Most of us can admit that Toby Keith is a premier balladeer. Something that has been largely forgotten about him in the last few years, however, is that he’s also rather good at having good fun too. Lately, he’s mostly associated with swagger and subpar music (with the exception of some decent ballads here and there), but “Trailerhood” is here to remind us of how jovial Keith can sound when he lets his boisterous guard down and just allows himself to have some fun.
In the most organic production of an up-tempo single that we’ve heard from Toby in a very long time, “Trailerhood” vividly paints a picture of a happily redneck community of trailer dwellers. He humorously describes the characters of the trailerhood with affection and counts himself among them, as he says “It takes one to know one.”
The song follows the “look how country I am” theme of late, but also veers from it a bit by avoiding indictments of those who aren’t. Likewise, it’s all done in good humor (, which can be heard in Keith’s affable performance and accompanying cheerful production.
Written by Toby Keith
Grade A-
Listen: Trailerhood
Since I’m not a TK fan anymore, rather than buy this song I’ll just reread “Trailerpark” by Russell Banks, a great short story collection about some wacky characters in a New England trailerpark.
I did listen to the song. A- seems very generous.
I’ll just say right away that I fully expect dissent on this one. While I haven’t seen many reviews on the song, I’ve noticed a lot of commenters (in various places) mentioning that they don’t like it. As I wrote the review, I tried to find things that I didn’t like about the song and even considered down grading in order to be more in line with what the masses think, but I really like this song for some reason. I’ll just own it.
I’m not quite on board with this one… yet. I didn’t really think it was witty or clever enough to be worthy anything. I also think it’s a bit odd to be releasing another novelty song right after “Every Dog Has Its Day.” But it might grow on me eventually.
Leeann, I absolutely agree with you on this one. It’s a charming performance, and the song itself really is a slice of life without any boasting or bragging (which is, I think, what Toby could do more without).
You know that American Airlines commercial in which a beleaguered producer is trying to handle a director making a film about Parisian squirrels riding scooters?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UE6KTNTPC4
Upon arriving in Argentina, he says, “I don’t hate this.” That was my initial reaction to this song. Toby can be charming when he drops the sneering bravado, especially because his phrasing gets more fluid and his vocal sounds more relaxed.
I wouldn’t quite give it an A- (maybe a B-), but I do agree that, for one of his non-ballad singles, it is better than the obnoxious songs he’s been cranking out for too long now.
Yes, I agree this is quite a nice song without the OTT Tobyness we hear too much of ;)
I love this website. I check it daily and I usually agree with what’s said here. Leeann, I know you and Kevin are different people with different opinions but I can’t see how this song is a full letter grade higher than Jamey’s “Playing the Part.” I used to love Toby but his shtick has gotten quite old. It seems like at this point he’s not even trying and just skating on attitude. “Playing the Part” isn’t quite up to Jamey Johnson standards but it’s still one hell of a song. I would give “Trailerhood” a D+ at best. The sad thing is I bet it goes top 5 and “Playing the Part” barely cracks the top 40.
…grade a-? why not – a melody that almost makes you drive a couple of curves on a straight stretch of road, lyrics that make you grin and that trans am getting the full treatment in the clip. couldn’t care less about how accurate this rating is – this little piece of fun is spot on and so is the review.
While the song is an improvement over Josh Turner’s song with the same name, I wonder when Toby will get some creativity for his song titles and turns of phrase. Just in the last few years he’s “borrowed” the concept of “High Maintenance Woman” from an independent artist, stole the “punchline” of “A Little Too Late” from Mark Chesnutt, and this.