Kelsea Ballerini releases surprise EP and short film, Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.
Country music is all about speaking the truth no matter what. In her surprise EP and short film called Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, Kelsea Ballerini is unapologetically speaking her truth. She gets candid about what led to her divorce, her actual marriage, and everything in between. While Ballerini always creates music that is relatable and personal, this new project is one of her best yet.
The six-track project features well-crafted songs. Three of the six songs were exclusively written by Ballerini, while the songstress enlists the help of her producer and fellow songwriter, Alysa Vanderheym on the other three. Each song unfolds into the next in a way that feels cohesive, perfect for the short film that accompanies the EP.
“The only way I’ve been able to handle my life since I was 12 was to write about it. Ironically, I started writing music because my parents got divorced; that was my therapy,” shared Ballerini. “These are six songs I wish I had last year. It’s about the complexities of the feelings you go through during a massive shift at a young age. Rolling Up the Welcome Mat was how I processed everything. It’s the way I got my feelings out of my body and heart and put them to music — which is the purest way I could’ve handled it.”
“Mountain With A View,” the first song on the project candidly shares Ballerini’s breaking point, while “Just Married” is a heartbreakingly beautiful song that depicts how it feels to go from the excitement of marriage to just going through the motions.
Similarly on “Penthouse,” Ballerini shares what it is like to have everything, but how nothing feels as it should. Lyrics like “We played the part five nights, but we were never there on the weekends, baby // We got along real nice, but when I left town, did you hate me?” Hinting at the truth of what was going on behind closed doors in Ballerini’s former marriage to fellow country music singer-songwriter, Morgan Evans.
The last two tracks, “Blindsided” and “Leave Me Again” are separated by an “Interlude,” which seems to define the moments between the privacy of the relationship to when the public found out. On “Blindsided,” Ballerini unblushingly shares her truth, responding almost directly to Evans’ song, “Over For You.”
Finally on “Leave Me Again,” Ballerini vows to never lose herself again in a relationship. While heartache is painful, she wants her fans to know that healing is possible. Rolling Up The Welcome Mat is a true masterpiece.
Rolling Up The Welcome Mat EP Tracklist:
Mountain With A View
Just Married
Penthouse
Interlude
Blindsided
Leave Me Again
Kelsea Ballerini’s new EP ‘Rolling Up The Welcome Mat’ is out now.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kelsea Ballerini releases.
Rolling Up The Welcome Mat 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/2023/02/kelsea-ballerini-new-music.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-02-15 01:22:122023-02-17 01:22:35Kelsea Ballerini: ‘Rolling Up The Welcome Mat’ – EP Review
Matt Stell’s EP, ONE OF US, is out now, February 10th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project below and check out our full review.
Multi-platinum recording artist, Matt Stell is sharing his latest project with country music fans. Today, the singer-songwriter released his brand new EP entitled ONE OF US featuring six songs that any music fan will find themselves relating to.
The EP kicks off with the title track, “One Of Us.” Written by James Barker, Travis Wood, Gavin Slate, and Jim McCormick, the new single is about all of the characters we encounter during our upbringing. Despite all the different places we have grown up in, the small-town dreams, headaches, and everything in between are all the same. In the chorus, Stell proclaims that we are all one in the same.
“We all talk a little small-town bunch of raised right-round-here kids keepin’ it country // We all know a little dirt road // 80-hour workload week never hurt nobody // One of us got a chain if you get stuck // One of us got a cooler full of cold Bud in the back of his truck // And if that sounds like you then you might be one of us // Yeah, you might be one of us”
“Roots In This Ground” is a beautiful combination of love and nostalgia. Stell finds a way to create a story, amongst all the emotions he expresses in one of our favorite songs on the project.
The nostalgia continues on the next two tracks, “Shut The Truck Up” and “Man Made.” On the former, Stell laments about a break-up, something most of us can relate to. On “Man Made,” his radio single, Stell relies on incredible imagery and the desires we all have.
