Reading Time: 5 min read

4 out of 5 stars

Kane Brown, Experiment [Photo Credit: Sony]Country singer Kane Brown shows a substantial amount of growth artistically on his highly-anticipated sophomore album, ‘Experiment.’

Kane Brown has stepped up his game, period.  The rising country musician has been on a roll during the rollout for his highly-anticipated sophomore album, Experiment. Throughout the promotional cycle, Brown has continued to find and expand upon his voice, showcasing more maturity as an artist.  Unsurprisingly, the results are resoundingly positive throughout Experiment.  After years of underrepresentation, Brown is certainly made for his role as torchbearer for a new generation of black country artists.

“Baby Come Back to Me”

“Baby Come Back to Me” commences Experiment in mean, yet awesome fashion. Country to the nth degree, Kane Brown begins on autopilot, delivering a strong, invested vocal.  He’s backed by a high-energy backdrop including rhythm acoustic guitar, sick, souped-up electric guitars, and pummeling drums.  “Good as You”,the fifth single released from Experiment, continues the impressive start of the album.  On the first verse, Brown sings about how awesome his girlfriend is, taking care of everybody, including him.  On the following pre-chorus, he goes on to say in essence, that she makes him strive to be a better man.  It’s a ‘tried and true’ sentiment, but authentic nonetheless.  On the centerpiece, the chorus, he sings:

“I just wanna wake up every day here in this bed

Never leave ‘I love you’ left unsaid

It might take a hundred lifetimes to do

But baby, I just wanna be good as you.”

Beyond the lyrics and the theme, the production on “Good as You” is a selling point. Brown successfully taps into his country roots, while also maintaining ample soul. His tone is absolutely golden.

“Lose It” 

Where “Good as You” incorporated some soulfulness alongside its country sensibilities, “Lose It” maintains the sanctity of good old country music.  Besides maintaining said sanctity, what else stands out about “Lose It” is the voice. Backed up by an active banjo rhythm, guitars, and pummeling drums, this definitely feels like his niche.  Beyond the production and voice, the song is what one expects from contemporary country.  He sings about how this girl causes him to lose it, best exemplified by the crowd-pleasing chorus.

“I don’t think you know what you’re doing to me

You got my heart skip-skipping a beat tonight

Close enough so that space between

You and me, let’s lose it…

Girl, that body and how you move it

Every time you cross my mind

Girl, I lose it.”

“It Ain’t You It’s Me” ends up being a powerful, well-sung ballad. Like the three songs that precede it, it benefits from a catchy, incredibly memorable chorus.  While Brown’s performance is balanced, he steps up his game, infusing a bit more oomph towards the end.

“Short Skirt Weather” 

✓ “Short Skirt Weather” is by far the most fun, infectious, and sexy record from Experiment.  The intro (the eventual chorus), finds Brown continuing to channel his personality; he really ‘hams it up’ with the twang.  Also, worth noting is the excellent vocal arrangement and production. Once more, Brown shows off an impressive, beautiful tone. The accompanying production also accentuates his performance, including fiddles, guitars, piano, and old-school, Honky Tonk vibes. The subject matter isn’t ‘brand-new’ – he spends two consecutive verses, centered around how awesome this girl is… Nonetheless, it’s effective, while the chorus is absolutely infectious:

“Oh, my baby’s made for short skirt weather
Yeah, she makes me wish summer would just go on forever
From them yellow polka dots
Blue jeans to leather
Oh my baby’s made for short skirt weather.”

Additionally, there’s a third verse, followed by three consecutive choruses and an outro.

✓ “Homesick”, the third advance single from the project, continues the upward trajectory for Brown. The mellow record commences with a relatively chill instrumental start. The result is an excellent, suitable backdrop for Brown.  His vocal tone is absolutely lovely, sounding nuanced and well-rounded.  The chill vibes maintained on the thoughtful, sentimental chorus are ‘to die for.’

