Thomas Rhett, Center Point Road | Album Review 💿

Grammy-nominate contemporary country musician Thomas Rhett maintains consistency on his fourth studio album, Center Point Road.

By this point, it’s been established that contemporary country singer Thomas Rhett is definitely NOT your father’s country musician.  Rhett is among the new breed of country musicians willing to experiment and integrate and fuse a number of different styles.  This continues on Rhett’s highly-anticipated fourth studio album, Center Point Road.  Essentially, Rhett continues where he left off on his Grammy-nominated 2017 LP, Life Changes.

“Up”

Thomas Rhett commences Center Point Road capably with the groovy, major-key goodness that is ✓ “Up.” The country vibes are in firmly planted, yet pop and R&B cues are easily perceptible. Some of the best touches are the dusty, hip-hop beat, the biting, bright horns, and those marvelous rhythmic electric guitars.  Vocally, Rhett is on-point, never over-doing it, but definitely ‘bringing the heat.’ 

“Just take a sip and let’s pretend like it’s your birthday / Just dive right in, girl, the tequila’s fine, so fine / She said, ‘You know I love a party / Don’t threaten me with a good time.’” ✓ “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time” served as a promo single from Center Point Road.  It stretches the country script despite the fact it bears idiomatic cues. The record features a totally inescapable, and infectious groove while the overall sound blends country, funk, R&B, and pop. The production features funky, biting horns, rhythmic guitar, and some cool keyboard riff. There’s also a rocking guitar solo, even if it’s sort of predictable.  Despite the quirks of the record, the form is straightforward. Rhett is consistently the dominant voice, but there are moments when Karen Fairchild briefly solos, or sings alongside him.  The vocal harmonies by Little Big Town are definitely a selling point, not to mention when the whole group sings on the soulful, high-energy chorus.

“Blessed”

“Blessed” slackens the pace, switching the meter from common time to compound-duple (six-eight). “Blessed” finds Rhett excelling at a soulful brand of country, flexing his immense crossover appeal.  Contributing to the soulfulness are the horns and gospel-tinged background vocals. “Look What God Gave Her”, another advance single, blends contemporary country and modern pop. The result is a very sleekly produced record. As always, Thomas Rhett delivers beautiful vocals that are ultimately well-produced. A relatively quick-paced record, Rhett manages to keep things brief, clocking in under three-minutes. The chorus is memorable, with some ‘swagger’ about it – rhythmically, it embraces a ‘hip-hop identity,’ while remaining idiomatic of country.  Rhett serves up some excellent ad-libs towards the end without ever over-singing or growing overindulgent. 

On the sixth and final advance single ✓ “Center Point Road”, Thomas Rhett tapped a fellow Grammy-nominated country musician, Kelsea Ballerini for the assist with positive results.  “Center Point Road” has plenty of pros. The songwriting and the production are big reasons why it’s is a roaring success.  In regard to songwriting, the record is reflective, remembering youthful, fun times and experiences. The sound of this record is ‘country enough,’ but it also thrives with its pop/rock sensibility. Rhett and Ballerini do a superb job performing their respective parts.  Rhett sings the first verse and chorus, while Ballerini provides contrast on the second verse and following chorus.  They join forces on the bridge, before ending strong on the chorus and outro.  The chorus is the crème de la crème.

“We wrote our own destiny
In parkin’ lots and empty streets
Yeah, we got high on you and me
Jumped over cracks beneath our feet
And we thought it would never end
Then watched it go like summer wind
When growin’ up was just a dream
And Friday night was everything.”

