27. April 2025
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Media Review

Jon Pardi – Honkytonk Hollywood

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Jon Pardi - Honkytonk Hollywood

Jon Pardi - Honkytonk Hollywood
4.4

Rating

 4.4/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • 17 songs, 13 of which are new
  • Nice range of songs
  • Good balance of different styles

Jon Pardi is taking us to Honkytonk Hollywood – at least regarding the title of his sixth studio album overall. The four time Billboard Country Songs Charts leader and Opry member released the record on 11th April 2025. Of course, I had to have a listen.

 

Jon Pardi – About The Artist

Jonathan Ryan Pardi was born on 20th May 1985 in Dixon in California. He also grew up in the city between San Francisco and Sacramento, before he moved to Nashville after high school. Even though he toured with Dierks Bentley in 2010 already, he released his debut single Missin’ You Crazy two years later. His debut album Write You a Song, released in 2014, became a golden record and peaked third in the US Country Charts. Only his sophomore album California Sunrise (2016) made it to the top of the album charts. However, Pardi lead the US Country Airplay charts four times with single releases. The first time he did so was with the 2015 song Head Over Boots.

Jon Pardi’s most recent album is the 2023 Christmas release Merry Christmas from Jon Pardi. Before that, he released Mr. Saturday Night in 2022. 

 

 

Jon Pardi – Honkytonk Hollywood – Track by Track

The 17 track album lasts 57 minutes.

1. Boots Off

After the instrumental intro, I already feel I’m in the Honkytonk Hollywood mood. Boots Off kicks off the album with a cool groove, which simply makes me move to the rhythm of this only. The only sad moment I have: my feel are not really made for boots. After listening to this first song, I already think I should wear them while writing this review. Great opener!

2. Friday Night Heartbreaker

Just four of the seventeen songs of the album have been shared before the album release. Friday Night Heartbreaker has been the by far most frequently streamed one. The song feels timeless in a modern way. Especially the beat of this song is catchy – even though the track itself is rather on the emotional and touching side.

3. She Gets To Drinking

We that often talk about “traditional” and “modern” country music. This country ballad by Jon Pardi illustrates that a song can be traditional and modern – and really beautiful. A universal tracks, which works for a romantic night as well as for a cheer at your next party. Love it.

When she gets to drinking
Her hair starts falling
When she gets to dancing
Last call ain’t ever calling
She gets every head spinning
From the buzz she’s getting
She puts the stars under the neon moon
When she gets to drinking
She gets me drinking too

4. Gamblin’ Man

Girl, don’t go all in on a gamblin’ man – the fourth track of the album also rather takes the romantic way. This time, the rhythm is rather on the reduced side. Thus, this one is definitely rather a good choice for twosome moments in life.

5. Hey California

Hey California is a heartbreak song with strumming guitars and some nice fiddle elements. Bad things happen on the West Coast, despite it’s pouring more than rain here in Tennessee. A nice song which is nicely flowing and staying in the mind of the listener.

6. Rush

The sound of Honkytonk Hollywood becomes more rocking with Rush again. The song is in the lower mid-tempo range, but still, it got some partying potential.

7. She Drives Away

The next single release of the album is She Drives Away. After the rocking episode before, Pardi shares another song, which could also work out nicely in an acoustic setting. You would miss the steel guitar in this one, though. Lovely listen.

8. He Went To Work

What would a country album be without the some melancholic, but also romanticizing song about country and simple man’s life? That’s what He Went To Work is about. I am sure that many listeners of the genre will love this song, coming with straight country music vibe.

He went to work, he’d get it done
Do anything under the sun
Even when his hands or his back was hurt
He’d dirty up a blue-collar shirt
He put his family and the good Lord
Top of the list of what he loved to live for
He’d drink a beer, he’d hunt and fish
Played catch with me and give Mom a kiss
He went to work

9. Last Call Thing

With Last Call Thing, the record presents another rhythmic, rather contemporary sounding track. When Pardi is asking Am I the last-call thing on your mind?, you just have to feel good and enjoy the song.

10. Honkytonk Hollywood

The second half of the album is already running, time to present its title track. Jon Pardi names his wife Summer a blue-eyed blue jean baby and praises the Northern California-origin hairdresser. Love leads to beautiful songs – especially if you marry the right songwriter.

11. Love The Lights Out

Another (and the last) already shared song is Love The Lights Out. The song is not too fast, but profits from lovely work on the bass side. Last, but not least, there is a(nother) really nice and catching chorus. The song simply works out well.

12. Nice Place To Visit

The album is closing with six new tracks. The first one, Nice Place To Visit leads back to the romantic ballad side of Honkytonk Hollywood. Jon Pardi’s voice feels very intense and present in this song, which is again having a very present fiddle part.

13. Hard Knocks

I come from the school of hard knocks
The one my dad, and his dad, and his daddy taught
I learned early that you better learn fast
How to get back up when life knocks you flat on your back

Jon Pardi is not only singing about Hard Knocks, but he is also going for harder rock again. The thirteenth song of the album is a great and straight country rocker. Would be great to have this guy on German stages soon (like in Hamburg 2024) – and party with him to songs like that.

14. Don’t You Wanna Know

It feels like Jon Pardi wants to give us some time to relax after this guitar smasher. The next song, Don’t You Wanna Know even feels a bit of pop-ish and kitschy with its gently flowing melody and present drumming. A nice, somehow pleasing track.

15. Bar Room Blue

Bar Room Blue is more on the country music side again, but still rather slow, spreading emotional vibes. One of these songs, which are simply beautiful listens. I like it.

Bar room blue
Another shade of gone
Yeah, this misery and gin’s got me blending right in
With an old Haggard song
She’s out painting the town
And I’m just drinking them down
It ain’t cool just going through
This bar room blue

16. Who I Don’t Wanna Be

Who I Don’t Wanna Be starts rather slow-ish and quiet. However, the chorus is changing the energy level dramatically and turns this listen into a really interesting one. Not too rocking for traditionalists, but still sufficiently modern so that it is a good listen for many fans of the genre.

17. Kinda Wanna Keep It That Way

The chucker-out comes with a very present rhythm, which is defining the vibes of the song. Kinda Wanna Keep It That Way works well for a late night country party dance. I nonetheless feel that the song could even have a bigger impact to the overall listen.

 

Jon Pardi – Honkytonk Hollywood – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Jon Pardi – Honkytonk Hollywood – Track by Track

17 songs, 13 of which are new – Jon Pardi really treats his fans well on Honkytonk Hollywood. The album is fading out a bit at the end, I would have loved to have a bit of a stronger punch at the end. Or, vice versa, maybe the beginning with three, four, absolutely great songs was a bit too good for the rest of the album. Nonetheless, Pardi’s 2025 record is a really good one and worth listening for many country music lovers.

Favorite Song: She Gets To Drinking

 

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