"Take a Little Ride" Jason Aldean

Though he's been entertaining audiences for years, Georgia boy Jason Aldean got a whole lot of new fans in 2011 when "Don't You Wanna Stay," his lovely duet with Kelly Clarkson, became an enormous crossover hit. The buzz led to his first top ten appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 (with Ludacris collab "Dirt Road Anthem") and a new single—"Take a Little Ride," from his upcoming fifth studio album—that has already shot to #1 on iTunes in its first day of release. Driven by a hard-hitting, easygoing, twanged-out electric guitar, this tune will likely be a favorite for tailgating frat boys and country radio alike. But what will mainstream audiences make of it? Probably not much. Featuring lyrics about Chevys and cut-offs, it almost feels like a song that might be conceived by a novice with only stereotypical understandings of country music. Much more egregiously, it's the kind of bland composition that makes for a great barbeque soundtrack, but not a particularly interesting listen. C