Joe Nichols’ New Album Reflects New Way of Life

Joe Nichols says the process of making his new album, 'Old Things New,' was pretty tough. The singer explains that it's a very "sober" record, not just in the literal sense (as he no longer drinks) but also in the sense that it was an eye-opening, life-changing experience.

The follow-up to 2007's 'Real Things' is Joe's first since entering a rehab facility in Oct. 2007. "This album was tougher to make because I was sober through the making of this album," he explains. "Being sober doing something that I've never done, with a completely sober mind. I wasn't always in left field when I made music before, but sober thinking. Everything was a sober thought for this album. It was a very clear, very difficult, lot of emotions, a lot of questions."

The singer says at one point during the making of 'Old Things New,' he even questioned his abilities. "I was like, 'Man, can I even sing? I don't think I can even sing anymore. I don't think I'm good enough to even do this album ... I just don't think I've got it anymore at all.' And I wondered if I ever did have it or if it was just booze talking to me all the time."

So, for Joe, 'Old Things New' is pretty meaningful for much more than just the music. "It's a special album because this is like a triumph on my part and my wife's part," he says. "It's a triumph on everybody's part that we pulled this out the right way."

'Old Things New' features Joe's hit 'Believers,' his current single 'Gimme That Girl' and the CD's closing track, 'An Old Friend of Mine,' as well as two bonus tracks -- the dance remix of Nichols' 2005 No. 1 hit, 'Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off' featuring Colt Ford, and a live version of 'Let's Get Drunk and Fight.'