Built for a 40th: outlaw country from Sturgill Simpson and a pile of Meat Loaf-sized party anthems. Reflective and ridiculous in all the right places.
Jon Turns 40 was made for a milestone birthday, and it’s a fascinating mix: more than half the 63 songs come from Sturgill Simpson, the genre-bending country artist, with “Brace for Impact (Live a Little),” “All Said and Done,” “I Don’t Mind,” “Living the Dream” and “Turtles All the Way Down” all included.
The rest is a big, cheesy, celebratory slice of 70s and 80s party music. Meat Loaf appears five times, including “Paradise By the Dashboard Light,” and TOTO shows up twice, with Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf,” Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry,” Steve Miller Band, The Pointer Sisters and The Weather Girls adding plenty of fun. It’s a strange and wonderful combination: thoughtful outlaw country for the reflective moments of turning 40, and pure singalong nostalgia for the part of the night where everyone’s dancing. Perfect for any birthday with a “4” in front of it, or any party where you want both a sense of humour and a little soul.
Mood: Country & Folk · Party & Dance · Throwback
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