chase-matthew-chase

Chase Matthew: ‘CHASE’ – Album Review

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Chase Matthew releases his third studio album, CHASE, out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

With a unique sound and an incredible story, Chase Matthew has quickly become one of Nashville’s fastest rising stars. On his third album, the simply titled CHASE, Matthew continues to perfect his own brand of country music.

For the Nashville native and Warner Music artist, CHASE represents the next logical step in his career, showing his growth as both a singer and songwriter. The album features thirteen new songs, nine of which Matthew wrote or co-wrote. Other writers on the album include some of the genre’s biggest names, including Brock Berryhill, Ashley Gorley, Michael Tyler, Parker Welling, and more.

Throughout CHASE, Matthew samples hip hop beats, rock guitars, country riffs, and radio-ready pop in a way that somehow works perfectly. Much like megastars Kane Brown, Sam Hunt, and Jason Aldean, Chase Matthew has crafted a uniquely single-ready sound.

The album opens with the earwormy “Drives My Truck,” a catchy and roaring ode to a girl who looks even more attractive behind the wheel of his favorite truck. It’s the perfect opening track, immediately grabbing a listener and setting up what’s to come.

“She’s burning that gas, smoking those tires // Setting this old boy’s heart on fire // She gets me just like it, all jacked up // My baby drives me crazy when she drives my truck”

“Waiting On You” and “No Name Roads” follow similar suit, catchy lyrics over radio-ready melodies that are sure to make Matthew a huge star. “Missin’ Me Missin’ You” is also pop-country perfection, finding him committed to being someone’s ex and not turning back to the relationship.

One of the album’s immediate standouts is “Heart Half Empty,” featuring Lauren Alaina. On the gorgeous breakup ballad, the pair channel some of the greatest duets of all time, trading verses over their broken hearts.

“Need you after one too many // Three shots to try forgetting // All the reasons we didn’t work out//  Getting lost in the whiskey cloud//  I’m sure I’ll be back tomorrow // Still drinking about what we used to be //  With a glass half full // But a heart half empty “

Breakups are definitely a prevalent theme on CHASE, weaving through songs like “Backroads of my Mind,” “You Turn,” and “I Don’t Wanna Know.” While the latter is a hip-hop inspired dedication to ignorance being bliss, “Backroads” is a driving and catchy country-rock anthem.

“You’re tearing up the backroads of my mind //  Your memory’s driving me crazy //  And ever since the night we said goodbye //  It’s all I think about baby //  I see you at every turn, every light,  Every inch of outskirt, red dirt, we’d ride // You cross my heart like a county line // You’re tearin’ up the backroads of my mind.”

While Matthew is definitely a superstar on uptempo tracks, his heart and talent are on full display on some of the album’s slower and more introspective moments. “Driving Through My Hometown” is a gorgeous piece of nostalgia that finds the young songwriter traveling through his hometown and musing over the memories there. Likewise, “If I Had Wings” finds him longing for wings to pay a special visit to Heaven.

Likewise, “Sunday Clothes” finds him sitting in a pew, heartbreakingly mourning the unexpected loss of a friend. Lyrically, it’s stunning, evoking images of a young man lost and filled with loss. “Here sitting in a front row pew, Tears raining on these old boots, Suffocating in a collared shirt,  While I’m waiting to carry you out of this church,” He sings. “Man, we shouldn’t be here today, You got me cussing in and out of this place, You’ve been saying this is where I need to go, But Saturdays ain’t made for Sunday clothes.“

The album ends with “No Way Around It,” a driving uptempo about the struggle that comes with trying to move on after a breakup. “If there was a you fix, I woulda found it,” He growls, unable to find closure. “But I’m going through it, cause there ain’t no way around it.“ It’s the perfect bookend to “Drives My Truck,” ending the album on a high note similar to the way it began.

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Heart Half Empty featuring Lauren Alaina
  2. No Way Around It
  3. No Name Roads
  4. Drives My Truck

CHASE Tracklist:

  1. Drives My Truck (Chase Matthew, Brock Berryhill, Taylor Phillips)
  2. Missin’ Me Missin’ You (Chase Matthew, Brock Berryhill, Taylor Phillips, Lydia Vaughan)
  3. Heart Half Empty (feat. Lauren Alaina) (Chase Matthew, Austin Shawn, Matt McVaney, Bailey Manns, Noah West, Shaylen Carroll)
  4. No Name Roads (Chase Matthew, Casey Brown, Taylor Phillips, Ashley Gorley, Travis Wood)
  5. I Don’t Wanna Know (Victor Williams, Fraser Churchill, Danny Majić, Willie Morrison)
  6. Fire In Her Eyes (Chase Matthew, Gabe Foust, Graham Barham, Beau Bailey, Jacob Hackworth)
  7. Driving Through My Hometown (Jacob Hackworth, Chris Tompkins, Michael Tyler, Blake Bollinger)
  8. If I Had Wings (Chase Matthew, Alexander Palmer)
  9. You Turn (Chase Matthew, Rotundo, Rose Falcon, Brian Bunn)
  10. Waiting On You To Call (Chase Matthew)
  11. Backroads Of My Mind (Parker Welling, Casey Brown, Garrett Nichols, Colton Pack, Zach Beeken)
  12. Sunday Clothes (Chase Matthew, Taylor Phillips, Josh Phillips, Brock Berryhill, Kim Penz, Rotundo)
  13. No Way Around It (Jacob Hackworth, Will Bundy, Michael Tyler)
chase-matthew-chase

Chase Matthew shares new album, ‘CHASE’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Chase Matthew releases.

To keep up with Chase Matthew, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

CHASE is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

the-war-and-treaty-album

The War And Treaty: ‘Plus One’ – Album Review

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The War And Treaty share brand new album Plus One, officially out now, February 14th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

There is no one like The War And Treaty. Composed of husband and wife duo, Michael and Tanya Trotter, the band effortlessly blends uncanny soul with country instrumentation, stunning harmonies, and unique sounds.

On Plus One, out now, the Michigan natives share eighteen new tracks that are uniquely them. Produced primarily by Michael and released via Mercury Nashville, the album offers listeners a blend of passion and pain, hope and heartbreak.

“We see this record as an open invitation to be a part of what we’re doing—it came from wanting to be the hope we believe people need right now, as well as the hope that we need for ourselves,” shares Tanya in a statement. “Too often we feel all alone in this world, and when we feel alone it can be easy to succumb to despair,” Michael adds. “One of our main intentions with this album is to inspire people to share themselves with others, and open themselves up to the possibility of being loved.” 

There’s no lead singer in the duo, with each taking lead throughout the album, trading verses like a well-rehearsed dance and harmonizing effortlessly over music that takes listeners on a true aural journey.

The album’s first track, “Love and Whiskey” is an immediate attention grabber, its opening horns and Gospel-tinted harmonies informing listeners that they’re in for something truly special. Co-written with Miranda Lambert, they explore a love that runs both hot and cold. “We’ve been friends with Miranda for a while, and we all got together and decided to write a song about how Michael and I work through those times when we’re not getting along,” Tanya explains. “In the past we’ve been told our sound wasn’t radio-friendly, but over time we started getting attention from country radio,” says Michael. “We’ve been seeing a lot of new artists pushing the envelope as far as what country music can be, so we decided, ‘Why not join them, and push it our own way?’”

While The War And Treaty stick to common themes of love and heartbreak, they venture into sounds and styles rarely heard convincingly in country music. Yet, for the duo, they each sound more authentic than the next. While “Stealing a Kiss” has hints of old school R&B, “Teardrops in the Rain” is a gorgeous piano ballad that wouldn’t sound out of place on a John Legend album. “Lead Me Home” pays homage to the John Denver classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” while “I Can’t Let You Go” finds Michael absolutely spitting fire on a rapped verse.

“Skyscraper” is a hip-hop inspired breakup anthem that immediately stands out. The track, which features vocals from both their daughter, Courtney, and Michael’s mother, Deborah, takes a huge musical risk that absolutely pays off. “When you look up at all those skyscrapers in New York City, you don’t usually think about what it took to build them,” says Michael. “We know that sometimes it takes a lot of pain and struggle and loneliness to get to where you’re meant to be, so we wrote that song to remind everyone that we’re all beautiful skyscrapers with a story to tell.”

Alternatively, “Can I Get An Amen?” is a stomping and soulful Muscle Shoals-inspired romp that takes listeners to church. Here, their relationship is on full display as they trade verses over horns and fiddles in a way that is impassioned and inspired. “The whole song came from being thankful for the seven days a week I get to spend with Tanya, and all the good that can come when I really open up and let her in,” Michael shared.

“Carried Away” follows in a similar vein as they slide from pedal steel to groovy R&B, looking at their marriage and the strong foundation upon which it’s been built. “The most important part about nailing that song was making sure that Tanya and I were in the same room, vibing off each other,” Michael recalls in a statement. “We put our foreheads together and left that space between our lips, and then just moved together like the ocean.”

“Save Me,” “Home,” and “Love Light” are all gorgeous ballads, celebrating the different aspects of a relationship. While “Love Light” is sparse and lyrically simple, their harmonies are truly unmatched as they proclaim endless and enduring love. Alternatively, “Home” offers a poignant confession that allows MIchael to shine vocally.

“I was in a place // Where only Heaven speaks // And the Angels there // They all notice me // That’s when I knew // I’m right where I belong // ‘Cause aren’t we all just trying to // Find our way back // Home”  

“Drink From Me” finds the pair collaborating with legendary bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings, while “Reminisce” is a clever spin on a breakup song. It tells the tale of the family members who become collateral damage when a relationship falls apart.

“There’s no room in your life // For me right now so I’ll fly // Away in the dead of night // Starry skies in the summertime // I will pray for you // Hope someday when I see you // You’ll have happiness // And we can sit down on a park bench and reminisce”

While The War And Treaty shines on ballads, they are also incredible on the more rousing tunes, as evidenced on “Mr. Fun,” “Love Is On Fire” and “Tunnel Vision.” While “Mr. Fun” is almost haunting with its circus-like pianos, the song truly allows Tanya’s vocals to shine. Meanwhile, “Tunnel Vision” allows them to celebrate what they do best. “I started writing that song during the pandemic, which reminded us how we need to stay focused on doing what brings us joy,” says Michael. “It’s about coming out of that experience with a victorious mindset and telling the world, ‘We’ve got a goal in mind, and we’re not going to let anyone or anything get in our way.’”

Plus One ends with “Glorious Ones,” a stirring and poignant look at life, both in the moment and at the end “Do you see // How far we’ve come // Two broken hearts // Become one // Like a screaming eagle // Soars in the sun // I have found love // In a glorious one“

For The War And Treaty, Plus One is truly a labor of love, showing off their love for each other and the music they get to make together.

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Skyscraper
  2. Love Like Whiskey
  3. Can I Get An Amen
  4. Reminisce
  5. Call You By Your Name

Plus One Track List:

  1. Love Like Whiskey (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter, Jesse Frasure and Miranda Lambert)
  2. Skyscraper (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
  3. Can I Get An Amen (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter and Jonathan Singleton)
  4. Called You By Your Name (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
  5. Stealing A Kiss (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
  6. Teardrops In The Rain (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
  7. Leads Me Home (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
  8. Carried Away (Michael Trotter Jr.)
  9. Drink From Me ft. Billy Strings (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
  10. Reminisce (Michael Trotter Jr.)
  11. Save Me (Michael Trotter Jr.)
  12. Love Is On Fire (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter and Jonathan Singleton)
  13. I Can’t Let You Go (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
  14. Home (Michael Trotter Jr.)
  15. Love Light (Michael Trotter Jr.)
  16. Mr. Fun (Michael Trotter Jr.)
  17. Tunnel Vision (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
  18. The Glorious Ones (Michael Trotter Jr.)
the-war-and-treaty

The War And Treaty share new album, ‘Plus One’ on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future The War And Treaty releases.

To keep up with The War And Treaty, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Plus One is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

ty-myers-the-select

Ty Myers: ‘The Select’ – Debut Album Review

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Ty Myers shares debut album, The Select, officially out now, January 24th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

With a powerfully soulful rasp way beyond his 17 years, country newcomer Ty Myers is already one of the most buzzed about new artists in the genre. Today, the Austin, TX native released his debut album, The Select, which features 16 new songs. Twelve of the tracks were solo writes by the mega-talent, showcasing his skill as both an artist and a vocalist.

The Select’s title is a nod to Le Select, a Parisian restaurant oft-visited by Ernest Hemingway, one of Myers’ favorite writers. From that anecdote alone, it’s clear that Myers is wise beyond his years and one listen to his debut album just solidifies that. The singer-songwriter is clearly an old soul, stories about drinking, regret, and eternal love weaving its way through the LP. As talented as he is as a singer, he’s also a great storyteller, making much of the content believable despite his youth.

“It’s a culmination of everything since I started. That’s kind of how all first albums are, I guess, but I started writing when I was around six or seven and have been writing ever since,” Myers revealed to Holler Country. “I’ve had the opportunity to choose songs from way back then, songs I wrote a couple years ago and some songs I wrote the day before I recorded it.”

The album opens with “Ends of the Earth,” a bluesy and soulful song that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Chris Stapleton. With its gritty vocals and stirring guitar riffs, Myers proclaims his undying love to someone special.

For Myers, there are a few themes that permeate the album, ranging from enduring love to undeniable heartbreak, as well as drinking and blue-collared story songs. The unique power of his voice echoes over each track, weaving each song into a cohesive and impassioned LP.

Heartbreak weaves its way through tracks like “But Me,” “Love is Two Faced,” “Somewhere Over You,” and “Thought It Was Love.” On “Two Faced,” he grapples with the surprise that comes from the ending of a seemingly perfect relationship, while “Thought It Was Love” finds him telling a similar story. “Too Far Gone” is one of the best heartbreak songs on the album, chock full of smoky, darker, and downtuned guitars that’s a perfect kissoff track for a live show.  “I don’t know where I went wrong, woke up on a Saturday and found you gone…” He growls. “Keep on rollin’ til you’re too far gone.”

“Let ‘Em Talk” finds him bucking the opinions of others, encouraging a new lover to quell the voices of the naysayers, while “Real World Now” is a twangy and peppy ode to working hard for your family. “Worry is a Sickness” is an immediate standout, a building midtempo that finds him impassioned and lovesick.

“Firefly” is another standout, a stunning piano-laden ballad about someone who lights up the room “like a thousand little stars in the sky.” This is a surefire way to get fans swooning with its unique musical melody that recalls the Bruce Springsteen hit, “Secret Garden.”

“Can’t Hold Me Down” is a swampy, Marc Broussard-esque ode to being a ramblin’ man, while “Never Get Tired (Of Loving You)” is an uptempo celebration of love that never gets boring or stale.

Myers pays homage to his musical hero, John Mayer, on “Man on the Side,” which was co-written by Mayer and Zac Brown Band’s Clay Cook. It’s heavy on the guitar, in the best way possible.

“He’s my number one biggest hero ever,” Myers said of Mayer to Apple Music’s Country Risers Radio podcast with Ward Guenther. “I love the fact that he’s changed so drastically throughout his career. He did what he wanted to do, and that’s what I gravitate towards. He did what he wanted and made the world bend to what he wanted to do.”

Despite not even being old enough to legally drink, Myers has a unique ability to write a whiskey-drenched drinking or heartbreak song. “Drinkin’ Alone” is a lush ballad that finds him determined to not leave a bar alone, while, “Drunk Love” finds him lost under the neon lights and looking for love, while longing for something more than lusty alcohol-fueled nights.

“I’m tired of drunk love // You can only feel the lust when your body’s numb // Another one leads to keepin’ the lights on // Clothes off, decisions you regret // When the sun comes up // Cause it’s nothin’ to speak of // I’m tired of drunk love”

The album ends with  “Tie That Binds,” a sparse pickup tune that starts at a bar and leads to forever. “Cuz I’ve been lookin’ for a woman like you for quite some time// I’d be the happiest man in the world to call you mine,” Myers muses. “I think you found a tie that binds.”

Ty Myers’s The Select is out now via Nashville/Columbia records.

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Worry is a Sickness
  2. Man on the Side
  3. Real World Now
  4. Let ‘Em Talk
  5. Too Far Gone

The Select Track List:

  1. Ends of the Earth (Ty Myers)
  2. Real World Now (Ty Myers)
  3. Worry is a Sickness (Ty Myers)
  4. Let ‘Em Talk (Ty Myers, Anderson East, Trent Dabbs)
  5. Love Is Two Faced (Ty Myers)
  6. Somewhere Over You (Allen Shamblin, Michael Reid)
  7. Never Get Tired (of Loving You) (Ty Myers)
  8. Firefly (Ty Myers)
  9. Can’t Hold Me Down (Ty Myers)
  10. Man On The Side (John Mayer, Clay Cook)
  11. Thought It Was Love (Ty Myers)
  12. Too Far Gone (Ty Myers, Jessi Alexander, Rhett Akins)
  13. Drunk Love (Ty Myers)
  14. But Me (Ty Myers)
  15. Drinkin’ Alone (Ty Myers)
  16. Tie That Binds (Ty Myers)
ty-myers-debut-album

Ty Myers shares new debut album, ‘The Select,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Ty Myers releases.

To keep up with Ty Myers, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

The Select is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

kane-brown-high-road

Kane Brown: ‘The High Road’ – Album Review

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Kane Brown shares brand new album The High Road, officially out now, January 24th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

When it comes to journeying down paths untaken, The High Road finds Kane Brown on a new musical path. For the Georgia native, the LP is his most ambitious and musically diverse project to date, allowing him to stretch himself thematically, melodically, lyrically, and even collaboratively.

On the follow up to 2022’s Different Man, Brown explores different sounds, pushing boundaries beyond his typical sound and style. “This is by far my favorite album, from the sequencing to the songwriting to the different sounds. There’s definitely a song for everybody,” he says in a statement. “My other albums, I always kind of, you know, cared what people thought about. And this album, we don’t… we gave our everything into the songs.”

The eighteen song collection features fifteen tracks co-written by Brown alongside of Nashville’s biggest names including HARDY, Morgan Wallen, Josh Hoge, Jacob Davis, Josh Osborne, and more. He also enlists a wide array of collaborators from various genres including his wife, Katelyn, Khalid, Marshmello, Jelly Roll, and Brad Paisley.

Having co-written most of the album’s new tracks, it’s clear that the songs are special to Brown. “Every song is important to me and every collaboration means something personal to me,” He tells the AP. “I’m so incredibly proud of this record.”

The album kicks off with the driving and earwormy, “I Am,” a powerful admission of fear and uncertainty that’s paired with a catchy beat that echoes with resilience and determination to succeed.

“I’m scared of growing up // I’m scared of growing old // I’m scared of falling short // I’m scared of the unknown // Oh, I’m burning on the edge // But I know right where I stand // I know the road ahead // Will make me who I am”

“Fiddle in the Band” is up next, a clear standout that mixes typical country fiddles with stomping drums on the ode to not fitting into one specific box. In fact, it feels like the type of song many music fans can listen to, jumping genres from country to pop to hip hop to rock, all within one playlist.

“I’m just like you // I was raised on the radio // From Memphis blues to Hollywood rock ’n’ roll // Took a trip to Music City // Brought a little bit of everything with me // I’m a little bit of bass, 808s, a little bit of clap your hands // I’m a little bit of six strings on a backbeat // With a fiddle in the band”

Collaborations also play a big and genre-bending role throughout The High Road, as Brown taps into his inner R&B balladeer on “Rescue,” featuring Khalid. Meanwhile, “Miles On It” features Marshmello and techno, dance beats, while “Things We Quit” with Brad Paisley is a tongue-in-cheek pure country anthem.

Brown also pairs with Jelly Roll on the especially poignant, “Haunted,” which finds them trading verses at their lowest. Inspired by a writing session in an old hotel that felt supernatural, Brown and Jelly Roll reveal a new depth of pain and the struggles they face on the road. It’s a dark and moody ballad that deals with the demons that come with fame.

“‘Cause I’m haunted by the voice in my head // I’m haunted by the taste of that lead // I’ve wanted too many times to // Jump off of the edge // Thinking I was better off dead // I’m haunted only every other night // I’m haunted and I wish I knew why // I’ve wanted too many times to be // Gone by the morning // If I’m honest // Yeah, I’m haunted”

Brown slows things down and brings in some romance by pairing with his wife, Katelyn on two very different duets. There’s “Do Us Apart,” a warm and sweeping ballad that would make a perfect wedding song or bookend to their previous duet, “Thank God.” Alternatively, there’s “Body Talk,” a smoky and sultry R&B laden celebration of all the ways in which two bodies can “talk.”

“Backseat Driver” is truly a special moment, as the father of three details the innocence that comes from riding in the car with his child. Here, he muses over his daughter’s sweet and simple questions, hoping those moments last forever. “It’s crazy all the things she sees on the side of the road, Out of that window beside her I wish I could be more like her,” He sings, “My little dangling feet, pretty in pink, backseat driver.”

“Gorgeous” and “3” also show a softer side to the Georgia native, with the latter celebrating the ways in which his favorite number has played a role in his life, ranging from the size of his family to his baseball jersey to the number of kids he has. Meanwhile, “Gorgeous” is an apt title for the sparse and sentimental song, praising someone that’s beautiful both inside and out.

Brown dabbles with other popular songs in unique ways on The High Road, mixing in the Phil Collins classic, “In the Air Tonight” with his own lyrics on “I Can Feel It.” Likewise, he answers Jennifer Nettles’ desperate pleas from the Sugarland song, “Stay,” with his own song of the same name, telling the sordid tale of infidelity from the male perspective as he implores her not to leave.

Other tunes that find Brown sampling new styles include “Says I Can,” a fun ode to liquid courage and “Back Around,” a twangy and peppy two stepper that is all about karma catching up with someone. Equally sunny and delightful is “Beside Me,” an almost-beachy inspired jaunt that wouldn’t feel out of place for Kenny Chesney or the Zac BrownBand.

The LP ends with the startlingly honest, “When You Forget,” a beautiful tribute to his grandfather who passed away after battling Alzheimer’s.

“Your memory’s fading // It’s breaking my heart // If you look in that mirror // And wonder who you are // You’re still our hero // You’re still the man // A hell of a father // And a damn good friend // You could fix any problem // With a wrench or some words // The backbone of our family // In the front of that church // You kept every promise // For worse or for better // I’m writing you this // So, when you forget // You can remember”

For a consistent superstar like Kane Brown, it would be easy to rest on his laurels and stick to a formula that’s been successful. Yet, on The High Road, he does just the opposite, taking risks and experimenting with new sounds and styles. And while it may have been a gamble, it certainly paid off.

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Fiddle in the Band
  2. Backseat Driver
  3. Haunted ft. Jelly Roll
  4. Miles On It
  5. I Am

The High Road Track List:

  1. I Am
  2. Fiddle in the Band
  3. Backseat Driver
  4. Miles On It with Marshmello
  5. Says I Can
  6. 3
  7. Rescue with Khalid
  8. Haunted with Jelly Roll
  9. Star a Fire
  10. Body Talk with Katelyn Brown
  11. Gorgeous
  12. Beside Me
  13. I Can Feel It
  14. Things We Quit with Braid Paisley
  15. Back Around
  16. Stay
  17. Do Us Apart with Katelyn Brown
  18. When You Forget
kane-brown-the-high-road

Kane Brown shares new album, ‘The High Road,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kane Brown releases.

To keep up with Kane Brown, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

The High Road is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

LANCO: ‘We’re Gonna Make It’ – Album Review

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LANCO shares brand new sophomore album We’re Gonna Make It, officially out now, January 17th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

Ten years into their tenure as a band, LANCO returns with their new album, We’re Gonna Make It, the follow up to 2018’s debut Hallelujah Nights. The sophomore release marks their first with Riser House Records, and a musical rebirth of sorts over the course of 14 new tracks.

Of the new album, founder and frontman Brandon Lancaster reveals, “Country music has always had a lot of pain in it. When I’m writing a song, I acknowledge that pain, but I also believe in restoration and redemption, and I wanted to explore that on this record.”

In many ways, the album tells the tale of a relationship, traveling through the highs and lows of real life, but proclaiming victory through it all. “There are two characters you are following throughout this entire record,” Lancaster shares in a statement. “You’ve heard a little bit about her, you’ve heard a little bit about him, and you’ve heard about their friends and kids. But ultimately this album is about these two people, who are there for each other through fire and brimstone, come hell or high water.”

Opening with the title track, a twangy and jubilant ode to overcoming obstacles, is the perfect way for LANCO to introduce their newest chapter. Having overcome much since their debut release, the almost Appalachian-inspired ode opens the album on a poignant and optimistic note towards the future, building to a momentous chorus of gang vocals proclaiming “we’re gonna make it!”

The band, composed of Lancaster, multi-instrumentalist Jared Hampton, bassist Chandler Baldwin, guitarist Tim Aven and drummer Tripp Howell, continue with thirteen additional tracks that combine pop, country, rock, and Americana, all centered around honesty and relatable lyrics. There are hints of nostalgia and broken hearts mixed with triumph and hope, all weaved together in a uniquely cohesive package.

Nostalgia for simpler times finds its place on songs like “Memories (We Didn’t Know),” “Million Dollar Memory,” and the especially poignant, “Beer With Younger Me.” While “Memories” is a look at those special moments that don’t seem important until they’re gone, “Beer” is a standout, much in the vein of Brad Paisley’s classic “Letter to Me.”

