By Katie Tegtmeier (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: August 21, 2012
With the release of his confidently titled album Declaration of Independence, Colt Ford attempts to revitalize his sound by returning to the foundation of what he began his career on. Well-known as a good-time country music artist, his songs aren’t what the average person classifies as country. In “Dancing While Intoxicated (DWI),” Ford demonstrates that he in fact is a musical pioneer by combining both genres of rap and country into a sophisticated style I have aptly named: crap. It combines both country twang and rap beats, while integrating convoluted lyrics which bounce between the discussion of John Deere tractors and getting hot in a night club.
The feel of Declaration of Independence ultimately is that of a party. Kicking off the album is “Answer to No One,” which asserts that even though Colt Ford is capable of producing a purely country song, he is going to rap in it anyways, just for the hell of it. The depth of the album is nowhere near reaching a level past “tracks to get drunk to.”
Now, I have to admit that a good majority of the songs on Ford’s new album do have some infectious beats; what he has truly harnessed is the ability to be classified as country while secretly masquerading as a rap artist. Yet by collaborating with other well-known artists on 14 of the 15 tracks, Ford reveals the inability to perform on his own. While this is a trademark of his, it doesn’t lend any credibility to his own talents as a musician.
I think the biggest flaw of this album, though, is how it lacks consistency. Not only teaming up with country artists, Ford collaborates with Boyz II Men on a song titled “Happy in Hell.” This track creates the impression that not only is Colt Ford desperate for someone to duet with, but that he is willing to chance losing his footing in the country scene.
Although, unlike some country artists, Ford does display knowledge of the realm beyond whining of a cheating ex, he only treads in the sea of meaningful topics without diving into them wholeheartedly. “Back,” featuring Jake Owen, expresses just this: a song about yearning of going back to simpler times; a deeper, though- provoking message delivered beautifully in the chorus, but throughout the verses, Ford’s rapping takes away the seriousness of the meaning.
All in all, Declaration of Independence is a train wreck. What was meant to be a new beginning for Colt Ford only restates the fact that he isn’t capable of sticking to a genre, as well as not being able to perform more than one song alone on an entire album. Looking back at his past songs, “No Trash in my Trailer” also displays a lack of ingenuity, although it does sound more country than crap.
Whether or not you like his new album will be based on a few key variables: if you like stereotypical redneck references, if you like bad rapping, and how much alcohol you usually consume before subjecting your precious eardrums to a confused excuse for music. If you tend to involve at least two of those variables when deciding on what music to listen to, only then do I urge you to give Colt Ford’s new album a listen.
