THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1

Keith Urban

Released on 8/7/20 by Keith Urban LP11
Main artists: Keith Urban
Genre: Country

Available in

24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

Keith Urban takes the title of the first song, "Out the Cage," on his 11th album literally—a plea for breaking free from oppression and boredom, it's also a silky disco track that expands the country singer's horizons by roping in Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers and rapper Breland. Urban has said that around a third of The Speed of Now Part I was written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, and it seems to have emboldened him to throw a few curveballs. He also surprises with trap beats on "Forever" and "Say Something." "Tumbleweed" serves up '70s country-rock sass that suits Urban well. And the finger-snapping, Jason Mraz-esque "One Too Many" is an irresistible duet with Pink that makes a solid case for the pop singer to record a country record herself. But for the most part, the album is Urban doing what's made him a star: mid-tempo numbers, and the occasional ballad, about chasing love, memories and a better life. His voice cracks in all the right places on "Live With," an inspirational ode to dreaming big ("I'd rather live a life I can learn with, swerve with, twist and turn with, take a 90-mile-an-hour curve with"). The metaphor of fast curves is a theme, in fact, popping up again on the catchy "Superman," along with blazing guitar and a healthy dose of rose-colored hindsight: "We were Johnny and June in a ring of fire." The last quarter of the album really shines. "God Whispered Your Name" gives FM-radio soft rock a good name, with its moody organ, lush chorus and appealingly cheesy lyrics ("When God whispered your name, that's when everything changed, love came out of the rain, talk about being saved"). The bubbly "Polaroid" feels as effervescent as a Miller High Life, while piano ballad "Better Than I Am" is a swooning thing of torchy beauty. And early single "We Were" presents an odd-couple pairing that works incredibly well. Written by modern outlaw Eric Church, it delves into the Americana nostalgia he loves: leather jackets and Harleys, feet hanging out over the edge of a water tower, lighter in the air for "Pour Some Sugar on Me." When the two singers trade verses— Urban's sweet slickness up against Church's bad-boy scruff—it's kind of magic. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz

More info

THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1

Keith Urban

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From $10.83/month

Out The Cage

00:03:09

Jamie Muhoberac, Engineer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - John Hanes, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - NILE RODGERS, Electric Guitar, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Johnson, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Keith Urban, Producer, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Co-Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Sean Small, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Co-Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Russell Graham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tremaine "Six7" Williams, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Sumser, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Co-Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Randy Merrill, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Breland, Choir, Vocals, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Ditty, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Breland, ComposerLyricist - Elthon Mendoza, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jamereo Artis, Bass, AssociatedPerformer