First Impression Archives

Cole Swindell: ‘Stereotype Broken’ – Deluxe Album Review

April 29, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Rebekah Milsted

Cole Swindell’s brand new deluxe album, Stereotype Broken, is out now, April 28th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below and check out our full review.

About a year after releasing his fourth studio album, ‘Stereotype’, Cole Swindell is sharing four more songs on the deluxe version, ‘Stereotype Broken’.

The project kicks off with “Sad Ass Country Song”. Written by Swindell, Josh Miller, Matt Dragstrem, and Joel Hutsell, (who is the singer-songwriter’s good friend and bandmate), will take you right in the thick of a sad country music song while the singer is trying to get over a failed relationship. Starting off with an epic pedal steel guitar solo, Swindell makes references to not only the classics, he also wishes legends Keith Whitley, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings were with him as they’ve been through similar heartbreak situations. It’s such a unique twist on a heartbreak song that hasn’t been done before. It certainly shows Swindell’s talent and shows off his drive to put his own spin on things.

“I’m bluer than that neon up on the wall\ Drownin’ my sorrows in grain alcohol // Everywhere I show up, I bring em’ all down // Like a pedal steel follows me around // I’d be better off the jukebox // Then here on this stool top // ‘Cause girl, ever since you’ve been gone // I’m a walkin’, talkin’, honky-tonkin’, sad ass country song”

Next up is “Broken”. At first glance, you may think it is going to be a breakup song. However, it’s quite the opposite. Written by Swindell, Hillary Lindsey, Chris LaCorte, and Cole Taylor, this song shares a great message, being our hearts aren’t meant to be broken. They are meant to be loved. The Georgia native does a great job of reassuring the audience someone is out there to bring us up, not down.

“Wasn’t meant to be broken // Wasn’t meant to be in pieces // It was made to be loved // Done by someone who’ll never leave it”

The third track is the previously released track “Drinkaby”. In a recent press release, Swindell shared that he has envisioned this song as a show opener and that’s exactly what it should be. Written by Hunter Phelps, Jon Pardi, Jordan Schmidt, and Hardy, this is one of the most upbeat breakup songs we’ve heard. The track is about heading down to the bar and enjoying all the drinks including whiskey, tequila, bourbon, and more to get over a broken heart. Intertwining childhood memories with heartache, this track is for sure to climb the charts quickly.

“Hush little cowboy, don’t you cry // Bartender’s got you some whiskey on ice // And if that whiskey ain’t a big enough pour // Drink another and another ’til you lay down on the floor // Come on // This is my drinkaby”

The final bonus track is “She Had Me At Heads Carolina – Remix”. You may be asking yourself how could Swindell make this number one song even better? By adding Jo Dee Messina, the original artist of the 1996 hit “Heads Carolina, Tails California”, to the track is how. Swindell and Messina’s voices blend together perfectly and Messina’s solos certainly show why the original song is not only a classic, but continues to be a favorite.

Swindell has a busy summer and fall planned. Starting this month, he is joining Thomas Rhett on the road for the Home Team Tour 23. Then in October will headline the 12 Tour where he is hitting 12 cities and will play 12 different sets. Nate Smith, Conner Smith and Avery Anna will be joining him and that will certainly be a show to see!

Stereotype is filled with so many incredible songs, it only made sense to release the deluxe version. You can tell Swindell put a lot of effort into this album and wanted to show his fans a more vulnerable side to him while also staying true to who he is as an artist.

Damn Love Track List:

Sad Ass Country Song
Broken
Drinkaby
Stereotype
Every Beer
Never Say Never (with Lainey Wilson)
She Had Me at Heads Carolina
Sayin’ You Love Me
I’m Gonna Let Her
Down to the Bar (featuring Hardy)
How Is She
Miss Wherever
Single Saturday Night
Some Habits
Girls Go Crazy
Walk on Whiskey
She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix)

Cole Swindell releases his deluxe album, ‘Stereotype Broken,’ 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 Cole Swindell releases.

To keep up with Cole Swindell follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Stereotype Broken 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.

Nate Smith: ‘Nate Smith’ Deluxe Album Review

April 28, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Nate Smith makes his debut with his self-titled deluxe album, officially out now, April 28th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

With a platinum #1 single already under his belt, Sony Music Nashville’s Nate Smith released his debut album today, a hefty deluxe collection of 26 new songs. On his self-titled offering, the golden voiced singer-songwriter offers a poignant mix of love lost, love found, and loving life.

“It has been so much fun making this album, and I really believe in every one of these songs,” Smith revealed in a statement. “Releasing an album has always been a goal of mine, but at the end of the day it’s really not about me. It’s about being able to reach other people with music that means something.”

“If I could sum everything up in one word, it’s hope,” he continues. “We all go through things, we really do. But I truly believe the world is trying to bend in your best interest. I really believe that with my whole heart.”

