Keith Urban’s latest release picks up where 2004’s “Be Here” left off: — great songs coupled with snap-crackle guitar playing, drum loops and Urban’s smooth voice.

“Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing” is all about big choruses and strong hooks, both of which Urban delivers in spades. The arena-shaking vocals of “Once in a Lifetime” and the breakneck guitar lines on “Shine” suggest a harder-rocking direction for Urban, only to give way to the pianos and gently-strummed acoustics of “Won’t Let You Down” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” The choruses on the softer material are still rousing, but are more of a return to the sweet, sparse vocal performances that dominated the songs on “Be Here.”

Like the songs, the instrumentation on the album is ambitious.

Banjos and keyboards are spread over clicking acoustic rhythms, and powerful electric guitars ring over the massive choruses. Urban’s gentle croon handles both the rock songs and ballads with ease, but the guitar solos are where he really stands out. Urban knows when to play slowly and when to let loose with six-string fire breathing, delivering soulful string bends (“I Told You So,” “God Made Women,”) cascading speed runs (“Shine,”) and show-stopping melodic workouts (“Stupid Boy”).

“Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing” is a brilliant release from one of country’s best talents. Few entertainers have the versatility Keith Urban possesses, so it’s refreshing to hear him use all of his talents on record.