Keith Urban has a new album out, the excellent–if too short–“Get Closer.”
And he dedicates it, of course, to his wife, Nicole Kidman.
Keith writes:
“Nicole Mary–i continue to be brought to my knees by this love of ours…I am in awe of how this blessed family we are creating stretches and fearlessly opens my vulnerable heart…and I just want to be a better man, for you, and father for our heavenly Sunday Rose, and have you go to sleep every night knowing that no one has ever, or will ever, love you as much I do…and all we need is faith…”
Urban has always been pitched as a country singer. Of course he and his blessed family are based in Nashville. But after listening to “Get Closer,” I’d say he’s really more in the vein of the Eagles or Southern California country. On “Get Closer” he reminds me more of Dan Fogelberg than Johnny Cash. The songs are tremendously catchy country rock. My only concern is there are only eight of them. Four more would have been perfect. But we’ll have to take what we can get.
On the other hand, “Get Closer” has no filler. Urban doesn’t write all the songs, which is nice; a few of them are from Nashville songwriters (which must make the local publishers very happy). He wrote “Long Hot Summer” with Richard Marx, and a few others with his partner, Darrell Brown. I also really liked a non-Urban number called “Without You,” which could cross over to pop radio. (Think out of the box, guys.) All the songs are full of characters and conversation, just like a movie (hey Nicole). Well done.