Hope weaves its way throughout the musical journey, which traverses sounds and styles over its initial 20 tracks and the 6 new additions on the deluxe version. Of the previously-released tracks, there’s “Whiskey On You,” Smith’s biggest song to date and “Wreckage,” one of the best country ballads in recent memory. On the latter, he celebrates someone who loves him for all that he is, baggage and all. “I’m a little damaged, but damn you saw the good // When everyone saw baggage, you loved when no one could // Laying in this bed beside you, I don’t have to hide away,” He sings. “You see all the wreckage, and it wrecks me that you stay.”

Like “Wreckage,” Smith owns his broken and celebrates love on songs like “You Ain’t Been in Love,” the stunning “I Found You,” and the incredibly moving “I Don’t Wanna Go to Heaven.” On “I Found You,” he’s wondering about the what-ifs of life and where he’d be if he never found her, while “Heaven” is a slow ballad about life being beautiful here on Earth.

“I don’t wanna go to heaven // When heaven’s right here lying next to me // I count every kiss and every blessing // As the only proof I’ll ever need // I don’t wanna go to heaven // When heaven’s right here lying next to me.”

There’s love lost on the album, weaving its way through songs like the grooving “You Only Want Me When I’m Drunk” and “Back At It Again,” finding him caught up with someone he shouldn’t.

“But I’m back at it again // Two drinks pulling you in // Getting caught up in your eyes // One more one last time// It’s crazy how one kiss from your lips can hit undo // On all that getting over you // Just when I think I’m moving on from square one // I’m back at it again”

Thematically, the album’s opening track, “If I Could Stop Loving You,” is similar to its clever take on moving on from a broken heart. As an album opener, it’s absolutely perfect. It starts with minimal instrumentation and vocals, but then builds to a musical roar with a radio-ready hook that immediately invites listeners in and implores them to keep listening.

There are fun songs here, including the summer-ready “One Good Girl,” the pop-leaning “Bad Memory,” and “Alright, Alright, Alright,” a subtle nod to Matthew McConaughey’s most famous catchphrase as he tries to turn someone’s frown upside down. Additionally, “LFG” is the most straightforward party song here, but the celebration of the simpler things in life is sure to be a crowd-pleaser on both radio and at live shows.

Smith is also a gentleman at heart, as reflected on songs like “Better Boy” and “You Shouldn’t Have To.” On both tracks, he’s sure to treat his woman right and warns others to do the same. “Never let her think somewhere out there,” He sings, “There’s a better boy.”

Likewise, both “Oil Spot” and “Raised Up” are nostalgic, with the first celebrating all of the special moments that happen in a truck, ranging from car trips to bringing a baby home from the hospital. Meanwhile, “Raised Up” has him reflecting back on the things that he grew up on, bringing him back to the basics.

“The day we wrote it, I had to leave the room because I was tearing up,” Smith says of “Raised Up.” “The song talks about ‘Any time I lose my way, I turn the way I was raised up,’ and for me, whenever I’m lost or feeling alone, I’ve got God.’ That has really helped me, but it can be whatever somebody needs. It could be thinking about something your grandma said one time you now hold on to or the phrase you have tattooed on your arm. It’s however you find your way back home. I’m all for that.”

While Smith’s album was originally planned for a February release, it was pushed back to late April to pair with Smith’s packed touring schedule. During that time, the singer-songwriter added six new tracks to the debut, creating a jam-packed deluxe edition. The addition kicks off with “World on Fire,” another radio-ready anthem dedicated to someone who turned Smith’s world upside down, in the best, and then worst, ways possible.

Meanwhile, much of the deluxe section is punctuated with clever lyrics, including on “What An Angel Ain’t,” “Good By Now,” and “I Don’t Miss You.” The latter continues to exemplify why Smith is one of country’s most incredible new vocalists as he flips the lyrics to tell the tale of missing someone. “And this world don’t turn, the sky ain’t blue, the sun don’t shine, the stars don’t shoot,” He sings. “People don’t lie, girl, If that was the truth, Then I don’t miss you.”

The deluxe portion of the albums conclude with “Love Is Blind,” a sparse and twangy celebration of love without question, very similar to “Wreckage” and “I Found You.” While the California native knows he’s damaged, he’s endlessly thankful to the one who loves him despite his flaws. “I ain’t that patient, I ain’t that kind // Little bit crazy, most of my life,” He admits. “Girl, you saved me, I don’t know why // But I thank God that your love is blind.”

On his debut album, Nate Smith shows listeners why he’s one of country music’s fastest-rising stars. With 26 tracks dedicated to all of the good things in life, love, brokenness, hope, and more, the golden-voiced star is clearly just getting started.

