California SunriseOn the cover of his 2014 debut, Write You a Song, Jon Pardi seemed a bit like a metrosexual country boy but on California Sunrise, its 2016 sequel, he's decked out like an old school cowboy, complete with a big hat and blue jeans. This is the major change in image, but the music on California Sunrise isn't markedly different than the debut. Like the high octane Write You a Song before it, California Sunrise is produced by Bart Butler, but the album
Shopping security
Each payment you make on thelockerguy is secured with strict SSL encryption and PCI DSS data protection protocols
product description
Why choose thelockerguy wholesale?
On the cover of his 2014 debut, Write You a Song, Jon Pardi seemed a bit like a metrosexual country boy but on California Sunrise, its 2016 sequel, he's decked out like an old-school cowboy, complete with a big hat and blue jeans. This is the major change in image, but the music on California Sunrise isn't markedly different than the debut. Like the high-octane Write You a Song before it, California Sunrise is produced by Bart Butler, but the album finds space for softer tones and slower tempos, a shift that opens the doors for a little experimentation with rhythms. "Heartache on the Dance Floor" bears a bit of R&B-friendly AAA pop sheen, and at its core "Lucky Tonight" is a soul song all gussied up with fiddles and blues guitar. A few other cuts are light on their feet -- "Head Over Boots" rolls along with its singalong chorus, "Cowboy Hat" trades upon the leering twilight of bro-country -- but California Sunrise remains grounded in sinewy, straight-ahead country, sometimes delivered by Pardi with a sly grin. Perhaps his cheer is a bit subdued -- his everyday persona can work against him, suggesting that he's not much more than a guy next door -- but this workingman's diligence is a key element in turning California Sunrise into a frills-free, sturdily crafted collection. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine