So say what you will about Florida Georgia Line, but the duo has definitely changed country music. I think we can all agree they've changed it for the worse, but they've changed it none the less. They broke out back in 2013 with Cruise, the "pop-country" smash hit. It was mostly fueled by a remix featuring rapper Nelly. So basically, the duo who you can't say ain't country's first hit prominently featured a rapper. Sure, why the hell not?
Over the next few years, they had hits here and there. All their singles would do pretty well on country radio and have a mid-40s or low-50s peak, but only a few actually broke through big enough to make the year-end list. Then came 2018, their biggest year yet. They kicked off the year by hoping on POP ARTIST Bebe Rexha's Meant To Be, the #2 smash hit that ended up in the year end top 3. But hey guys, we can't say they ain't country, ya know? They used their success from Meant To Be to get their other single, Simple, to become a hit, and to stir up hype for this new album. Do the boys actually make country music here? Or is the album title as ironic as everyone thinks it is? Let's find out.
Overview
Just for fun during this review, I will be determining whether or not Florida Georgia Line are truly country. I will do this by giving a point per song to country and not country, as I am clearly the definitive source on what makes one country.
In terms of the album itself, theres one pretty big flaw: these guys are terrible singers. I don't think I mention it in every song, but like aside from Simple they sound pretty bad on every song. The production ranges from "uh sure its fine" to "yeah its alright". The lyrics are pretty bad for the most part, but props for being interestingly bad I suppose. In terms of features, they seem to think that the name Jason is very country as both Jason Derulo and Jason Aldean join them. Neither of them are good, unsurprisingly. Let's just get into the songs.
Individual Track Reviews
1. Can't Say I Ain't Country: Oh boy, we're really just getting right into the "good" stuff huh. But like for real, on a song with THIS title, they use a trap beat. Apparently we can say they're a redneck, we don't like their truck, etc. BUT we can't say they ain't country. But....the trap beat.... One point to not being country. 1.5/5
2. Simple: This is just a really good song. Its really sweet, and just a ton of fun. The lyrical theme is about how we should all live simpler lives, not worry about "who all gives a damn". It's cute, and its helped by arguably the boys's best vocal performance and some surprisingly good production. Point to the country side! 4.5/5
3. Talk You Out Of It: Huh. Didn't really expect a ballad from the boys. It is kinda reminiscent of classic country ballads in the verses, but it also has a very "poppy" chorus, so I'm conflicted. In terms of the song quality, it's alright. However, it does suffer from something many FGL songs suffer from: its pretty god damn boring. This is also the next single off the album for some reason. Whatever, I guess I'll give this one to the country side, but its close. 2.5/5
4. Speed Of Love: This is a pop song. Through and through. No question. Its really bland with some pretty awful vocals. Also I don't need an explicit story about what FGL did with their girl last night. One other thing thats bothering me about both this song and the last one is that the word "of" should not be capitalized. Point to not country, 0.5/5.
5. Women: So like fuck this song. Its boring, and the vocals are shit. But the big issue here are the lyrics. FGL are basically singing about how wonderful it is that God gave them women to "live with" (aka to fuck) and how we're all better with a wife by our side. Then good ol' country boy Jason Derulo croons out a terrible verse to add to this. I honestly don't know why someone allowed this to happen. Also if you're trying to prove that you're so country, maybe featuring Jason fucking Derulo on your song isn't the best way to prove that. Point to the not country side obviously. 0/5
6. People Are Different: After whatever THAT was, I could use a pallet cleaner. And I think thats what this song tries to provide. Basically the boys are listing off different types of people, i.e. "big town, small town". The message here is pretty good, but for some reason I don't really believe it from FGL. Maybe its because it came right after Women, showing how little they respect half of the population, but yeah this feels very phony. Not country, 1.5/5
7. Told You: Yawn. This is pretty country-ish, but its also really god damn boring. 1/5
8. Y'all Boys: Thats a really weak guitar line god damn. Instead of staying constant or building up, it goes down both in volume and note. It doesn't sound good in what's supposed to be a country song. This type of guitar can work in a pop song, which makes me wonder if they're even trying anymore. I wonder even more when they have some dude named HARDY deliver a half-rapped/half-sung verse. Not country, 1.5/5
9. Small Town: This song is all about good ol' small town folk and their traditions. Like making out on a twirl-a-whirl at a county fair. Just a suggestion, theres better places to make out at county fairs. They also list off other small town things, like John Deere tractors and fishing. And we get a wonderful rap verse from FGL to close the song out. They really want this to be country, but its really not. 2/5
10. Sittin' Pretty: Hold up. FGL actually sound good. I don't know how to feel about this. Instead of doing their typical annoying crooning, this is much smoother. And yeah, its pretty good. I don't really have any problems with the lyrics either. This is like the perfect FGL song....is what I would say if it weren't a pop song. Well you can't have everything. 4/5
11. Can't Hide Red: Uhhh....I don't get it. Is saying "red" another way for saying "country"? Rednecks? Do FGL really think that only southerners drink and smoke? Was a Jason Aldean feature really necessary? I can't answer these questions, but I can say that this ain't country. Especially since they talk about "dropping hip-hop in the boom box". 0.5/5
12. Colorado: I think the title for this song comes from the fact that FGL want to talk about being on a rock mountain high. Its country-ish, but also bland and uninteresting as hell. 2/5
13. Like You Never Had It: I don't even know what to say about this. Its a poorly sung, bland pop song. Next. 1/5
14. Swerve: Shit they're really not even trying. Weak guitars over a trap beat. They're like not even singing anymore. And whenever they say "Swerve", theres this really annoying record scratch. This honestly reminds me of some of their older hits, such as Cruise and This Is How We Roll. 0/5
15. Blessings: This is cute enough I guess. The boys don't sound awful, the production and writing are inoffensive enough, I don't mind this. Like if the country station my mom puts on was playing this, I wouldn't rush to change it, but I would never actively seek this out. Its pretty much a pop song though. 3/5
BONUS: Skit Reviews
1. Tyler Got Him A Tesla: So the plot of this skit is about how "T-Dog", or Tyler of Florida Georgia Line, bought a Tesla and people are very upset since he's supposed to be country. But don't worry T-Dog, good ol' Brother Jevel is here to let everyone know that you've still got a pick up truck. Haters: 0, T-Dog: 1
2. All Gas No Brakes: Brother Jevel is here to give exciting news: he's been chosen as chaplain for the NASCAR race! What does this have to do with being country? Who the fucks knows???
3. Sack'a Puppies: I feel bad for Brother Jevel. He keeps calling his brothers to try and talk, but they never pick up and he leaves these really detailed voicemails. Then FGL is all like "instead of responding to Jevel, let's put his voicemails on our album". This one in particular ends with Jevel saying "call me sometime". Anyways, here Jevel talks about some girl who's been getting into trouble and her parents wish she had married one of the FGL boys. Jevel seems to think it's because they're good ol' country boys. I think its because they're rich af.
4. Catfish Nuggets: Brother Jevel needs help! Someone lost their left eye making catfish nuggets, and Jevel is asking FGL to help buy him a glass eye. I really wish we had a conclusion to this story. I wanna know if catfish man ever got his glass eye.
Final Thoughts
Rating: 4/10 (Mediocre)
Best Songs: Simple, Sittin' Pretty
Worst Songs: Women, Speed Of Love, Can't Hide Red, Swerve
FINAL VERDICT: Are They Country?
By a score of 11-4, they are NOT COUNTRY!
Good job! Although you don't have a favorite song....although is it actually that bad?
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