Nate Smith Track List:

If I Could Stop Loving You (Jason Massey/Matt Rogers/Justin Wilson)
Alright, Alright, Alright (Joey Hendricks/Jessie Jo Dillon/Daniel Ross)
One Good Girl (Nate Smith/Lindsay Rimes/Jonathan Singleton)
Back At It Again (Trannie Anderson/Adam Doleac/Jason Massey)
You Ain’t Been In Love (Nate Smith/Zach Abend/Andy Albert/Blake Pendergrass)
Better Boy (Michael Hardy/Taylor Phillips)
You Only Want Me When You’re Drunk (Nate Smith/Lindsay Rimes/Seth Alley)
Bad Memory (Nate Smith/James McNair/Lindsay Rimes/Emily Weisband)
Oil Spot (Jared Hampton/Tate Howell/Drew Kennedy)
Wreckage (Nate Smith/Mary Kutter/Chris Sligh/Paul Wrock)
LFG (Nate Smith/Adam James/Mikey Reaves)
Whiskey On You (Nate Smith/Lindsay Rimes/Russell Sutton)
You Shouldn’t Have To (Nate Smith/Matt Alderman/Brian Bunn)
Sleeve (Nate Smith/Brian Scott Alexander/Mary Kutter/Noah Jackson Lubert)
I Found You (Nate Smith/Chris Gelbuda/Kyle Schlienger)
Backseat (Adam James/Steven McMorran/Andy Sheridan)
Name Storms After (Nate Smith/Trannie Anderson/Seth Alley)
Raised Up (Nate Smith/Trannie Anderson/Jonathan Smith)
Under My Skin (Nate Smith/Trysette Maree Loosemore/Larry McCoy)
I Don’t Wanna Go To Heaven (Nate Smith/Daniel Fernandez)
World on Fire (Nate Smith/Ashley Gorley/Taylor Phillips/Lindsay Rimes) – DELUXE
I Don’t Miss You (Seth Alley/James McNair/Heath Warren) – DELUXE
Good By Now (Nate Smith/Ashley Gorley/Taylor Phillips/Lindsay Rimes) – DELUXE
What an Angel Ain’t (Nate Smith/Zach Abend/Michael Hardy) – DELUXE
Dear Heart (Nate Smith/Tofer Brown/Emily Weisband) – DELUXE
Love Is Blind (Nate Smith/Jessie Jo Dillon/Jesse Frasure/Geoff Warburton) – DELUXE

Country Swag Picks:

“Better Boy”
“Wreckage”
“If I Could Stop Loving You”
“World on Fire”
“I Don’t Wanna Go to Heaven”
“LFG”

Nate Smith releases his brand new self-titled album, 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 Nate Smith releases.

The singer-songwriter will be joining Thomas Rhett on his Home Team Tour 23, which includes a stop at the UBS Arena on July 22.

To keep up with the rising star, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Nate Smith 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.

Griffen Palmer: ‘Unlearn’ Album Review

April 28, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Griffen Palmer makes his debut with his new album, Unlearn, officially out now, April 28th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

Nearly three years ago, Griffen Palmer won NBC’s songwriting competition show, Songland, with his song, “Second Guessing,” which was then released and recorded by Florida Georgia Line. Now signed to Big Loud Records, the singer-songwriter is releasing his debut album, Unlearn, a ten song collection of pure pop country.

With an accessible and smooth voice and a knack for witty wordsmithing, Palmer’s debut is a solid collection of pop country perfection. Produced by mega hitmaker Joey Moi, the album features ten songs co-written by Palmer, including “Second Guessing,” “Unlearn,” and a host of new tracks.

For the Ontario native, Unlearn represents the culmination of a lifelong dream. “I’ve been dreaming of putting out my own album for as long as I can remember, and it is finally happening,” he shares. “My debut album Unlearn comes out April 28th. I’m equal parts amazed and proud of how it has all turned out. I can’t wait for you to hear it!”

Much of Unlearn was crafted with GRAMMY-nominated hitmaker Geoff Warburton during the height of Covid, as the pair buckled down in a Canadian cabin and wrote 30 to 40 songs over several weeks, including the ten that make up this album.

The title track is an immediate standout, as Palmer grapples with being a kid child of divorce and the ways in which it affects a new relationship. “This one meant a lot to me when we wrote it, and that feeling grows for me every time we play it,” He shares. “It’s a song that I really needed when I was younger, so I’m hoping that people out there that feel like I did when I was a kid might hear it now. I just hope it makes them feel understood.”

Here, he’s determined to not make the same mistakes as his parents. “I’m closer to knowing // What love really is // Memories take // A while to reverse // You got me believing // These songs that I’ve heard,” He sings. “I didn’t know it // But baby you showed me // That I’ve got a lot to unlearn”

Likewise, his Songland-winning tune, “Second Guessing” is a perfect mid-tempo ballad that allows him to musically declare the old adage that “when you know, you know.” Despite being previously-recorded by FGL, Palmer breathes new life into the track, seeming more sincere as his mellow and soothing voice perfectly conveys the meaning behind the lyrics. “But since I met you // I ain’t spent one second guessing,” He proclaims. “Cause I’ve turned days into nights and spent all of my life asking questions // Now I don’t spend one second guessing”

“25 to Life” is another huge hit in the making, a lush ballad just made for weddings and special moments that is certain to climb the radio charts. Here, he compares loving someone to a crime, but in a way that’s endlessly endearing. “‘Cause if loving you’s a crime,” he muses. “Give me twenty five to life with you.”

Much of the album deals with the two main truths of life: love lost and love found. Songs like “Put Me Through Hello,” “How Many Beers,” “By the Way” and “Small Town After All” all deal with the former, Palmer nursing a broken heart through exceedingly clever lyrics.

