They Don't Know

by Jason Aldean

Overview

Jason Aldean settles into his slow stride on 2016's They Don't Know, his seventh studio set. Facing the onset of his forties, Aldean chooses to pivot off of the smoldering moments of 2014's Old Boots, New Dirt, a slow-churning intensity achieved partially through a sly adoption of electronic rhythms. On They Don't Know, Aldean largely strips away such nods toward modernity, adding some loops to lead track (and lead single) "Lights Come On," an ode toward hitting a big country concert at the end of a hard work week -- a number designed as a rocker but proceeding at the same deliberate tempo as the power ballads that dominate the album, including "When the Lights Go Out," which cleverly closes They Don't Know. Often, the question of rocking hinges on a matter of volume: the party songs are slightly louder due to the preponderance of guitars, not due to quicker rhythms or any suggestion of chaos. It's comfortable ground for Aldean and, strikingly, he sounds comfortable too, never singing with an audible scowl. He seems settled in his skin, knowing he's at his best in a maudlin minor key, and that shift is welcome even if it accidentally accentuates just how slowly They Don't Know plods. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/09/2016
Label:	Broken Bow
UPC:	0697487222720
Rank:	37283

Tracks

1. Lights Come On
2. A Little More Summertime
3. This Plane Don't Go There
4. Comin' in Hot
5. First Time Again
6. Bad
7. They Don't Know
8. One We Won't Forget
9. Whiskey'd Up
10. In Case You Don't Remember
11. All Out of Beer
12. Any Ol' Barstool
13. The Way a Night Should Feel
14. Reason to Love L.A.
15. When the Lights Go Out

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jason Aldean   Primary Artist
Mike Johnson   Guitar (Steel)
Tony Harrell   Piano,Synthesizer
Jonathan Yudkin   Cello
Rob McNelley   Guitar (Electric)
Kurt Allison   Guitar (Electric)
Rich Redmond   Drums,Percussion
Kelsea Ballerini   Featured Artist
Adam Shoenfeld   Guitar (Electric)
Danny Rader   Tres,Bouzouki,Hi String Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Russell Terrell   Vocals (Background)
John Willis   Hi String Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Russ Pahl   Guitar (Steel)
Perry Coleman   Vocals (Background)
Tully Kennedy   Bass
Neil Thrasher   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Michael Dulaney   Composer
Rhett Akins   Composer
Tom Shapiro   Composer
Brett Warren   Composer
Brandon Epps   Editing Engineer
Brad Warren   Composer
Drew Bollman   Assistant Engineer
Jim Wright   Photography
Jordan Schmidt   Composer
Jay DeMarcus   Vocal Engineer
Jerry Flowers   Composer
Kurt Allison   Composer
Brett James   Composer
Rodney Clawson   Composer
Tony Martin   Composer
Mickey Jack Cones   Vocal Engineer
Dallas Davidson   Composer
Ben Hayslip   Composer
Deric Ruttan   Composer
Sam Martin   Assistant Engineer
Douglas Gledhill   Design
Steve Pasch   Composer
Shalacy Griffin   Production Coordination
Dylan Altman   Composer
Blake Bollinger   Composer,Drum Programming
Jimmy Robbins   Composer
Josh Thompson   Composer
Madalyn Hankins   Art Direction
Brian White   Composer
Lee Miller   Composer
Jaron Boyer   Composer,Drum Programming
Ben Stennis   Composer
Jeremy Bussey   Composer
Michael Carter   Composer
Jordan Rager   Composer
Tyler Hubbard   Composer
Brian Kelley   Composer
Travis Denning   Composer
Jason Sever   Composer
Jayme Calhoun   Licensing
Brady Tillow   Assistant Engineer
Michael Tyler   Composer
Josh Mirenda   Composer
Nick Brophy   Composer
Shane Minor   Composer
Shane McAnally   Composer
Wendell Mobley   Composer
Justin Niebank   Mixing
Jonathan Edwards   Composer
Jim McCormick   Composer
Peter Coleman   Engineer
Tully Kennedy   Composer
Richard Dodd   Mastering
Neil Thrasher   Composer
Ashley Gorley   Composer
Michael Knox   Producer