As has been noted countless times before, Mark Chesnutt has one of the most defined traditional voices in modern country music. He can sing a love song to melt the hardest heart or he can sing a hard core country weeper with so much emotion that people can’t help but feel his pain. His biggest strength, however, lies in good honky tonk drinking songs, as was very apparent on his Saving The Honky Tonk album and is, once again, adeptly demonstrated in his latest single, “(Come On In) The Whiskey’s Fine.”
Although the bar owner admits that “the band’s drunk/The beer’s skunked” and they “ain’t got no wine”–not to mention that “the food will make you sick” and “the air will make you choke”–a desperate Chesnutt and his cousin Lindall are assured ”But come on in/The Whiskey’s fine.”
As the third single from Chesnutt’s Rollin’ with the Flow album, this is the strongest release so far. While the first two releases were slow, including a faithful Charlie Rich cover, this song has the Chesnutt charm that endeared us to him in the first place. It has a toe tapping beat, hilarious redneck lyrics, good electric and steel guitar solos and even a quick banjo sample of “Dixie.” Most importantly though, Chesnutt’s vocals are great and he sounds like he’s having fun with a decidedly fun song.
Written by Phil O’Donnell, Dave Turnbull & Kerry Kurt Phillips
Grade: B+
Listen: (Come On In) The Whiskey’s Fine
I really enjoy this single. Its fun, toe-tapping, but I don’t feel like I am being pander to like I do with a lot of the “drinking” songs we have had lately in country music. Its been added to my ipod.
I love this song! I can’t wait to play it for my family!
I just heard this song for the first time, this morning – it’s great! I’m from a town “close to Boone”, and I know exactly what he’s singing about!
Great song. Wonder if ol’ Mark’s talkin bout Heaton.
I absolutely love this song! I live IN Boone, NC, so when I heard this song today, it automatically became my new favorite! I think its hilarious!