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
“Way Back” (Seth Mosley, Ben Stennis, Brad Rempel)
“Run Outta Somedays” (Ben Stennis, Jon Nite, Brad Rempel)
“Somebody Tell That Girl” (Feat. Anne Wilson) (Jason Gant, Matt Rogers, Brad Rempel)
“Do This Life” (Phil Barton, David Thompson, Brad Rempel)
“World Could Use a Dirt Road” (Claire Douglas, Josh Ronen, Brad Rempel)
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.
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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/high-valley-album-new-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2022-05-20 00:05:262022-05-20 00:05:26Here Is High Valley’s New Album: ‘Way Back’
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
“Morning Time”
“Something in the Orange”
“Heavy Eyes”
“Mine Again”
“Happy Instead”
“Right Now the Best”
“The Outskirts”
“Younger Years”
“Cold Damn Vampires”
“Tishomingo”
“She’s Alright”
“You Are My Sunshine”
“Darling”
“Ninth Cloud”
“Oklahoma City”
“Sun To Me”
“Highway Boys”
“Whiskey Fever”
“Billy Stay
“Sober Side of Sorry”
“High Beams”
“The Good I’ll Do”
“Someday (Maggie’s)”
“Poems and Closing Time”
“From Austin”
“If She Wants a Cowboy”
“Corinthians (Proctor’s)”
“Open the Gate”
“Half Grown”
“No Cure”
“’68 Fastback”
“Blue
“Waterwell”
“This Road I Know”
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.
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.
Midland’s brand new album, The Last Resort: Greetings Fromis 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 FromTrack List
“The Last Resort” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
“If I Lived Here” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
“Two To Two Step” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
“Take Her Off Your Hands” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
“Sunrise Tells the Story” (Jess Carson, Jessi Alexander, Aaron Raitiere)
“And Then Some” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
“Longneck Way to Go” (featuring Jon Pardi) (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley)
“Life Ain’t Fair” (Jess Carson)
“King of Saturday Night” (Jess Carson)
“Paycheck to Paycheck” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Rhett Akins, John Osborne)
“Bury Me in Blue Jeans” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
“Adios Cowboy” (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, Marv Green, JT Harding)
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.
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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/midland-the-last-resort-album.jpg6301200Lucie Bernheimhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngLucie Bernheim2022-05-06 00:15:302022-05-06 00:15:30Midland: ‘The Last Resort: Greetings From’ – Album Review + Interview
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:
“American Dream” – (Tim Montana, Adam Sanders, Micah Wilshire)
“Guy Like Me” – (Tim Montana, Erik Dylan, Rob Snyder, Micah Wilshire)
“Stoned On You” – (Tim Montana, Jeremy Bussey, Mike Florentino)
“Real Good People (feat. Colbie Caillat)” – (Tim Montana, Jessica Cayne, Tina Parol, Micah Wilshire)
“California Love (feat. Billy F Gibbons and Matt Sorum)” – (Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman, Ronnie Hudson, Mikel Hooks, Chris Stainton, Joe Cocker)
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.
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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/tim-montana-reno-ep.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2022-05-06 00:06:232022-05-06 00:06:23Tim Montana: ‘Reno’ – EP Review
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
“Keys to the Country”* (Chris Janson, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)
“We Did It Anyway”* (Chris Janson, Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Chris Stevens)
“Cold Beer Truth”** (Brad Clawson, Mitch Oglesby, Rob Pennington, Chris Janson)
“You, Me & the River” (feat. Eric Church) (Eric Church)
“Halfway to Crazy” (Chris Janson, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip)
“Bye Mom”* (Chris Janson, Brandon Kinney)
“Love Don’t Sleep” (Chris Janson, Mitch Oglesby, David Frasier, John Edwards)
“The Reel Bass Pro” (Chris Janson, Mitch Ogelsby, Shane Profitt)
“Too Far Gone” (Chris Janson, Marv Green, Ben Hayslip)
“Things You Can’t Live Without” (feat. Travis Tritt) (Chris Janson, David Lee Murphy, Deric Ruttan, Chris Stevens)
“Small Town Big Time” (Chris Janson, Jimmy Yeary, Tim Nichols)
“You Never Did” (Chris Janson)
“My American World” (Chris Janson, Kelly Roland, Shane Profitt)
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.
