Album Spotlight: Brad Paisley, ‘Moonshine in the Trunk’
Brad Paisley’s ‘Moonshine in the Trunk’ album is a particularly, purposefully inspiring album with no less than four songs meant to remind the listener that he or she can achieve anything. There’s not a drop of pain or bittersweet to be found on Paisley's 10th studio release, which follows 2013's ‘Wheelhouse.'
Songs like ‘High Life’ and ‘Gone Green’ quench a thirst for Paisley’s unique sense of humor. The first may be the best of the 15 tracks on ‘Moonshine …’ Carrie Underwood steps up to poke fun at herself and a culture of money-hungry Americans. They even take a not-so-subtle jab at the Nashville songwriter who accused them of stealing ‘Remind Me.’
"I heard a song a couple months ago, was Carrie Underwood on the radio / Reminded me of a poem my brother wrote back in second grade / I know she didn't steal it but so what / We lawyered up and we sued her butt."
The meat of the album is songs like ‘River Bank,’ ‘Limes’ and ‘4WP’ — those mid-to-uptempo tracks that steer straight down country Main St. One won’t find a single offensive lyric among the 15. There are plenty of drinking songs (tequila and margaritas, por favor) and a few gentle love songs.
‘Perfect Storm’ may be the best lover:
“She destroys me in that T-shirt / And I love her so much it hurts,” Paisley sings around an impressive orchestration and the familiar “whoa-whoas” that dot so many of his most recent projects. “She doesn’t just rain, she pours / That girl right there’s the perfect storm.”
Fans will find confidence and encouragement in most of the rest. There’s ‘Crushin’ It’ and 'Limes':
“You take it all with a grain of salt / And realize sometimes it ain’t your fault.”
‘American Flag on the Moon’:
“Tonight, I dare you to dream / Go on, believe impossible things / Whenever anybody says there’s anything we can’t do / I mean, after all, there’s an American flag on the moon.”
And most impressively, ‘Shattered Glass’:
“Bust that ceiling out, the sky’s the limit now / The world is changing fast / Wear your hair back and run / Like you ain’t ever done before / It’s your time at last / All you’ve been through ain’t in vain / Come on, baby, make it rain down shattered glass.”
It’s here the singer opens his heart, showing a vulnerable color that painted so many of his previous albums. One finds less of it on ‘Moonshine in the Trunk,’ a party album that aims to make you feel good at the end of the day.
Key Tracks: 'High Life,' 'Shattered Glass,' 'Perfect Storm'
The Leak: While some will always wonder if Paisley's album leak was truly against his label's wishes, it's easy to understand why he did it. After 'Accidental Racist' was leaked and turned on its head, the singer says he wanted to be sure he was in charge of the presentation of this album.
Did You Know?: That's Emmylou Harris singing along with Paisley on 'Gone Green.' It was written by longtime Paisley bass player Kenny Lewis.
Brad Paisley Talks About Collaborations on 'Moonshine in the Trunk'