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Carrie Underwood: ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ – Album Review

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Carrie Underwood’s highly anticipated new album, Denim & Rhinestones is officially out now, June 10th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the record below and check out our full review.

The wait is over! Almost four years after her last solo country release, ‘Cry Pretty’, 8-time GRAMMY winner, Carrie Underwood is back with ‘Denim & Rhinestones’, a high-energy project with a nostalgic 90s country feel that is pure fun from beginning to end.

From catchy anthems (“Crazy Angels”, “Poor Everybody Else”, and title track “Denim & Rhinestones”), to love songs (“Faster”, “Pink Champagne”, “Wanted Woman”), to heartbreak (“Burn”, “Velvet Heartbreak”, “Hate my Heart”), to the kind of story tracks Underwood is known for, (“Ghost Story”, “She Don’t Know”), there is something for everyone on this record. Full of theatrical lyrics from top to bottom and even a bit of rock and roll, it is bound to be the soundtrack of the summer. 

“I really just wanted to make an album that felt like fun,” said the American Idol alum ahead of the release. “I feel like this one ended up being a bigger reflection of me as a person and as an artist. We have a lot of songs that could be considered throwback songs, but they sound super fresh. These are influences that are in me and work their way out and I just decided this time not to get in their way.”

The final track, “Garden”, ends the album with the softer side of Underwood; a tribute to the way she grew up and a reminder to us all that we can choose who to be in this world.

“If your words were seeds that were goin’ in the ground // And your love was rain farmers prayed about // If your life was sunlight we all needed // What kinda world would it be? // If you reap what you sow // What kind of garden would you grow?

Produced by Underwood and collaborator David Garcia, ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ features 12 songs, 11 of which the mom of two co-wrote with familiar names found all over her impressive discography, including Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, Ashley Gorley, and Chris DeStefano.

“We covered a lot of ground,” said Underwood when talking about her mindset going into the writer’s room and studio. “Hopefully it’ll just make people happy to listen to. It’s a very like sing into your hairbrush, in your house, in your room, kind of album, which I think is going to translate well.” 

After spending the pandemic on two Christian passion-projects, Christmas album ‘My Gift’ (2020) and gospel record ‘My Savior’ (2021), this time, Underwood was focused on getting back in front of fans. “I wanted to think about all the songs and how we’re going to perform them live and I feel like what we came up with was everything I wanted it to be and more”.

Neither Underwood or fans will have to wait long; the superstar hits the road this fall for an 8-month tour with fellow denim-and-rhinestone-clad special guest, Jimmie Allen. 

Underwood will also be returning to Las Vegas in 2023 to resume her residency, REFLECTION, which enjoyed sold-out runs in December 2021 and Spring 2022. For all tour dates, visit: Carrieunderwood.com.

Denim & Rhinestones Tracklist:

  1. Denim & Rhinestones (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey)
  2. Velvet Heartbreak (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
  3. Ghost Story (David Garcia, Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey)
  4. Hate My Heart (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Michael Hardy, Hillary Lindsey)
  5. Burn (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey)
  6. Crazy Angels (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Lydia Vaughan)
  7. Faster (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
  8. Pink Champagne (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey)
  9. Wanted Woman (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Josh Miller)
  10. Poor Everybody Else (Carrie Underwood, Chris DeStefano, Josh Miller)
  11. She Don’t Know (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
  12. Garden (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Josh Miller)
carrie-underwood-denim-&-rhinestones

Carrie Underwood’s brand new album, ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ is officially here!

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

To keep up with Carrie Underwood, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Denim & Rhinestones 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.

twinnie-new-ep

Twinnie: ‘Welcome To The Club’ – EP Review

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Twinnie’s brand new EP, Welcome To The Club, is out now, June 3rd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new music below and check out our full review.

Pop-country singer-songwriter, Twinnie is officially releasing her newest EP. Welcome To The Club is a project for music lovers everywhere. The inclusive and inspiring 4-song record is one we can all enjoy again and again.

The EP kicks off with the title track, “Welcome To The Club.” The accompanying music video only adds to the already delicious vibe of the new song. The world truly needs more songs like this!

“Jump up on the floor // Don’t you wanna dance // Roll with the beat // Yeah, raise up your hands // We’re all human // Just doing, doing what we’re doing // Some days are down and some days are up // We all need a little love // So welcome to the club”

The title track is the perfect personification of the EP as a whole. According to Twinnie in a press release, “This EP is a call to action to be your authentic self. It’s a narrative on finding yourself and realizing that your power is in being unashamedly you.” She later added, “I wanted to write a collection of songs that highlight mental health issues whilst also celebrating everyone’s differences, and I hope I’ve achieved that with this record. Welcome to the Club encourages everyone to break free from what holds them back.”