“All us boys wanna grow up, make our mamas proud // Find that girl who lifts us up when life gets us down // Behind any guy doing anything right is a woman’s work at hand // If a man made anything, it’s ’cause a woman made that man”
The EP explodes into a fun-loving song called “This One’s Gonna Hurt.” Written by heavy hitters, James McNair, Michael Hardy, Cameron Montgomery, and Tyler Hubbard, the song is a bright spot on the cohesive project. The record culminates with the clever and beautiful song, “Somewhere Over The Radio.” The single is an ode to country music and a true love letter to the whole experience. “Somewhere Over The Radio” might be the best on the project, or at least our personal favorite.
Overall, ONE OF US is a dreamy EP that feels cohesive, nostalgic, and 100% Matt Stell. Every country fan should give it a listen or two.
ONE OF US EP Track List:
One Of Us (Gavin Slate, James Barker, Jim McCormick, Travis Wood)^
Shut The Truck Up (MattStell, Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill)^
Man Made (Brett Sheroky, Ian Christian)^
This One’s Gonna Hurt (James McNair, Michael Hardy, Cameron Montgomery, Tyler Hubbard)^
Roots In This Ground (MattStell, Randy Montana, Nick Walsh, Joe Fox)^
Somewhere Over The Radio (MattStell, Clint Lagerberg)*
^Produced by MattStell and Ash Bowers
*Produced by Clint Lagerberg
Matt Stell’s new EP, ONE OF US 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 Matt Stell releases.
ONE OF US 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/2023/03/matt-stell-ep.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2023-02-10 13:04:412023-03-20 13:05:15Matt Stell: ‘ONE OF US’ – EP Review
Ernest’s full-length deluxe album, Flower Shops (The Album): Two Dozen Rosesis out now, February 10th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new album below.
Ernest K. Smith, known professionally as ERNEST, has been churning out hits for the biggest stars in country music over the past five years, including Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Chris Lane, Sam Hunt, Morgan Wallen, and many others. Last year, he released his sophomore record, FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM), an eleven-track project named after the RIAA platinum hit with friend and frequent collaborator, Morgan Wallen. While still in the songwriting business, fans loved what they heard from ERNEST on a personal note, encouraging the Nashville-native to release an additional thirteen tracks on a deluxe version titled FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM): Two Dozen Roses.
“I can’t wait for everyone to hear the new music,” ERNEST shared in a recent press release. “It’s even more of the real, honest storytelling that the album was built on, and continues the character’s love story right where it left off with ‘Some Other Bar.’ It’s very reflective, I think everyone will be able to relate to a part of the story in some way. I’m really proud of it!”
On December 16, ERNEST teased the sound and theme of the record with three new songs, “Miss That Girl, “Songs We Used To Sing,” and “Unhang The Moon.” In “Miss That Girl,” the singer shares in conspicuously catchy lyricism how hard it is to move on and admit how much you miss someone. “Songs We Used To Sing” leans into the nostalgia of it all—the breakup ruined all his favorite tunes because he thinks of her when he hears them. Finally, “Unhang The Moon” is the ultimate heartbreak song in which he confesses all his regrets regarding the relationship. The three songs all tell a similar story, as Ernest seems to access more and more emotions with his vocals.
As for the new tracks, “Done At A Bar,” “What Have I Got To Lose,” “Heartache In My 100 Proof,” and “Burn Out,” also touch on heartbreak. The former is a play on the phrase ‘easier said than done.’The singer admits that it is easy to say things that will fix a relationship when intoxicated at a bar, but when the morning comes, the sweet nothings uttered from the night before fizzle, becoming drunken lies and failed promises. The latter, however, touches on a love that moved too fast. Although it may seem like the real thing at first, all flames eventually die out, and that’s exactly what happened to the singer in this track.
“Knew it when we started off of both ends // Girl we should’ve seen where this was going // ‘Couple flames just fighting back against a cold wind // Throttles wide open, eyes closed keeping them fire stones smokin’ ‘til we burn out”
On the flip side of heartbreak, love is another major theme on the record. In “Wild Wild West” the singer boasts about how he loves how unpredictable his woman is. “Hill” is another one in which the singer imagines the perfect life he is going to share with the person he loves.
“Drunk With My Friends,” “Anything But Sober,” and “This Fire,” touch on ERNEST’s fun and lighter side. The former is a happy, bar anthem with a tropical theme that has the singer explaining to his woman the reasoning behind his bad decisions. The most amusing part of the track is ERNEST’s use of cartoon voices; the Charlie Brown trombone noise symbolizes the singer’s woman nagging him, and he subtly sneaks in the narrator’s voice from Spongebob before the second verse to say “three days later” before his next inebriated mishap. In the last chorus, he tells her to go get margaritas with her friends to ease the stress. The next two resemble the 90s era of country that so many artists are attempting to replicate these days—ERNEST does a perfect job of recreating the sound with a hint of modernism. In the latter, the singer uses whiskey to put out the fire he has created in the real world.
“Wrecking my world, Lord, and burning it down // There’s fire, fire all over this town // All the tears in her eyes that she’s cried can’t put out this fire”
ERNEST continues to showcase his prowess as a songwriter and a vocalist with FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM): Two Dozen Roses. With thirteen unique tracks, the talented rising star demonstrates how being versatile can make one overarching theme so fascinating and thought-provoking. We are excited to see his career take off, and this album will be the launching pad of something very special.
Flower Shops (The Album): Two Dozen RosesTracklist:
“Sucker for Small Towns” (Ernest Keith Smith, Jacob Durrett, Ashley Gorley)
“Tennessee Queen” (Ernest Keith Smith, Dan Isbell, Jordan Schmidt)
“Classic” (Ernest Keith Smith, Jacob Durrett)
“Feet Wanna Run” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chris LaCorte, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
“Comfortable When I’m Crazy” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rodney Clawson)
“Flower Shops” (feat. Morgan Wallen) (Ernest Keith Smith, Ben Burgess, Mark Holman)
“Did It With You” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rodney Clawson, Nathan Spicer)
“What It’s Come To” (Ernest Keith Smith, Lily Rose, Ryan Vojtesak)
“If You Were Whiskey” (Ernest Keith Smith, Michael Carter, Ben Hayslip)
“Some Other Bar” (Ernest Keith Smith, Ashley Gorley, Ryan Vojtesak)
“Flower Shops” (feat. Morgan Wallen) [Acoustic] (Ernest Keith Smith, Ben Burgess, Mark Holman)
“This Fire” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rocky Block, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan)
“Wild Wild West” (Ernest Keith Smith, Jacob Durrett, Rafe Tenpenny)
“Hill” (Ernest Keith Smith, Jordan Schmidt, Brett Tyler)
“Burn Out” (Ernest Keith Smith, Andy Albert, Jordan Dozzi, Hunter Phelps)
“Nothin To Lose” (Ernest Keith Smith, Mark Holman, Josh Osborne)
“Songs We Used to Sing” (Ernest Keith Smith, Justin Ebach, Charles Kelley)
“Done at a Bar” (Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson)
“Drunk With My Friends” (Ernest Keith Smith, Jordan Schmidt, Josh Thompson)
“Anything But Sober” (Ernest Keith Smith, Alysa Vanderheym)
“What Have I Got to Lose” (Ernest Keith Smith, Brian Kelley, Dean Dillon)
“Heartache in My 100 Proof” (feat. Jake Worthington) (Ernest Keith Smith, Jordan Schmidt, Josh Thompson)
“Unhang The Moon” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Brad Clawson, Jacob Durrett)
“Miss That Girl” (Ernest Keith Smith, Brad Clawson, Jacob Durrett)
Country Swag Picks:
Drunk With My Friends
This Fire
Done At A Bar
Burn Out
Ernest’s new deluxe album ‘Flower Shops (The Album): Two Dozen Roses’ is out now.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Ernest announcements and releases.
ERNEST is going on Morgan Wallen’s massive ‘One Night At A Time’ World Tour along with Parker McCollum, HARDY, and Bailey Zimmerman. The group will play two shows at Metlife Stadium on May 19-20, as well as some of the largest NFL and MLB stadiums across North America. For tickets, head to his website.
Flower Shops (The Album): Two Dozen Roses 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ernest-deluxe-album.jpg6301200Dylan Bestlerhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngDylan Bestler2023-02-10 01:04:292023-02-10 01:04:29Ernest: ‘Flower Shops (The Album): Two Dozen Roses’ – Album Review
Jordan Harvey’s EP, It Is What It Is, is out now, January 20th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project below and check out our full review.
While Jordan Harvey may not be a household name just yet, it’s only a matter of time. Today, January 20, the rising country star released his debut EP with BBR Music Group / Broken Bow Records, It Is What It Is. On the five-song collection, the self-proclaimed “Caledonian Cowboy” weaves country themes, pop hooks, and an unapologetic Scottish side into a delightfully unexpected package.
The EP features two previously released tracks, the lush ballad “I Will” and the viral hit “Alabama Girl.” On “I Will,” the former member of King Calaway shows his romantic side as he pursues a girl who’s wasting her time on a dud of a dude. “If he won’t, I will,” Harvey proclaims of all the things a guy should do to make his girl feel special.
Meanwhile, “Alabama Girl” finds our Scottish hero unexpectedly falling in love with a Southern belle.
“God knows I’m a goner // Fell hard for a southerner’s daughter // Down here, I’m a fish outta water // Boy from across the pond // She likes my accent // I love her drawl // Yelling, “Roll Tide!” with her crimson lips and her Levi’s // And I can’t believe that she’s all mine // Now my whole world is a Rammer Jammer Alabama girl”
Harvey continues to celebrate love on “Along for the Ride,” a slice of pure pop country perfection that finds Harvey on a scenic drive with a someone special. Yet, on the catchy uptempo, his eyes aren’t on the scenery, but on his companion, as he muses, “I might have my hands on the wheel, but I’m just along for the ride.”
“Overnight” and the EP’s final track, “Thing About Change,” both show the young crooner’s more vulnerable side as the former finds him dealing with a breakup, but not too proud to admit that he’s not quite ready to move on. “I ain’t getting over you overnight,” he sings, “so come over tonight.”
Lastly, the album ends with the poignant “Thing About Change,” which tells the familiar tale of a cowboy falling in love, despite his best attempts not to. Here, he reveals that he never thought settling down was in his path, until“his stubborn heart fell for yours.” On the swoon-worthy ballad, he admits “I never liked a thing about change, ‘til you changed everything.”
On It Is What It Is, Jordan Harvey presents a solid debut project that is full of catchy uptempos and heartfelt ballads that are sure to endear him to music fans everywhere.
Jordan Harvey – It Is What It Is EP Tracklist:
I Will
Along For The Ride
Overnight
Alabama Girl
Thing About Change
Jordan Harvey’s EP, ‘It Is What It Is’ 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 Jordan Harvey releases.
It Is What It Is 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/2023/01/jordan-harvey-ep.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2023-01-20 01:01:372023-01-20 01:01:37Jordan Harvey: ‘It Is What It Is’ – EP Review
Madeline Consoer’s EP, LITTLE MISS, is out now, December 16th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project below and check out our full review.
Earlier this year, we introduced you to singer-songwriter, Madeline Consoer. The sassy songstress is both talented and tenacious, creating music her fans can relate to. Today, Consoer is kicking off her new era of music with her brand new EP, LITTLE MISS.
The five-song sampler kicks off with the title track, “Little Miss.” Consoer digs her heels in, as she sings about the two-faced Nashville girls that she has encountered throughout her career. Every girl can relate to those wishy-washy friends and those mean girls.
“Little Miss two-faced // Why you love to hate me? // Told me we were cool // But I guess that it was all fake // Heard you called me crazy // To everyone that ain’t me // If you got a problem honey // Comе say it to my face // Little Miss two-faced”
Consoer keeps the energy up with the next song on the record. “Running Into A Heartbreak” is an infectious, pop-country song all about dealing with one heartbreak after another. Despite thinking this guy was the right one, it still just did not work. Her honesty and vulnerability is on full display on this track.
On “Heaven,” the songstress shows off her sweet and sentimental side. Similarly on the ballad, “Love Me Like That,” Consoer bares her soul and her heart, expressing how it feels to be loved despite her flaws. The song is a true stand-out on the EP.
