Thanks to his coaching gig on The Voice, Blake Shelton has morphed from country headliner to household name in the past three years. Now, the Oklahoma boy is out to prove he’s still in touch with his roots on his 11th studio LP, Bringing Back the Sunshine.
It’s a wise move on Shelton’s part — to embrace his base rather than continuing too far down the crossover TV star path. His 2013 album, Based on a True Story…, felt like an inconsistent rush to capitalize on his Voice fame and fell victim to Auto-Tune dabbling, among other indiscretions. His latest sets out to right that wrong, and the result is one of Shelton’s strongest recent efforts.
The LP kicks off with the title track, an instant throwback that finds Shelton, 38, solidly in his element: vintage organs, taut guitars and freewheeling fun with the windows down. The mood shifts with lead single “Neon Lights,” a funky kiss-off jam targeting an ex: “I take a shot of ‘I don’t care what you’re doing now’/Chase that one with a cold ‘Screw you.’ “
When he’s not being spiteful, Shelton’s a convivial boozer, at least on the blue-collar shout-out “Buzzin’,” featuring former Voice contestant RaeLynn. Though littered with groan-inducing references to “twerking” and “chillin’ like a villain,” the song still clicks because of Shelton’s Southern charm and possibly-already-drunk delivery. Elsewhere, he shows a tender side: On “Lonely Tonight,” Ashley Monroe guests for some impeccable harmonies, while “Good Country Song” plays as a touching tribute to the country greats who inspired him: “Makes you smile, makes you hurt, leaves you hanging on every word,” sings Shelton.
There are moments on the album that don’t reach that standard — the misplaced island vibe of “Sangria” and the phoned-in sentiments of “Just South of Heaven” especially. But ultimately, Sunshine confirms Shelton’s ability to stand his ground in both Nashville and Hollywood.