The songs on "Night Train" are a mix of what Aldean is best known for, rockin' honky-tonk, ballads, and yes, even a bit of rap. It's as though he's taken what's successful on his first four CD's and mashed them together to make "Night Train".
Granted, fifteen songs on a CD is a great deal; however, when most of those songs are basically the same as earlier ones, what's the point?
Even Aldean's first single, "Take A Little Ride", seems to be playing it safe. There's nothing about the song that really makes it stand out from other tunes on "Night Train", or any of Aldean's previous efforts. Whether it's the label, the producer, or Aldean himself, it seems that no one is willing to stray too far outside the box and try something new. Yes, there are a couple stand outs on "Night Train"; even if they still fall within safe perimeters.
For instance, "The Only Way I Know" is your basic Aldean tune. Combine it with other artists, (in this case Luke Bryan and Eric Church), and that "basic" song gets a new feel and vibe. What really stands out on "The Only Way I Know" is how the three distinct and diverse voices of Aldean, Bryan and Church all blend together so well, without overshadowing one another. Definitely a song worth considering as a single.
Another standout is "Black Tears". The song is a haunting ballad about a woman who works at a strip club, and would rather not be there. What makes this song shine brighter than the rest is not only Aldean's delivery, but the way the song was written as well. Songwriters say they try to tell the same stories in different ways. "Black Tears" certainly is a new take on an old subject; and the writers should be proud of the job they've done.
Probably the catchiest tune on "Night Train" is "1994". If you're not really paying attention, this song can blend in with the rest of the tunes on the CD. Really listen though, and you'll see why it's so catchy. "1994" is basically written about country singer, Joe Diffie. Not only is Diffie mentioned by name, so are several of his hits, like "John Deere Green" and "Pick Up Man". Though probably not worthy of being a radio single, "1994" still will put a smile on most peoples' faces; especially those familiar with Joe Diffie.
If you've liked Jason Aldean's music in the past, and want more of the same, "Night Train" will meet your standards. If you're looking for more than the same old, same old however, save some money and just buy the downloads of the stand out songs from this CD.
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