“Honkytonk U” his last release on Dreamworks before he records on his own record label has arrived from Toby Keith.

As much as I like Toby, I don’t know if this is one of his better CD’s. It doesn’t come across as his earlier releases have music wise. I couldn’t wait to get this CD, I always look forward to his new releases, this one just doesn’t seem to have his usual zest for the music. There are no new patriotic songs that have been present on his earlier projects, it almost sounds like he is just trying to get the CD over and done with. Don’t get me wrong, there are a couple of songs that I do like, it is Toby singing after all. There have been mixed reviews from long time fans, some love it, some hate it, there doesn’t seem to a whole lot of middle ground.

I do enjoy the song She Ain’t Hooked On Me No More with Merle Haggard, Toby’s voice seems to blend with Merles very well. Not to mention that it is good to see the older established artists pairing with the newer stars of today and Toby likes to bring them in on his works (Willie Nelson on Beer for My Horses is a good example). This almost seems to be an autobiographical CD, starting with a song about being raised around a honky tonk that his grandmother owned to relationships breaking up. Toby wrote or cowrote most of the songs on this release and for the most part did a great job. It’s just not your usual Toby Keith type of album, maybe that is why I have such a hard time with it, it isn’t what I expect from him. I haven’t given up on it, while it isn’t my favorite CD, it still gets play time in my CD player. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think in the forums.