(Photo Courtesy of Big Loud Mountain Records)Florida Georgia Line’s second album, “Anything Goes,” released on Oct. 14, is filled with party anthems and lighthearted pop-country hits, delivering on the sound that made the group big when it hit the country music scene 2012.
The duo’s most popular song, “Cruise,” lasted on the Billboard country charts for a record shattering 24 weeks, ushering the group into the spotlight and inspiring a cross-style remix of the song featuring rapper Nelly.
“Anything Goes,” the album's titular song, is a perfect sequel to “Cruise,” with a heavily produced pop-with-a-hint-of-twang backtrack and lyrics about how “Victoria’s Secret ain’t a secret no more,” following a Friday night party.
The song sets the tone of the album perfectly, with other party anthems, “Sun Daze” and “Sippin' On Fire” following suit.
“Sun Daze” is a relaxed highlight with witty lyrics and an up-tempo beat. While the term “Sunday Funday” might not be eclipsed by the Florida Georgia Line's “Sun Daze,” it is still a fun homage to the popular day of rest and relaxation, making a perfect second single.
The album’s first single, “Dirt,” finds the duo trying to branch out from lighter inspirations to a deeper and more meaningful moment. However, the lyrics come off as clichéd and tired, making the song skip worthy. The duo is talented and handles the music well, but the song doesn’t live up to the hype of the album.
Songs like “Smoke” and ”Like You Ain’t Even Gone” reach more complex and emotional moments while maintaining the album's high energy. The polished vocals and highly produced instrumentation delivers Florida Georgia Line's pop country vibe while expanding lyrical prowess.
The album has a good flow of feel-good moments mixed with moments of lighter complexity, but it feels very reminiscent of the previous “Here’s To The Good Times,” released in 2012.
The duo’s musical style has been described as "bro country," a term used to describe mainstream country that often portrays “booze, boys and the girls they’re eyeing across the party, often featuring more guitars than fiddles,” according to Time. “Anything Goes” does diverge from the band's usual song inspirations, but also holds true to the themes the band has made a name on.
While the band delivers the sound and feeling fans have grown to expect, it does not advance the duo as artists, perhaps leaving room for growth in the future, but possibly indicating the depth of Florida Georgia Line. At any rate, it’s a fun pop country party soundtrack and a strong follow-up to “Here’s To The Good Times.”
Reach the reporter at Samantha.Shotzbarger@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @SShotzbarger
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