On “Put Me Through Hello,” he’s trying to move on, but knows he’ll inevitably be on the receiving end of a drunk dial, while on “By the Way,” he admits, “I still love you by the way.” “How Many Beers” has him pondering how much drinking will allow him to move on, while “Small Town After All” has him dealing with the logistics that go with breaking up in a small town, as he cleverly turns the idea of a small world into a small town, proclaiming that “it’s a small town after all.”

While “How Many Beers” may be a breakup song, “Bottles on the Table” is quite the opposite, a synth-leaning track that finds him wondering if there’s more than bottles on the table between him and a lucky lady. Likewise, “Came Here to Leave” channels Chris Young’s “Getting You Home,” as he sets the stage for a romantic night. “So let’s finish these drinks,” he croons. “‘Cause baby we know that we only came here to leave.”

With a smooth voice, country hooks, and incredibly impressive lyrics, Griffen Palmer’s debut album Unlearn is a surefire way to introduce him to a legion of new fans. In fact, there’s no “Second Guessing” that he’s bound to be a huge star.

Unlearn Track List:

Second Guessing (Griffen Palmer, Corey Crowder, Ester Dean, Andrew DeRoberts, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Shane McAnally, Ben Simonetti, Ryan Tedder, Geoff Warburton)
25 To Life (Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton)
Unlearn (Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton)
Put Me Through Hello (Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton)
By The Way (Griffen Palmer, Jordan Reynolds, Geoff Warburton)
Small Town After All (Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton)
Came Here To Leave (Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton)
Late To The Party (Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton)
How Many Beers (Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton)
Bottles On The Table (Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton)

Country Swag Picks:

Unlearn
Second Guessing
25 to Life
Bottles on the Table

Griffen Palmer releases his new record, ‘Unlearn,’ out now.

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

For tour dates and more, visit his website here.

To keep up with Griffen Palmer, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Unlearn 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 Kip Moore’s New Album ‘Damn Love’

April 28, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Erica Zisman

Kip Moore releases his new album, Damn Love, officially out now, April 28th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

With his fifth studio album, singer-songwriter, Kip Moore is giving fans a taste of his growth as an artist. His new record, Damn Love, features thirteen brand new songs that run the gamut of emotions. With all but one song co-written by the artist, Moore truly outdoes himself on this one-of-a-kind project.

“I’ve always had a nomadic spirit, at the core of me that’s what I am, and it’s a beautiful life I lead – I don’t take that for granted,” Moore shared in a recent press release. “But I still crave that companionship down deep in my DNA, and that’s where ‘Damn Love’ comes from. There’s a reason love and relationships have been written about so much – and why they continue to get written about. Because at the core of us, that’s what we desire the most.”

Listen to the brand-new record below, and be on the lookout for our full review.

Damn Love Track List:

Damn Love (Jason Gantt, Jaren Johnston, James McNair)
Kinda Bar (Kip Moore, Dan Couch)
Neon Blue (Kip Moore, Dan Couch, Jaren Johnston)
The Guitar Slinger (Kip Moore, Dan Couch)
Heart On Fire (Kip Moore, Jaren Johnston)
Another Night In Knoxville (Kip Moore, Dan Couch)
Silver And Gold (Kip Moore, Dan Couch, Chris DeStefano)
Peace & Love (Kip Moore, Jaren Johnston)
Sometimes She Stays** (Kip Moore, Kenton Bryant)
Some Things (Kip Moore, Dan Couch)
One Heartbeat (Featuring Ashley McBryde; Kip Moore)
Mr. Simple (Kip Moore, Jaren Johnston)
Micky’s Bar (Kip Moore, Dan Couch)

Kip Moore’s new album, ‘Damn Love’ 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 Kip Moore releases.

To keep up with Kip Moore, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Damn Love 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 Cole Swindell’s New Album ‘Stereotype Broken’

April 28, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Erica Zisman

Cole Swindell’s brand new deluxe album, Stereotype Broken, is out now, April 28th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

A little over a year ago, Cole Swindell shared his fourth studio album, Stereotype with the world, featuring thirteen brand new songs for fans to fall in love with. Today, Swindell is giving fans even more to be excited for. In the deluxe version of his fourth studio album, the renamed new album, Stereotype Broken features four more songs to add to Swindell’s growing catalog of music.

“My 4th studio album has done so much for us this past year. I felt we had a few more songs that deserved to [be] part of the project and I can’t wait for y’all to hear them,” shared Swindell on Instagram upon the announcement.

Sterotype Broken boasts new songs like, “Sad Ass Country Song,” “Broken,” and “Drinkaby,” while the final track is a remixed of his iconic track, “She Had Me at Heads Carolina.” Listen to the new album here!

Stereotype Broken Track List:

Sad Ass Country Song*
Broken*
Drinkaby*
Stereotype
Every Beer
Never Say Never (with Lainey Wilson)
She Had Me at Heads Carolina
Sayin’ You Love Me
I’m Gonna Let Her
Down to the Bar (featuring Hardy)
How Is She
Miss Wherever
Single Saturday Night
Some Habits
Girls Go Crazy
Walk on Whiskey
She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix)*

*New songs

Cole Swindell releases his deluxe album, ‘Stereotype Broken,’ 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 Cole Swindell releases.

To keep up with Cole Swindell follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Stereotype Broken 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.

Lauren Watkins: ‘Introducing: Lauren Watkins’ – Debut EP Review

April 23, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Big Loud Records’ newest signee, Lauren Watkins releases her debut EP, Introducing: Lauren Watkins out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

Equal parts storyteller and songwriter, country newcomer Lauren Watkins is ready to introduce herself to country music. The Nashville native has just released her debut EP, a collection entitled Introducing: Lauren Watkins, featuring 7 new tracks she co-wrote.

For her Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters debut project, Watkins enlisted songwriters like Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Tofer Brown, and more, to bring her musical vision to life. Produced by heavy hitter Joey Moi, Introducing takes listeners through all of the things that make life unique, magical, and messy.

“Sleeping in My Makeup” may be your first taste of Watkins’ music, and what an introduction it is, her smoky voice punctuating classic country instrumentation as she deals with a breakup by drowning her sorrows at the bottom of a bottle. However, the lyrics here are exceptional, as she’s “too drunk to care ‘bout the smoke in my hair,” and “way too gone to take off my Luccheses.”

“There’s tequila on my breath // And a pounding in my head // I’m a dive bar shit show // Downward spiral lately // And I’m even more a mess when I wake up // He’s sleepin’ in her bed // And I’m sleepin’ in my makeup”

Meanwhile, “Ole Miss,” “Grain of Salt” and “Shirley Temple” offer some of the EP’s most clever lyrics, as she finds herself dealing with her own heartbreak and jealousy as an ex is moving on. “’Shirley Temple’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve written,” Watkins shares. “It’s just a classic song about jealousy. You want someone you can’t have. As much as we don’t wanna admit it, I think most of us have been there.”

Likewise, “Camel Blues,” “Dark Places” and “Anybody But You” have her doing things she shouldn’t with people she shouldn’t. “Camel Blues” is a surprisingly bittersweet ode to the nostalgia found in coping by lighting up a cigarette, while “Anybody But You” has her desperate to move on. “The only way to fall out of love is to hate you,” She sings here. “I’d do anything with anybody but you.”

“Ole Miss” is a 90’s-infused midtempo ballad that provides a moment of country greatness that finds her longing for her college days and the heartbreak that went along with an old love. “Four years and a few more beers ago, Two kids fallin’ in like they didn’t know,” She sings nostalgically.

“It’d end up in the rearview fadin’ slow // But dammit I’m still seein’ // Those powder blue eyes looking into mine // You breaking my heart at the twenty yard line // Said I was fine guess all this time ain’t healin’ // The same Ole Miss you feelin’”

While much of Introducing: Lauren Watkins finds Watkins dealing with heartbreak, this isn’t a sad album. Instead, it’s a celebration of clever lyrics and country instrumentation as she mixes unique phrasing with 90’s-inspired riffs, truly making her a standout female star on the rise.

Introducing: Lauren Watkins EP Tracklist:

Sleeping In My Makeup (Lauren Watkins, Tofer Brown, Lauren Hungate, Meg McRee)
Camel Blues (Lauren Watkins, Jonathan Gamble, Lauren Hungate, Matt Morrisey)
Anybody But You (Lauren Watkins, Rodney Clawson, Mark Holman, Ernest Keith Smith)
Grain of Salt (Lauren Watkins, Andrew DeRoberts, Lauren Hungate)
Shirley Temple (Lauren Watkins, Nicolle Galyon, Meg McRee)
Ole Miss (Lauren Watkins, Adam James, Mikey Reaves)
Dark Places (Lauren Watkins, Shane McAnally, Caroline Watkins)

Lauren Watkins releases her debut EP, ‘Introducing: Lauren Watkins’ out now.

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

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here.

To keep up with Lauren Watkins, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Introducing: Lauren Watkins EP 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.

Morgan Evans: ‘Life Upside Down’ – EP Review

April 21, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Morgan Evans releases new EP, Life Upside Down out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

In recent times, Warner Music Nashville’s Morgan Evans has found his life turned upside down. Following a very public divorce and consequent musical he-said-she-said, the Australian import is back with a new EP, reflecting this unique phase in his life.

The Life Upside Down EP is a five song collection that finds Evans in a state of flux, dealing with heartbreak, moving on, and so much more. “I called the EP Life Upside Down because this collection of music could only have come from this time, when my life felt exactly that,” He revealed. “To me, these five tracks journey through unexpected heartbreak, self-rediscovery, new beginnings and a new found gratitude for the present moment.”

There’s the much-discussed “Over for You,” both in studio and live forms, which finds the singer-songwriter wondering when a relationship ended for his former love. While the song has been the subject of much tabloid fodder, if you look past the gossip, it’s truly a heart-wrenching time capsule of love lost. “You used to tell me everything,” He sings, his voice heavy with emotion. “And that’s what hurts the most.”

Likewise “On My Own Again” has him dealing with the aftermath of divorce, looking at the logistics of moving on and flying solo, while realizing that his future suddenly looks brighter than the past. Here, he’s realizing that healing won’t be linear, but that the world is his proverbial oyster.