The EP continues with “One Heart. The song is a heartfelt, pensive break-up song. Twinnie takes listeners on a journey through the lessons learned from a break-up with someone she seemingly loved. “One Heart” is a uniquely mesmerizing track.

“Something or Somebody” is the newest song off the project and third on the tracklist. All about the human vices we all experience, Twinnie showcases the sassy side of her personality on this incredible track.

The record culminates with “Dying Inside.” Written by Twinnie with Jamie Kennedy, the song screams vulnerability. The song is all about the heartache one experiences after a break-up. The unique track is relatable for anyone, who has ever experienced heartbreak.

Overall, Welcome To The Club EP feels like coming home. Twinnie created a project that we all see a piece of ourselves in. Kudos to her for the inclusive and inspiring record!

Welcome To The Club Tracklist:

  1. “Welcome To The Club” (Twinnie, Phil Barton, Lindsay Rimes)
  2. “One Heart” (Twinnie, Alex Stacey, Rupert Blackman, Laura Welsh, Peter Rycroft, Ben Johnson)
  3. “Something or Somebody” (Twinnie, Emily Landis, Eric Arjes)
  4. “Dying Inside” (Twinnie, Jamie Kennedy)
twinnie-new-ep

Twinnie’s new EP ‘Welcome To The Club’ is out now.

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

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

Welcome To The Club EP is now 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.

chris-young-famous-friends-deluxe-edition

Chris Young: ‘Famous Friends (Deluxe Edition)’ – Album Review

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Chris Young’s brand new deluxe edition of Famous Friends is out now, featuring collaborations with artists like Old Dominion and more. Listen below.

Nearly a year since the August 2021 release of his eighth studio album, Famous Friends, Chris Young is back with a deluxe version that features even more collaborations and stripped-down renditions of two of his biggest hits.

While the main body of the album is the same as last August, featuring “Raised on Country,” “At the End of the Bar” with Mitchell Tenpenny, and the #1 title track with Kane Brown, it doesn’t end there. The deluxe edition adds six new tracks, making it a hefty, yet incredibly solid, twenty-song collection.

Having already released four singles from the album, it remains to be seen if more are on the way, but Young’s collaborations with both Old Dominion and Jimmie Allen are solid contenders. In a recent press round, Young admitted that “both happened really organically.” Of the Old D track, “Everybody Needs a Song,” Young says it was born from a co-write between himself, Chris DeStefano, and Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi. Once it was written, they realized it would sound great as a collaboration, and that couldn’t be more true.

Meanwhile, of “Music Note,” Young’s collaboration with Jimmie Allen, he admits that his duet partner “had been yelling at me because we hadn’t done a song together.” On the stirring track, the pair celebrate the fact that they’re lucky enough to make money while making music. “Thanks for giving this Tennessee boy a chance,” Young croons as the pair harmonizes on the single-worthy track.

The two new solo Young tracks here are “If I Knew What Was Good for Me” and “Like a Slow Song.” The former is an anthemic ballad that fits perfectly into Young’s romantic wheelhouse of longing and moving on. “Man I hate the way I miss us // Damn this is messed up,” He growls with passionate regret as he considers showing up at the front door of a lost love. “I’d be over there tonight // If I knew what was good for me.”

Meanwhile, “Like a Slow Song” shows off Young’s romantic side, crooning about how he’s going to love a lucky lady. “I’m going to love you like a slow song // Hold onto you until the night’s gone // Whisper anything that you want // ‘Cause I’m gonna love you like a slow song.” It’s easy to think of this track as the second part of “Getting You Home,” which Young admits is a song that always has to find its way into his setlist. “If I don’t play ‘Getting You Home,’ I think people would throw things at me,” He laughed. “It’s the first single, the first hit.”

Young caps the album with acoustic takes on “Think of You” with Cassadee Pope and “I’m Comin’ Over.” While both songs shine in their original versions, there’s something especially magical about the stripped-down versions. 

On “Think Of You,” Young and Pope trade verses, their voices blending effortlessly. Of the new version, the songwriter said that it’s “real awesome to have another version of it out there. It’s stripped away and it’s just her crushing it on vocals.” Yet, when asked if the pair would ever collaborate again, Young says never say never. “I always go by the song will dictate that,” he says of the possibility.

The acoustic version of “I’m Comin’ Over” closes the album on a poignant note, showing Young at his finest. With a voice that’s truly unmatched in the genre, it’s on full display as he harmonizes over the sparse guitar instrumentation.

While the Famous Friends (Deluxe Edition) features a huge list of collaborations, the Tennessee native admits that there’s one dream duet partner who couldn’t commit quite yet. “The only person that has ever told me, ‘no’, and it was because he had just done something…He didn’t have the ability to do it right now…and I will annoy him until I die, or ‘til he does it. It’s Tim McGraw. Down the road, I’m doing something with Tim. He already knows.”

With today’s release of the deluxe edition of Famous Friends, Young is most looking forward to taking these songs on the road this summer and getting things back to normal. “At the end of the day, you want to be in front of a crowd of people, playing your songs for them, watching them unwind. I’m getting adrenaline from the crowd, they’re hopefully getting that from me and the band. Just being able to do that all summer is gonna be fantastic.”

Famous Friends Deluxe Edition Tracklist:

  1. Raised on Country
  2. Famous Friends (with Kane Brown)
  3. Town Ain’t Big Enough (with Lauren Alaina)
  4. Drowning
  5. Rescue Me
  6. Break Like You Do
  7. At the End of a Bar (with Mitchell Tenpenny)
  8. Love Looks Good on You
  9. One of Them Nights
  10. When You’re Drinking
  11. Cross Every Line
  12. Hold My Beer Watch This
  13. Best Seat in the House
  14. Tonight We’re Dancing
  15. Everybody Needs a Song (with Old Dominion) – NEW
  16. If I Knew What Was Good for Me – NEW
  17. Music Note (with Jimmie Allen) – NEW
  18. Like a Slow Song – NEW
  19. Think of You (with Cassadee Pope) (Acoustic Version) – NEW
  20. I’m Comin’ Over (Acoustic Version) – NEW
chris-young-famous-friends-deluxe-edition

Chris Young’s new record, ‘Famous Friends Deluxe Edition’ is out now.

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

To keep up with Chris Young, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Famous Friends Deluxe Edition 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.

Eli Young Band: ‘Love Talking’ – Album Review

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Eli Young Band’s brand new album, Love Talking, is out now, June 3rd on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

For me, Eli Young Band has always been a bit of a “headphones band.” While they sound great on the radio and even better live, there’s just something magical about the band’s sound when listening to them through a good pair of headphones. It’s there that you can truly hear the ways the band stands out in a sea of sameness, blending uniquely Texas instrumentation and tight harmonies with Mike Eli’s trademark twang.

With its first new album in five years, EYB is back with Love Talking, the follow-up to 2017’s Fingerprints. The sixth studio album features “Love Ain’t,” which first appeared on 2019’s This Is Eli Young Band: Greatest Hits, as well as tracks co-written by the likes of Ashley Gorley, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins, and Shane McAnally. 

“We really wanted to find the positivity in what we got out of the last two years, so that was one of the main goals for this album,” notes lead singer Eli in a statement. “There was a lot of unknown that was written into some of the music we created during that time, but we all lived it so deeply; we wanted to offer something uplifting with our music.”

On Love Talking, they do just that. The album opens with its breezy title track, a perfect summer single, lyrically putting a twist on the idea of speaking without thinking. “When I let it slip that I // Wanted you for my whole life,” he muses. “And you and me turned into us // That was just the love talking.”

The clearest indicator of the album being a pandemic byproduct is “A Good Thing,” which speaks to love pulling them through the tough times. It can easily be applied to any of life’s trials and tribulations, without being cheesy or too cliche. 

“When it all goes south, it all hits the fan // The sky falls down, that’s a real good chance // To get a little stronger, work a little harder on you and me // Maybe that’s a good thing // When we’ve had about enough, can’t take it anymore // If we don’t give up we’ll be better than before // When life gets rough baby that’s when love’s all you really need // Maybe that’s a good thing.”

One of the album’s clear standouts is “Break Up In a Bar,” co-written by Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, and Hunter Phelps. “Right away, you could just hear the melody in the song from the top and know, ‘okay, this is a special one.’ And the spin – it’s one of those songs lyrically you just wish you would have thought of,” reflects Eli. “We know that that’s always the first rule – if you hear something that you wish you would have thought of, it’s worth that second listen. We just started playing it in our live show, and it’s funny to see the audience because they want to know it so bad… That’s a good sign.”

While breaking up is never easy, there are definitely things to make goodbye a little more palatable, including whiskey, beer, and all the good things found in a bar. “Yeah, girl you know I’m gonna miss you // And the way you felt here in my arms // But when somebody breaks your heart,” Eli sings. “Movin’ on ain’t half as hard // When you break up in a bar.”

While most of the album is the mid-to-up-tempo Texas twang that EYB has become known for, the foursome still shine on the slower songs including “Chances Are” and “Live With It.” On the former, which has a stunning guitar solo, Eli admits that chances are high that he’s missing her too. Yet, while “Chances Are” is about lost love, “Live With It” is about the potential of something new, Eli inviting someone seemingly special into his life. “If you live with it for a minute you might,” he muses. “Wanna live with it for the rest of your life.”

For Eli Young Band, Love Talking was about providing an uplifting collection of new music to fans and it does just that. Give it a listen with your headphones, you’ll thank us later.

Love Talking Track List

  1. Love Talking (Mike Eli, Eric Arjes, Jeffrey East)
  2. Lucky For Me (Mike Eli, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz)
  3. Break Up In A Bar (Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)
  4. Love Ain’t (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally)
  5. Chances Are (Mike Eli, Eric Arjes, Jordan Minton)
  6. Live With It (Mike Eli, Josh Osborne, Daniel Ross)
  7. Tell Me It Is (Mike Eli, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins)
  8. A Good Thing (Mike Eli, Eric Arjes, Jeffery East)
  9. Love Talking (Acoustic) (Mike Eli, Eric Arjes, Jeffrey East)
Eli-young-band-new-album

Eli Young Band’s new album ‘Love Talking’ is out now.

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

To keep up with the Eli Young Band follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Love Talking 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.

Here Is High Valley’s New Album: ‘Way Back’

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High Valley’s brand new album, Way Back, is out now, May 20th on all streaming platforms. Check out the details and listen to the brand new music below.

High Valley is back with their sixth studio album to date, Way Back. The record is a thirteen-song project that is full of the band’s signature sound but also showcases growth. True as ever to their fans, High Valley let their fans be involved in the process of choosing the songs that made the record.

In a recent press release, the band’s frontman shared, “Letting our fans behind the scenes of the songwriting and demo process was so much fun. We had the ‘Way Back’ album almost complete and couldn’t decide which of the most recent cowrites should make the cut, so we asked our fans to vote on our socials.”  [Brad] Rempel added later, “I love knowing that this album is a collection of songs I feel very strongly about, messages I believe need to be heard, and jams that our fans literally chose themselves!”

Listen to the brand new record below…

Way Back Track List

  1. “Way Back” (Seth Mosley, Ben Stennis, Brad Rempel)
  2. “Run Outta Somedays” (Ben Stennis, Jon Nite, Brad Rempel)
  3. “Somebody Tell That Girl” (Feat. Anne Wilson) (Jason Gant, Matt Rogers, Brad Rempel)
  4. “Do This Life” (Phil Barton, David Thompson, Brad Rempel)
  5. “World Could Use a Dirt Road” (Claire Douglas, Josh Ronen, Brad Rempel)
  6. “Prayin’ Woman” (Seth Mosley, Allison Veltz, Brad Rempel)
  7. “Country Music, Girls & Trucks” (Feat. Granger Smith) (Micah Wilshire, Jaron Boyer, Brad Rempel)
  8. “Whatever it Takes” (Ben Stennis, Jon Nite, Brad Rempel)
  9. “All My Lovin” (Blake Bollinger, Phil Barton, Brad Rempel)
  10. “Remember You Now” (Ben Stennis, Jon Nite, Brad Rempel)
  11. “Be That For You” (Sam Ellis, Dave Sampson, Brad Rempel)
  12. “She Loves” (Sam Bergeson, Jaron Boyer, Brad Rempel)
  13. “Never Not” (Ben West, Matt Willis, Brad Rempel)

high-valley-way-back-album

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

To keep up with High Valley follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Way Back 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.

zach-bryan-debut-album

Here Is Zach Bryan’s Debut Album: ‘American Heartbreak’

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Zach Bryan’s debut album, American Heartbreak, is out now, May 20th on all streaming platforms. Check out the details and listen to the brand new music below.

Zach Bryan’s highly-anticipated debut album is officially here! The 34-track masterpiece, American Heartbreak is slated to be one of the best records of the year. Each of the tracks showcase a different side of Bryan’s talent, proving just how incredible of a singer and songwriter he truly is.

According to Bryan on social media, “I’d say true love rips your heart out and puts it back together all in the same sentence or song. Here’s an album I wrote with pain, laughter, humility, love and honesty. I didn’t call it American Heartbreak after a tacky love story, but because we all face trials every day and put ourselves back together every single time regardless. Whether in relationships or jobs, our families, our dreams or our let downs, I just wrote the whole thing praying someone just might relate to a story or two.” We think that pretty much personifies the debut record!

Listen to the brand new album below.

American Heartbreak Track List

  1. “Morning Time”
  2. “Something in the Orange”
  3. “Heavy Eyes”
  4. “Mine Again”
  5. “Happy Instead”
  6. “Right Now the Best”
  7. “The Outskirts”
  8. “Younger Years”
  9. “Cold Damn Vampires”
  10. “Tishomingo”
  11. “She’s Alright”
  12. “You Are My Sunshine”
  13. “Darling”
  14. “Ninth Cloud”
  15. “Oklahoma City”
  16. “Sun To Me”
  17. “Highway Boys”
  18. “Whiskey Fever”
  19. “Billy Stay
  20. “Sober Side of Sorry”
  21. “High Beams”
  22. “The Good I’ll Do”
  23. “Someday (Maggie’s)”
  24. “Poems and Closing Time”
  25. “From Austin”
  26. “If She Wants a Cowboy”
  27. “Corinthians (Proctor’s)”
  28. “Open the Gate”
  29. “Half Grown”
  30. “No Cure”
  31. “’68 Fastback”
  32. “Blue
  33. “Waterwell”
  34. “This Road I Know”

zach-bryan-american-heartbreak

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

To keep up with Zach Bryan, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

American Heartbreak 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.

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Midland: ‘The Last Resort: Greetings From’ – Album Review + Interview

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Midland’s brand new album, The Last Resort: Greetings From is out now, May 6th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Country music’s favorite outlaw band, Midland is back with their third studio album, The Last Resort: Greetings From. The album is a fabulous, romantic, and glamorous record all wrapped into one. We had the chance to chat with the trio leading up to the release, so read below as we dive into the record and the conversation.

One of the first things to note is the parallels between the sonic and artistic aesthetic and lineage that runs deeply throughout The Last Resort: Greetings From. It could be considered a concept album, as the men of Midland are no longer bar regulars staying until last call. “We kind of workshop ideas around, and during Covid I moved back to my hometown of Arizona”, Mark Wystrach shared with us. “I found myself living amongst this world of tons of cacti… selfishly, I wanted everyone to come out and hang, I made some references and helped find some locations… and that set the setting for it all.”

The opener and title track does indeed set you to a desert and a smokey bar. “The Last Resort”, written by all of the band members plus the incomparable Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, has a foot-tapping groove to it along with lush pedal steel guitar. Then, there’s the standout moment “Take Her Off Your Hands” that will have listeners nodding along to the guitar riff that is obvious ear candy. “She didn’t put that dress on to be ignored by a man short on romance // To blind to give her a second glance”, they sing in the second verse. “If forever’s just not in your plans // Let me take her off your hands”. It’s a traditionally country, unrequited love song.

“Bury Me In Blue Jeans” has the perfect, witty lyrics that are classically western and country tropes. “When I’m heading home // Bury me in blue jeans”. There’s a certain kind of swag that this song entails, and it’s more upbeat than a lot of the rest of the record.

The Eagles-meets-Alan Jackson-esque “Long Neck Way To Go” collaboration with Jon Pardi feels incredibly natural. “I feel like of all the songs we cut, “Long Neck”, as we’re tracking it in the studio, felt like, ‘how is this not a song we’ve cut and recorded before?’…. Jon is someone who’s championed us since the beginning,” the band explains to us. “He took us out on our first real tour…. he’s the like the fourth member of Midland. He’s like our crazy cousin!”

The album’s middle and the album’s end both anchor the rest of the record in completely different, yet substantial ways. “And Then Some”, perhaps the strongest and saddest on the record, is a tasteful heartbreak song about being over someone, “and then somebody says your name // and I’m right back where you left me”. The moments that are subtle are just as impactful as the more outrageous moments. “Adios Cowboy” is the perfect closer to an already remarkable album. Another foot-tapper, this one is about how sometimes, the cowboy doesn’t always win the girl over. The lyrics tell a story in real-time, so plainly, that you really feel it. It truly makes the record so cohesive and will leave the listener feeling content… and ready to listen to the album again and again.

Midland continues to make amazing music, and this project is no exception. It’s great to listen to as a whole collection of songs, but will also sound wonderful live. Their album proves that Midland is here to stay in country music.

 

The Last Resort: Greetings From Track List

  1. “The Last Resort” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
  2. “If I Lived Here” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
  3. “Two To Two Step” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
  4. “Take Her Off Your Hands” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
  5. “Sunrise Tells the Story” (Jess Carson, Jessi Alexander, Aaron Raitiere)
  6. “And Then Some” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
  7. “Longneck Way to Go” (featuring Jon Pardi) (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley)
  8. “Life Ain’t Fair” (Jess Carson)
  9. “King of Saturday Night” (Jess Carson)
  10. “Paycheck to Paycheck” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Rhett Akins, John Osborne)
  11. “Bury Me in Blue Jeans” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
  12. “Adios Cowboy” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Marv Green, JT Harding)
midland-album

Midland’s third studio album ‘The Last Resort’ is officially here.

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

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

The Last Resort: Greetings From 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.

Tim-montana-ep-reno

Tim Montana: ‘Reno’ – EP Review

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Tim Montana’s brand new EP, Reno, is out now, May 6th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new music below and check out our full review.

For country rocker Tim Montana, his new EP, Reno, is something he’s truly proud of. “When I die, this will be the music I’ll be most proud of making,” he says. “We lit the rule book on fire and just went for it, focusing on creating music that was true to me— and that’s exactly what you’re getting—pure Tim Montana.”

With the six track collection, the gravel-voiced Montana is authentically himself. On the follow up to his 2021 major label debut, Long Shots, the singer-songwriter flexes his musical muscles while remaining true to his roots. The EP combines the guitar-driven country rock stylings that Montana is known for with more experimental rap and hip hop sounds, as well as a delightful duet with Colbie Caillat.

The duet is one of the collection’s finest moments, the pair trading verses on “Real Good People,” which shows off Montana’s softer side. On the breezy collab, Caillat is the perfect compliment, her twangy angelic voice supporting the grit and gravel of her counterpart. They’re both walking contradictions, musing about the fact that, “We love to get drunk // But we show up at church // Raised on 4-letter words // But we’re salt of the Earth.” 

For the Montana native, “A Guy Like Me” may be the truest representation of the singer as he growls through the driving declaration of who he is. Over heavy guitars, the singer is no holds barred, his rock side on full display. “I’m a fist full of bourbon// A freight train smokin’ // Ain’t slowing down // ‘Til the pine box closes // When hell needs raising // I’ma raising up whiskey // That’s what you get with a guy like me.”

He shows his softer side on “Stoned On You,” a love song that finds him admitting that he may be out drinking, but he’d prefer to be home “getting stoned on you.” Meanwhile, the EP’s opening track shows him dabbling with a more hip-hop sound. Here, he proclaims that he’s living his “American dream,” even if it looks a little different than one might expect.

On the EP’s title track, he finds himself alone, and at the end of his rope, in Reno. Over harmonica and guitar, he reflects on a life that’s different than what he expected. “I just wanna be lonely all alone // Messed up in Reno // Trashed in this casino // Living my life like a roll of the dice // Running on empty with nobody with me // If I’m all in tonight // And I play my cards right // I’ll be messed up in Reno.”

The EP’s final track, “California Love,” features frequent collaborator, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons as well as Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum. The song is an unexpected mix of hip-hop, rap, and rock, punctuated with a catchy chorus, as Montana revels in the fact that “California knows how to party.”

As unexpected as “California Love” may be, it also may be the best representative of Tim Montana. You may think you know what you’re getting here, but you have no idea, and that’s a good thing.

Reno Tracklist:

  1. “American Dream” – (Tim Montana, Adam Sanders, Micah Wilshire)
  2. “Guy Like Me” – (Tim Montana, Erik Dylan, Rob Snyder, Micah Wilshire)
  3. “Reno” – (Tim Montana, Jessica Cayne, Micah Wilshire)
  4. “Stoned On You” – (Tim Montana, Jeremy Bussey, Mike Florentino)
  5. “Real Good People (feat. Colbie Caillat)” – (Tim Montana, Jessica Cayne, Tina Parol, Micah Wilshire)
  6. “California Love (feat. Billy F Gibbons and Matt Sorum)” – (Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman, Ronnie Hudson, Mikel Hooks, Chris Stainton, Joe Cocker)
tim-montana-reno-ep

Tim Montana’s new EP, ‘Reno’ is out now.

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

In support of Koe Wetzel, Tim Montana will take the stage at New Jersey’s Starland Ballroom on May 11. Tickets are available here.

To keep up with Tim Montana, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Reno EP is now 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.

chris-jason-all-in

Chris Janson: ‘All In’ – Album Review

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Chris Janson’s brand new album, All In, is out now, April 29th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

On his fourth studio album, out April 29, Chris Janson is “All In.” Here, the singer-songwriter embraces the country sounds of yesterday and today, putting out a sixteen-track collection that is the epitome of great country music.

The album features collaborations with country superstars Eric Church, Rhett Akins, and Travis Tritt, as well as the bittersweet single “Bye Mom.” Janson co-produced the album, revealing in a statement, “I’m in my thirties and I’m super comfortable with who I am. I think it starts with that. I’m comfortable with who I am, which makes my music easy and comfortable.”

His forthcoming single “Keys to the Country” kicks the album off in high gear, an ode to the life of a country boy. He may not know the coolest places in town, but when it comes to country life, he’s the best there is. 

“’Cause I got the keys to the country // Sittin’ in my F-350 I know where to park // Way out in the dark // Where the stars shine down so pretty // Got the keys to the gate to the Johnson’s Lake // A little honey hole to take you // Honey I ain’t got the keys to the city // But I got the keys to the country.”

Throughout All In, Janson continues to celebrate the best things about the country lifestyle, including tracks like “Small Town Big Time”, “The Reall Bass Pro”, and “Cold Beer Truth.” On the latter, he admits that “life looks better after you’ve had a few.” Likewise, “We Did it Anyway” is the embodiment of a classic country tune about a youth spent living fast and free.

One of the album’s clear standouts is “You, Me, & the River,” Janson’s duet with Eric Church. It’s a dark murder ballad that is sure to be talked about for years to come. Interestingly, the track represents the first song Janson has recorded that he didn’t write, as it was written solely by the Chief. Here, the two tell the tale of a woman and her affair and the river that hides it all.

“Hey buddy, hey buddy ain’t that Mississippi muddy // And this time of year, she takes what you give her // So tonight I’ll lay me down to sleep // And pray my soul and a secret to keep // Between you, me, and a river…”

Another clear highlight is the raucous “Things You Can’t Live Without” with golden-voiced icon Travis Tritt, the pair trading verses about all of the best things in their lives. They celebrate the simple things like “Mountain Dew in my refrigerator // Kids running ‘round the house,” while Janson contributes an impressive harmonica solo.

Janson’s love for his wife Kelly can be felt throughout many of the tracks on All In, including on the mid-tempo title track. Perfect for radio, the song tells the tale of how the singer-songwriter found himself “all in” with his wife from day one, as he admits “that pounding in my heart left no doubt in my mind.” Meanwhile, “Too Far Gone” and “Love Don’t Sleep” both celebrate the kind of love that’s too good to sleep through, Janson musing “so much love to make, so little time… When you’re in this deep, love don’t sleep.”

Co-written by Eric Church, “Flag on the Wall” may just be Janson’s best vocal performance to date, his passion shining through with every word as he begs for unity. “We all blue and we all red // And we support the boys that fall // With a Bible on the table // And a flag on the wall.” Likewise, the album’s closing song, “My American Life,” celebrates all of the good things about the U.S.A. “In my American world // It’s where freedom rings // This is the land of opportunity// Yeah, we love our flag // We love listening to Merle // Yeah, I really, really, really, really love my American world.” On All In, Chris Janson continues to do what he does best, and that’s make solid country music. The singer-songwriter is as country as they come, and it’s evidenced clearly on this album from the opening notes of “Keys to the Country” to the final closing notes of “My American Life” and every minute in-between.

All In Track List

  1. “Keys to the Country”* (Chris Janson, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)
  2. “We Did It Anyway”* (Chris Janson, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Chris Stevens)
  3. “Cold Beer Truth”** (Brad Clawson, Mitch Oglesby, Rob Pennington, Chris Janson)
  4. “You, Me & the River” (feat. Eric Church) (Eric Church)
  5. “Halfway to Crazy” (Chris Janson, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip)
  6. “Bye Mom”* (Chris Janson, Brandon Kinney)
  7. “Love Don’t Sleep” (Chris Janson, Mitch Oglesby, David Frasier, John Edwards)
  8. “The Reel Bass Pro” (Chris Janson, Mitch Ogelsby, Shane Profitt)
  9. “Too Far Gone” (Chris Janson, Marv Green, Ben Hayslip)
  10. “Flag on the Wall” (Chris Janson, Eric Church)
  11. “All In”* (Chris Janson, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)
  12. “Here and Gone” (Chris Janson, Casey Beathard)
  13. “Things You Can’t Live Without” (feat. Travis Tritt) (Chris Janson, David Lee Murphy, Deric Ruttan, Chris Stevens)
  14. “Small Town Big Time” (Chris Janson, Jimmy Yeary, Tim Nichols)
  15. “You Never Did” (Chris Janson)
  16. “My American World” (Chris Janson, Kelly Roland, Shane Profitt)
chris-janson-new-album

Chris Janson’s new album ‘All In’ is out now.

