It is not in good taste to name your album after the war tactics of Americans in Iraq ('shock and awe'). American country star Toby Keith has a little brother for politically correct lyrics; this patriot would rather testify to his outspoken right-wing political ideas, as in American Soldier and the bonus track The Taliban Song, in which he glorifies the violence of war. In other songs, such as in
… the dry comic If I Was Jesus and the sarcastic The Critic, he proves to have the necessary perspective. Regardless, Keith was the country artist who sold the most concert tickets in 2002, now he has scored no less than sixteen number one hits in the American country chart. Apart from textual content, Keith convinces on Shock'n Y'All with strong, melodic songs and a solid country rock style, where even funky rhythms (Time For Me To Ride, Sweet) can be found. Which makes Toby Keith (musically anyway) a lot more progressive than it seems at first sight. (MS)more
