Rating: 9/10

Kenny Chesney, with the talented contributions of former Eagles band member Joe Walsh and the “King of Country” George Strait, has produced, “Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates,” sure to be a big hit among country music fans.

Chesney once again proves that he is out to change country music from being a man with a banjo and a sad song to a mixture of pop, rock, and country sounds.

No longer is Chesney just sipping “Beer in Mexico.” Instead, he’s rising quickly to the top of the Billboards’s country singles charts with his song “Never Wanted Nothing More.”

As the first song on his new album, the sweet familiar strains of country combine with encouraging words to form a simple message of growing up and learning how to be a confident person.

Chesney must have flashed his handsome smile and sweet-talked somebody to have been able to persuade George Strait to take the time to sing a duet in Chesney’s new song “Shiftwork”. Re-introducing the style of the country-caribbean, found in Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville,” Strait and Chesney belt it out in this song about the strains of working around the clock.

For those faithful Rascal Flatts fans, Chesney’s song “Wild Ride” flirts with the formation of country-rock that the Rascal Flatts are so famous for. With a great beat and catchy lyrics, this song certainly breaks free from the idea that all country music sounds like bluegrass.

Pertaining to the average college party-goer, Chesney belts out the words of not remembering how exactly he ended up with a girl that he met at the bar the night before. “Get a Little Crazy” is a fun song that holds a story that happens far too often after having a crazy night out on the town.

The most awkward song on the album speaks of a mother who strips in order to pay for the necessities her children need to survive. “Dancin’ for the Groceries” has no reason for being included on the album seeing as it is not a song about Chesney and does not fit the album’s context.

Also included on this CD are the typical country songs of family life, not taking anything for granted, and facing hardships head-on as they come.

For those who wish to express their feelings to their sweetheart, “Scare Me” is the perfect song for any love bird. “Scare Me” is sure to be a hit with any lady and a guarantee that she will either end up dancing or cuddling.

“Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates” certainly is not the average country CD, and Chesney has certainly proven his talent once again.

Although no mention of pirates is actually found in the CD, Chesney certainly does mutiny against the typical country styles.

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