Music review: Keith Urban – ëƵGraffiti UëƵ
On the opening track of ëƵGraffiti U,ëƵ Keith Urban samples a portion of Merle HaggardëƵs ëƵMama Tried.ëƵ But donëƵt be fooled, UrbanëƵs latest album isnëƵt your typical contemporary country effort.
The 50-year-old songwriter, vocalist and guitarist follows the same blueprint of 2016ëƵs ëƵRipcordëƵ by crafting another diverse set of genre-bending arrangements offering up a heavy dosage of crossover appeal.
ëƵThereëƵs a place that I know where they all know me/I gotta get back now to the ones who love me,ëƵ sings Urban on ëƵComing Home.ëƵ Paired with singer-songwriter Julia Michaels, Urban yearns to return to a familiar place that provides plenty of comfort, security and love.
ëƵNever CominëƵ DownëƵ is a party anthem that pulsates under a slick bass groove with Urban dishing the details about an evening full of good friends, hot music and plenty of ice cold beer to keep the festivities going all night long.
ëƵMy WaveëƵ finds Urban rolling with the punches on the feel-good number that features Shy Carter warning us to stay clear of the people who try to steal our sunshine and dampen our dreams.
Up-and-comer Kassi Ashton provides an infectious vibe to ëƵDrop Top.ëƵ Letting the wind surge through your hair during a carefree cruise on the open road certainly makes for a memorable summertime adventure.
After hearing the first few notes of ëƵParallel Line,ëƵ it is easy to recognize that this stirring ballad was co-written by Ed Sheeran. Urban mirrors SheeranëƵs knack for capturing the pure emotion of the moment with the heart-on-your-sleeve tune about finding love at just the right time.
ëƵWay Too LongëƵ is another tender love song about trying to keep love alive. This is my favorite selection on the album as UrbanëƵs voice captures the vulnerability and sadness surfacing through the inability to change as he sings, ëƵThough I tried to open up/ItëƵs no use, IëƵm frozen in the stage/Being great at pushing everyone I love/I love away.ëƵ
ëƵSame HeartëƵ is a touching illustration about trying to move on after a broken heart and ëƵHorsesëƵ is another album highlight that features Canadian country singer Lindsay Ell.
Area fans can catch Urban when he comes to Pittsburgh for a performance at KeyBank Pavilion on June 23.
Clint Rhodes is the ëƵ-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.

