The Singles Jukebox

Whoever said that love knew no genre?

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[7.00]

Alfred Soto: Once upon a long ago the insistent whack of “Like I Love Country Music” would’ve occasioned serious chatter about genre and who polices it. In 2022, to quote Brad Paisley a decade ago, this is country music. I like the way Kane Brown’s vocal plays hoochie-coochie with the guitar interjections; I like less the rote callbacks to legends who existed on Earth to give their blessings to Brown. This is fine. It isn’t Miranda Lambert.
[6]

Thomas Inskeep:  “Like I Love Country Music”‘s version of country music is so smart and so reminiscent of Shania Twain’s ’90s-’00s Imperial Phase: it thumps (and occasionally features a squalling electric guitar) while still spotlighting “trad” country instrumentation (barroom piano, fiddle, steel guitar). None of this would matter if it weren’t topped by the endlessly charming Brown, however; you can damned near hear him smiling as he sings. Come to think of it, that’s much like Twain’s peak period, too. The lyrics here are cute and a bit pat — I mean, how many country songs have you heard, especially from the ’90s forward, praising the history of the genre in which they’re being performed? — but Brown is able to sell them. He’s one of the best stars the genre has to offer right now, and this is further proof. From almost any other male commercial country artist right now, this would be a [6] at best, but in Brown’s hands it’s an 
[8]

Kayla Beardslee: This song sounds exactly like you would expect based on the title, but the hook plus guitars get the job done. It’s corny, but ultimately harmless. I’m not sure we of the Jukebox have much of a right to tease other people for randomly spouting off about how much they love music!
[5]

Al Varela: Nashville’s current love affair with 90s country throwbacks has been surprisingly fruitful. Though “Like I Love Country Music” isn’t as creative as Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” or as outstanding as Scotty McCreery’s “Damn Strait”, it manages to get by almost entirely on its rich, delightful sound. In reality, the writing is pretty derivative and relies on easy name drops, but the twang of the electric guitar and fiddle on top of Kane Brown’s excellent baritone… It’s such a cheat. And then the fiddle solo!!! The fiddle solo!!!! On top of that, there are little moments like the quick vocal sample of “Brand New Man” by Brooks & Dunn and the song doing a fake-out ending before going off on an instrumental solo, which, ugh! Again! Cheating! But it sounds so fun and full of love! I can’t help but smile.
[8]

John S. Quinn-Puerta: This sounds tailor-made for Season 3 of The Righteous Gemstones, and reader, that’s a good thing. The “Black Skinhead” drums lead into a solid jam, with well-executed fiddle and what sounds like pedal steel. Sometimes a song irritates when it pulls a fake ending, but “Like I Love Country Music” feels less like a sitcom lasting a season too many and more like your buddy deciding he can have one more beer.
[8]

Leah Isobel: The whole concept is a little overbearing, but the crunchy stadium guitars and Brown’s appealing, dorky enthusiasm sell it.
[7]