“If I could sit down and have a beer with younger me, I would first just listen. And then I’d tell them to not be afraid of making a wrong decision, ” Lancaster says of the track. “Because you learn from all the things you’ve done, both your mistakes and your wins.” 

“Low Class Lovers” and “Sounds of a Saturday Night” are two of the album’s most anthemic and upbeat tracks. While the former is a celebration of the fact that money doesn’t lead to happiness, “Saturday Night” is a roaring, pop-influenced celebration of the weekend with its anthemic chorus and instrumentation. 

“Yeah, Seger on the speakers teachin’ us night moves // Yeah, got a wild in your eyes, no tellin’ what you might do // Got my heartbeat beatin’ like a kickdrum // When you’re dancin’ in thе pale moonlight // Woo-hoo, don’t it sound so right? // Yeah, that’s the sound of a Saturday night”

Love songs are also prevalent on the LP, in all forms. “Where I Belong” is a catchy and melodic ode to finding home in someone else’s arms, while “Come Over” soars over Eagles-esque slide guitars on the invitation to a romantic rendezvous. “You’ll Always Be” is an ode to the type of love that endures and changes, while remaining true to where it began.

“You’ll always be that dancin’ in the bar // At two in the morning while they’re kickin’ us out // You’ll always be that tattooed arm // Makin’ waves out the window with the headlight out // Yeah, I know time will paint some lines on the face of you and me // But in the end you’ve always been the better half I need // You’ll always be // Days move fast and years fly by // You can’t go back and you can’t rewind // But every night lookin’ in your eyes // You take me there again”

Another clear standout is “We Grew Up Together,” featuring vocals and harmonies from Christian artist Cory Asbury. The song is a simple look at how parenthood transforms parents, forcing them to grow up along with their children. “We often think our parents have it all together, but they’re just people that met each other, fell in love, and then had a kid. I realized in raising my own children that we’re all learning as we go,” he says. “There’s so many times that I’m trying to instill a lesson in my kids, and I’m thinking at the same time of how it applies to me.”

“You learned to walk I learned to walk in my faith // You learned to talk I learned the things I shouldn’t say // You ain’t the only one who’s gonna make mistakes // God made you, you made me better // We both won’t stay young forever // You don’t know it now but one day you’ll find out // That we grew up together”

The album ends with the sparse and intimate “Nothing That You Could Do,” a promise of love that’s unshakeable and unbreakable. Of the track, Lancaster reveals, “The song is a set of musical vows, connecting the dots of a love story that began with the album’s opening track.”

Throughout the new album, LANCO takes listeners on a relationship journey with a couple who have been bumped and bruised, but are sure to make it in the end. With the release of We’re Gonna Make It, the same can be said for the talented quintet.

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Where I Belong
  2. We Grew Up Together
  3. Beer With Younger Me
  4. You’ll Always Be
  5. Sounds of a Saturday Night

We’re Gonna Make It Track List:

  1. We’re Gonna Make It – Brandon Lancaster / Chandler Baldwin / Tripp Howell / Jared Hampton / Ben Williams
  2. Memories (We Didn’t Know) – Brandon Lancaster / Tripp Howell / Craig Wiseman
  3. Where I Belong – Brandon Lancaster / Chandler Baldwin / Tripp Howell / Jared Hampton / Jason Nix
  4. Low Class Lovers – Brandon Lancaster
  5. We Grew Up Together featuring Cory Asbury – Brandon Lancaster / Chandler Baldwin / Tripp Howell / Jared Hampton / Cory Asbury
  6. Honey I Lost My Job Today – Brandon Lancaster / Jeremy Spillman
  7. You’ll Always Be – Brandon Lancaster / Chandler Baldwin / Tripp Howell / Jared Hampton / Joey Hyde
  8. Come Over – Brandon Lancaster / Chandler Baldwin / Jared Hampton / Tripp Howell / Wyatt Durrette
  9. Beer With Younger Me – Brandon Lancaster / Jared Conrad / Keelan Donovan / Chandler Baldwin
  10. Sound of a Saturday Night – Brandon Lancaster / Tripp Howell / Tate Howell / Jeremy Spillman
  11. Leaving Looks Good On You – Brandon Lancaster / Tripp Howell / Chandler Baldwin / Tommy Cecil
  12. Million Dollar Memory – Brandon Lancaster / Tripp Howell / Grant Vogel
  13. Last Call – Brandon Lancaster / Mike Walker / Rian Ball
  14. Nothing That You Could Do – Brandon Lancaster / Chandler Baldwin / Tripp Howell / Seth Alley
lanco-album

LANCO’s new album, ‘We’re Gonna Make It,’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future LANCO releases.

To keep up with LANCO, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

We’re Gonna Make It is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

willow-avalon-debut-album

Here is Willow Avalon’s Debut Album ‘Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell’

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Willow Avalon shares her debut album, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell, officially out now, January 17th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

Breakthrough singer-songwriter, Willow Avalon is ready to continue taking the country music genre by storm!  As she gears up for a debut U.K. and Ireland headlining tour, the songstress is officially sharing her debut album with the world. Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell is out today featuring fourteen incredible songs including fan-favorites, “Tequila or Whiskey,” and the title track. 

