A more-sentimental Keith

Since the debut of his eponymous album in 1993, Toby Keith has risen to the top of country music charts repeatedly over the last 16 years. Now, 13 studio albums and several CMT Flameworthy awards later, Keith has come out with another album that may soon follow its predecessors.

“American Ride,” Keith’s newly released album, no longer leaves listeners wondering if they “should’ve been a cowboy,” but instead takes a more metaphorical trip into the heart of every American’s identity.

Songs like “American Ride” and “Gypsy Driftin’” carry with their lyrics an understanding of concerns many Americans feel as being paramount in the America of today; whether it’s paying the mortgage or the growing concern regarding YouTube and its effects on the individual, Keith’s new album leaves no problem untouched.

A few songs, including “Cryin’ for Me” and “Are You Feelin’ Me,” even go so far as to break from Keith’s bad-ass mentality and reveal a deeper side.

The album, which encompasses just as many stylistic approaches as thematic approaches, is definitely worth purchasing. Whether you enjoy the typical, hard-core-yet-distinctly-country-sounding Keith, or the more sentimental slow-moving ballads, “American Ride” has it all.