“If forever’s gonna end like that, I guess I’d better start // The rest of my life, like the best times, up around the bend // Oh-oh, on my own again (on my own again) // I could turn left to California, ride to New York city // Hell, I could go to Mexico right now, if I want to // And I know it might get lonely on my way out of here// But as long as the windshields bigger than the rear view mirror”

It’s not all heartbreak on Life Upside Down, however, with both “Hey Little Mama” and “All RIght Here” providing the perfect antidotes. Both are much needed doses of aural sunshine, with the former featuring a clap-along-worthy chorus and the latter full of clever lyrics. On “Mama,” we find Evans letting loose and channeling the Hank Williams’ classic “Hey Good Lookin’” paired with Keith Urban-esque guitar riffs. “This kinda heaven,” He sings over the sunny guitar riff. “Takes all the lemons, makes a little lemonade.”

Likewise, “All Right Here,” is another summer-ready Kenny-Chesney-meets-Old-Dominion toe tapper with cheeky lyrics and catchy instrumentation. Everyone in the world is going through something, but that’s what bonds us. “All night long, singing them country songs, In a world where a whole lot of things go wrong,” He sings. “They’re going all right here.”

While Morgan Evans may have been handed lemons as he found his Life Upside Down, the Warner Music Nashville singer-songwriter is certainly making musical lemonade. With a perfect mix of breakup ballads and sunny “it’s alright” anthems on his new EP, it’s obvious that the Aussie is sure to land on his very talented feet.

Life Upside Down EP Tracklist:

Over for You
On My Own Again
Hey Little Mama
All Right Here
Over for You (Live in Melbourne)

Morgan Evans new EP, ‘Life Upside Down’ 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 Morgan Evans releases.

To keep up with Morgan Evans, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Life Upside Down EP 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.

Tenille Townes: ‘Train Track Worktapes’ – EP Review

April 21, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Dylan Bestler

Tenille Townes releases new EP, Train Track Worktapes out now, April 21st on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

Exactly one year after the release of her Masquerades EP, Tenille Townes returns with a new DIY-styled project conceptualized, written, and recorded on a charity train trip through her native country of Canada. An annual tradition, the CP Holiday Train benefits local food banks when their need is greatest, as each attendee brings donations to catch the free concert that occurs right on the train cars. During their 15 days onboard last December, Townes and her band played over 60 shows to crowds ranging from dozens to thousands in communities from Montreal to Calgary.

“The generosity of everyone bringing donations to their local food banks as we traveled along was a reminder to me of how much good there is in the world, especially in the heart of the smaller, remote communities,” Townes stated in a recent press release. “In between all these shows, I made it my mission to write about what it felt like to witness that, ride the high, and capture what I was feeling on the trip.”

The project’s major theme is travel. The 5-track EP opens with “Home to Me,” an autobiographical narrative on the singer’s lifestyle. She confesses that even though she loves the road, the love she receives from her significant other will always bring her home.

“No I can’t help it, I’m a traveling soul // That river running, I was born to go // But wherever all these winding paths or railroad tracks may lead // you’ll still be home to me”

The next track, “Pieces of My Heart,” is a troubadour anthem about how the singer never planned on her career heading down this path, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. She compares the songs she sings to ‘pieces of her heart’ that she leaves in the communities she performs in. This is followed by an acoustic cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” which was recorded in a single take.

The fourth track, “Coming Together,” is an ode to music. Not only does it allow the singer to see new places all over the world, but it also creates unity between all different types of people. The EP’s closer, “Wheels,” was also recorded in one take. In this slow, acoustic confessional ballad, the singer admits there is nothing that could keep her from the road.

“How long could you stay in the clouds // That’s the thing about a high is you don’t ever wanna come down // If I could I’d never stop these wheels from spinning ‘round”

This stripped-down, roots-driven sound calls back to her debut release, Living Room Worktapes—an EP that showcased Townes’ transcendent vocals and raw emotion. Townes and her producer, guitarist Jaxon Hargrove, got resourceful with their setup for this new project—a suitcase turned into a kickdrum; tin foil and paper bowls became a shaker; and teacups made the perfect substitute for a triangle. Recording mainly in the train’s caboose, most songs were captured in between shows in less than twenty minutes.

“Being in motion is my favorite state. I love the hum of the engines and the blur of the evergreens out the window, in any mode of transportation,” admitted Townes. “I really do believe that home is not a place, but a feeling that you get. And being on the road, singing songs for people and feeling a part of a collective brought together through music, that feels like home to me.”

Train Track Worktapes EP Tracklist:

Home to Me (Tenille Townes)
Pieces of My Heart (Tenille Townes)
Landslide (Stevie Nicks)
Coming Together (Tenille Townes, Jaxon Hargrove)
Wheels (Tenille Townes, Jaxon Hargrove)

Tenille Townes’ new EP, ‘Train Track Worktapes,’ is officially out now.

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

To keep up with Tenille Townes, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Train Track Worktapes EP 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.

