As the most popular country DJ in the U.S. in 2016, it was perhaps inevitable that
Bobby Bones would release a record: it's the next move in multimedia domination. Never mind that
Bones only became a country dude upon the urging of his corporate benefactors in 2012 -- he's now the voice of bro country. Appropriately,
The Critics Give It 5 Stars not only provides a send-up of
Luke Bryan -- it doesn't sound a thing like
Bryan, but it's the thought that counts -- but the sense of humor is designed for a town where the local bar is a Buffalo Wild Wings. Sure,
Bobby and the Raging Idiots josh on hip-hop, but they take more shots at country rednecks, so they're equal-opportunity offenders. They'll poke nerds in the ribs, but only in the guise that
Bobby is the geek, too, but most of the jokes are targeted at broad, obvious targets that won't take offense -- reality TV, corporations, and
Nickelback. Thanks to some high-profile guest stars,
The Critics Give It 5 Stars can take the form of pleasing country-pop --
Charles Kelley lends "She's a 10, I'm a 2" a streamlined sheen,
Brad Paisley turns "I...Like You" into an ingratiating music-box novelty -- but usually
The Critics Give It 5 Stars is happy to be nothing more than the bumpers on drive-time radio. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine