With a booming and ever-changing music industry, it is easy to lose an artist for a few years while waiting in anticipation for their next album. Thankfully for country music enthusiasts, Keith Urban’s latest album “Fuse” is set for release this week.
It’s been three long years since the release of his previous album, “Get Closer,” which held various hits for the established artist famous for his guitar-driven country ballads and catchy lyrics.
With hits such as, “Put You in a Song,” “Little Bit of Everything” and his recent collaboration with Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw in “Highway Don’t Care,” Keith Urban has a strong influence on the country charts. For him, “Fuse” may just be the best of his 21-year career in country music.
“Fuse” has a brand-new sound compared to his previous albums, as it focuses on feel-good songs about love and less of the slower ballad songs. A song that is full of hope for young love is, “Even the Stars Fall 4 U,” which is sure to be a hit among listeners.
Urban also has two duets on this album with two of country’s biggest stars.
“We Were Us” is number six on the album and features harmonization with Miranda Lambert. This song has a fast pace and good beat with some impressive guitar solos by Urban himself. Lambert and Urban's voices mesh well together and produce a lovely, upbeat sound.
The other duet on the album is with country’s bad boy, Eric Church. Titled “Raise ‘Em Up,” this song is a testament to the artistry of both Church and Urban as it perfectly displays both of their vocal talents. Those who have listened to a Church song know that he has a unique and distinctive sound to his voice that doesn’t always harmonize well with others.
Other tracks that are likely to be big hits in the country world are “She’s My 11” and “Heart Like Mine.”
This album is a testament to Urban’s abilities. He truly shines vocally and instrumentally, and he has set himself up for major success.
“Fuse” drops in stores and on iTunes on Sept. 10.
Reach the reporter at alexa.dangelo@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @alexa_dangelo