On Tuesday, October 14, 2014, Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, who are known together as Florida-Georgia Line released their sophomore album, titled ‘Anything Goes.’ The name of the album is also the duo’s mantra. The Georgia half of FGL, Tyler Hubbard, says, “It says it all. No boundaries, no genre, no rules.” The record is produced by famed producer, Joey Moi, and someone who Brian Kelley describes as a “wizard on steroids,” and the record features songs penned by some of the best in the business including Rodney Clawson, Chris DeStefano, and Dallas Davidson among others.
‘Anything Goes‘ has huge expectations as the duo’s debut album, ‘Here’s to the Good Times,’ went double platinum and yielded four number one singles including the hit jam, ‘Cruise,’ which sits atop the record books as the best-selling country single ever. So when the new album became available, thousands of people waited as their iTunes pre-orders were fulfilled and thousands of others flocked to the music stores or Target (for the deluxe edition) to their hands on their copy of the new record. Luckily, New England Country Music received a copy of our own and we are so thankful we did.
1.) ‘Anything Goes’ – Written by Felix McTeigue, Chris Tompkins, and Craig Wiseman.
Impression: The title track is definitely a mix of rock and bluegrass with some fun lyrics that FGL is known for. As we said above, the name of this track and the album, is the mantra of FGL. They have done their own thing since day one and it has definitely worked. In the song, ‘Anything Goes’ on a Friday night. No rules. Just a good time.
Favorite Lyric: Lime on the rim of that dixie silver. Smokin up a faded out 4×4. Girls headin off to the river, yeah. Victoria’s Secret aint a secret no more. I brought the songs and you brought the party. Only one way to do it up right…
2.) ‘Sun Daze’ – Written by Carly Barlowe, Jesse Frasure, Sarah Buxton, Tyler Hubbard, and Brian Kelley.
Impression: Definitely get an island vibe from ‘Sun Daze’ with an uplifting and fun sound. It’s a captivating song that is sure to be a number one song for the duo and will have crowds at live shows dancing and singing along the whole time. ‘Sun Daze’ is all about having fun, smoking a lil smoke (it’s a marijuana-friendly- which may require some censorship for country radio), and drinking a lil drink.
Favorite Lyric: Work a little less, play a little more. That’s what this day is for. And all I wanna do is lace my J’s and lace some Jack in my Coke. Work on my laid back, ain’t nothin’ wrong. With gettin’ my sun daze on…
3.) ‘Good Good’ – Written by Carly Barlowe, Jesse Frasure, Sarah Buxton, Tyler Hubbard, and Brian Kelley.
Impression: This song may be a tribute from their boys to their ladies. BK is married and Tyler recently got engaged and the song talks about doing whatever it takes for a woman and mentions a diamond. It’s definitely a song full of twang and very Florida-Georgia Line-esque.
Favorite Lyric: You wanna dance girl, I’ll get you spinnin’. You wanna see the world, I’ll be your ticket…
4.) ‘Dirt’ – Written by Chris Tompkins and Rodney Clawson.
Impression: The mid-tempo ballad was released in early July and it was an immediate hit as it skyrocketed up the US Country Airplay chart and the US Hot Country Songs chart. The song was totally against what the duo was known for from their first album. ‘Dirt’ wasn’t a fun and upbeat ‘party’ song. It’s good song that is deep in meaning and emotion all about certain events involving dirt. It’s already a number one song and a platinum-selling single. I don’t think I need to say much else.
Favorite Lyric: Her blue-eyed summertime smile looks so good that it hurts.
Makes you wanna build ten percent down white picket fence house on this dirt…
5.) ‘Smile’ – Written by Chris DeStefano, Dallas Davidson, and Ashley Gorley.
Impression: ‘Smile’ is pretty straight forward. The song is all about a guy who wants to see his girl smile. ‘Smile’ features some strong beats and some great strings. I love the banjo in the beginning of the track.
Favorite Lyric: Let down your blonde hair. Breathe in that midnight air…
6.) ‘Sippin’ on Fire’ – Written by Rodney Clawson, Matt Dragstrem, and Cole Taylor.
Impression: Man, do these boys love their Fireball Whisky! Can only assume that this song refers to that delicious cinnamon goodness as the song title and lyrics show that they are ‘Sippin’ on Fire.’ I love the analogy of blues eyes to ‘blue flame looks.’ It’s a well-written song that is full of emotion.
