Toby Keith, “35 mph Town” (Show Dog/Universal)
For the first time in a decade, Toby Keith let two years pass between albums. As prolific as he is consistent, Keith took time off from recording – and returns “35 mph Town,” an album as entertaining as his best.
Considering he writes nearly all of his material_including nine of 10 new songs_a break allowed him to cherry-pick the top tunes. Not that the veteran country star has been slipping: 2013’s “Drinks After Work” and 2010’s “Bullets In The Gun” also were high-water marks in his 22-year career.
“35 mph Town” highlights Keith’s playful side: “Good Gets Here” and “Every Time I Drink I Fall In Love” poke fun at his foibles, while “Drunk Americans” joins a long list of Keith tunes addressing blue-collar workers’ tendency to blow off steam by tipping back a few.
Keith continues country music’s fixation with island rhythms on “Rum Is The Reason” and “Sailboat For Sale,” the latter a duet with Jimmy Buffett, the man responsible for country’s tropical obsession.