His first four albums might have gone gold, but Blake Shelton’s fifth release, Startin’ Fires, packs an even bigger punch.
The American could justly be described as the perfect contemporary country artist. Boasting a rich baritone voice, he effortlessly bounces between traditional-sounding honky tonk, romantic power ballads and pure country. “This is something I’ve been wanting to do,” he reveals, “exploring richer melodies and challenging myself as a singer.”
Startin’ Fires’ opening single, She Wouldn’t Be Gone, soared to the top of the country charts. But it’s “definitely not the typical cut you'd hear on one of my albums,” Blake explains. “It's got a lot of minor chords and a unique melody for country music. Vocally, it's one of the tougher songs I'll ever sing and I love that.”
Other highlights include I’ll Just Hold On, which also made it into the top ten, and Bare Skin Rug, the wonderful duet that he co-wrote with Miranda Lambert.