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’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
“Actin’ Up” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Jon Randall)
“Scenes” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
“In His Arms” (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
“Geraldene” (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
“Tourist” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
“Music City Queen” feat. The B-52’s (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
“Strange” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
“Wandering Spirit” (Mick Jagger, James Rippeto)
“I’ll Be Lovin’ You” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Jon Randall)
“That’s What Makes the Jukebox Play” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
“If I Was a Cowboy” (Miranda Lambert, Jesse Frasure)
“Waxahachie” (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
“Pursuit of Happiness” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
“Carousel” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
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.
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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/miranda-lambert-new.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2022-04-29 02:44:022022-04-29 02:44:02Miranda Lambert: ‘Palomino’ – Album Review
Tenille Townes’ EP, Masquerades, is out now, April 22nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new music below and check out our exclusive interview.
Tenille Townes is one of the most promising young songwriters to emerge from the Nashville music scene over the last five years. Her knack for storytelling is one that is so authentic and evocative, and her new EP, Masquerades, is her most vulnerable collection of work yet. We had the opportunity to chat with Townes about everything to do with the project and more.
The project opens with the anthemic Wrabel duet, “When You Need It”, a song all about being there for someone when they need you most. The two have written several great songs together but this song was the result of their first co-write.
“I think it’s so crazy that this song about friendship is what marks the beginning of our friendship,” Townes shares with us about the collaboration. “Writing songs with him and getting to know him over the past few years has been one of the brightest silver linings for me in a really dark time. I told him, ‘We have this song, it’s the first song we wrote, I love it, and you have to sing on it.’ I’m so glad he was up for that.”
“The Sound Of Being Alone” is one of the true standouts on the record. Everything about it is interesting: the groovy bass line, the daringly introspective song arc, the booming drums, Townes’ vocal delivery… it’s completely unexpected in every way for a country song, and it may be one of the best of the year, tied with other cut “Villain in Me”.
“Is it the washing machine that keeps on startling me? // Is it the sound of you not calling // Who knows? // I don’t // It’s just the sound of being alone // It comes, it goes // it’s just the sound of being alone // Too much of anything is never a good thing // Is it a bad thing I’m good on my own? // I could say anything, nobody’s listening // It’s just the sound of being alone.”
“This song has got a little bit of tension and frustration, I think, in the way that I get to sing it. It feels good to put that kind of emotion in a song,” Townes tells us. “This song came from literally going insane in my house by myself….just feeling haunted by the voices in my own head and the thoughts that I was processing. I think as an entire world we’ve never felt lonelier than we have these past few years, you know?”
Previously released “When’s it Gonna Happen” and “Villain in Me” remain two of the strongest songs on the project; particularly the last one. Townes illustrates such restraint vocally and sonically in the song, which begins on the offbeat, a move that an artist like one of Townes’ favorites, Joni Mitchell would pull. “I think I was just soul searching… I went back to some old Joni Mitchell records during this time,” she shares. “Villain in Me” is achingly personal, with lyrics that hit you in your gut: “I try to be a hero ‘til it brings me to my knees // Yeah, there’s a villain in me”. It’s a strong contender for the best country song of the year.
The other collaboration on Masquerades is the song “Shared Walls” with Breland, which utilizes building up the production so elegantly. “I actually wrote this song and recorded the guitar and vocals for it in my apartment! I had the track started, and I got to work with my friend Jackson Hargrove, he’s incredible… it was so amazing to hang out and dream about the different production elements of the song with him,” Townes explains to us. “He did such a great job of building it in an emotional way that kind of comes to life in the right part of the song. And having Breland’s vocal on there was such a dream and brought the whole track together in my opinion.”
The project’s closer is the cinematic, driving “Light in Your Eyes”, a gorgeous, dreamy, love song that in some ways contrasts the rest of the EP, setting listeners up for whatever comes next for Townes. It’s reminiscent of the best songwriter records from the ‘90s – a sound that doesn’t really exist anymore.
“This project was terrifying, honestly. I have this thing where I just trust the music, if I feel it in my gut or in my heart a certain way, I trust that,” she tells us. “There was a combination of ‘I’m so ready’ and completely terrified all at the same time. I really do hope, and what gives me so much courage to share these songs, is hearing from people who say ‘I feel the same, this is my truth too.’ I’m so glad to be stepping into this space of sharing more. It’s really exciting for me to be standing on this new frontier.”
Masquerades EP Tracklist:
When You Need It (featuring Wrabel)
When’s It Gonna Happen
The Sound of Being Alone
Villain In Me
Shared Walls (featuring BRELAND)
Same Road Home
Light In Your Eyes
Tenille Townes’ newest EP, ‘Masquerades’ is out not on all streaming platforms.
Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future Tenille Townes releases.
Masquerades 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.
Jason Aldean’s highly anticipated album, GEORGIA is officially here. The last fifteen tracks of his double album are out now, April 22nd. Take a listen and read our full review below.
Today, April 22, Jason Aldean released the second half of his Macon, Georgia double-album, completing the ambitious thirty-song project. With ten new songs, as well as five live greatest hits, the Georgia portion, out today, is the follow-up to November’s Macon.
“We’ve always tried to lean toward more songs than less…and this album is no different,” Aldean explains in a statement. “We decided to pepper in some of the live tracks we’ve had stockpiled for a while. After nine albums and 16 years of recording, I hope people can tell I wanted to make this tenth album fun and different from anything we’ve done before.”
While part one included the mega-hit “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, part two features future chart-toppers like “God Made Airplanes,” “Whiskey Me Away,” and “Trouble with Heartbreak.” Like Macon, the theme of Georgia seems to revolve heavily around heartbreak, which is where Aldean shines.
“Whiskey Me Away” opens Georgia, perfectly setting the tone, and highlighting Aldean at his best. With his deep voice and brooding style, the superstar tends to excel on mid-tempo heartbreak and this track is the perfect example, hearkening back to some of his earliest hits with its clever play on words.
“Throwing quarters down that jukebox // Play some old-school Alabama // You got the lonely I brought in here // Almost gone without a trace // I know I’ve had a few, yeah, but I’m buzzing on you // You’re a hangover I’d love to wake up to // So come on, baby, whiskey me away // Come on, baby, whiskey me away.”
Likewise, “The State I’m In” and “Trouble with a Heartbreak” are other highlights, both with tension-building and moody melodies, finding the superstar grappling with lost love. On both songs, the heartbreak is inescapable for him as “There’s nowhere her memory can’t go.” Likewise, “The State I’m In” is like a long-lost cousin to 2009’s “The Truth” in the best way possible.
With a tour named after “Rock and Roll Cowboy,” it’s safe to assume the track is destined to be a single, and it’s obvious why. With its catchy hook and driving guitars, the song about a traveling musician is perfectly crafted for a live show.
“God Made Airplanes” is another standout and single-worthy track. Here, he’s desperate to escape, looking to take to the sky to get away from another broken heart.
“That’s why God made airplanes, and runways, and half-price tickets, one-ways // If I could get high up off the ground, ain’t got the wheel can’t turn around // Show me a place without her in it, I’ll be there in a New York minute // If I’m driving, I might hit the breaks // That’s why God made airplanes.”
There are songs on Georgia that find Aldean experimenting with new sounds. For example, “Midnight and Missing You” and “Ain’t Enough Cowboy” find him dabbling with R&B beats and slightly electronic-tinged vocals on the chorus.
Of the new tracks, the most uncharacteristically Aldean here is “Your Mama,” a sparse and sentimental ballad dedicated to his wife, Brittany. On the stunner of a song, he celebrates the role of his wife as the mother to his children. “It’s just a different kind of song than what you would typically hear from me,” Aldean explains. “Then we turn around and go right back to the rock-driven stuff.”
While the live tracks on Macon were some of Aldean’s earliest hits, including “Amarillo Sky” and “Big Green Tractor,” the five featured on Georgia are newer additions to his catalog. Here, you’ll find live versions of “Take a Little Ride,” “Any Ol’ Barstool,” “Burnin’ It Down,” and “Rearview Town.” The album concludes with a live version of his 2020 hit “Blame It On You.”
For Aldean, the entire Macon, Georgia collection is a celebration of where he’s from. “To me it’s just throwing it back to where it all started,” Aldean revealed in a statement. “I don’t care who you are, where you were raised is such a big part of who you end up being, and for me it’s no different. Macon is a crossroads of country music, Southern rock, blues and R&B, and just that whole combination of music was such a big influence on me growing up – and ultimately on how I make music myself.”
GEORGIA Track List
“Whiskey Me Away”
“Trouble With A Heartbreak”
“The State I’m In”
“Midnight And Missin’ You”
“Ain’t Enough Cowboy”
“God Made Airplanes”
“My Weakness”
“Holy Water”
“Rock And Roll Cowboy”
“Your Mama”
“Take a Little Ride” (Live from Las Vegas, NV)
“Burnin’ It Down” (Live from St. Louis, MO)
“Any Ol’ Barstool” (Live from Knoxville, TN)
“Rearview Town” (Live from St. Louis, MO)
“Blame It On You” (Live from Manchester, TN)
Jason Aldean’s new album ‘GEORGIA’ is officially 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 Jason Aldean releases.
This summer, Jason Aldean will bring the Rock N’ Roll Cowboy Tour across the nation with stops in Hartford, Boston, New Orleans, Nashville, and more. Gabby Barrett, John Morgan, and Dee Jay Silver will join him on the 34 city stint, and more info can be found here.
GEORGIA 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/2022/04/jason-aldean-album-georgia.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2022-04-22 00:09:272022-04-22 00:09:27Jason Aldean: ‘Georgia’ – Album Review
Warren Zeiders’ brand new EP, 717 Tapes Vol. II., is out now, April 22nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new music below and check out our full review.
One of our 2022 Country Swag Artists to Watch, Warren Zeiders proves time and time again why he made our coveted list. The singer-songwriter stands head and shoulders above many in the industry with his gritty vocals and incredible songwriting. Today, the artist releases the second part of his two-part EP. 717 Tapes Vol. II is officially here.
Zeiders’ EP is bookended by two versions of his recently released song, “Wild Horse.” Written by the singer with Brandon Paddock and Martin Johnson, his vocals are on full display. The deeply-emotive song conveys how it feels to suffer a great loss. Although we love the original version, track six, the acoustic version of the song stops us in our tracks. The emotions are almost palpable.
“Well it’s time to move along I guess // Everything I love I leave behind // Standing in a field out west // One thing on my heart, one on my mind // She rolls like the thunder, flies like the wind out where the river done end // I burned all the bridges left in my life // Ain’t coming back again”
On “Dark Night,” Zeiders leans deeper into the southern-rock side of his talent. His gritty vocals match the dark-nature of the song in a way that feels like a perfect match. On the other hand, “Southbound” shows off the singer’s more sensitive side. The lyric-driven song is all about love, possibility, and honesty. These are just a few reasons why the song is one of our favorites on the project.
“Papa wore the tread off his old boots // Did what he did to get us through // He sent me on my way // And I’m here to make him proud // So I’ll keep rollin’ rollin’ south bound”
Zeiders stands firmly in his country roots on “Ain’t Been Found.” The song could fit in with any southern-rock song from the last couple of decades. The simplistic track draws you in, as Zeiders uses his vocals to unfold the story.
“Burn It Down” wraps up the cohesive project. Written by Zeiders with Andy Sheridan, Erik Dylan, and Rob Snyder, the song showcases everything that the previous song set up. It has grit, honesty, story, and undeniable charm.
Overall, Zeiders EP is a true depiction of his one-of-a-kind artistry.
