Darius Rucker
opens
When Was the Last Time
, his fifth album as a country artist, singing about singing along with
R.E.M.
as you sit behind the wheel. The song spins this as a new experience but the tenor of the tune makes it clear
Rucker
is reminiscing about his past, a time when he listened to jangle pop while chugging two-dollar wine. Nostalgia is a big thing on
, but it has been prominent in
's music since
Learn to Live
, the 2008 album where the onetime
Hootie & the Blowfish
frontman turned to country. Not much separates
from
, or the three records that came between for that matter.
still works with producer
Frank Rogers
and he remains committed to a chipper, tuneful blend of mainstream country-pop and sanded-down roots rock. On the fringes, there are some differences -- there's a heavier emphasis on looped rhythms, with the electronic beats vying for attention with
on the closing "Story to Tell"; he eases into lightly swinging lounge for the ballad "Another Night with You," with its cameos by
Jason Aldean
,
Luke Bryan
, and
Charles Kelley
; "Straight to Hell" is the rowdiest country he's ever done -- but the overall vibe is the same: it's sunny, laid-back music made for a cozy middle age. By this point, this friendly country-pop is second nature to
, and when the music is designed to be a balm, there's a value in familiarity. A decade into his country career,
is at ease and he has the songs to match his chill, which means this is an ideal album for relaxation. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine