt they will come back to most of these tracks more than once. They just don't have enough difference between to warrant multiple listens. "Count The Beers" sounds absolutely ridiculous coming out of his mouth despite its rather raucous production. I'm sure their is a niche market who is going to buy the hell out of this album but it just is not enough, nor does it feel like an album HAD to be made. Rucker ticks another box in his career but doesn't really move the needle at all.

4.2 out of 10