On March 31st, country music recording artist, Darius Rucker, is set to release his fifth solo studio album and his fourth in the country genre. The album, titled ‘Southern Style,’ features 13 songs (15, on the deluxe edition) to which Darius co-penned all of the tracks. Reports are that 60 songs were written for the album with 15 being chosen to actually be cut for the record. For the album, Rucker brought on Frank Rogers to produce it, to which Rucker explained to Rolling Stone in January, “I can’t go in to record with the attitude that I want to sound different. It’s all about the songs for me. I want great songs. And if we have great songs, then Frank is the genius and does what he does.” New England Country Music was given an advanced listen of the album and to say that we love ‘Southern Style‘ would be an understatement.
1.) ‘Homegrown Honey’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Nathan Chapman and Charles Kelley.
Impression: ‘Homegrown Honey’ was the first single off ‘Southern Style,’ and from the day it was released (August 25, 2014), it has been a hit. Reaching number four on the US Country Airplay charts, the song was set up for success as the hit was written by Darius, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum and Nathan Chapman, who may be best known for his work with Taylor Swift. The fun, well-written song is perfect for Darius Rucker as it really shows off his vocal skills and conforms to everything Darius Rucker has done since becoming a country artist.
Favorite Lyric: Ooh, I dig the way that you move. You shake it down to your roots. Did your momma teach you how to do that thing you do…
2.) ‘Good For A Good Time’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Kendal Marvel and Jeremy Spillman.
Impression: If you’re more of a fan of traditional country music than some of the modern sounds that we hear today, then ‘Good For A Good Time’ may be the song for you! From the first note, traditional country is all you hear. The instrumentals are fantastic, especially the keys.
Favorite Lyric: So if you’re down, we’re painting the town. I’ll be around all night. You know I’m always good for a good time…
3.) ‘Baby I’m Right’ (Featuring Mallary Hope) – Written by Darius Rucker, Mark Nesler and Phillip White.
Impression: Darius pulled Sheryl Crow to assist him with a duet on his holiday album this past year but for ‘Baby I’m Right,’ he brought on singer-songwriter Mallary Hope. As the lyrics point out a ‘special kind of chemistry,’ that’s exactly what these two have with their voices perfectly married together for this song. The song describes a special but new love and the combination of Darius and Mallary together give this deep subject the depth that this song deserves. We love this song and these two singing together and can only hope this song becomes a single off the album.
Favorite Lyric: This could be, the start of something beautiful. This could be, the start of something magical. The kind of thing you look for all of your life…
4.) ‘Southern Style’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Rivers Rutherford and Tim James.
Impression: ‘Southern Style,’ the title track of the album, is all about a woman who was raised by her parents in a ‘Southern Style.’ The track is a good ole country song, something that we would expect of Darius Rucker, and one that features some great electric guitar to accompany Darius’ smooth vocals.
Favorite Lyric: Southern Style, free and easy. Southern style, warm and breezy. If you met her, man, believe me. You’d want her to stay awhile…
5.) ‘High On Life’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Josh Thompson and Jessi Alexander.
Impression: The song title is very indicative of what this track is all about. ‘High On Life’ is a song that lists all the good and simples things that makes the song’s subject happy. The song almost reminds us of a more modern version of Travis Tritt’s ‘It’s a Great Day To Be Alive.’
Favorite Lyric: I ain’t stoned on what you think. Just an afternoon sun that’s starting to sink. I ain’t drunk on nothing you can buy. Just a kiss from a woman and that love in her eye…
6.) ‘Perfect’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Ashley Gorley and Rhett Akins.
Impression: Know how when you’re in love with someone, you see past their imperfections or seem them in a light that they don’t? Well, ‘Perfect,’ is a song that describes exactly that. With a catchy chorus, this song is sure to be a hit for the South Carolina native.
Favorite Lyric: I hear you singing to the radio. Sometimes you miss a couple high notes. But it sounds perfect. And when we go out and everywhere is too crowded. And we just end up driving around. It’s still perfect…
7.) ‘You, Me And My Guitar’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Ashley Gorley and Rhett Akins.
Impression: The song will immediately have you tapping your foot with a fun and upbeat rhythm, which (the rhythm) reminds us of Kenny Chesney’s 2014 hit, ‘American Kids.’ Hell, we were tapping along as we were doing this review! ‘You, Me And My Guitar’ describes a private date between two people, and his guitar. The song brings together the concept of being in the middle of nowhere along with playing some live music for a lady but in a more romantic and intimate way that we seen in similar songs.
