Here and Now
is something of the inverse to
Songs for the Saints
, the quiet 2018 record that began
Kenny Chesney
's association with
Warner Brothers Nashville
. By opening the album with "We Do," a rallying cry for his No Shoes Nation -- a song that seems designed to kick off an arena show --
Chesney
sets the expectation for breezy fun. Despite a couple of moments of twilight contemplation, such as the quiet closer "Guys Named Captain,"
generally delivers on this promise of a party, but occasionally the good times arrive with a bit of a melancholy undercurrent. Certainly, this is true of "Everyone She Knows," where the slick surface disguises how its protagonist never feels in step with the crowd, and "Wasted" isn't a beery bash but a reflection of a life cheerfully frittered away. Maybe some regrets flow through these tunes -- and "You Don't Get To" is one of his best breakup songs -- but
is sincere when he sings that his favorite place to be is the here and now. He's settling into a middle age where he doesn't stretch himself musically -- these rockers, radio-ready pop tunes, beach anthems. and back porch ballads are firmly within his wheelhouse -- but does explore different emotions, giving
a quiet but real resonance. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine