Carolyn's Boy (Capitol Nashville, 2023)

Darius Rucker has referenced his South Carolina roots numerous times in his career, but his first solo release in six years is a more direct tribute to his late mother, Carolyn, and not just in the title. Raised on church music, soul singers and country songs at home growing up, Rucker includes more than a hint of each here.

"Old Church Hymn," featuring Chapel Hart, evokes those childhood Sunday mornings in the pews, in a deep gospel tone that blossoms into an organ-driven, rousing singalong. The sole cover here is a version of Rhianna's "Lift Me Up" from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" that shows off Rucker's soulful side; it's also a tribute to the support he received from his mother as a child with dreams of becoming a singer.

If the album hits a few wrong notes, it's on the more generic singles that preceded its release. Sure, "Beers and Sunshine" was a chart-topping hit, but there's nothing about it that makes it seem like a Darius Rucker song and not just another paint-by-numbers country tune written by committee. Ditto for "Same Beer Different Problem," which just uses the same tropes to make a different, similarly simplistic point.

When Rucker hits the mark, however, he really can't be topped. On "Stargazing," he takes what's probably pop music's most tired cliche and sings it with such conviction that you can't help becoming a little starry-eyed by the end. "3 AM In Carolina" is the kind of story song that Rucker can wring every emotion out of, line after line, and "Sara" (written with Ed Sheeran) does the same with nostalgia and a lighter, breezy touch.

Next time, Rucker should put the throwaway drinking songs on a separate release and focus on his strengths as a singer and interpreter of soulful, emotionally resonant country music. Carolyn would approve.