At the cutting edge!

Blake Shelton living in the times of his life. Private happy in league with the charming Sangeskollegin Miranda Lambert, medially by the presence in the NBC talent show "The Voice" and a wider audience, it has now arrived on the Mount Olympus of contemporary country music scene. As the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year of the All-American-Guy now has from Oklahoma to 8 No.1 singles in a row, the awaited album "Based on a true story" published. After the first hearing it is clear that he will enable us to remain its leading position among the country singers on. The recipe for success is relatively simple: Blake Shelton seems his fans no experiments, but disclosed under the slogan "Hey, I'm fine, and I let it feel you" an authentic, positive mood and professionally produced collection of 12 catchy but never any Tracks. The direction tends to be upbeat, country based pop and southern rock bonds, radio friendly to commercially without in the corner a la Spring Break Party slipping. The opening track "Boys Round Here" is - on his way to ninth No.1 - the prototype of a modern country songs 2013: Casual phrasing in the verses, a showy hook, catchy lyrics ("chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit"), garnished with the Pistol Annies as elitist Background Support. Following is the No.1 single "Sure be cool if you did" from the routine spring the duo Tompkins / Clawson of perhaps the strongest song on the album - a murder ballad that goes by Shelton's timbre not only country fans deep under the skin. Other highlights and catchy guarantors are the groovy "Small town, big time," the casual "Lay Low" and last but not least, the smart "My Eyes" with a barely perceptible contribution of the former The Voice contestant Gwen Sebastian. The phenomenon is easily explained Shelton based on these performance: He reflects on its strengths which consist of a healthy mix of Tradionsbewusstsein, charm and flair for the contemporary needs of the audience. The songwriting he is this time completely in foreign, competent hands - another expression of professionalism.

Conclusion: The Blake Shelton hit machine will run under "Based on a new story" happily ever after and help the giant to the check shirt and outside the genre to further prominence. 4.5 stars.