“That Old Truck”

“She heard me laugh, heard me cry / Heard me pray sometimes.” If you are wondering who heard Thomas Rhett cry, it was ✓ “That Old Truck”. Country musicians are no strangers to singing and reminiscing about their vehicles (“She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” comes to mind).  The old truck Rhett references represents a rite of passage for him. Many of the lyrics are familiar, mostly given the fact that singing about cars, trucks, and apparently, tractors have been done a countless number of times.  On the first verse, he describes the experience with ‘her’ – “Up and down the streets of a no-name town / Me and her with the windows down / 35s rolling on the ground / Loving every minute.” By the end of the second verse, he sings about “Cussing out all that grass I mowed / Just saving up to fix her.” The centerpiece of the record is the sentimental chorus.

“VHS”

Every Thomas Rhett album seems to have ‘that particular moment’ when he really goes out of the confines of country. The sleek and hella entertaining ✓ “VHS” gives Rhett that moment on Center Point Road.  No, “VHS” is referencing the now extinct tapes but serves as an acronym for “Very Hot Summer.” Purists may cry foul, but those open-minded to the possibilities of country will be thrilled by the funk cues, including vocoder.  Furthermore, “VHS” is a readymade crossover anthem for “Summer.” Even if “VHS” is ‘too far out’ for some, “Notice” is more accessible, even with some subtle non-country cues thrown in as well. Rhett sings “Notice” incredibly well.

Summer returns on Rhett’s mind on “Sand,” where he desires to have a good time with his baby, preferably on a beach somewhere.  The groove continues to work in Rhett’s favor, not to mention the breezy, chill, easygoing vibes.  Once more, “Sand” is a song that should also appeal to non-country music lovers.  It precedes another pre-release single, ✓ “Beer Can’t Fix” featuring Cali country standout Jon Pardi.  The premise of this crowd-pleasing record is simple – “Ain’t nothing that a beer can’t fix.” No, beer can’t ultimately fix many problems mind you, but it does provide some atonement according to Rhett and Pardi.  If nothing else, this blatantly countrified joint is a pleasure to listen to.

“Things You Do for Love” 

Rhett incorporates some pop on the pleasant “Things You Do for Love,” which features backing vocals from his wife, Lauren Akins. ✓ “Remember You Young” commences with a lovely piano introduction. Eventually, bass, guitars, lush strings, and a drum groove fill out the production. Rhett delivers a well-rounded, reflective performance with the chorus playing centerpiece.  Prior to the chorus, the verses focus on adulthood and the present.  On the first verse, he sings, “Hey, buddies that I grew up with / All strait-laced and married up now,” while on the second, he sings, “And hey, babies, crawlin’ on the carpet / No, you won’t be that little for long.” Besides focusing on present things, he explores the past and the future. All in all, it’s a fine mid-tempo country ‘ballad.’

Following the more reminiscent “Remember You Young,” “Don’t Stop Drivin’” picks up the pace and amplifies the pop/rock sensibilities.  The energy is high, thanks to strong vocals from Rhett and a heaping dose of guitar.  For good measure, some colorful synths are thrown into the mix as well. Follow-up record “Barefoot” slows the pace, opting for a moderate tempo.  Even so, Rhett serves up a performance with plenty of swagger.  The production continues to be a defining feature of Center Point Road.   Throw catchy choruses into the mix as well. “Dream You Never Had” arrives as the 15^th track, serving in a penultimate role.  Fittingly, it’s slower than “Barefoot,” but continues to play to Rhett’s strengths.  As for “Almost,” he closes out reflectively and spiritedly – “Thank God for the almost, thank God for the so close… / Thank God for the highs, thank God for the lows / Thank God for the almost.”

Final Thoughts

Four albums in, Thomas Rhett continues to be consistent.  Center Point Road gives Rhett another album that successfully goes beyond the confines of country incorporating multiple styles of music.  While Center Point Road could’ve been an even tighter album than its 52-minute run time, there are more than enough solid, well-rounded moments to make this a worthwhile country album.

✓ Gems: “Up,” “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time,” “Center Point Road,” “That Old Truck,” “VHS,” “Beer Can’t Fix” & “Remember You Young”

Thomas Rhett • Center Point Road • Big Machine • Release: 5.31.19

Photo Credit: Big Machine