Favorite Lyric: I wanna feel. That sweet, sweet southern breeze. Blowing through those live oak trees. Feel that grass under our feet…
8.) ‘Low Country’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Troy Verges, Blair Daly and Hillary Lindsey.
Impression: Darius slows down the tempo for ‘Low Country,’ as this song really shows what this whole record is about: the quiet, country, lifestyle i.e. what Darius would probably call Southern style. In this song he wants to escape from the city and ‘get high on the low country.’
Favorite Lyric: I wanna get high on some low country. Where the sun meets the water and the night’s get hotter. Sounds right on the money…
9.) ‘Need You More’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Jonathan Singleton and Deric Ruttan.
Impression: Lyric-wise, this may be our favorite track on the album. This song is written beautifully while it likens different things to how much he needs a certain woman more. Sort of like Tim McGraw’s ‘I Need You.’ It’s another song that truly shows off Darius’ impeccable vocals
Favorite Lyric: Kinda like a cup of coffee needs the AM. Hard times need a good friend. Kinda like a sinner’s prayer when hope’s gone…
10.) ‘Half Full Dixie Cup’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers and Monty Criswell.
Impression: Do you see the glass half full or half empty? Well Darius Rucker sees his Dixie Cup as half full! And that’s what he has described in the song that he co-penned that also features another very traditional country sound with some great fiddle throughout the track. It’s a fun take on the question of glass half full or half empty.
Favorite Lyric: And this house we got. Well it sure could use a couple shingles and a can of paint. But looking on the bright side, we’re dry every time it rains…
11.) ‘Lighter Up’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Drew Davis and Blake Bollinger.
Impression: You may not be like us, but there’s something magical about live concerts. And we remember each and every concert. Especially our first own. ‘Lighter Up’ portrays that magic and excitement that we, as fans, have for our favorite artist or group when they come to town. Counting down the days, and even camping out if it requires that. And while it may have now progressed to cell phone flashlights, Darius goes traditional in this song by putting the ‘Lighter Up.’ It will be a song to which will light up amphitheaters and venues across the country when Darius performs it live.
Favorite Lyric: Lighter up. Feel the love. Everybody swaying right that way. So alive. With the fire. We raised them high and burned the night. Lighter up…
12.) ‘You Can Have Charleston’ – Written by Darius Rucker and Frank Rogers.
Impression: If you have never been to Charleston, you have to. It’s an incredibly waterfront city in South Carolina where streets have our favorite stores and companies built into these old facades, that you could expect to see in New Orleans, on cobblestone trees lined with love oak trees and palm trees. Great food, great drinks, great scenery. It’s a great place to visit. And it just also happens to be Darius Rucker’s hometown! And although it may seem that it could be a happy song that is a tribute to his hometown, it’s really not. The song is a heart wrenching song about a man having to leaving Charleston, his hometown, because the woman he loves has moved on and he needs to leave Charleston to avoid her and her new life. And in doing so, he will give her Charleston, despite how difficult that may be.
Favorite Lyric: My soul, don’t wanna go. But it’s gotta be this way. It’s gonna break my heart to say goodbye, but it will kill me if I stay. So you can have Charleston…
13.) ‘So I Sang’ – Written by Darius Rucker, Rivers Rutherford and Tim James.
Impression: ‘So I Sang’ is a touching song that describes the reasons why Darius, or the song’s subject, decided to sing in different moments in his life. From his mother’s death to masking emotions to not having the potential or ability to be a doctor or athlete- so he sang. The song is low tempo but the lyrics are the hero of this song.
Favorite Lyric: I wasn’t cool enough to be a ladie’s man. It took me forever just to hold her hand. First time we kissed, she whispered I love you. But I wasn’t brave enough to say I loved her too. So I sang…
My take: It’s an amazing record! There is not one song on the record that is out of place or didn’t make sense. There is not one song that doesn’t live up to the other. Darius Rucker put together an album full of great country sounds and lyrics full of his roots growing up in South Carolina. ‘Southern Style‘ is an album that will rival his past albums as a country artist and should be a record that Rucker should be extremely proud of, as there has not been an album released like this in quite some time. Everything about it is country and everything about it is Darius Rucker.
You can pre-order/purchase Darius Rucker’s ‘Southern Style‘ here.