Caitlyn Smith: ‘High & Low’ Album Review

April 14, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Caitlyn Smith’s new album High & Low is officially out now, April 14th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

In April of 2022, Caitlyn Smith released the critically acclaimed High, a beautiful and poetic eight-track celebration of the great things in life. Today, however, the singer-songwriter is back with High & Low, exploring the full gamut of emotions by adding 6 new songs to complete the full picture.

Much like those on social media who only share a highlight reel of the positive moments in life, Smith realized she was doing the same thing musically. “Nobody can have the highs without the lows,” she revealed. “When I decided to produce this album, I knew it was going to be a challenge – and musically it was a beautifully stretching & exciting experience. But it brought me into this unexpected season of life where I started facing all these roadblocks that were holding me back. Fear. Doubt. Denial. And I was really forced to finally bring these issues into the light. I went from hiding behind my songs to being able to say it out loud in the room – and that’s something I’m really proud of.”

For the Monument recording artist, High & Low feels like a peek into the introspective singer-songwriter’s most personal diary as she details her insecurities, her doubts, her lost love, and much more. Instead of emphasizing just the highs, the album explores all sides of life: the sweet, the bitter, and the bittersweet.

“High” serves as the album’s introduction, and it’s the most perfect way to begin this chapter, cleverly juxtaposing melancholy lyrics over lush instrumentation. Here, she’s both high and low as a relationship has ended, but she doesn’t quite feel that way. Co-written by Smith with Miley Cyrus and Jenn Decilveo, the chanteuse proclaims, “Sometimes I get a little too high // Got my mind going places I don’t wanna go // Sometimes I get a little too low // And I can’t see myself through the fire and smoke…And in my head I did my very best // Saying goodbye, goodbye // And I don’t miss you but I think of you // And don’t know why // I still feel high, I still feel high.”

Love lost permeates the album, Smith’s mournful voice ripe with emotion as she rips your heart out with her lyrical mastery. This is evident on “I Don’t Like the World Without You,” “I Think of You” and the chill-inducing piano ballad, “Lately,” which finds her desperate to occupy herself in light of a relationship ending. Likewise, “Alaska” finds Smith proverbially lost in her relationship, her voice dripping with emotion on the sparse ballad, which begins with the line “I’m terrified we’ll end up like my parents, together but alone.”

Smith finds herself in another state on “Mississippi,” which features stirring male background vocals by non-other than superstar, Garth Brooks. The vocals add an incomparable depth to the song. Here, she’s longing for the state, which seems to act as a metaphor for someone she used to know. “Mississippi, do you ever miss me? // It’s been a while but you’re always on my mind // Sometimes it hits me like a burnin’ whiskey // That I’ll never really ever say goodbye // To you, Mississippi.”

It’s not all doom and gloom on High & Low, with tracks like “Downtown Baby,” “Dreamin’s Free” and “Good As Us” providing much-needed moments of levity. The former has hints of pop, while “Dreamin’s Free” is a lush and ethereal ode to the fact that money can’t buy happiness. Likewise, “Good As Us” has an almost Daisy Jones-like vibe with its airy melodies and smoky vocals, punctuated by a grooving baseline and tambourine shake. In fact, we can almost imagine Daisy and Billy on stage singing along to this track, proclaiming, “Nothing else can make me feel as good as us.”

“Maybe in Another Life” is a clear standout, starting as a subdued ballad before building into a heart-stopping orchestral moment. Here, she longs for a universe in which her love story has less of a tragic end. “And I’ll love you forever with the fire in my soul // Maybe I could be your girl // And we don’t ever say goodbye,” She proclaims. “Maybe in another life.”

Alternatively, “Writing Songs and Raising Babies” has Smith accepting the less-than-glamorous hand she’s been dealt in life, embracing the mundane. On the groovy track which finds her channeling her inner Maren Morris, the singer-songwriter proclaims that there’s “nothing here too glamorous, taking it one day at a time, but damn it’s a beautiful life.”

Finally, the album ends with “The Great Pretender,” an uber-relatable ode to dealing with facades and imposter syndrome. Here, Smith is at her finest, shining through as a folksy songwriter and storyteller in the vein of a mastermind like Brandi Carlile. “Nobody knows I’m crying in a bathroom stall // And I’m living in a house of cards about to fall,” She emotes. “But I make them believe that I’ve never been better // I am the great pretender”

On High & Low, Caitlyn Smith takes listeners on a journey through the highs and lows of life in a way that’s equal parts heartbreaking, beautiful, and heartbreakingly beautiful.

High & Low Track List:

High – Intro
High
Dreamin’s Free
Lately
Mississippi
Good as Us
Alaska
Maybe in Another Life
I Think of You
Nothing Against You
Downtown Baby
Writing Songs and Raising Babies
I Don’t Like The World Without You
The Great Pretender

Country Swag Picks:

“High”
“Mississippi”
“Alaska”
“Maybe in Another Life”
“Lately”

Caitlyn Smith’s new album, ‘High & Low’ 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 upcoming Caitlyn Smith announcements and releases.

