Chris Janson releases his newest album, The Outlaw Side of Me, out now, June 16th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.
Big Machine Records recording artist, Chris Janson is back with his fifth studio album. With fourteen new songs including collaborations with Brantley Gilbert, Darius Rocker, Dolly Parton, and Slash, The Outlaw Side of Me is quite possibly Janson’s best to date.
“From the minute I started this album ’til the minute we finished, I enjoyed every second. This record encompasses all sides of me: the lover, the party guy, the conservationist, the family man… I love these songs, and I had such a good time making the music. The Outlaw Side of Me is my favorite album to date,” shared Janson in a recent press release.
Listen to the new album below!
The Outlaw Side of Me Tracklist:
Rowdy Gentle Man
Honkytonk Minute
Outlaw Side of Me
All I Need Is You
Hank the Hell Out of the Honkytonk (feat. Brantley Gilbert)
Dirt in My Life
Tap That
Good Folks Goin’ to Work
G.O.A.T.
Get It Right
Every Day of the Week (feat. Darius Rucker)
21 Forever (feat. Dolly Parton and Slash)
Days in the Field
21 Forever (feat. Slash)
Chris Janson’s new album, ‘The Outlaw Side of Me’ 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 Chris Janson releases.
The Outlaw Side of Me 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/chris-janson-album-copy.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-06-16 00:05:072023-06-16 00:05:07Here is Chris Janson’s Album ‘The Outlaw Side of Me
Colby Acuff shares his debut album, Western White Pines, officially out now, June 9th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new album below.
Sony Music Nashville recording artist Colby Acuff is officially marking his major-label debut. With ten brand new songs, his debut, Western White Pines is an incredible first outing for the rising artist. Each of the ten new songs showcase Acuff’s incredible artistry and talent.
“When I started playing music, I never thought that I’d get a record deal. I’ve always had the mentality that we’d have to go out and do it all on our own. What I realize now is that there are some amazing people in the business who truly understand me,” shared the singer in a recent press release. “Western White Pines is a project full of some of my favorite songs. The record is unique in all aspects of the word. You will never hear the same song twice, but you will know that it’s a Colby Acuff record.”
Listen to the new album below!
Western White Pines Track List:
Western White Pines
One Day At A Time
Playing God Again
Outlaw in Me
Boy And A Bird Dog
Better Man
Hard Livin’ Life
Welcome to Toms
All I Got
Rolling With The Wind
Colby Acuff makes his major-label debut with his new record, “Western White Pines,” 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 Colby Acuff releases.
Western White Pines 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/colby-acuff-debut-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-06-09 00:04:192023-06-09 00:04:19Here is Colby Acuff’s Debut Album ‘Western White Pines’
Corey Kent releases his newest album, Blacktop out now, June 2nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.
Country newcomer Corey Kent is ready to establish himself as a force in country music. Today, the Sony Music Nashville newcomer released his major-label debut project, Blacktop, featuring the Platinum #1 hit, “Wild as Her.” Produced by music royalty, Jay Joyce, the album features a collection of ten new songs, eight of which were co-written by Kent.
The album’s name holds a double meaning for Kent, who has pounded the pavement as a touring artist for years before achieving success, while he also picked up work at a pavement company after a publishing deal fell through. “I think my path has been so winding to get here, that if this would’ve happened five years ago, I wouldn’t have had the ability to appreciate it like I do now,” He reveals.
Throughout Blacktop, Kent focuses heavily on sounding uniquely himself, adhering to the mantra that “Nobody great ever sounded like anyone else.” It’s that attitude that has earned him a loyal following, as he’s always remained true to himself. That included leaving Nashville because it didn’t feel quite right and setting his roots in Texas, an influence which can be heard throughout the LP.
“We sound like us because that’s never happened before, and that’s what I feel like this record is,” the Oklahoma native reveals of the album that is punctuated by tracks like “Wild As Her,” “Something’s Gonna Kill Me,” “Man of the House,” and “Once or Twice.”
While “Wild as Her” was Kent’s first foray into chart stardom, “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” is an immediate standout, a driving and radio-ready anthemic ode to seizing the day. Here, Kent proclaims, “Ain’t no way around it // One day I’m gonna die // If something’s gonna kill me might as well be // What makes me feel alive.”
“Life is not just surviving. It’s about creating experiences and feeling a rush and being exhilarated and making those memories you can’t ever forget,” He says of the song. “This record took me from working at a pavement company to being on the road full-time, and having one of the biggest songs of the year. It changed my life. I got kicked in the teeth by life, but I got up, spit out the blood and kept going. And now here we are.”
Similarly, “How You Know You Made It” and “Hood of That Car” both have that radio-ready anthemic feel, hooky choruses and feelgood melodies that are sure to continue Kent’s rise to superstardom. While “How You Know” celebrates the simple moments that mean success to Kent, “Hood” is a celebration of fooling around and falling in love on the hood of a car.
Likewise, “Bic Flame” is another heartfelt celebration of the simpler times, Kent realizing that despite his young age, he’s an old soul at heart. “You say I’m an old soul, But what’s so wrong with that?” He asks, musing “In a crowd full of cell phone lights, I guess I’m still a BiC flame guy.”
There’s love lost on tracks like “Gone As You” and “Long Story Short,” with the former finding him “gone” thanks to a bottle, while the latter finds him placing blame on the woman who cut their relationship a bit too short too soon. “You turned off the song right before that last chorus played,” he croons, voice laced with emotion on the catchy guitar-laden track. “Guess you and I just weren’t on the same page.”
“Man of the House” also shows Kent’s softer side, finding him at his most vulnerable as he tries to fill the shoes left behind by his father. On the stirring ballad, he struggles with the shadows of his past as well as how those things still affect him today. “Be strong when you ain’t// And hold on when you can’t // They can’t tell you but they need you // And you can’t let ‘em down // So hide those shakin’ hands // Be a rock when you feel like sand // It turns out all I was back then // Is all that I am now // Just a boy trying to be the man of the house.”
The album’s final track, “Once or Twice” closes out the album with a poignant touch, finding the singer-songwriter facing his demons. His voice is on full display over the lush ballad, his voice ripe with emotion. “I’ve never looked for trouble // But trouble’s found me all of my life // And there’s a time to walk away // And there’s a time to hold your ground and fight,” He declared. “I’ve never seen the face of God // But I’ve stared down the devil once or twice.”
It’s that kind of raw vulnerability mixed with catchy hooks that permeate Blacktop and are certain to establish Corey Kent as a future superstar in country music.
Country Swag Picks:
Hood of That Car
Something’s Gonna Kill Me
Man of the House
How You Know You Made It
Blacktop Tracklist:
Wild as Her (Kelly Archer/Brett Tyler/Morgan Wallen)
Long Story Short (Corey Kent/Lydia Vaughan)
Something’s Gonna Kill Me (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)
Man of the House (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)
Gone as You (Casey Brown/Matthew McGinn/Travis Wood)
BiC Flame (Corey Kent/Jack Hummel/Jon Sherwood)
Call It a Night (Aaron Eshuis/Ryan Hurd)
How You Know You Made It (Corey Kent/AJ Pruis/Smith Ahnquist)
Hood of That Car (Corey Kent/Blake Chaffin/Jack Hummel/Jacob Lutz)
Once or Twice (Corey Kent/Lee Miller)
Corey Kent shares new album, ‘Blacktop,’ 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 Corey Kent releases.
Kent is set to hit the stage as part of Jason Aldean’s Highway Desperado Tour this summer. For tour dates and more, visit Kent’s official website here.
Blacktop 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/corey-kent-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2023-06-02 00:03:382023-06-02 00:03:38Corey Kent: ‘Blacktop – Album Review
Jelly Roll releases his debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel, out now, June 2nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.
There are some artists who spark the country scene as an ember, burning slowly and steadily until they finally reach stardom. Jelly Roll is not one of them.
Instead, the Nashville native is an immediate wildfire, burning up the charts and leaving nothing in his wake. The singer-songwriter spent 25 unprecedented, consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Emerging Artist Chart, breaking the record for the most weeks spent at #1, and his debut country album exemplifies why.
With a background in hip-hop and rap, a transition to country may not have seemed the most logical step, until you hear his voice. With a talent that effortlessly transitions between poignant ballads and arena-ready rock anthems, Jelly Roll is the kind of artist who would have the coaches on The Voice shocked upon turning their chairs. Yet, without question, the BMG/Stoney Creek Records is a vocalist who would undoubtedly find a home in any genre. This is evident through Whitsitt Chapel, which finds the former convict dabbling in everything from pure country to anthemic rock to beat-laden hip-hop and rap.
Today, June 2, the musical enigma released his debut country LP, featuring thirteen new co-written tracks. Other contributors to the album include Miranda Lambert, Hardy, Brantley Gilbert, and Ashley McBryde, while he also trades verses with Gilbert, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf, and Lainey Wilson.
Throughout Whitsitt Chapel, named after the church Jelly grew up attending, there’s often a battle between faith and felony, Jelly musically struggling with both his past and his present, his angels and his demons. Yet, the singer-songwriter isn’t hiding who he is. “This album is about growth and gratitude happening in my life. I wanted to create a project that felt hopeful,” He says in a statement. “I believe the worst feeling a person can have is feeling hopeless or worthless. This is therapeutic music. Real music for real people with real problems.”
While much of the album is autobiographical, it’s also very much a concept album, dealing with the battles of a man torn between heaven and hell, addiction and sobriety, falling and faith. These themes weave their way through almost all of the songs on Whitsitt Chapel, with Jelly Roll offering both lyrical and vocal brilliance through his delivery.
Opening with “Halfway to Hell,” Jelly Roll immediately sets the stage for what’s to come in the form of a blazing uptempo which finds him a walking contradiction, struggling with where he stands. Over roaring guitars, he proclaims, “I don’t know if I’m halfway to heaven or halfway to hell // My angels and demons at war with myself // One foot in the fire and I still can’t tell // Am I halfway to heaven, halfway to heaven or hell?”
Likewise, “The Lost,” “Church,” “Dancing with the Devil,” and “Nail Me” explore similar themes. The Lambert co-penned “The Lost” is a rock laden ode to being a misfit, the country star proclaiming “I’m better with the lost than the found,” musing “You’d be surprised at the places I find Jesus.” Alternatively, both “Church” and “Nail Me” find the Tennessee native leaning more into his country roots, as “Church” finds him finding God in a truck, while “Nail” shines a light on hypocrisy among those who proclaim their Christianity, but turn their back on him. “Nail me to the cross outside of your ivory tower // Where you sit so high on that horse you rode // As I sit here alone, So hit me with the stones you cast, your shadow looks back while you stare through glass,” He sings. “You don’t think I know I’m the jester before your throne.”
Jelly’s background in hip hop weaves its way through songs like “Behind Bars” and “Unlive,” two of the more unique tracks on the LP. While “Behind Bars” has him trading verses with Gilbert and Jennings, lamenting that “most my friends are behind bars,” “Unlive” finds him accompanied by rapper Yelawolf as they admit “you can’t unlive where you’re from.”
One of the album’s most poignant moments comes in the form of “She,” a song penned to shine a light on addiction. “‘She’ is about the struggle of addiction. ‘She’ is talking about the elephant in the room and addressing head on the heroin and fentanyl epidemic that is sweeping the nation; the pharmaceutical pill problem that is sweeping the nation, and has been for a long time,” Jelly revealed in a statement. “And I feel like it’s the artist’s responsibility to speak for those who sometimes can’t always speak for themselves.”
Other songs that touch on relationships threatened by addiction include “Kill a Man” and “Hold On Me,” where he can’t escape the holds of addiction that prevent him from love (“I know you’re all I need, but I just can’t break free”). “Kill A Man” is punctuated with angsty female background vocals, Jelly admitting that “I was bulletproof, but baby loving you could kill a man.”
On “Save Me,” Jelly Roll joins vocal forces with Lainey Wilson, creating a power ballad for the broken. “All of this drinkin’ and smokin’ is hopeless// But feel like it’s all that I need // Somethin’ inside of me’s broken,” They sing. “I hold on to anything that sets me free // I’m a lost cause // Baby, don’t waste your time on me // I’m so damaged beyond repair // Life has shattered my hopes and my dreams.”
“Need a Favor” finds Jelly Roll admitting that, like many people, he only looks to God when he needs something, while the album’s final track, “Hungover in a Church Pew” is a sparse country tune that finds him sweating off the night before in the chapel. “This ain’t the first, won’t be the last time// I’m hungover in a church pew, Girl I hurt you but I hurt me too,” He sings. “I’m coming down on a Sunday morning // Hands shakin’ my forehead pouring // Lord knows all the hell you put me through // I bet the devil never thought this is what I’d do // I’m hungover in a church pew.”
There’s a reason why Jelly Roll has become an almost immediate country superstar, and this is on full display on Whitsitt Chapel. Here, he manages to take listeners back to his hometown church, lyrically dancing with the devil and battling his demons in the shadow of his faith. The resulting LP is a raw and autobiographical look at a man who falls and gets back up again, not afraid to discuss both his failures and his faith.
Country Swag Picks:
Halfway to Hell
Nail Me
Church
Save Me
Whitsitt Chapel Tracklist:
Halfway to Hell (Jason DeFord, Jesse Frasure, Matt Jenkins, Jessie Jo Dillon*)
Church (Jason DeFord, Michael Hardy, David Garcia**)
The Lost (Jason DeFord, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert*)
Behind Bars (with Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings) (Jason DeFord, Brantley Gilbert, Michael Whitworth, Andrew Baylis, Brock Berryhill, Austin Nivarel***)
Nail Me (Jason DeFord, Kevin Gruft, Austin Nivarel^)
Hold on Me (Jason DeFord, Hillary Lindsey, Alysa Vanderheym, Michael Whitworth^)
Kill a Man (Jason DeFord, Riley Thomas, Andrew Baylis, Michael Whitworth^)
Unlive (with Yelawolf) (Jason DeFord, Ashley McBryde, Andrew Baylis, Zach Crowell, Michael Wayne Atha^)
Save Me (with Lainey Wilson) (Jason DeFord, David Ray Stevens^^)
She (Jason DeFord, Austin Nivarel, Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft^^^)
Need a Favor (Jason DeFord, Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta, Rob Ragosta*^)
Dancing With the Devil (Jason DeFord, Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell^)
Hungover in a Church Pew (Jason DeFord, Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell^)
Jelly Roll’s debut country album, ‘Whitsitt Chapel’ 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 Jelly Roll releases.
Jelly Roll will be headlining his 44- date Backroad Baptism tour, with tour dates listed on his official website here.
Whitsitt Chapel 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.
Chapel Hart shares their album, Glory Days, officially out now, May 19th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new album below.
The talent ladies of Chapel Hart are giving fans a real treat with their brand new album, Glory Days. The eleven track project showcases the singer-songwriters at their absolute best. With each of the songs penned by the women, Glory Days is a true embodiment of hard work, dedication, and pure talent.
“I’ve never been more excited about delivering new music to our fans,” shares Danica of Chapel Hart. “We’ve been through so much together and sharing the highs and lows of our ‘GLORY DAYS’ through song has indeed been the joy of our lives!”
Listen to the new album below!
Glory Days Track List:
Glory Days (Danica Hart, Devynn Hart, Trea Swindle, Jim Beavers)
Glory Days 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/chapel-hart-glory-days-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-05-19 02:57:152023-05-19 02:57:15Here is Chapel Hart’s Album ‘Glory Days’
Erin Kinsey releases her EP, Bet My Heart out now, May 19th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.
Records/Columbia Nashville artist, Erin Kinsey is delivering a stellar EP to follow her debut project, 40 East. Her new record, Bet My Heart is a seven-song project, all written by the singer, that depicts all of the emotions and experiences that Kinsey has gone through, since her last release. Filled with songs to fit every setting, Bet My Heart is an EP you are going to want to listen to from start to finish.
“This project is one that really wraps up so many feelings I’ve had since my first EP – the good, the great, and the difficult,” shared Kinsey in a recent press release “‘Bet My Heart’ shows all of my angles, and in such an honest way, that I wasn’t able to lean in half way. Even though it might have saved me from some heart break along the way, there’s no reward like the one when betting it all actually works out!”
The project kicks off with “Boys in Boots,” a fun-loving song about falling in love and knowing your type. Similarly on the title track, Kinsey relishes in an optimistic and romantic take on falling in love and jumping in head first. Both of the songs convey a sense of excitement when it comes to romance and all of its quirks.
“I’d bet my heart on the wild in your Tennessee smile // The stay in your brown Tecovas // The want in your eyes setting me on fire // The lean on me in your shoulders // And I don’t know what’s in the cards // But I’ve known from the start of it // I’m all in on us like Vegas at midnight // I’m willing to bet my heart on it”
On the flip-side, both “Stayed a Summer” and “Little More Cowboy” reflect on love lost, heartbreak, and missed opportunities. The former, one of our favorite songs off the project, speaks to the “right person, wrong time” relationship. “Stayed a Summer” is nostalgic, yet heartbreaking in the best way. On “Little More Cowboy,” Kinsey laments about what her ex is doing without her. The song is another taste at the singer-songwriter’s honesty and vulnerability.
Of course, Kinsey’s song “Always Never” also pull from her own heartbreak. She opens up more candidly about her break-up from a longterm partner, sharing the intricacies of loving someone but the timing being off.
“You were always saying the right things // just never saying what you really mean // always had a leaving tendency, just never thought that you’d be leaving me // Six years, two months, day three // but it was always never meant to be // knew you well enough to know you need // It was always never gonna be me”
However on “Vegas,” Kinsey explores what it would be like to fall in love and get hitched to a stranger in moments. While the song may just be fun and creativity personified, it provides a hopeful moment to all the heartbroken. The lyric “Ill go wherever love takes us” depicts everything we think this album is meant to be about.
Kinsey wraps up the stellar project with an acoustic song called “Handful.” Written by Kinsey with Josh Rosen and Kyle Clark, the songstress shares how she is in a relationship. With lyrics like “I’ll be your perfect kinda crazy,” and “Babe you’ll know it’s worth it,” she clearly knows herself.
Kinsey is definitely an artist to look out for. She creates music that she is connected to, while also connecting with her growing fanbase. Bet My Heart is a solid project from the rising artist.
Bet My Heart EP Tracklist:
Boys in Boots – Erin Kinsey, Jordan Minton, Travis Wood
Stayed a Summer – Erin Kinsey, Sara Davis, Josh Kerr, Micah Carpenter
Little More Cowboy – Erin Kinsey, Russell Sutton, Jaxson Free
Bet My Heart – Erin Kinsey, Parker Welling, Josh Kerr
Always Never – Erin Kinsey, Sarah Buxton, Josh Kerr
Bet My Heart 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/erin-kinsey-ep.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-05-19 02:53:572023-05-19 02:53:57Erin Kinsey: ‘Bet My Heart’ – EP Review
Jordan Shellhart shares her debut album, Primrose, officially out now, May 19th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new album below.
Warner Music Nashville recording artist, Jordyn Shellhart is sharing her debut album, Primrose, out today. The album features 12 new songs, with all but three written by the singer-songwriter. Each of the tracks showcasing a different side the rising artist’s incredible talent, poise, and charisma as one of Nashville’s most promising new acts in country music.
“I love the character in ‘Tell Your Mother I’m Fine’ because she’s everything I wished I was when I had my heart broken,” explains Shellhart in a recent press release. “She’s maybe not so fine, but she doesn’t need anyone else to see things from her side because I think she trusts her own judgment. And I think that’s cool.”
Listen to the new album below!
Primrose Track List:
Amelia (Cameron Jaymes, Jordyn Shellhart)
Who Are You Mad At (Marc Beeson, Allen Shamblin, Jordyn Shellhart)
Primrose 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/primrose-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-05-19 02:34:312023-05-19 02:34:31Here is Jordyn Shellhart’s Debut Album ‘Primrose’
Ella Langley releases her debut EP, Excuse The Mess out now, May 19th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.
Columbia Records/Sony Music Nashville singer-songwriter, Ella Langley released her debut EP, Excuse The Mess today. The project features eight distinctly unique songs that speak to Langley’s one-of-a-kind artistry. The record also boasts one collaboration, a song with Koe Wetzel called “That’s Why We Fight.”
“‘That’s Why We Fight’ is about one of those relationships where fighting is the thing that keeps you together. Your significant other is your favorite person to fight with. It adds a little spice and keeps things interesting. I wouldn’t recommend a relationship like this, but we’ve all had one. I’ve been a fan of Koe for a long time, and it was really cool he jammed on it,” shared Langley in a recent press release.
Go listen to the collaboration and the other seven songs now!
Excuse The Mess EP Tracklist:
Make Me Wanna Smoke
Excuse the Mess
Could’ve Been Her
That’s Why We Fight (feat. Koe Wetzel)
Country Boy’s Dream Girl
Hell Of A Man
Where You Left It
Don’t We All
Ella Langley’s debut EP, ‘Excuse The Mess’ 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 Ella Langley releases.
Excuse The Mess 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ella-langley-ep.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-05-19 02:20:032023-05-19 02:20:03Here is Ella Langley’s Debut EP ‘Excuse The Mess’
Bailey Zimmerman shares his debut album, Religiously. The Album, officially out now, May 12th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
Since exploding onto the music scene, Bailey Zimmerman has been lauded as one of country music’s newest and most exciting future superstars. The Warner Music Nashville/Elektra recording artist’s debut album, Religiously. The Album., is out now and is set to prove why.
The Louisville, IL native co-wrote 11 of the album’s 16 tracks as a follow up to his debut project, 2022’s EP Leave the Light On. With “Fall in Love” and “Rock and a Hard Place” already topping the US Country Airplay chart, it’s Zimmerman’s unique brand of radio-ready country rock that is continuing to win over new fans.
With a weathered voice, a growl full of emotion, and stories way beyond his age, the talented singer-songwriter takes listeners on a journey through heartbreak, heartache, and healing on much of Religiously, those themes permeating their way through a multitude of tracks including the single-worthy titular track. Here, he grapples with the grief of a relationship ending, noting that she seems happy, just not with him. “You look happy I guess, got the life that you wanted,” he growls, voice breaking with emotion. “But it ain’t with me.”
For Zimmerman, it’s clear from Religiously that he’s had his heart broken. “From 18 to 20, I was just kind of numb all the time,” he reveals. “Now I’ve got emotion back. I can feel things. Writing music has really helped me get out of that state.”
Those emotions weave their way through songs like “Fix’N to Break,” “Fadeaway,” “Warzone,” “Get to Gettin’ Gone,” “Chase Her,” and the album’s closing track, “Is This Really Over?” Each of these find him in relationship limbo, wondering where things stand and if it’s time to call it quits or keep fighting. “Fix’N to Break” opens almost angelically before transitioning into a sparse, country ballad that’s an immediate standout of the album, Zimmerman comparing his relationship to a home that’s falling apart.
Likewise, “Warzone” uses solid metaphors in its lyrics to compare a relationship to a battlefield, the background music fraught with darkness. On the tuned down guitar-heavy track, he sings about “living in a warzone with a heart full of bullet holes and boarded up windows.” Alternatively, “Is This Really Over?” features a more lush and airy arrangement despite tackling the end of a relationship. It’s an interesting contradiction of lyrics versus melody as he could easily be singing about drinking a margarita on the beach, but is instead asking “Is this really over? // ’Cause I need some closure // And it’s 10 a.m. and I’m still gettin’ sober // Just call it a bad night,” He coos, showing a different side of his voice. “Don’t call it the last time // I feel that goodbye gettin’ closer and closer // Is this really over?”
“Forget About You” finds him admitting that “getting over you feels so wrong,” while “Where It Ends” finds him channeling his late 90’s alternative rock side, his voice sounding like it would’ve fit in perfectly in a decade where he wasn’t even born yet. Meanwhile, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” is a daring Johnny Cash cover. On the homage to the man in black, Zimmerman manages to stay true to the hand-clapping and swampy vibe of the original, adding a bit of his own take on the classic that could easily be released today.
“Forget About You” and “Pain Won’t Last” find him trying to move on from his heartbreak in an almost anthemic way, assuring himself and listeners that things are bound to get better, no matter how bleak things may seem. “You’re on the ground with scars from your past,” he proclaims on the latter. “You might be hurting now but the pain won’t last.”
“Found Your Love” is a simple and beautiful ode to falling in love in a special way, a bright spot amongst the heartbreak on the album. It’s the kind of simple ballad that would make a perfect wedding song or TikTok anniversary montage. With female background vocals and Jenee Fleenor’s haunting fiddle, it’s a special moment on the album, Zimmerman proclaiming, “I was a reckless child, a dead-end mile, living my life on the run… Never thought I’d hang it up, ’til I found your love.”
In many ways, Bailey Zimmerman’s Religiously. The Album. takes listeners through the five stages of grief after the ending of a relationship. Through the LP’s sixteen songs, there’s denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. He does this with the growl of a rock star mixed with the heart of a country storyteller.
Religiously. The Album Track List:
Religiously
Warzone
Fix’n to Break
Forest About You
Chase Her
Fall in Love
You Don’t Want That Smoke
Found Your Love
Rock and a Hard Place
Other Side of Lettin’ Go
Pain Won’t Last
Where It Ends
God’s Gonna Cut You Down
Fadeaway
Get to Gettin’ Gone
Is This Really Over?
Country Swag Picks:
Fix’N to Break
Religiously
Warzone
Found Your Love
Pain Won’t Last
Bailey Zimmerman’s debut album, ‘Religiously. The Album’ 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 Bailey Zimmerman releases.
Religiously. The Album 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/bailey-zimmerman-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2023-05-12 00:04:112023-05-12 00:04:11Bailey Zimmerman: ‘Religiously. The Album’ Album Review
Parker McCollum shares his new album, Never Enough, officially out now, May 12th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
Texas native Parker McCollum is ready to brush off any mentions of the sophomore slump with his second album, Never Enough, out now. On the follow up to 2021’s Gold Chain Cowboy, McCollum enlisted Jon Randall (Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley) to produce the project, which features fifteen new songs, all but one co-written by the rising superstar.
Co-writers on the project include the likes of Randy Rogers, Brett James, Ryan Beavers, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Ashley Gorley, and many other heavy hitters. By pairing Texan honesty with brilliant lyrics and traditional country instrumentation, the MCA Nashville artist further flexes his musical muscles on Never Enough.
Throughout the LP, McCollum explores the classic themes of love and heartache through the lens of a country purist that is often lacking in today’s modern scene. “What I do best is write songs from a very real place and sing country music, but also be very ‘me’ and not try to sound like someone else,” He says in a statement. “We definitely did that on this record and every one of the 15 songs sounds different.”
The album opens with “Hurricane,” a song that blows in to set the stage for the album, roaring in with electric guitars and catchy lyrics. Here, McCollum likens a woman to a storm, blowing into a man’s life and leaving it in shambles, proclaiming, “Someday she’s gonna get her name on a hurricane.”
Similarly, “Burn It Down” sounds like a surefire hit, with its dark lyrics and musicality, as he stands in the ashes of a relationship that has gone up in flames. Co-penned with the Love Junkies, the track came from McCollum simply repeating the words “burn it down.” “Some days are like that, where the melody and the idea for the song is so good and everybody is on the same page,” he says. “If you’re talking about moving the needle in my career, ‘Burn It Down’ is probably going to be the song.”
