I never was cut out to step and strut out, give me the simple life, local artist Everett Brown sings out on the opening song of his 12-track album Eveready, a fresh batch of original love songs comprised of clever wordplay and nuggets of wisdom. Originally from Memphis, Brown, who recorded his first album in ’84, moved to Nashville about 30 years ago, where he continues to be an active member of Music City’s songwriting community.

Recorded over a three-year period in several Tennessee and Kentucky studios, Eveready features a steady string of acoustic numbers with a couple of full-band tracks scattered throughout, such as the saxophone-heavy “Saturday” and “I Took Mama to the Opry.” On the aforementioned track, Brown shares a meaningful message about seeing Little Jimmy Dickens and Porter Wagoner at the once beloved Opryland, and urges listeners to take Mama to the Opry before it’s too late.

The album combines poignant tracks like the aforementioned with humorous love songs like “Google,” which features witty one-liners like I call my baby Google ’cause she thinks she knows it all and “Bell Buckle,” a banjo-centered track inspired by a woman from a neighboring town of the same name. However, the album’s lighthearted mood takes a somber turn on “Short-Lived Love” before Brown closes with an elegant cover of Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.”

To best enjoy Brown’s jovial, adult-contemporary release, give it a listen with a good attitude and expect a few laughs along the way, as Brown almost always has a way of giving an unfortunate situation a happy ending.

For more information on Everett Brown, visit sonicbids.com/band/everettbrown.