The mega-talented singer will headline her own acoustic tour in support of Independent music venues on The Great Pretender Solo Tour. “I wanted to bring my fans into the room with me to where these songs began. Feelings. Stories. One voice and one instrument. Songs in their purest form,” She shares. “Sharing these wonderfully intimate rooms with people allows me to connect and be more vulnerable than I have been able to be in years. Hopefully, this experience will mean as much to my fans as I know it’s going to mean to me.”

To keep up with Caitlyn Smith, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

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

Jake Worthington: Self-titled Debut Album Review

April 7, 2023/in Blog, First Impression, New Music, News /by Nicole Piering

Jake Worthington’s self-titled debut album with Big Loud Records is out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new album below.

With a voice laced with depth, sincerity and traditionalism, Big Loud recording artist Jake Worthington is certainly a standout in the modern landscape. Today, the country newcomer released his debut self-titled album, a thirteen track love letter to country music.

For the Texas native who grew up on the likes of Ray Price, Merle Haggard, and George Jones, traditional country music is in his DNA. “I don’t mind being a dark horse,” he reveals in a statement. “Blame it on my raising, but I think there ought to be room for country in country music. It took me a long time to get here, but I’m ready to go to work.”

For Worthington, who co-wrote all but one of the new tracks, the project cements his place as a standout of the genre. With co-writers including ERNEST, Seth Ennis, Jessi Alexander, David Lee Murphy, and more, the young crooner sounds wise beyond his 27 years.

Maybe best known as the runner up on the sixth season of NBC’s The Voice, Worthington’s debut establishes him as way more than a flash in the pan reality contestant. In fact, throughout the album, Worthington often channels his inner George Strait, and we mean that in a good way. This styling is apparent on the album’s first track, “State You Left Me In,” which hearkens melodically and stylistically back to Strait’s classic “The Chair.” While his lost love is moving on, both literally and figuratively, he’ll be sure to stick around, just in case she ever comes back.

Love lost is a prevalent theme throughout the album, weaving its way through songs like “Without You,” “Ain’t Got You to Hold,” and “She Ain’t You.” While the latter is a stirring ballad, the others are toe-tapping dance floor anthems that are sure to have listeners two-stepping at the dance halls. The lyrics may be dealing with heartbreak, but there’s no lack of happiness within the actual music, providing an interesting juxtaposition for listeners.

“Single at the Same Time” is an immediate standout, a toe-tapping ode to a couple who just can’t seem to get their timing right. “If we’re ever single at the same time // Don’t call me a friend // Just call me sometime,” He muses. “Don’t think I ain’t got the same thing on my mind // If we’re ever single at the same time.”

“Honky Tonk Crowd,” “Night Time is My Time,” and “Next New Thing” are all laden with slide guitars and twangy piano. On each of these tracks, Worthington knows exactly who he is, what he likes, and where he’s going. “I’m just a good ol’ boy,” He sings, his voice laden with country inflection. “Looking for the next new thing.”

“Pop Goes the Whiskey” enlists ERNEST as both a co-writer and duet partner, on a song that is remnant of early Brad Paisley. On the love-lost tune, the pair trade verses about trying to move on at the bottom of the bottle. “Oh, and what do you know // Here I go // Back to the bottle again // Between heartache and liquor I’m up to my eyes,” They sing. “And I’m looking // For a tipsy // That’ll fix me for good this time // And it looks like its pop goes the whiskey tonight.”

“Closing Time” is the most appropriate final track, a barstool ballad mixing heartbreak with last call as Worthington compares moving on from a doomed relationship to the end of the night blues. “It just ain’t close enough to closin’ time // For me to leave this bar // And our love behind // I know I’ll close my tab // With you off my mind,” He drawls. “It just ain’t close enough to closin’ time.”

Produced by Joey Moi, Jake Worthington’s self-titled LP is one that is sure to entice traditional country music fans while winning over tons of new ones. It’s a modern way to approach classic country, resulting in one of the genre’s most intriguing and impressive debuts in recent memory.

Jake Worthington Track List:

State You Left Me In (Timothy Baker, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
Single At The Same Time (Robert Arthur, Kim Penz, Jacob Weinschenk (Boyd), Jake Worthington)
Without You (Jody Booth, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
Pop Goes The Whiskey (feat. ERNEST) (Rocky Block, Kyle Fishman, Seth Ennis, Ernest Keith Smith)
Ain’t Got You To Hold (Joe Denim, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
She Ain’t You (Jake Doucet, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
Next New Thing (Steve Leslie, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
Honky Tonk Crowd (Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
I Ain’t Goin Anywhere (Wyatt McCubbin, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
Night Time Is My Time (Monty Holmes, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
Only One Way To Find Out (Jessi Alexander, Dave Cohen, David Lee Murphy, Jake Worthington)
Heaven Can’t Be Found (Will Jones, Kim Penz, Roger Springer, Jake Worthington)
Closing Time (Nick Walsh, Jake Worthington)

Country Swag Picks:

“Single at the Same Time”
“State You Left Me In”
“Pop Goes the Whiskey”

Jake Worthington’s self-titled debut album is officially 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 upcoming Jake Worthington announcements and releases.

To keep up with the star, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Jake Worthington’s self-titled debut album is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.