STARS: 4/5 
Thomas Rhett’s third album “Life Changes” branches out in style to entertain and expose his audience to country-fusion music.
Rhett has recently become a father of two, and the titular song chronicles that event. The rest of the tracks give the listener a feeling of nostalgia, even if they’ve never experienced what he’s singing about.
The record starts off with a hit in “Craving You,” which has been on the scene for quite some time as a must-hear. It is reminiscent in tone and style of Rhett’s last major hit, “T-Shirt,” off his preceding album “Tangled Up.”
However, that’s where the classic sound of Rhett ends. The next track, “Unforgettable” provides a Sam Hunt-esque spoken lyric style that flows into a toe-tapping, easy to sing chorus.
“Sixteen” reverts back to the country twang of a guitar and vivid descriptions of what it’s like to be younger than you are now with lyrics like “What I wouldn’t give to be sixteen, wild and free, cruisin’ up and down Main Street in my F-150.” The song ends with “Now I’m 25 and I’m drinking wine with my wife at home,” the listener feels a sense of nostalgia of an iconic country song.
The fourth track “Drink A Little Beer” stands out as pure country with noticeable hand claps, guitar and fiddle sounds. The track features Rhett’s father, country singer Rhett Akins, and their chemistry and similar voice tones give the track a family feel that makes you want to gather up your friends, sit on the porch and, well, drink a little beer.
The next few tracks pick up with influences from pop music with the likes of Zedd and The Chainsmokers. Rhett does it flawlessly on “Leave Right Now.” The following tracks are reminiscent of his 2015 song “Crash and Burn” with the ‘60s American Bandstand vibe.
The next noticeably different track is “Kiss Me Like A Stranger.” Slow in an R&B style, his solid vocals keep listeners on board with the mixed sound.
The next two tracks return to the classic sound Rhett created on his 2015 album, but the last track is a ballad with a beat. Rhett’s lyrics are personal and humanizing, bringing the listener down to earth. Rhett captures what is most important to him when he sings “Can’t take diamonds, can’t take gold, but I’ll take your love with me when I go, I’m gonna take it to the grave with me.”
The album ends on a high note with “Grave” and the transformation from safe country to experimental trans-genre is complete.
The album is varied, and each track keeps the audience engaged. While some tracks can’t stand alone, the album as a whole is an accomplishment for Rhett, and an example of how sticking strictly to one genre is a creative limitation.
“Life Changes” is Rhett’s best work yet. Perhaps more artists can learn from this and branch out in their own right as well.
Listen to “Life Changes” below.