The Good Life  (Audio CD) 
by Corey Smith

The birth of his first son, Aden Ryan, marked a turning point in Smith's personal and professional life that is clearly evident in his 2005 release, The Good Life. Although popular tracks such as "If I Could Do It Again" and "Carolina" contain the nostalgic, booze-laden imagery characteristic of much of Smith's writing, the album as a whole resonates with a familial pride and sense of fulfillment that is refreshingly new. It serves as a fitting testimony to the changes that often accompany fatherhood and reveals a maturing artist who is learning to share his inner world more effectively with his audience.