The record culminates with the fifth and final track on the record, “Drinking To You.” Another standout, the track feels confident and relatable, despite the lyrical content. Overall, LITTLE MISS is a great re-introduction to Consoer’s rising talent.
Madeline Consoer LITTLE MISS EP Tracklist:
Little Miss
Running Into A Heartbreak
Heaven
Love Me Like That
Drinking To You
Madeline Consoer’s new EP, ‘LITTLE MISS’ is out now.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Madeline Consoer releases.
LITTLE MISS 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.
Granger Smith’s new surprise album, Moonrise is out now, November 18th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the full album below.
In anticipation of his debut movie, ‘Moonrise,’ singer-songwriter, Granger Smith is surprising fans with brand new music. Today, the artist released a new album by the same, Moonrise.
“It’s about a country singer (imagine that) who’s really stubborn (sounds familiar), I have a lot to tell y’all about, including an entire album I wrote for the film that comes out…VERY soon,” shared the singer earlier this week across his social Media accounts.
Each of the twelve songs depict the story of the film, which is set to release on December 15th. However, it is also apparent that Smith deeply connects to each of these songs on his on a personal ladder, as soon like “Still Find You” and “In This House” read like a beautiful diary entry. While each of the twelve songs are prolific in their own right, the title track, “Moonrise” certainly takes the cake as one of the most impressive songs on the new album.
Listen to the brand new album below!
Granger Smith – Moonrise Track List:
Never Been
I Wanna
Tailgate Church Pew
Still Find You
Damn Guitar
In This House
Broke In
Something Is Changing
Black Suit
Something To Go On
Forever Forward
Moonrise
Granger Smith’s new album ‘Moonrise’ 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 Granger Smith releases.
Moonrise 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/2022/11/granger-smith-new-album-moonrise.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2022-11-18 01:42:042022-11-18 01:42:04Here is Granger Smith’s New Album ‘Moonrise’
Madeline Edwards’ new debut album, Crashlanded is out now, November 4th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the full album below.
Singer-songwriter, Madeline Edwards is officially making her major-label debut with Warner Music Nashville with her brand new album, Crashlanded. The twelve-song project is a cool, pop-country record, featuring songs for everyone.
“I’m very excited for everyone to hear the stories, the musical influences, the time and the experience that has brought me to this moment. Crashlanded feels like my child,” shared Edwards in a recent press release. “I’m very excited for this new venture with Warner and having a partner coming alongside that respects and sees my vision for the music. We’re about to go to the moon and it feels surreal.”
Songs like the title track, “Crashlanded” will have you rooting for Edwards from the get go! Other songs like, “Why I’m Calling” and “Too Much Of A Good Thing” give you a new perspective on the songstress and her undeniable talent.
Listen to the brand new album below!
Madeline Edwards – Crashlanded Track List:
Crashlanded
Spurs
Mama, Dolly, Jesus
The Biggest Wheel
Forehead Kisses
The Wolves
How Strong I Am
Hold My Horses
Playground
Heavy
Why I’m Calling
Too Much Of A Good Thing
Country Swag Picks:
“Crashlanded”
“Too Much Of A Good Thing”
“Mama, Dolly, Jesus”
Madeline Edwards’ major-label debut, ‘Crashlanded’ is out now.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Madeline Edwards releases.
Crashlanded 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/2022/10/madeline-edwards-crashlanded-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2022-11-04 00:07:112022-11-04 00:07:11Here is Madeline Edwards New Album ‘Crashlanded’
Lainey Wilson’s new album, Bell Bottom Countryis out now, October 28th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.
From the opening chords of “Hillbilly Hippie,” it’s clear that Bell Bottom Country is not your typical modern country album, in the best way possible. There’s twang and soul, rock and revival, creating a unique sound that immediately invites listeners in, letting them know they’re about to experience something special.
ACM New Female Artist of the Year Lainey Wilson has firmly embraced her own style which she describes as “country music with flare.” On her sophomore release, Bell Bottom Country she exemplifies that description. “I’ve lived quite a bit of life the past few years, and I have a lot more to say,” she reveals. “Sure, I love a good pair of bell bottoms, but Bell Bottom Country to me has always been about the flare and what makes someone unique — I have really embraced mine, and I hope y’all can hear that across this project.”
