Kenny Chesney just released his first new original music since 2016's Cosmic Hallelujah. The bouncy tune, called "Get Along," yearns for understanding and compassion.
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Tagged by the common refrain, "Can't we all get along?" the tune features everything from a banjo solo to urging the listener to "buy a boat." If it sounds a little quirky, that's because it is. But in that, you know, classic "No Shoes Nation" Kenny Chesney kind of way.
There are moments that feel really special on the track. The second verse, in particular, has some beautifully melancholic imagery. And honestly, that banjo solo is pretty sweet.
The song is absolutely infectious, which is probably why they made the decision to include a chorus of people singing during the chorus. Because that's exactly what's going to happen when Chesney plays this tune live. Maybe not quite to the tune of "American Kids," but pretty damn close.
And that's no small coincidence. Because Shane McAnally had a hand in writing both tunes (and plenty of other Chesney material, to boot). McAnally wrote it alongside Josh Osborne and Ross Copperman.
It's honestly pretty refreshing to hear these types of songs coming from folks like Chesney. In country music, sometimes the craft of the song overrides the fun of it.
As with "American Kids," which the writers wrote using a bunch of old song titles, "Get Along" uses several disconnected phrases in conjunction with each other. It creates a few moments that honestly do make you smile, if not for the random absurdity of it all. Most "experts" would argue that "Call your mom/buy a boat" are not two complementary thoughts.
But hey, it works here.
"Get Along" is Chesney's first new music off an upcoming untitled album. He released a live album late last year that went No. 1 on Billboard called Live In No Shoes Nation, featuring songs from the past 10 years of stadium shows. And after taking much of last year off, he's back on the road in 2018 for the Trip Around The Sun Tour.
