By Jules Cantor ’11, Sports Editor

At the beginning of summer 2010, my friend Andrew, a St. Xavier senior, got in my car, put in a CD, and said, “you have to listen to this!” When he told me he was putting in Kenny Chesney’s Greatest Hits, Volume Two, I was somewhat skeptical. I didn’t particularly like country music, and didn’t see how this CD could be so significant. However, one car ride revolutionized my taste in music; it is the foundation of my affinity for country music. So as summer drew to a close, and we heard about the impending release of a new CD, I had very high expectations. With a mixture of Chesney’s typical rock-like country and catharsis, Chesney makes a striking impact on Hemingway’s Whiskey’s listeners.

Chesney begins his story with a song entitled Boys of Fall that has nationally become somewhat of an anthem for football players. In fact, at the beginning of the 2010 school year, ESPN presented a special program with the same name, a college football preview, with Chesney’s song serving as the background music and basis of the special. As the first track on the album, it is a nostalgic look back at Chesney’s playing days that really hits home for the class of 2011 football players like me, knowing that our football careers are coming to a close. Chesney describes the sights, sounds, and smells of the game as well as the recognition in school and the camaraderie that are byproducts of high school football participation. This opening track sets the scene for an album full of quality music.

The third track on the CD, Coastal, combines effective acoustic guitar and fun lyrics to create the sounds of vacation. The song refers to finishing work and “going coastal,” the idea of dropping every care and going out to spend some time enjoying themselves. In a time period as stressful as first semester of senior year, it is certainly a reminder of the fun things to come.

In the seventh track, Where I Grew Up, Chesney revisits his teenage years, making a distinction between the place he was raised, and the places and events that made him a man. He relates how events such as the passing of his grandfather and the first time he saw his mother cry increased his awareness of the world, and helped him gain “father time.” The song isn’t particularly catchy, but its lyrics have the potential to absolutely enthrall its listeners. Here, Chesney shows that not only is he a master musician, but also a polished poet.

The next track on the album is entitled Reality. With a message similar to Coastal, Chesney tells us to “break free from reality.” This song is a classic Chesney rock-out, the blare-it-out-in-your-car, sing-along-embarrassingly-jam. With a fast-paced, upbeat rhythm and enjoyable lyrics, this is my favorite song on the album.

This is only a sample of the songs on this CD, and to be honest, you really can’t go wrong with any song on Hemingway’s Whiskey. I would recommend it to any listener of any taste in music. Don’t let your preexisting notions of country music deter you from picking up a copy, because Chesney’s music crosses multiple genres, appealing to the masses.