On the rising superstar’s second album, she is exposing her various sides, both lyrically and musically. Here, the Louisiana native is tender yet rowdy, sweet yet gritty, and honest yet vulnerable.
On songs like “Road Runner,” “Atta Girl,” and the previously-released “Heart Like a Truck,” she’s a runner struggling to stay in one place, dealing with the heartbreak that comes with big dreams, proclaiming “I gotta chase the sunrise to keep the tumble in my weed.” Meanwhile, both “Atta Girl” and “Heart Like a Truck” find her down but not out, with a heart that’s a lot stronger than it may seem.
“I got a heart like a truck // It’s been drug through the mud // Runs on dreams and gasoline // And that ole highway holds the key // It’s got a lead foot down when it’s leaving // Lord knows it’s taken a hell of a beating // A little bit of love is all that it’s needing // But it’s good as it is tough // I got a heart like a truck.”
The singer-songwriter embraces a good time on songs like “Hold My Halo,” “Grease,” and “This One’s Gonna Cost Me.” “Grease” is a funky doo-wop-laden jam, while “Hold My Halo” has hints of “Redneck Woman,” mixing driving guitars with a powerful girl-power-infused anthem. Here, Wilson is ready for an evening that would make an angel blush, breaking out the denim, and leaving a little lipstick on a Solo cup. “Gonna tear up this town, like a drunk tornado,” She growls. “Light it up, Tell that angel inside of me to hide her wings and lay low, hold my halo.”
On “Weak-End” she’s dealing with a broken heart, while “Watermelon Moonshine” is a bittersweet ode to young love. While the former is a mournful yet clever take on the drunk dial “Wish that Friday wasn’t just another way to say lonely”), the latter recalls first drinks, first loves, and first times.
“Too young to know what love was // But we were learnin’ on a sweet buzz // There’s never nothin’ like the first time // And mine’s always gonna taste like // Watermelon moonshine”
With “Those Boots (Deddy’s Song),” the thirty-year-old pays homage to her father, who has left big “boots” for a future husband to fill. As of late, the song has become all the more meaningful to the singer, who nearly lost her father earlier this year to a fungal infection that caused him to have a stroke and lose an eye.
Likewise “Me, You, and Jesus,” “Live Off” and “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” find Wilson tipping her cowboy hat to her country life, her faith, and her upbringing. “Wildflowers” is a dusty ode to the way she was raised, proclaiming, “I’m five generations of blazing a trail,” while “Me, You, and Jesus” shows Wilson finding solace with two important men in her life. “When the world comes between us, Y’all don’t give up or give a damn,” She sings on the clever song of love and faith. “You just take me for who I am, We can get through anything, And baby we make one hell of a team, Me, you and Jesus.”
In recent months, there have been multiple female acts (Ashley McBryde, Pillbox Patti, Miranda Lambert) releasing gritty, soulful, and unabashedly country albums, and Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottom Country is yet another release that proves the best country music might just not be found on the radio.
Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country Track List:
Hillbilly Hippie (Lainey Wilson, Terri Jo Box, Jeremy Bussey)
This One’s Gonna Cost Me (Lainey Wilson, Nicolette Hayford, Faren Rachels)
Those Boots (Deddy’s Song) (Lainey Wilson, Terri Jo Box, Trent Tomlinson)
Live Off (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Adam Doleac)
Wildflowers and Wild Horses (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
What’s Up (What’s Going On) (Linda Perry)
Country Swag Picks:
Hold My Halo
Heart Like a Truck
Watermelon Moonshine
Hillbilly Hippie
Lainey Wilson’s sophomore album, ‘Bell Bottom Country’ is out now.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Lainey Wilson releases.
Wilson will be on the road with Luke Combs through early 2023 as part of the superstar’s mega tour, with stops at Mohegan Sun on November 4 and 5. For more tour dates, click here. She’ll also appear on the small screen as a part of Paramount Network’s Yellowstone TV series, beginning November 13th.
