It Ain't All Bad kicks off with a pair of groovy, bluesy pieces of country rock in the opening title track and "Voodoo." Both represent sides of Steve Wariner that were explored through the years but perhaps never with as much strong guitar licks as each have here. They Also serve as a smart bridge from the previous instrumental work to the more familiar tunes like "Arrows At Airplanes" which has a classic sound to the lyrics and melody and the harmonies on this recall something that would suit Restless Heart or strong modern vocal bands like Rascal Flatts. "Don't Tell Her I'm Not" is a beautiful love song about a man who doesn't want the love of his life to know that he's not the 'perfect' man she sees in him. It's a song guys and girls in love will be able to relate to.
Traditional country makes an appearance on "Bluebonnet Memories" with a sound that is perfect for a Texas hill country honky tonk, the kind of music that Bob Wills made famous and is being kept alive by bands like Asleep At The Wheel and The Time Jumpers (in Nashville). "'48 Ford" also feels strongly traditional with the acoustic upright bass, acoustic guitars and fiddle. "Spokes In A Wheel" is a soulful lyrical and melodic masterpiece while "I Want To Be Like You" is a song that any parent can relate to. The vocal showcases Steve Wariner's strength as a vocalist where he hits some really pretty falsetto notes while singing about his sons (one of which -- Ross Wariner -- orchestrated the strings on the track). Wariner's other son -- Ryan Wariner -- plays guitar (and solo) on "What More Do You Want."
Even as It Ain't All Bad crosses familiar territory throughout much of the record, Steve showcases his ability with a song that could find home on contemporary country radio with "It's Called A Brand New Day." No, it's not a dirt road, girls and beer song but rather it's about a guy who figured out a way to get over relationships. It's rockin', there's just nothing else I can possibly say about it. Another song with a very contemporary vibe (the percussion here feels like programming but isn't) is "Whenver I See You." It's a beautiful mid-tempo ballad with some strong classical guitar notes in the mix of the song along with the percussion. It all feels timeless.
And that's exactly what makes It Ain't All Bad such a fun album. There's variety on the album but it's all melded together to help It Ain't All Bad feel like the work of a master who is making music for the pure reason that he has to, not because he has contracts or radio station obligations to meet. It Ain't All Bad is a bit of a misnomer because the album is nothing but good.
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