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

To keep up with Chris Janson follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

All In 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.

miranda-lambert-new-album-palomino

Miranda Lambert: ‘Palomino’ – Album Review

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Miranda Lambert’s brand new album, Palomino is out now, April 29th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Out today, April 29, Miranda Lambert’s Palomino is a welcomed breath of fresh air. The fifteen track collection shows Lambert doing what she does best. She’s authentically herself, exploring different sounds and topics in a way that never feels fraudulent or forced. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Here, she co-wrote all but one track, enlisting frequent collaborators including Luke Dick, Jon Randall, and Natalie Hemby to take listeners on a uniquely magical journey. 

On her eighth studio album, the singer-songwriter is fully in her element. The album is definitely more of the rootsy, no-frills Lambert that was evidenced on 2021’s The Marfa Tapes, as opposed to the glitz and glamor from the days of “Little Red Wagon.” Palomino is a mature and cohesive offering, sure to delight fans and non-fans alike.

“The making of this record has been one of the most fun and creative experiences of my career,” reflects Lambert in a statement. “…The first one we wrote was ‘Tourist’ and that set us on a path to create something with a bit of a theme. Since we couldn’t travel at the time, we decided to go on a journey through songs… I hope y’all are ready to travel with us wandering spirits and meet some cool characters with great stories.”

On that inspired track, Lambert takes on the role of the tourist, wandering aimlessly with no place to go. “I’m just a tourist // I don’t know where I belong // It might sound foolish // Yeah, but nowhere feels like home // So I roam from town to town // Taking snapshots of the world // And I laugh away the lonely // And give a local bar a whirl // And I wanna see it all so I keep movin’ // I’m just a tourist.”

Throughout Palomino, listeners will meet an array of characters, including “Geraldene” on the earwormy song of the same name, one of the album’s surefire hits. “Music City Queen” features the B-52s and introduces listeners to another array of unique souls, punctuated by a recognizable piano solo. Likewise, despite being the sole song on the album not written by Lambert, the Mick Jagger cover of “Wandering Spirit” is a clear standout coming right at the album’s midpoint. Joined by the McCrary Sisters, Lambert explores Gospel-twinged country, her wandering spirit seemingly inspired by something divine.

The twangy “Scenes” is the perfect example of the premise of the album, Lambert doing “anything to forget about you.” She’s moving from scene to scene here, meeting the likes of Dwayne and Katie with a K, as she tries to ban an ex from her memory. Meanwhile, the twangy “I’ll Be Loving You” finds Lambert admitting that “I’ll be loving you, No matter where I roam.”

Interestingly, “In His Arms,” “Geraldene,” and “Waxahachie” all make second, slightly updated appearances, after originally being released on the aforementioned Marfa Tapes record. Yet, they fit in perfectly here. 

While Lambert takes sonic and lyrical risks on Palomino, she never strays too far from what has endeared her to the country genre since the earliest days of her career. This is evidenced on tracks such as the feisty “Actin’ Up,” the tongue-in-cheek “Country Money,” and nostalgic “If I Was a Cowboy.” Another highlight is “That’s What Makes the Jukebox Play,” finding the singer-songwriter in the narrator role as she observes the goings-on in a bar, and how they inspire the music found in a jukebox. It’s a poignant and moving take that can’t be ignored.

The album ends on a magical moment, with the ethereal and sparse “Carousel,” finding Lambert grappling with the fact that all good things must end. “Every show must end // Every circus leaves town // You don’t know the magic’s gone // Until the lights go down.”

Miranda Lambert’s Palomino is a concise and compelling piece of art, finding the Texan songstress experimenting with new sounds and coloring outside the musical lines as she takes listeners on a journey. Lambert has always excelled at being a bit of a rebel, and she does it here, but in the best way possible. She isn’t chasing trends or hits, but remaining true to her musical passions and desires. 

Palomino Track List

  1. “Actin’ Up” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Jon Randall)
  2. “Scenes” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
  3. “In His Arms” (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
  4. “Geraldene” (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
  5. “Tourist” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
  6. “Music City Queen” feat. The B-52’s (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
  7. “Strange” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
  8. “Wandering Spirit” (Mick Jagger, James Rippeto)
  9. “I’ll Be Lovin’ You” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Jon Randall)
  10. “That’s What Makes the Jukebox Play” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
  11. “Country Money” (Miranda Lambert, Aaron Raitiere, Mikey Reaves)
  12. “If I Was a Cowboy” (Miranda Lambert, Jesse Frasure)
  13. “Waxahachie” (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
  14. “Pursuit of Happiness” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
  15. “Carousel” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
miranda-lambert-new-album-palomino

Miranda Lambert’s new album ‘Palomino’ is out now.

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

To keep up with Miranda Lambert, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Palomino 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.