Bell Bottom Country 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/2022/10/lainey-wilson-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2022-10-28 01:31:492022-10-28 14:05:51Lainey Wilson ‘Bell Bottom Country’ – Album Review
Thomas Rhett’s new EP, Merry Christmas, Y’all, is out now, October 21st on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project below and check out our full review.
In order to get us all ready for the holidays, Thomas Rhett released his first Christmas project. His new EP, perfectly titled, Merry Christmas, Y’all is a four-song spirited project that is everything we never knew we needed in the wide breadth of Christmas music.
While Rhett usually keeps fans in the loop, this project came as a surprise to fans, with the singer sharing the news just one day prior to its release. According to the superstar, Christmas music was always coming. “I love everything about Christmas. There’s nothing like the holiday season. I wanted to record some of the Christmas songs that my family and I enjoy every year. I hope this music gets everyone in the holiday spirit!,” shared the singer in a recent press release.
On the project, Rhett covered Christmas classics including, “Winter Wonderland,” “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” and “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.” Each of the four tracks keeps with the classic nature of the song, while still adding the signature Thomas Rhett twist.
Merry Christmas, Y’all is the perfect addition to the growing holiday tracks in the country music genre!
Thomas Rhett – Merry Christmas, Y’all EP Tracklist:
Winter Wonderland
It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Thomas Rhett releases first holiday project, ‘Merry Christmas, Y’all,” out now.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Thomas Rhett releases.
Merry Christmas, Y’all 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.
Spencer Crandall’s new album, Western is out now, October 21st on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.
For independent artist, Spencer Crandall, his fourth studio album, Western, is his most ambitious project yet. On the twenty track collection, he explores his vulnerable side, dividing the album into six chapters: Scorpion, Mustang, Revolver, Pickaxe, Desert and Gold.
“I strive to create songs and tell stories that impact people’s lives in a meaningful way, and to say I’ve put my entire heart into this album would be an understatement,” He reveals in a recent press release. “My fans can expect the most vulnerable, energetic and authentic version of myself that I have ever put out, and I’m so honored that I get to tell these stories and share them with the world.”
Released today, October 21, the autobiographical journey follows Crandall through pain and triumph, themes including love lost, therapy, addiction, and feeling a sense of accomplishment. Throughout the collection, listeners are taken on a unique journey, as Crandall explores topics often taboo in country music.
There’s the deeply-personal “Enough,” which finds the singer-songwriter endlessly vulnerable as he admits to seeking self-acceptance in social media likes, video views, and money, finally settling into his skin as he realizes his own self-worth. “The smiles in all the photos that I’m taking, reflect the picture-perfect life that I’ve been faking,” He admits. “If the streams and shows and follows all dried up, I’m still enough.”
The album opens with the smoky intro track, “There is a Fire,” which immediately leads into “K(no)w Better” and “Get Away,” part of the album’s Scorpion chapter. Here he tackles his vices, admitting that he “knows better, but he’s no better.” Meanwhile, “Get Away From Me” has him dealing with all of the insecurities and vices that he desperately wants to push away, but instead chooses to stay busy to get them to go away.
Likewise, the reflective “7 and 70” has him grappling with being a people pleaser who fails to put himself first, as he realizes that the only person he has to impress is himself at different points in life. “If I could talk to a younger me, I’d want to be the man that he wants to be // I’d want to tell him he got more// Than everything he prayed for // And if I walked with the man that I’ll become // I want him to be proud of all we done // There are only two opinions that matter to me // And that’s me at 7 and 70.”
Much of the album has Crandall dealing with a broken heart, love lost, and an on-again, off-again fling. This happens on songs like “What Do We Do Now?”, “Friends,” “Future in the Past,” No New Memories,” and “Red Flags.”
On “What Do We Do Now?,” he finds himself wondering about the logistics of a breakup and what to do next. It’s utterly relatable yet often not touched on in songs. “If we stay friends, I can’t pretend that I’m over you,” He admits. “But I can’t stand the thought of moving on without you in my life.” Meanwhile “Friends” finds him musing that he and an ex should’ve never crossed the line to being more than just friends since things didn’t quite work out.
