In the almost three years since Jake Owen released his last studio album, a lot has happened to the Florida native, specifically his father’s bout with cancer (who now is cancer free!) and his divorce to Lacey Buchanan after three years of marriage. But instead of taking the “oh woe is me” route for his new album American Love, he sticks mostly to his fun beachin’ self and to help celebrate to long-awaited release, Owen held a free concert in New York City’s Madison Square Park to an audience packed with devoted fans.
Kicking off Owen’s fifth studio release is his newest single, “American Love” – an upbeat tune that gets you moving right away – and that’s just how he started the party in the park as well. The heavy horn section (trumpet, saxophone and trombone) adds a wonderful jazzy flair that is appreciated at its fullest when heard live. Owen took advantage of having such amazing instrumentalists on stage with him and covered Ben Harper’s “Steal My Kisses,” a verse from Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and the bombastic intro of Beyoncé’s “Crazy In Love” before segueing into his 2009 single “Eight Second Ride.”
Owen introduced a few more of the new tunes to his fans, and it became obvious that most already had the album as they were singing along. Everyone was expecting the road trippin’ anthem “VW Van,” given that it appears to be the album’s mascot: it’s featured on the cover artwork, the front of the keyboard was designed to look like the vehicle’s front, and a toy-sized van was seen sitting near the drum kit. The set also included the Thomas Rhett-esque “Good Company,” as well as the album’s first single, “American Country Love Song.”
While the overall feel of American Love has a happy-go-lucky view on love and life, there are a few sentimental songs, which not only adds a balance to the album, but they are some of the best and most mature songs Owen has recorded. “When You Love Someone” is a beautiful piano ballad where Owen’s vocals ooze heart-wrenching emotions that hit deep. He can’t shake the memories of a previous relationship in “You Ain’t Going Nowhere and “LAX,” which is Owen’s only co-write and has the most “country” feel on the album with plenty of pedal steel guitar, has Owen wishing his ex in LA (clever play on the word) the best while reminiscing through their memories. (In NYC, Owen performed a perfect solo version of “LAX” on an acoustic guitar.)
Owen might have only co-written one song on the album, but he’s in amazing company as some of the industry’s best are listed in the liner notes, including Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne, Hillary Lindsey, Ashley Gorley, and Dallas Davidson among others. (Owen co-produced three tracks as well).
And then there’s “If He Ain’t Gonna Love You” written by the power trio of McAnally, Luke Laird and the one and only Chris Stapleton, who also lends his bluesy vocals on the track. It’s now known how much Owen has loved Stapleton’s voice, going to lengths of requesting demo’s from the Traveller himself to hear him sing as he did not have a solo album recorded yet. Their voices along with the funky rock beat and passionate-filled lyrics for the girl who deserves to be loved makes it the keep-it-on-repeat track on American Love:
Girl I need to talk to you
Cause I got a question, it’s more like a suggestion
And here’s the deal
If he ain’t gonna love you
If he ain’t gonna love you, I will
Like you never been loved before
Up against the wall when you walk in the door
Looking like you wanna leave, you want some more
If he ain’t gonna love you, I will
As they say, good things come to those who wait, and those who have been waiting since 2013 for a new album have plenty to enjoy with American Love. This more mature Owen still has his fun in the sun personality but balances out the party with depth and emotional lyrics.
Jake Owen’s American Love Track Listing:
1. “American Love”
2. “After Midnight”
3. “Where I Am”
4. “Everybody Dies Young”
5. “VW Van”
6. “Good Company”
7. “LAX”
8. “If He Ain’t Gonna Love You”
9. “When You Love Someone”
10. “You Ain’t Going Nowhere”
11. “American Country Love Song”