Golden Road

iTunes Review

From the start, Keith Urban had the country heartthrob thing down cold. 2002’s Golden Road established that the Australian singer/songwriter had considerably more to offer than a handsome face and sweet-toned vocals. Tunes like the blissful “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” and the transcendent “Raining on Sunday” make it clear that Urban can turn on the charm at will. From the teasing, cowbell-accented Southern rocker “You Look Good in My Shirt” to the rueful breakup ballad “You’ll Think of Me,” Urban gets into nearly all areas of modern relationships here. More noteworthy, though, are the songs exploring more troubled aspects of the artist’s life. “What About Me” and especially “You’re Not My God” (a frank account of cocaine addiction) tackle issues beyond Nashville’s comfort zone. Urban’s fast-fingered banjo playing and bracing guitar flourishes help give the album a distinctive feel. Golden Road adds some needed shadows to Urban’s generally sunny sound, advancing his musical credibility in the process.