This album cover image released by BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville shows 鈥淔or Recreational Use Only鈥 by Blake Shelton. (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville via AP)
This album cover image released by BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville shows 鈥淔or Recreational Use Only鈥 by Blake Shelton. (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville via AP)
Blake Shelton performs “Texas” during the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
A critical assessment of the merits of a subject, such as art, film, music, television, food and literature. Reviews are based on the writer鈥檚 informed/expert opinion.
Blake Shelton returns to his roots with ‘For Recreational Use Only’
Blake Shelton’s 13th studio album opens with a fitting declaration for both his latest project and the current state of his career: 鈥淪tay Country or Die Tryin’.鈥
This album cover image released by BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville shows 鈥淔or Recreational Use Only鈥 by Blake Shelton. (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville via AP)
Blake Shelton’s 13th studio album opens with a fitting declaration for both his latest project and the current state of his career: 鈥淪tay Country or Die Tryin’.鈥
It would be more accurately phrased like a question.
At this stage, Shelton is a longtime veteran of Hollywood on 鈥淭he Voice鈥 stage with in , far removed from his Nashville roots, all while maintaining the position of one of the most high-profile country stars of the current moment. But if country is a lifestyle and an image beyond its musical forms 鈥 saying nothing of the opening track’s arena-sized rock elements 鈥 is he staying true to some ethos? Is Shelton speaking diaristically when he sings 鈥淏oots ain鈥檛 never seen easy street鈥 in the album’s opening verse?
Perhaps not. In 2025, he performs between worlds, but no matter. He’s long dedicated himself to big country radio hits and returns to those roots across 鈥淔or Recreational Use Only.鈥 The songs here concern themselves with lived-in bars (“Cold Can”) and backroad acuity (“Some things we all gotta get through/鈥楾il it鈥檚 goin鈥, goin鈥, gone in the big rear view,” Shelton sings on 鈥淟ife’s Been Comin’ Too Fast.鈥)
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
鈥淭he Keys鈥 is haunted by past lives, or at least, achingly sentimental in his jukebox country style; 鈥淒on’t Mississippi鈥 offers whiskey wisdom: 鈥淵ou might die from a broken heart,鈥 he sings. 鈥淏ut you ain鈥檛 gonna die of thirst.鈥
Charms are found across the release, like in the honky-tonk happy 鈥淭exas,” and its cheerful reference to classic 鈥淎ll My Ex鈥檚 Live In Texas,鈥 or the big-hearted and big-voiced ballad on God and grief, 鈥淟et Him In Anyway.鈥
Collaborations are few and pointed. Shelton and Stefani harmonize beautifully on 鈥淗anging On’”; he does on 鈥淗eaven Sweet Home,鈥 an affecting meditation of mortality. He taps Josh Anderson for the slow-burn closer 鈥淵ears.鈥
Shelton might live a very different life than the characters found in his songs, as is often true of any larger-than-life celebrity performer. But make no mistake, this is a giant pop country record, with limitless potential for radio ubiquity.
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