717 Tapes EP Vol. II Tracklist:
Wild Horse
Dark Night
Southbound
Ain’t Been Found
Burn It Down
Wild Horse (Acoustic)
Warren Zeiders’ new EP, ‘717 Tapes (Vol 2)’ 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 Warren Zeiders releases.
717 Tapes Vol 2 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/warren-zeiders-new-ep.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2022-04-22 00:07:332022-04-22 00:07:33Warren Zeiders: ‘717 Tapes EP Vol. 2’ – EP Review
Abbey Cone’s debut EP, HATE ME, is out now, April 22nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new music below and check out our full review.
Back in December, we introduced you to singer-songwriter, Abbey Cone and her journey to country music in our spotlight series. Today, we get to share her debut EP, HATE ME. The record features six songs, all co-written by Cone. It is an EP you are going to want to listen to again and again.
“This project is me. I felt the feelings, I wrote the songs, I co-produced, I co-directed and co-created every part of this release with my team, incredible cowriters, my family, and my best friends. I could never release something that didn’t feel undeniably me,” shared Abbey in a recent press release. “I have a vision for every part of my career. I love how involved I was in creating this project and no matter where it lands in the musical universe, I’ll always be proud of it.”
The record kicks off with “In A Room With You.” Written by Cone with Nicolle Galyon, and Nathan Spicer, the pop-country tune makes you want to take a step a step towards independence. Cone mesmerizes from the first lyric. It is clear she knows a thing or two about crafting a memorable and nostalgic song. The song is one of our favorites off the project.
Next up is “King of The World.” The song shares the less romantic side of a small-town romance. According to Cone, “It’s the story of the insecure ones, the ones who can’t handle a girl destined for more than her hometown. The ones who think they’re king of the world, but unfortunately have never experienced more than a few square miles of it.” It is an emotive and incredible song for anyone who needs to hear it.
“You’re king of the world // Yeah, I said it // Whatever you want, yeah you get it // Guess things look different from the top of the ladder // You can break a heart like it don’t matter // But you’re gonna hate the truth, it hits you when you fall // You’re only king of the world // ‘Cause your world is so damn small”
HATE ME continues with the pre-released “Rhinestone Ring.” The song is an incredibly emotive song that is both romantic and romanticized. We appreciate the child-like nature of the beautiful tune. The EP also includes another previously released song, the title track. “Hate Me” is a break-up song that cuts deep.
“Would you get teary-eyed if you saw me with some guy? // Would you start a fight? // Or would you just walk on by? // I know it’s over now don’t know how I’mma get over you // While wishin’ it would’ve lasted // Can’t act like it never happened”
On “The One,” Cone let’s her vocals shine. The heartfelt track is all about falling in love, but still being scared about “forever.” Despite the fear, it is clear that this relationship is one that will leave a permanent mark on her heart, no matter what the future holds. On the other hand, “Thoughts About You” continues the nostalgic pull that the whole EP encompasses.
“But I thought about you in the back of your Jeep // Yeah, I thought about you // with your hands on me // I was doing alright // Out of sight, out of mind // I thought I knew better uh oh // Than to think about us like it wasn’t all bad // Like I’m missing it, like I want you back”
Cone’s debut is one we are going to be thinking about for a long time coming. Each song was carefully crafted to create a wonderful story of heartbreak, love, independence, and everything in between. Abbey Cone is an artist you are going to want to keep on your radar and one listen to HATE ME proves it.
HATE ME EP Tracklist:
In A Room With You | Abbey Cone, Nicolle Galyon, Nathan Spicer
King Of The World | Abbey Cone, Aaron James Babcock, Peter Christian Good
Rhinestone Ring | Abbey Cone, Heather Morgan, Nathan Spicer
The One | Abbey Cone, Jessie Jo Dillon, Nathan Spicer
Thought About You | Abbey Cone, Nate Cyphert, Nathan Spicer
Hate Me [Explicit] | Abbey Cone, Jessie Jo Dillon, Nathan Spicer
Abbey Cone’s debut EP, ‘HATE ME’ 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 Abbey Cone releases.
HATE ME 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.
