| American Boys | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 17, 2024 | |||
| Studio | Sunny's Lab, Nashville, Tennessee [1] | |||
| Length | 51:59 | |||
| Label | Self-released | |||
| Producer | Michael Severs [1] | |||
| Don McLean chronology | ||||
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| Singles from American Boys | ||||
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American Boys is the twenty-first studio album by the American musician Don McLean, self-released on May 17, 2024. [2] [3]
Don McLean has stated there are many inspirations for the album which include but are not limited to Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. [4] As McLean told Music TImes: "It's an inspiration to see Mick Jagger running around at 80 years old. He refuses to pay any heed to anything. He's just going to do what he wants to do. I love that about him.. [5]
The first track, which is also the title track, is reportedly about "the boys who invented rock and roll". [6] The album's ninth track, "The Ballad of George Floyd", centers around the murder of George Floyd, a man who was murdered by police on May 25, 2020, as McLean wrote "And months later, when Tyre Nichols was murdered—a young, beautiful black boy, 29 years old—by five black police officers, that theory went out the window. This is about bad actors in power, and it can happen to any American. It’s an American tragedy, and that’s why I wrote it.". [7]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Spill Magazine |    [8] |
The writers of Spill Magazine stated that "the album is almost as varied as it is long. While it does not adhere to genre description, it is essentially a retro rock RnB country project. Or is it? There are plenty of musical nods to works of the past, but McLean also takes some interesting detours", they note that "there are some outstanding tracks on American Boys, including the album’s latest single, “The Gypsy Road”, and the reggae and gospel-tinged “I Shall Find My Way”. With its memorable chorus and strong message, the latter song is classic McLean", they conclude that "Long-time fans will want to know what Don McLean has been up to. Still, despite some high points, this album is a trifle uneven." [8]
All tracks are written by Don McLean, except "I Shall FInd My Way", written by McLean and Vip Vipperman.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "American Boys" (featuring Home Free) | 3:45 |
| 2. | "Thunderstorm Girl" | 2:47 |
| 3. | "Stone Cold Gangster" | 3:15 |
| 4. | "Truth and Fame" | 3:59 |
| 5. | "The Gypsy Road" | 3:58 |
| 6. | "I Shall Find My Way" | 3:46 |
| 7. | "Mexicali Girl" | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Vacant Luxury" | 4:13 |
| 9. | "The Ballad of George Floyd" | 3:07 |
| 10. | "The Meanest Girl" | 4:33 |
| 11. | "Marley's Song (Save Yourself)" | 5:28 |
| 12. | "Resurrection Man" | 3:05 |
| 13. | "Gotta Make You MIne" (bonus track) | 3:58 |
| Total length: | 51:59 | |
According to the liner notes: [1]