Kenny Chesney Album: “When the Sun Goes Down”

I've never been a huge Kenny Chesney fan. His early music was immature and radio-friendly to the core. His latter-day music, however, has an edge to it--for example: few artists would have the nerve to record a song as brutally honest as "Anything but Mine;" still fewer would put it out as a single (and the controversy this song may or may not cause isn't even intended to sell the record, as evidenced by the fact that it's already won awards and been named Country Album of the Year, and established Chesney as a serious artist). I respect Chesney for that, and so I decided to buy the album.

This is great music right here. Unlike a lot of contemporaries, Chesney is a great writer--he doesn't write much, but the four songs he wrote or cowrote on here ("I Got Back", "Keg in the Closet," "Bein Drunk's a Lot Like Lovin You," and "Old Blue Chair") are four of the best. And his choice of covers is nearly impeccable..."There Goes My Life" still brings a tear to my eye, while "The Woman With You" strikes to the bone with any working man or woman.

There are few duds on here. "Outta Here" it a bit cliched, and the title track follows a oft-repeated Buffet vibe...but it's catchy as hell. Even "When I Think About Leaving," which begins like any other song you've ever heard, quickly turns poignant and sentimental. Chesney's voice has matured, his writing and song selecting capabilities have matured...WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN just may be the album of his career (though, thankfully, not the last). It's great country music, plain and simple, from a guy who knows what he wants and what his fans want, and delivers on both levels.

What is good music? Music holds several meanings for various people. To me, good music comes from the words as well as the music. If the song really "hits home" then it becomes great music. Of course, one could not have great music without a great artist; an artist who really does a superlative job and puts emotion into his/her work. Kenny Chesney, one of country music's greatest artists, gives a whole new meaning to the words--great music. His newest CD, When the Sun Goes Down, is compiled with eleven exceptional tracks, making every song count. Three songs that really spoke to me are "There Goes My Life," "I Go Back," and "The Woman With You."

The first song that is heard on the CD is "There Goes My Life," a moving song told in the perspective of a young man. While they were still in high school his girlfriend became pregnant. At first they see this as the worst thing that could possibly have occurred, ruining their dreams and taking their life away. Ironically, it turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to them. My favorite lines out of the song are "A couple years of up all night and a few thousand diapers later. That mistake he thought he made covers up the refrigerator. Oh yeah...he loves that little girl." This song just goes to show that mistakes are sometimes blessings in disguise.

Along with "There Goes My Life," another extremely influential song on this CD is "I Go Back." The message conveyed is about how songs can really leave an impact in people's lives. If one can truly identify with a song, then the time, place, and how they felt when first hearing it always stays with them, which holds true for me. I remember where I was, whom I was with, and how I was feeling the exact moment that I heard the words from the chorus: "We all have a song that somehow stamped our lives. Takes us to another place and time." The lasting feeling that comes afterwards is not only what Kenny Chesney is singing about in "I Go Back," but also what he would like everyone to take with them after his performance.

The third and best song, "The Woman With You," is not only one of the best on this album, but perhaps one of the highlights of Kenny Chesney's music career. He sings about a woman who does everything from "gopherin" to "chaufferin". "She said the girl I was with a business degree probably wouldn't recognize me. I was going to run the bank. I was going to run them out. Now all I want to run is a bubble bath...Hey I wanted it all and that's what I got." These lines portray the woman who "has it all" and has worked really hard to get there, but still needs to rejuvenate and feel appreciated at the end of the day. This song should hit home for many working moms, and I believe that was precisely the writer's goal.

These are the songs that really meant something to me. However, the real beauty of the CD is that all of the songs hold some type of meaning. That is why I think that this album will affect almost all of the listeners positively. There is a song that will hit close to home for almost everyone. Kenny Chesney was once quoted saying, "You want a song to touch them somehow. You want them to live with it and let it become part of their lives... You try to touch different emotions. If you don't do that I think you missed the boat." As one will see after listening to this CD, he didn't miss anything; he is definitely "on board."

There is a song called There Goes My Life sung by Kenny from this cd that has touched my heart and brings back a painful memory to me. All moms know when their child leaves the nest you get tears in your eyes. Well this song was similar to my life. My oldest daughter in 2003 late summer loaded up her Mustang converible with most of what she owned like her Old Navy clothes and pictures to move to a dorm for she was college bound. I will never forget that day . Even though she was no longer in my home she wasnt too far away but it was time for my baby girl to experience life outside in this big world without her mom. To my daughter for giving me life itself, strength without you I would have been nothing and all alone in this world. Did the best I could raising you and I love you and miss more than you know. Thank you Kenny even though I cry everytime its heard, you have embraced me with a song to go with my memory of my baby growing up. There goes my life. She is my future and my everything. Love Mrs. H

I became a fan of Kenny's about a year ago when a friend of mine made me a mixed "Kenny" cd. I've been hooked ever since. I now own every album of his. He gets better with each album he releases. His voice is amazing and he puts on an awesome show! My favorites on the album would be the title track, "There goes my life", "Anything but mine", "I go back", and "When I think about leaving". This album is not just for Country music fans, it's for fans of all types of music. It's country with a bit of rock. I think Kenny himself listens to all types of music and it definitely shows in his songs. Give this album a try-you won't be disappointed.

I have to say i didnt know much about Kenny Chesney, to the point of not even knowing what songs were played on the radio, or who sang 'em.

So I found out who sang "that song" on the radio.. (asked the wife).. My response was "thats Kenny Chesney???"... I hadnt expected him to be that good. When I went to buy the CD, I realized why most of his fans are women. The CD is like a Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. This was rather sad.

Chesney shouldnt be marketed as some sort of Frat Model. It does him a disservice to allow his handlers to do so. I dont buy A&F catalogs because I feel they are only marketing skin and hormones. Not clothes. Thus the Chesney CD printed booklet seems to be doing the same.

That being said, the man has an amazing voice, and the music and arranging is phenomenal. I have no qualms with this CD. It is everything I would have expected and more!