Sunday Drive

Sunday Drive isn't an especially riveting title but it suits Brett Eldredge's fourth studio album. As calm and measured as a day of rest, Sunday Drive isn't necessarily comprised entirely of ballads but it moves so leisurely, it often feels as if it is. Eldredge started drifting toward upscale suburban crooning on his eponymous 2017 platter and Sunday Drive is a consolidation of that evolution. Not even his wise decision to hire Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk -- the production team who helped Kacey Musgraves craft her Grammy-winning Golden Hour in 2018 -- can change his trajectory: he's on cruise control, headed to the middle of the road. Perhaps traveling there can be a bore to some, but Eldredge enjoys the scenery, taking his time to linger over the slow-rolling melodies and delivering the songs with a friendliness, if not exactly a smile. When the tempo does pick up slightly ("Gabrielle") or when the music gets a bit soulful ("When I Die"), Sunday Drive is a bit more engaging, but it's not designed to grab a listener's attention. It's mood music, designed for comfort and relaxation, and on that level, Sunday Drive gets the job done. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine