I'll Stay Me

iTunes Review

I’ll Stay Me, Georgia-born singer Luke Bryan's major label debut, touches upon nearly every familiar theme in the Nashville playbook. The good news is that Bryan makes his brand of country sound fresh, thanks to his vivid songwriting and unspoiled small town charm. His sweet-toned voice and phrasing sometimes recall the mellow twang of ‘80s-era John Anderson. He sings romantic fare like “Baby’s on the Way” with a sly wink and savors the Southern atmosphere in tracks like “Over the River” with laid-back gusto. “We Rode in Trucks,” “First Love Song” and “Tackle Box” are nostalgic numbers displaying Bryan’s eye for lyric detail and chorus hooks. Among the upbeat tracks, “All My Friends Say” stands out for its bleary-headed humor and dance-inducing beat. Jeff Stevens’ production is generally skewed towards current radio standards, though he does allow Bryan’s acoustic side to shine through on the title song. Beneath its mainstream surface, there’s a down-home intelligence and individual personality evident on I’ll Stay Me.