“I’m homesick
This feeling that I’m feeling
No, it don’t quit
It’s like half of me is missing
Heaven knows it that all I wanna do
Is be alone with your brown eyes all tangled up
Just holdin’ onto you tonight
Until the morning
Baby that’s the damn truth
If home is where the heart is
Then I’m homesick for you.”

“Homesick” is a perfect example of Brown showcasing tremendous artistic growth, developing more personality compared to some of the material gracing his self-titled debut.

“Weekend”

It’s 4:30 Friday, I get off at 5:00 / I come into your place, you come into mine.” Ooh la la! Ah  “Weekend” the Kane Brown single that finally won me over!  The record begins mysteriously and somewhat unsettled, before a soulful, country groove establishes itself.  The production is a sight to behold, rather hear. The lead electric guitar, dash of horns, there’s even some banjo help to make a colorful palette of sounds.  The most colorful sounds however, is the splashes of organ during the chorus, giving “Weekend” a mix of churchy, southern, soulful vibes. He sings with a cool approach on the verses, incorporating a hip-hop swagger within the context of country music.  He’s also quite suave.  The best section of “Weekend” is easily catchy, chill chorus:

“Just chillin’ on the weekend, weekend

Sippin’ something on the cheap end, cheap end

Skinny dippin’ in the deep end, deep end

Or bass fishin’ with your feet in, feet in…”

Following “Homesick” and “Weekend” is no easy feat. “Work” doesn’t quite reach the same level, particularly compared to “Weekend,” but it’s easily above average.  Essentially, the same pros that have worked for Kane Brown throughout Experiment continue – voice and chorus primarily. On the deceptively titled “One Night Only,” Brown goes beyond ‘thinking with his pants’; he’s thinking more long term.  The chorus is awesome, led by the opening line: “I don’t wanna love you just for one night only / This ain’t just a take you home thing.”

“My Where I Come From.”

The hometown is a familiar topic in country music – understatement.  Remembering ‘where you come from’ has been tackled more than a couple of times.  After previously feeling “Homesick,” Kane Brown revisits his old stamping ground on the energetic, quick-paced “My Where I Come From.” Truly southern through and through, on the second verse he sings, “You bow your head and pray before you eat / There ain’t no single stranger on the streets… / Where I come from.” 

Excuse my French but shit gets real on  “American Bad Dream.” “Remember when ninth grade was about gettin’ laid / Skippin’ class tryin’ not to get caught,” Brown sings on the first verse, continuing, “Now you gotta take a test in a bulletproof vest / Scared to death that you might get shot.” On this minor-key crossover country joint, Kane discusses the more unfortunate aspects of America, and criticizes folks for “fallin’ for the Devil’s disguise.” One of the most relatable, honest lyrics appears on the chorus: “I’m becomin’ numb to all this tragedy.”  “Live Forever” concludes Experiment with a thoughtful, truly dedicated ballad.  As has been the case throughout Experiment, Brown’s rich pipes are tailor-made for country ballads pulling at the heart strings.  Once again, it’s not the subject matter that wows – ‘been there, done that’ – but the artist himself, who is straight up flexing vocally.


Final Thoughts

All in all, Kane Brown is on an upward trajectory.  Experiment is a rock-solid, enjoyable sophomore album, period.  No, Brown doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but what he does do is execute like a champ.  His vocals are consistently on-point (so envious of that baritone), while the material suits him perfectly.  There are no throwaway cuts either, even if some aren’t necessarily surefire hits.  Brown steps up his game, proving he’s truly a champ.

✓ Gems: “Baby Come Back to Me,” “Good as You,” “Short Skirt Weather,” “Homesick,” “Weekend” & “American Bad Dream”

4 out of 5 stars


Kane Brown » Experiment » Sony Music Entertainment » Release: 11.9.18
Photo Credit: Sony Music Entertainment

 

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the musical hype

the musical hype aka Brent Faulkner has earned Bachelor and Masters degrees in music (music Education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and a freelance music journalist. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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