Darius Rucker- "Southern Style"

[Deleted]

Stream on Spotify:



Tracklist:
1. Homegrown Honey
2. Good For A Good Time
3. Baby I'm Right (w/Mallary Hope)
4. Southern Style (w/Rich Robinson)
5. High On Life
6. Perfect
7. You, Me & My Guitar
8. Low Country
9. Need You More
10. Half Full Dixie Cup
11. Lighter Up
12. You Can Have Charleston
13. So I Sang


(Hope I did this right jhomes87 )

[bjer127]

Only 2 songs in on the album and I must say it's really good. Sounding like my favorite darius album. It's very country too. Very enjoyable so far

[:) KUFan]

This album is great. I really love the production and don't think it's too much in any song. "So I Sang" is a beautiful song and I'd hope that'd be a single but I'm not sure radio will take to it. I love "Half Full Dixie Cup" and "Perfect."

The whole album is just really cohesive and I love his voice. I haven't really been a fan of Darius until now because I feel every single song on this album could be a single and is just beautifully sung.

[dm2081]

I imagine "Perfect" will be a single at some point, it's one of the best songs on the album and also just screams "safe" to me. "Southern Style" is the highlight of the album, and I really hope it is indeed the next single, because it's a return to form for Darius IMO.

[zjames]

Man, I missed doing these album reviews...

Love
12. "You Can Have Charleston"
13. "So I Sang"

Like
3. "Maybe I'm Right (featuring Mallary Hope)"
4. "Southern Style"
6. "Perfect"
7. "You, Me And My Guitar"
8. "Low Country"
9. "Need You More"
10. "Half Full Dixie Cup"
*15. "It's All Over"

Meh
1. "Homegrown Honey"
2. "Good For A Good Time"
5. "High On Life"
11. "Lighter Up"
*14. "Down Here"

Dislike
(None)

Hate
(None)

I'm admittedly not a big Darius Rucker fan. I've listened to all three of his past country albums, and only a few songs have done anything for me. Southern Style doesn't change my mind, but it's a pleasant listen.

The majority of the album features light and easy-going instrumentation that becomes a bit repetitive. "Good For A Good Time", "High On Life", "Perfect", "You, Me And My Guitar", and a couple others begin to blend together. They're not bad songs, but I would have liked to see a little more deviation from his comfort zone. 

The best songs are tucked toward the back of Southern Style. "You Can Have Charleston" and "So I Sang" are the strongest songs lyrically on the album. They both have stories that serve as a breath of fresh air after the overwhelming amount of lighter songs about easy living and relaxing with a beer and a guitar.

Darius Rucker delivers a solid album with Southern Style. It's an upbeat and generally pleasing collection of songs with a few fantastic songs mixed in.

3.0/5.0

Predicted Singles
1. "Homegrown Honey"
2. "Southern Style"
3. "Perfect"
If 4. "You, Me And My Guitar"

Other potential choices are "Half Full Dixie Cup", "High On Life", and "Good For A Good Time".

[ethanhunt]

I only gave bit one listen through, but I really love it. Maybe just maybe a return to Learn to Live level in quality

[codyj100]

I ordered my copy on Amazon yesterday for $8. Thought that was a bit low for a new release. (No complaints though, ha). It'll be delivered tomorrow. Listened to a few previews. Love what I've heard so far. 

[Kentucky25]

I like it a lot.
Nothing really stands out to me, which I'm not entirely sure is a bad thing because they're all about equally strong songs. "Southern Style" is the one that's sticking with me most. I do love the inclusion of more "country" instruments and I found it interesting that (in an article I read, I can't remember which one it is) that Darius talked about wanting to always make a more "country" record and that he still doesn't feel he's reached that level he wants.

[Deleted]

What a great listen this is! Hopefully this brings back some faith of ya'll after "Homegrown Honey" (which I admittedly liked a lot).

It's got a good soulful, traditional Darius feel while upping the production just a bit. Not to make things sound crowded or overbearing (yes, I'm talking to you Florida Georgia Line, Dylan Scott, David Fanning, Chase Rice, Canaan Smith, Cole Swindell, Kelsea Ballerini, Austin Webb...*falls asleep*) but just enough to really "fill" your speakers.

Recommendations: Good for a Good Time, Southern Style, Perfect, You Me And My Guitar, Need You More, Lighter Up

Really, you can't go wrong with any track on here. Some are a little more "plain" than others, but they are all good. Darius sounds a bit like Hootie on "Lighter Up".

And, WOW those intros to "Good for a Good Time" and "Southern Style"! Sam Hunt, take notes!

[codyj100]

This album is phenomenal. A very country sounding album from start to finish. Love the title track the most (although there is not a single bad song on the album, IMO). I bought his True Believers album on a whim during Black Friday in 2013 for $3. I was extremely impressed. So, I was awaiting the next one. It is much better than True Believers. It kind of feels like this album came from a personal place and Darius surely did not "sell out" (couldn't think of a better term) to the more modernized pop-country elements. The album's production is not overbearing, which makes it a refreshing listen. In an interview he did with AXS TV a while ago, I remember him saying that all of his country work would stay country. He mentioned that he would not record a pop song and sell it to fans as a country song. He has definitely stayed true to his word. 

[onebuffalo]

#1 country CD, #7 top 200 CD with 52,000 sold. Congratulations, Darius Rucker!