“Handle On You” has already moved the needle as one of the singer-songwriter’s biggest hits to date and his third number one. While he admits to being shocked the song was radio worthy, he was thrilled for its success. “That song is a nod to some of the great records I grew up with,” McCollum reveals. “A lot of radio songs nowadays are kind of bubble-gummy. I don’t have any problem with pop-country, but I’d like to hear a little more classic country too.”
Interestingly, one of the album’s most poignant moments comes in the form of “Things I Never Told You,” the sole song not co-written by McCollum. On the stirring, piano-driven ballad, he shows his vulnerable side with an introspective ode to his mother. While he may not have written the song, he immediately felt connected to its stunning lyrics and message. “When I moved away from home // I didn’t realize how much I’d miss ya,” he sings. “A phone call don’t take the place // Of your smilin’ face cooking in that kitchen.”
Another poignant moment comes during “Lessons from an Old Man,” which is a powerful country ballad about the things a young boy can learn from an older man in his life. While it’s unclear exactly who McCollum is referencing on the sweet track, it’s likely about a grandfather or grandfatherly figure who helped to shape him into the man he is today, as he sings about the “lessons from an old man” that “made a young man wise.”
“It ain’t all about money // But money is nice // There’s nothing wrong with whiskey // Just keep Sundays dry,” He sings introspectively. “There’s making a living and there’s making a life”
McCollum continues to show his softer side on songs like “Best I Never Had,” “Stoned,” “Tails I Do” and “Tough People Do.” While “Best” finds him wondering about what could’ve been, “Tough” has him reassuring his love that they’ll get through the tough times together. Meanwhile, both “Stoned” and the barstool ballad, “Tails I Lose” find him drowning his sorrows in different ways.
“I cry when it’s raining // I cry when it’s dark // I feel like the whole world won’t ever understand my heart,” He drawls of a broken relationship that has broken him on “Stoned.” “That’s the hardest part of being alone, that’s why I stay stoned.”
“Too Tight This Time” is truly a marvel, written in one shot with no edits. The song is simple and sparse, featuring hints of female background vocals. McCollum shares that it’s his favorite track on the LP. “I said, ‘Let’s pour this thing out and whatever it is in 15 minutes, that’s what it’s going to be forever.’ I love to write songs like that and live with the end result. This one was easy to do because the melody was so good,” he says. “The line ‘There must be something broken inside this lonely man’ just hits so hard.”
Likewise, “Have Your Heart Again” is a simple piano-led track that allows him to flex his vocal cords. Here, he longs for someone to take him back, while “Don’t Blame Me” is a catchy tune where he’ll accept blame for a lot, but not everything. “You can swear it’s all my fault // And I won’t blame you if you do // But don’t blame me,” He sings. “Don’t blame me // Don’t blame me for loving you.” Lastly, the album concludes with “Wheel,” a celebratory romp that finds McCollum challenging someone to make him stop rolling. “Good luck slowing me down.”
On Never Enough, Parker McCollum makes a statement that he’s a solid songwriter and artist who’s here to stay. “Sometimes I wish I didn’t care so much because everything would be easier. Hopefully one day people will look back at what I’ve done in country music and think it was honest and good for the genre,” He says. “This album may be called Never Enough, but if they see that what I did was real, that’ll be enough for me.”
Never Enough Track List:
Hurricane (Parker McCollum, David Lee Murphy, Jon Randall, Randy Rogers)
Best I Never Had (Parker McCollum, Will Bundy, Brett James)
Things I Never Told You (Monty Criswell, Lynn Hutton, Taylor Phillips)
Burn It Down (Parker McCollum, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose)
Stoned (Parker McCollum, Mark Holman, Brett James)
Handle On You (Parker McCollum, Monty Criswell)
Lessons From An Old Man (Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Lee Miller, Jon Randall, Liz Rose)
Tough People Do (Parker McCollum, Brett James, Jon Randall)
Never Enough 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/parker-mccollum-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2023-05-12 00:02:512023-05-12 00:02:51Parker McCollum: ‘Never Enough’ Album Review