The Georgia native is primed for a huge 2025. Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell is just the beginning of that. While many moments are highlights in the album, Avalon shared in a  recent press release the story behind, “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke.” “I got to shoot ‘Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke’ in my hometown with my whole family at the diner I was a waitress at when I was 15. My best friend JR got to shred a guitar solo in the kitchen. I can’t wait to headline the Georgia Theatre one day for real. Manifesting that with this video ”

Listen to Avalon’s brand new, debut album Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell ASAP!

Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell Track List:

  1. Runs in the Family
  2. Something We Regret
  3. Homewrecker
  4. Yodelayheewho ft. Maggie Antone
  5. Baby Blue
  6. Country Near Leaves
  7. Tequila or Whiskey
  8. The Actor
  9. Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell
  10. Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke
  11. Hey There, Dolly
  12. Want Me Now
  13. Damed
  14. Good Morning, Goodbye
willow-avalon-debut-album

Willow Avalon’s debut album, ‘Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell,’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Willow Avalon releases.

To keep up with Willow Avalon, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

koe-wetzel-chapter-2

Here is Koe Wetzel’s New Project ‘Koe Wetzel Presents… Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2’

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Koe Wetzel shares his new project, Koe Wetzel Presents… Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2, officially out now, December 6th on all streaming platforms. Listen here!

Koe Wetzel is one of the most unapologetically authentic acts in music right now. The genre-defying artist always releases music that his fans fall in love with. This holiday season, Wetzel is celebrating his love for Christmas yet again with a new project called, Koe Wetzel Presents… Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2.

Building on its predecessor, the new project features new renditions of Christmas classics, across seven new tracks, including fan-favorite, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” “I fucking love Christmas,” shared Wetzel in a recent press release. “It is always a big deal in the Wetzel household, and we wanted to put our own spin on some more holiday classics for you. Ho Ho Ho from Uncle Koe!”

Listen to the new project,  Koe Wetzel Presents… Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2 now to get you in the mood for the holiday season!

Koe Wetzel Presents… Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2 Track List:

  1. ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas (performed by Ben Burgess)
  2. Run Run Rudolph
  3. Merry Christmas Baby
  4. Silver Bells
  5. Please Come Home for Christmas
  6. Blue Christmas
  7. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
koe-wetzel-chapter-2

Here is Koe Wentzel’s new project, ‘Koe Wetzel Presents… Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2.’

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Koe Wetzel releases.

To keep up with Koe Wetzel, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Koe Wetzel Presents… Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2 is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

not-leaving-sober-debut

Here is Not Leaving Sober’s Debut Album ‘Almost Sober’

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Not Leaving Sober share their debut album, Almost Sober, officially out now, December 6th on all streaming platforms. Listen here!

There’s nothing like championing artist that hail from the tristate area! While country music is huge in New York and the surrounding areas, often fans will think of country artists as hailing from southern states; however, there are a ton of incredibly talented country acts from the tristate area. Country band, Not Leaving Sober fits the bill! The New Jersey natives show off their undeniable talent on their brand new, debut album, Almost Sober.

According to the band members, this record was cultivated from the heart. “The album features 13 songs including our lead single, “Y’all Don’t Know” — a feel-good party anthem, which has accrued 90,000+ streams on Spotify, and was featured on Spotify’s “Hot Country” editorial playlist. It also went viral on Instagram with over 600,000 views and 39k likes. The 4th track, “Different Kind of Country” is an ode to life in our neck of the woods — and how we don’t have to be “from” the country to share the same values and ways of life portrayed in the music.”

Listen to Not Leaving Sober’s brand new, debut project, Almost Sober ASAP!

Almost Sober Track List:

  1. Not So Sober (skit)
  2. ROCKSTAR
  3. Beer Run
  4. Different Kind Of Country
  5. On the Rocks
  6. Sunflower
  7. Rules To A Happy Lifestyle (skit)
  8. Throwback Thursday
  9. SO Darling
  10. Home
  11. Wolfie calls
  12. Carat Cake
  13. Blow A Kiss to Jersey
  14. Chasin’ Tequila
  15. W
  16. Y’all Don’t Know
not-leaving-sober-debut

Not Leaving Sober share their debut album, ‘Almost Sober,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Not Leaving Sober releases.

To keep up with Not Leaving Sober, follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Almost Sober is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Here is Brooks & Dunn’s Album ‘REBOOT 2’

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Brooks & Dunn releases their collaborative album, REBOOT 2, out now, November 15th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

A little over five years ago, Grammy-winning country duo Brook & Dunn released their first REBOOT album, containing twelve classic songs with twelve of the most in-demand artists in Nashville at the time. Today, fans have the privilege of hearing eighteen completely reimagined tracks of their biggest hits featuring acts of all different genres, from country, to blues, to rock n’ roll. 

“This project is a lot more out of bounds,” Kix Brooks said in a recent press release. “Artists were going, ‘Would it be okay if we did this?’ It was like ‘Yeah! Let’s do it.’ We dealt with rock bands and blues bands and all kinds of genres, all over the place.”

