It would be easy to write Ricky Gunn off as another generic mainstream country artist, another bro wannabe with little else to give, if one were to listen exclusively to the opening track on his debut album ‘Livin’ Like Me’. ‘Out In The Country’ is a southern rock-inspired ode to country living and partying that wouldn’t be out of place on a Brantley Gilbert or Jason Aldean record, and unfortunately while energetic and good for a live crowd, does nothing to instil hope of substance further on. It makes sense, though, that this is how Ricky would begin his first album. After all, the Georgia native has spent many years playing bars and clubs all night long, learning to entertain crowds of all shapes and sizes (the latter in particular as he’s come to open for the likes of Gary Allan, Tyler Farr and Travis Tritt), so he’s bound to have a few party anthems to introduce himself.
However, it quickly becomes apparent that this is only scratching the surface of what Ricky is capable of. Instead, the blue collar family man paints a picture of a hard worker, somebody who is not afraid to write emotional songs and deeper subjects than just checking out the cute girls and drinking a beer. The title track, for example, depicts the life of a traveling musician with a celebratory approach, while ‘As Good As It Gets’ is a lovely autobiographical number about finding music and chasing his dreams, delivered with heart and honesty. ‘Til The Fight Is Gone’ continues the narrative of a struggling musician in a tale of determination and strong ambition, “winners never quit and quitters never win, even if you take a few licks on the chin, just keep your head down and carry on,” he advises, and we get the sense that sometimes he needs this encouragement as much as anybody.
It’s clear that Ricky often draws from his own experiences for his songs, and ‘Georgia Backroads’ is one of those that jumps straight from the notebook page, focusing on a love long gone and how those Georgia backroads just take him home no matter what. “I will always find my way,” he asserts, and he seems very settled in who he is and the life that he lives. ‘The Good Life’ (which unfortunately includes a rap, but what are you gonna do) looks to solidify this notion further, while ‘Tonight I Broke The Bottle’ is a heartfelt admission of past mistakes and his willingness to change for his God and his wife.
Of course, there are also a handful of fun, radio-friendly offerings on this album, as lead single ‘King of This Town’ reminds us with a catchy pop country take on nostalgia for wilder days. Then there’s ‘Don’t You Wanna Know’, an extremely well-crafted duet with Dana King (who sounds similar to Jennifer Nettles in places), that would light a fire on country radio and is extremely pleasant to listen to. The same can be said for ‘Heartbreak I’m Working On’, an impassioned track about unrequited love, and we begin to see how Ricky balances his traditional country roots (Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash), and his modern, progression-driven surroundings.
Of the latter, ‘She’s Outa Control’ sets a driving pace and amps the guitars up to 11 for a track about a girl who’s a bad influence, while the bluesy rock ‘n’ roll ‘Wild One’ flips the tables so that it’s Ricky who is the bad influence. Meanwhile, of the former, ‘Drink Til We Are’ encompasses a fiddle and pedal steel for a classic drinking song in waltz time that reveals his credentials.
‘Livin’ Like Me’ is a record of several shades, but it feels 100% authentic to Ricky’s own experiences and influences, is a lot of fun, and has plenty of heart and soul too. It’s also well-produced, easy to digest, and will do well on radio in the right promotional hands. I don’t suspect it’ll be too long before we start hearing the name Ricky Gunn a lot more.
Originally posted here.
