Red River Blue (Deluxe Version)

iTunes Review

Riding the momentum from his chart-topping single “Honey Bee,” Blake Shelton continues his career upswing with the romantic yet rocking Red River Blue. There’s plenty of ear-catching upbeat fare on this collection, with the rollicking workaday anthem “Get Some,” the homebody party tune “Ready to Roll” and the aforementioned “Honey Bee” (a playful number every bit as sweet as its title implies) standing out among them. Shelton tips his hat to classic Southern rock with “Good Ole Boys,” a reaffirmation of old-fashioned values. Even better are the album’s ballads — “God Gave Me You” and “I’m Sorry” are delivered by Blake with a blend of confidence and vulnerability that harkens back to the glory days of Conway Twitty. The title track is an aching country lament laced with Southwestern imagery and enhanced by Miranda Lambert’s background vocals. Scott Hendricks’ production keeps things radio-friendly without resorting to an excess of guitar twang or syrupy strings. With Red River Blue, Shelton reaches a still-higher artistic plateau.