The album kicks off with the teaser single, “Play Something Country,” with superstar Lainey Wilson. Wilson’s vocals and vibe fit the song perfectly, as she is currently closing out her Country’s Cool Again tour. Standouts tracks include “Rock My World (Little Country Girl),” as the Marcus King Band adds their own flare of funk to the top 5 hit. The Cadillac Three gives “She Likes to Get Out of Town” a more southern-rock feel. Country hitmaker turned metal rocker, HARDY, helps make “Hillbilly Deluxe” sound like an Iron Maiden song. The Earls of Leicester turn “How Long Gone” into a bluegrass tune enhancing the prevalence of steel and banjo.

Six tracks appear on both REBOOTs, including “Neon Moon,” “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You,” “Brand New Man,” “Believe,” “Boot Scottin’ Boogie,” and “Hard Workin’ Man.” Megan Maroney changes the start of “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” into a slow, piano ballad, and while Luke Combs was a great addition to the original version of “Brand New Man,” Warren Zeiders transforms the number one neo-traditional smash into a mid-tempo, 2000s rock banger. The most drastic makeover though was Halestorm’s version of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” which became a heavy, up-beat, rock jam with an impressive guitar solo before the final verse.

Other names featured on the album not yet mentioned include Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Riley Green, Mitchell Tenpenny, ERNEST, Corey Kent, Hailey Whitter, Thousand Horses, The Earls of Leicester, Jake Worthington, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram.

This project is impactful for so many reasons. First, it reinforces Brooks & Dunn’s lasting influence in the world of country music and allows fans to see their favorite songs from the past get a second life. Second, it will get younger listeners who are fans of the featured artists exposed to the music that helped shape their respective careers. Finally, it enables musical geniuses to collaborate and break boundaries to create an extremely fresh and unique sound that listeners of all genres can enjoy and reminisce to. 

“The premise of the project was ‘No rules.’ For this one, we purposely loosened the screws and turned ‘em loose to do whatever they wanted,” Ronnie Dunn explained. “We actually went way off the rails, in a good way.”

Listen to the record now!

REBOOT 2 Tracklist:

  1. Play Something Country with Lainey Wilson
  2. Neon Moon with Morgan Wallen
  3. Rock My World (Little Country Girl) with Marcus King Band
  4. Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You with Megan Moroney
  5. Brand New Man with Warren Zeiders
  6. Believe with Jelly Roll
  7. She Used to Be Mine with Riley Green
  8. She Likes to Get Out of Town with The Cadillac Three
  9. Boot Scootin’ Boogie with Halestorm
  10. Ain’t No Way To Go with Mitchell Tenpenny
  11. How Long Gone with The Earls of Leicester
  12. I’ll Never Forgive My Heart with Jake Worthington
  13. She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind with Hailey Whitters
  14. Hard Workin’ Man with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
  15. Hillbilly Deluxe with HARDY
  16. Indian Summer with ERNEST
  17. Drop in the Bucket with Thousand Horses
  18. Only In America with Corey Kent

Country Swag Picks:

  1. “Brand New Man” with Warren Zeiders
  2. “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” with Megan Moroney
  3. “How Long Gone” with The Earls of Leicester 
  4. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” with Halestorm 
  5. “Hillbilly Deluxe” with HARDY
brooks-and-dunn-reboot-2

Brooks & Dun’s new album, ‘REBOOT 2’ is officially out now on all streaming platforms.

Brooks and Dunn will promote the album on their Neon Moon Tour 2025 next year with supporting acts David Lee Murphy and Mollie Tuttle & Golden Highway beginning in March. For tickets, head to their website. 

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Brooks & Dunn releases.

To keep up with Sam Barber, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

REBOOT 2 is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Kevin-smiley-debut-ep

Here is Kevin Smiley’s Debut EP ‘Hurts Worse’

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Kevin Smiley shares his debut EP,  Hurts Worse, officially out now, November 15th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new project below.

Emerging singer-songwriter, Kevin Smiley is ready to take the the music world by storm. Coming into the limelight at seemingly the perfect time, Smiley is an artist that transcends genres with his production, while keeping with the country story-telling that the genre is arguably the best at. Today, the singer-songwriter shares his debut EP with the world. Hurts Worse, featuring eight songs is officially out now.

According to Smiley in a recent interview with Country Swag, the project was purposely crafted to be relatable and introspective. “What I  really wanted to do with this project is kind of make it this streamlined story. Songs 1-7 is really just one story, different sections of it I guess you can say, starting with “Heart to Break” as a song, which is the beginning of the fall of the relationship. […] Then all the way down to “Hurts Worse,” the person completely left. At the same time, all of these songs, I really wanted to have that emotion of heartbreak in there that a lot of people can see themselves in even if it’s not a relationship. It might be friends breaking-up or siblings going their separate ways or becoming further from your parents. You can kind of see different things in these songs.”

Listen to Smiley’s brand new, debut EP Hurts Worse ASAP! It’s time to jump on the Kevin Smiley bandwagon.

Hurts Worse Track List:

  1. Heart to Break
  2. I Don’t Love You
  3. Sunshine State
  4. Broke As My Heart
  5. Matador ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again
  6. Nothing Lasts Forever
  7. Hurts Worse
  8. Paralyzed
Kevin-smiley-debut-ep

Kevin Smiley shares his debut EP, ‘Hurts Worse,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kevin Smiley releases.

To keep up with Kevin Smiley, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Hurts Worse is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.