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rca records 2007
when kenny chesney’s “new” single never wanted nothing more was leaked to radio stations in june of 2007 i was concerned. at the time chesney’s upcoming album just who i am: poets & pirates didn’t even have a release date set, but the bigger concern was the fact that never wanted nothing more was just kenny chesney recycled. the same old same. it was never gonna feel that way again from his 2002 release no shoes, no shirt, no problems. it was i go back from his 2004 release when the sun goes down. it was summertime from his 2005 release the road and the radio. and it had all been said before.

the problem with just who i am is that it leaves you wanting so much more. not because it is amazing, because it is so lacking. the problem, in my opinion isn’t kenny chesney, it is the lack of chesney. in the past kenny has written the majority of the songs on his albums if not collaborating on every track. just who i am doesn’t feature a single tune penned by chesney, and although the songs all have good lyrics and catchy chorus’ none have chesney’s penchant for storytelling.

never wanted nothing more kicks off the album and is another bouncy summer trip down memory lane. don’t blink is reminiscent of early chesney leaning more on country and less on caribbean soul. reggae meets country in shiftwork, which george strait lends his vocal talents on. just not today is another “small town” song that begs the age old question, how do i get out of this town and to the city where i’ll realize that that small town is really the only place i want to be.

wife and kids finds is good track showing chesney’s longing for a “normal” life. got a little crazy is a catchy buffettesque tune with a fun, singable chorus. better as a memory is the first of the two best songs on the album. the slow ballad style track isreminiscent of garth brooks with a little of tim mcgraw’s best mixed in. following it is the second of the hits, dancin’ for the groceries is a slow sad story of a mother dancing to bring the money home to feed her children. chesney’s emotions start to come out on the previous two songs, but it may be too little too late.

the ninth track on the disc introduces joe walsh’s guitar skills on a wild ride, which is an upbeat track seeming a little forced in the country pop genre. scare me slows the album down and lyrically is hard to follow. rounding out the album is demons a great country ballad about chasing you demons.

overall, chesney sounds tired and worn and the album may grow on you, but there are only two songs really worth holding onto. better as a memory and dancin’ for the groceries.