In 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus gave the world the inescapable hit
“Achy Breaky Heart.” Grunge was still in its infancy stage, Snoop
Dogg hadn’t even been introduced to the mainstream and rock music
was about to die another death before getting resurrected another
three or four times.
As many detractors as Billy Ray Cyrus has, you have to admire
him for his resiliency. Many rap, rock and grunge bands have long
since left the scene since 1992. And Billy Ray Cyrus’ latest album,
Time Flies, is probably his finest hour. Cyrus doesn’t have
the breakout, catchy hit like “Achy Breaky” this time around, but
the album contains a restrained modesty that makes the lyrical
cheese go down easy.
Time Flies makes no pretense in its lack of risk-taking. Billy
Ray has about an equal portion of ballads, barroom raisers and
emotional confessionals worthy of the most clichéd PAX
television specials. In a wince-worthy moment, Cyrus name-drops his
aforementioned hit in “Hard to Leave.”
Time Flies has a slew of songwriters at its disposal,
leaving those who want to hear Cyrus’ true voice frustrated.
The album itself is thankfully underproduced. Cyrus seems to
have taken some hints from the alt-country movement, especially on
tracks such as “Close to Gone.” Unfortunately, Cyrus sticks an
unnecessary electric guitar riff at the end of many songs, proving
that some survivors of country music’s excesses of the early ’90s
don’t die easily. A bit more restraint and Cyrus could have had a
memorable, if not predictable artistic detour into bluegrass —
think Garth Brooks’ ghastly turn to glam rock, but with more
success.
The album ends with an acoustic version of “Some Gave All” — a
reminder about Cyrus’ past glories, as if those who pick up this
album didn’t know already. It ends the album on a modestly good
note. At its best,
Time Flies is not an embarrassment and will definitely go
down in the ‘plus’ category of Cyrus’ record. Still, its typical,
mainstream country sound makes it perfect jukebox music — loud
enough to be heard, but sorely lacking in the emotional punch
needed to resonate within listeners.