On the heartbreaking “Future in the Past,” he deals with the loss of things that never happened, like wedding gifts and baby names, while “No New Memories” has him moving on from a failed relationship, despite missing out on the possibility of new moments. “What’s the point of starting over if there’s no new memories to make?” Likewise, “Girls Like You” is about a girl he met at a bar, who has moved on when he hasn’t. “What was I thinking when I said we needed a break? Did I really expect any guy in the city to wait?”
On “To Be Continued,” he finds himself and the ex in an on-and-off situation that they both know will result in a late-night drunk dial. Meanwhile, “Red Flags” boasts a clever lyric about a girl who has shown her true side. “I took off my rose-colored glasses,” He sings. “I see your red flags.”
It’s not all sadness on Western, however, as Crandall dreams of a soulmate on “Made,” revealing that true love is worth fighting for. He also continues his introspection on “Side of the Stage,” which finds him longing for a hugely successful career, but also finds him searching for someone to share it with as he wonders “What’s it worth at the end of the day if there ain’t nobody at the side of the stage?” He’s vulnerable here as he admits that he gets so lost in chasing the dream that he fails to be a good son, sibling, and friend.
One of the album’s clear highlights is the driving and catchy “Didn’t Do,” an ode to seizing the day and not playing things too safe.
“I wanna give my heart away like it ain’t gonna break // Let someone in even if it ends // Rather end up penniless, chasing my bucket list // ‘Cause overtime’s never time well spent // I’ll take the pounding headache, hangover // Over missing out on late nights // ‘Cause the nights I remember, end with a sunrise // Took me wondering what if to know it’s true // Rather regret what I did than what I didn’t do”
While Crandall co-wrote 18 of the album’s 20 tracks, the two he didn’t write are surprising cover choices: Justin Bieber and Shania Twain. His cover of Bieber’s “Anyone” is sure to be a highlight of any live show, while his take on Twain’s “You’re Still the One” is a celebration of his parents’ long marriage.
On Western, Spencer Crandall takes listeners on a unique musical journey that’s sure to endear him to his ever-growing fanbase while also winning over tons of new listeners.
Spencer Crandall – Western Track List:
“There is A Fire” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Nathan Johnson, Asher Peterson, Jonah Oh
“K[no]w Better” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Lydia Dall, Royale Lynn, Jeff Cherry
“Get Away From Me” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Michael August, Carlo Colasacco
“The Ballad of the Mustang” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Lydia Dall
“Didn’t Do” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Haley Mae Campbell, Lydia Dall
“7 and 70” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Aubrey Toone, Charlie Brennan
“What Do We Do Now?” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Scott Porter, Joe Tounge
“Friends” // Spencer Crandall, Joe Tounge, Nate Dodge
“Girls Like You” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Joe Tounge, Lauren McLamb
“No New Memories” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Gus Ross, Luke Eisner
“Future in the Past” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Joe Tounge, Lauren McLamb
“To Be Continued…” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Joe Tounge, Nate Dodge
“Red Flags” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Gus Ross, Luke Eisner
“Made” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Andrew Beason, Ian McConnell, Jeff Cherry
“You’re Still The One” // Written by Shania Twain, Robert John Lange
“Side of the Stage” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Lydia Dall, Lauren McLamb
“Enough” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Austin Brown, Jeffrey East, Steven Martinez
“Getting There” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Tofer Brown, Lauren Huntgate
“Anyone” // Written by Justin Bieber, Jonathan Bellion, Andrew Wotman, Alexander Izquierdo, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Michael Pollack, Raul Cubina
“Our Forever” // Written by Spencer Crandall, Kelly Archer, Rhett Akins
Country Swag Picks:
Didn’t Do
What Do We Do Now?
7 and 70
Enough
Side of the Stage
Spencer Crandall’s new album, ‘Western’ is out now.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Spencer Crandall releases.
Spencer Crandall will hit the stage at NYC’s Mercury Lounge on December 7. For tickets, tour dates, and more, visit his official website here.
Western 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/2022/10/spencer-crandall-western-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2022-10-21 00:04:202022-12-12 15:41:08Spencer Crandall ‘Western’ – Album Review