Favorite Lyric: Girl you melt me like ice in whiskey. With those blue flame looks that you give me…
7.) ‘Smoke’ – Written by Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins.
Impression: ‘Smoke’ is a song that tells a good story about a guy reminiscing about the bonfires he used to go to when he was young in the summers, from ‘July flames’ to ‘October ashes.’ But the bonfire isn’t all that he is thinking about. There’s a certain special woman who was at those bonfires and he always thinks of her when he thinks about those times. The song features some great steel guitar and some female vocals and piano in the beginning which gives it a unique sound.
Favorite Lyric: Sippin’ on forties on a Saturday night. Buzzin’ through a chorus of ‘Dixieland Delight’….
8.) ‘Bumpin’ The Night’ – Written by Bart Allman, Chris Tompkins, and Rodney Clawson.
Impression: ‘Bumpin’ the Night’ is one of my favorite songs on the new album with a traditional sound to start and it evolves into a more contemporary sound as the song progresses. It has a really strong and fun chorus that people will love singing along to which was one of the biggest things about all of their hits from the first album. This song will be another hit for FGL, and one that should hit the top of the charts.
Favorite Lyric: Two bottles of Bud, two speaks in the trunk. Two people in love just bumpin’ in the night…
9.) ‘Angel’ – Written by Rodney Clawson, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, and Ross Copperman.
Impression: When you listen to this song, you can’t help that the boys were thinking of their ladies when they wrote it. If you haven’t seen the countless adorable photos of BK and his wife Brittany or of Tyler and his fiancee Hayley, on Instagram or Twitter, the guys are happily in love. ‘Angel’ is a good love song that features a playful chorus with some ‘woah, oh, ohm’s.’ The song should turn out to be one of the fan favorites.
Favorite Lyric: Woah, oh, oh I’ve been given, Whoa, oh, oh a piece of heaven. Woah, oh, oh yeah you’re my angel, you’re my angel tonight…
10.) ‘Confession’ – Written by Rodney Clawson, Ross Copperman, and Matt Jenkins.
Impression: I absolutely cannot wait to hear this song on country radio! ‘Confession’ is undoubtedly one of the best songs on the album. It’a almost an anthem type of song with some pretty deep lyrics with a guy going through a hard point in his life and just driving and seeing his reflection in the windshield and this drive turns out to be a ‘confession’ of sorts.
Favorite Lyric: That guy in the windshield looking back looks just like me. But there’s a crack in the reflection…
11.) ‘Like You Ain’t Even Gone’ – Written by Chris Tompkins, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, and Rodney Clawson.
Impression: ‘Like You Ain’t Even Gone’ just screams heartbreak and breaking up. It’s full of emotion and full of passion.
Favorite Lyric: You had diamonds in your eyes when you were smiling. Even pretty when you’re crying. If I said I wasn’t missing you I’d be lying…
12.) ‘Every Night’ – Written by Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Tyler Hubbard, and Brian Kelley.
Impression: BK and Tyler don’t need a special occasion to have a drink or just a good time and that’s exactly what this song is about. ‘Every Night’ is a strong song with an intro that will surely get crowds clapping along and stomping their feet to the song. It’s a great song and a strong way to close out their sophomore album.
Favorite Lyric: And we ain’t gotta wait until it’s your birthday. I’m already thirsty, time to shut the workday on down…
My take: BK and Tyler have done it again and put together an incredible album full of great songs written by some of the best in the business and produced by one of the best in the business as well. Their debut album ‘Here’s to the Good Times,‘ definitely set the bar high for FGL and their fans, but they have nothing to worry about as ‘Anything Goes‘ lives up to those expectations. The album has a number of songs that should be number ones including ‘Sun Daze,’ ‘Confession,’ and ‘Angel’ amongst others. The guys wanted this album to challenge themselves both lyrically and vocally, and the album definitely does that. FGL goes beyond that ‘party’ theme from ‘Here’s to the Good Times‘ with a number of songs that show different levels of emotion and their personalities; but they still have some fun ‘party’ songs on the album as well.
If you haven’t gotten this album yet, do it. You will regret it if you don’t.
Just last week, Florida-Georgia Line announced a new world tour that will make three stops in New England in 2015 with shows in Manchester, NH (February 18th), Uncasville, CT (February 21st), and Providence, RI (May 7th). Make sure you stay tuned in with both Florida-Georgia Line and New England Country Music for further information on those shows.
You can follow Florida-Georgia Line on Twitter, Facebook, and also on their official website.