As Blake Shelton Releases His New Album, Let’s Revisit 10 Of His Best Tracks

All the articles currently being written about Blake Shelton all seem to say that he is ‘back’. I’m just not quite sure he left at all.

It’s been four years since he last released his album, but I’m not sure he ever went away. I mean, Shelton has been making music for a long time and has shown no signs of slowing down.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2001 with Austin, he’s built a career out of gut-punch ballads, cheeky party anthems and the kind of voice that somehow makes heartbreak sound like a hug and a slap at the same time. There’s a reason why he has sold millions of albums and recently finished a residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Now, with For Recreational Use Only dropping this Friday, the man’s reminding us that he’s still got plenty to say. The album title alone feels like a bit of a wink. Like he knows the context in which some (or most) of us will be listening to these songs. Namely: whiskey in hand, a long country drive or someone having a midlife crisis.

Early listens suggest the album is going to be a mix of gritty barstool confessionals and Shelton’s signature Southern humour. I mean, he’s probably not going to be reinventing the wheel, but I mean, you don’t listen to Shelton expecting to hear flourishes of experimental jazz. We’re here to listen to the guy who can make us cry and yeehaw in the same breath.

So, before the new tracks officially hit, here’s a reminder of ten Blake Shelton songs that still go way too hard—even if it’s been years since they first graced the airwaves.

10. Texas

Shelton’s new track Texas is basically a love letter, a regret note, and a GPS ping all wrapped into one. It’s that classic “I messed up, and now the only thing standing between us is about four hundred miles and my own stupidity” kind of song.

It’s a driving song. The kind you put on when the road stretches out and you're thinking a little too hard about everything you should’ve said. Lyrically, it's straightforward. But it works because Shelton clearly means it. And when he sings about going back, you half believe he’s already halfway there.

9. Mine Would Be You

Do you ever pretend you’re fine, then this song comes on, and suddenly you’re in a music video looking out the window of a bus? That’s Mine Would Be You. It starts all warm and nostalgic. Like, perhaps, maybe this will be a happy one, and then Shelton hits you with the twist. It’s about imagining all the good stuff you had, then realising you’re not the one who gets to keep it. It turns out to be absolutely brutal. I once played this after a breakup and had to pull over because I couldn’t see through the tears. Five stars. Would suffer again.

8. Honey Bee

This one’s for the flirters. Honey Bee is classic early-2010s country charm: no big heartbreak, no gritty soul-searching. It’s just a sweet little “if you’ll be this, I’ll be that” kind of vibe. It’s romantic without trying too hard, a little silly, and stupidly catchy. It’s the kind of track you dedicate to someone in the talking stage, even though you’re terrified they’ll think you’re too keen. If you’ve ever sent a flirty playlist and hoped for the best, this was probably on it.

7. Austin

This was Shelton’s first single, and it’s truly still one of his best. Austin is basically a voicemail from your emotionally available ex. The kind of guy who says “I’ll always be here” and means it. It’s simple, heartfelt and weirdly cinematic. There's something so satisfying about the way the story unfolds. The twist at the end? Come on. That’s country music gold. And even 20+ years later, you still know every word. Admit it.

6. Sangria

Now this one is dangerous. It’s sultry, slow and soaked in late-night energy. Sangria is Blake’s version of a red-light slow jam. Only instead of synths and R&B crooning, it's smooth steel guitar and Spanish wine. The way he sings it is like he knows exactly what he's doing. It’s less “Friday night at the pub” and more “accidentally staring too long at someone across the room.” It’s steamy in a very charming Southern way.

5. God’s Country

This song walks so hard it could leave boot prints in concrete. God’s Country is basically a thunderstorm with a guitar solo. You don’t listen to this one, you sort of stand back and let it hit you.

It’s big, unapologetic, and sounds like someone yelling patriotic things at a tractor pull. It's basically the musical equivalent of revving a ute engine while standing in the rain. Whether or not you actually live on a property, this song makes you feel like you’ve got land. It’s bold, a bit mad, and demands to be blasted loud. My neighbour complained when I played it through the wall.

4. Ol’ Red

This one’s just a fun one. Ol’ Red is a full-blown story song. With drama, prison, and a very clever dog, it’s less about feelings and more about vibes. While Shelton didn’t write this one, he made it his own, and now it’s one of his signature tracks.

When he plays this live, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleasing moment. I mean, people love singing about dogs, especially ones that help you escape jail via romance. I’m also sort of convinced this is the kind of track that inspired about half the Netflix true crime section. Plus, any song that features a scheming bloodhound is immediately legendary.

3. Who Are You When I’m Not Looking

This one is soft. Like, real soft. Shelton goes full introspective, and suddenly it’s not just a love song. Instead, it’s a full-on wondering if you really knew your partner type of track. I’ve definitely sat on a train listening to this, pretending I was in a sad music video. It’s that kind of vibe. A quiet standout from Shelton’s back catalogue.

2. Boys ’Round Here (feat. Pistol Annies & Friends)

This one is pure chaos—in the best possible way. It’s loud, it’s dumb, and it absolutely slaps. “Chew tobacco, chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit” is genuinely one of the greatest call-and-response lyrics in country music, if I may be that bold. If this song doesn’t get you up out of your seat, you might be legally dead. It’s not trying to be deep, it just wants you to drink a beer and sing badly with your mates. Like, if you’ve ever been on a group trip to Bunnings and then hit the service station for some snacks, this is the soundtrack.

1. God Gave Me You

And here it is. The song that’s probably been played at more country weddings than the actual vows. God Gave Me You is pure emotion. Even if you're single, even if you're bitter, even if you're holding a grudge like it’s your full-time job—this one still gets you. It's the kind of song that makes you believe in love again, at least until the next text from your ex ruins everything. And yes, I’ve cried to it. You probably have too. No shame here.

For Recreational Use Only will be released on Friday, 9 May, via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville/BMG Australia. You can listen to the album here.