Charleston, SC 1966

Prime Cuts: We All Fall Down, Come Back Song, She's Beautiful

Hootie who? Despite being the front man of Hootie and the Blowfish, Darius Rucker has made himself such a name in country music that has made his days with the Hootie a distant memory. Not since Charley Pride has another African American country artist made such a squall on the country music front. Three consecutive number ones from his debut disc "Learn to Live" and garnering the New Artist Award at CMA have certainly firmly established Rucker as one of the mainstays of the genre. Sophomore follow -up "Charleston, SC 1966" ought to continue to give Rucker the same red carpet treatment of more awards and number one hits. Like his solo debut, "Charleston, SC 1966" continues on the same radio ready path of pop country with that occasional touch of southern charm. And just like his predecessor, Rucker has a hand in co-penning all these cuts with some of Nashville finest scribes including Brad Paisley, Ashley...Read more

I love this new music from Darius Rucker. "Charleston SC, 1966" is a reference to Darius Rucker's birth place and birth year.


My favorite track is the duet with Brad Paisley. "I Don't Care". This is a fun song is about living a carefree life drinking beer and looking at pretty women.

My other track is "Come Back Song". This song is about trying to get back together with someone. I love his vocals on this song. The mandolin playing by Sam Bush is excellent on this song.

"Might Get Lucky" is a song about trying to rekindle the romance in a relationship while hoping to get lucky. A lot of married people will relate to the lyrics of this song.

"Southern State of Mind" and "In A Big Way" are two songs about what a huge influence growing up in the South has on his personality. I love these two tunes. "Whiskey And You" is the prettiest song about alcohol I have ever heard. I love the musical arrangements on the song...Read more

Former Hootie & The Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker reinvented himself as a Country singer, after the dismal showing of his brilliant but overlooked Neo-Soul debut "Back To Then". It paid off as his sophomore CD "Learn To Love" went on to sell over a million in the US.

His new CD "Charleston, SC 1966" pays homage to his hometown and year of birth, as well as his friend and biggest influence Radney Foster. It is, he says, a continuation of its predecessor but I think the songs are even catchier this time around. Opening is the upbeat Rock-tinged "This" with a chorus reminiscent of Hootie & The Blowfish's "Only Wanna Be With You". Other catchy upbeat songs are "Might Get Lucky", the jangly banjo/fiddle-driven "Love Will Do That", and the traditional sounding "I Don't Care" (featuring Brad Paisley).

However, it's the albums ballads that are a revelation; "Come Back Song", "Whiskey & You" (with quivering guitars and a nice pedal steel guitar solo), "Southern...Read more