TOBY KEITH – “American Ride” (CD Review)

Written by Greg Victor on November 2, 2009

Label: Showdog Nashville

Remember when it was cool to be in-your-face-patriotic? Ah, good times… Back in those days of a proud U.S.A., Toby Keith was the spokesman for pro-American sentiment. Nowadays patriotism isn’t given as much air-time, and look what has happened to the country music superstar. Toby Keith without the attitude that brought him fame is a little like an old American flag whose owners did not bother to take it in at sunset. Instead, Old Glory was left to fade into a tenuous shadow of its former brilliance. Is it because Toby Keith doesn’t want to appear right-wing in this, the first Obama four-year plan? Whatever the reason, Toby Keith’s new album is but a mere shadow of his former controversial intensity.

Last year, Keith announced that he supported Obama, and that he was a Democrat. It’s nice to know that there’s room for everyone in the country music tent. But what happened to his music? Like many Republicans that seem to be Republican in name only, Toby Keith has been such a powerful force when it comes to rallying the American spirit and honoring the U.S. military that the admission that he was a Democrat surprised quite a few music lovers. When pop culture historians link a song with the War on Terrorism, I have no doubt that Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (Angry American)” will be at the top of the list. In case you forgot, that was the song with the lyric that went:

“Justice will be served,
And the battle will rage,
This big dog will fight,
When you rattle his cage.
And you’ll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
‘Cause we’ll put a boot in your ass,
It’s the American way!”

Instead of giving voice to a particular point of view, Keith offers a perspective that kindly attacks all the usual targets on both political sides. It’s an attempt at a lighter mood than we expect from him, and it just doesn’t work. With all the issues that a populist country writer could turn into song these days, watching Toby Keith seek a wider audience (and a safer reputation) is a frustrating experience.

The title track from the album seems that it will be the one to deliver the Toby Keith we once knew and loved. Instead, it is a safe, pleasant critique of American culture in general, with no true point of view. The video of the song skewers Obama, former President George W. Bush, terrorists, Wall Street, tabloids, and Donald Trump, among others. But it is just a list that isn’t even that topical (the “ozone layer”? Really?) with no true indictment. So if you are a loyal Toby Keith fan, be warned: there isn’t a single flag-waver in the entire album. Maybe the good ol’ boy will return with the next administration. But will his fans?

The success of Toby Keith was never about his vocals. It was about the words he dared to bellow. But when you take away Keith’s connection with his fans – his ability to give voice to the anger of the hard-working, overtaxed, underserved, patriotic American – he doesn’t offer much worth listening to. What’s next – Charlie Daniels making an Emo album?

Skip the album, and just download these if you really need some new Toby Keith tunes:

“Woke Up On My Own” – In this confession he offers to the woman he let get away, Keith faces his own limitations. This song has just the right mix of retro-country-rock reverb, and the guitar work all around drives it home.

“Tender As I Wanna Be” – OK, I don’t want any more ballads from Toby Keith, but if he insists on singing so many of them lately, I will admit this is just the right choice for him. This is the song that says “I’m just a big ol’ dog, but I’m gonna make you love me anyhow.” It’s a role he sings well.