elvie-shane-backslider-debut-album

Elvie Shane: ‘Backslider’ – Album Review

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Elvie Shane’s debut album Backslider is out now, October 29th on all streaming platforms. Check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

Earlier this year, we were introduced to a brand new recording artist in country music, Elvie Shane. We were blown away by his debut EP County Roads, which featured six country-rock songs that showcased his artistry and grit. Today, the singer-songwriter released his debut album, Backslider. The record boasts fifteen original songs that traditional and modern country fans alike will fall in love with.

The album kicks off with a stunning song called “I Will Run.” The powerful track depicts all of the instances in our lives that we normally run away from. Instead, the beautiful thing is, what we run towards. Shane has a way of flipping a poignant word on its head and making you rethink it, proof of his incredible songwriting.

Another common thread on Backslider is Shane’s ability to showcase his personal story through fun and alluring songs. His number one single “My Boy” depicts his unconventional road to fatherhood, while “My Mississippi” is the personal story of his life. Similarly, Shane brings the nostalgia on “Love, Cold Beer, Cheap Smoke” and the EP’s title-track, “County Roads.”

Shane slows things down on his previously-released “Sundress.” One of our favorites from his debut EP, “Sundress” portrays the singer’s sensitive side.  The sensual lyrics are both vulnerable and touching. Of course, the singer’s vocals also shine on the track. Proving that the artist is just as talented as a songwriter as he is a vocalist.

“We snuck off just around midnight // Threw a little red dust in her tail lights // Drove far enough to get real close // Pulled off on a no-name road // I still think about her now and then // How the night looked on her skin // Ain’t never seen a sunset like // her sundress sitting in the moonlight”

Similarly, we cannot help, but to love Shane’s song “Rocket Science.” Although somber, the new song is relatable and beautiful. The singer professes that understanding the one he loves is like learning “rocket science.” After just one listen, it is clear the singer knows a thing or two about heartache. Shane continues to break himself right open for fans on his killer collaboration with Tenille Townes, “Nothin’ Lasts Forever” as well.

Of course, Shane makes sure to double down on the country-rock elements of his artistry on his full-length record as well. “Saturday Night Me” depicts the slower elements of rock, while “Heartbreaks & Headaches” and “My Kinda Trouble” are the best of the country-rock genre!

However, the record culminates with another intricate ballad called “Miles (with my Mama).” The song is deeply personal, as it portrays the singer’s struggle with losing his father and the emotions that come from that pain. A tribute of sorts, the song digs into the good and the bad of loving and missing someone. Similar to the vulnerability of the hit, “My Boy,” “Miles” is another example of why Shane has cemented a place in country music.

Overall the fifteen-track debut is one of the best of the year. Shane is unapologetically himself. He can write, sing, and convey a story like no one else right now. Backslider is everything we hoped it would be and a must-listen for all.

Backslider Tracklist

  1. “I Will Run” (Elvie Shane, Doug Johnson, Adam Wood)
  2. “Love, Cold Beer, Cheap Smoke” (Elvie Shane, Russell Sutton, Drew Green)
  3. “Sundays in the South” (Elvie Shane, Derrick Southerland, Albert E. Brumley)
  4. “Sundress” (Elvie Shane, Doug Johnson, Adam Wood)
  5. “County Roads” (Elvie Shane, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles)
  6. “Rocket Science” (Elvie Shane, Joybeth Taylor, Jakob Miller, Oscar Charles)
  7. “My Kinda Trouble” (Elvie Shane, Erik Dylan, Ray Fulcher)
  8. “Kickin’ Stones” (with The Fletch) (Fred Eltringham, Steve Mackey, Rob McNelley, Tom Bukovac, Kris Donegan, Matt Nolen)
  9. “Saturday Night Me” (Elvie Shane, Doug Johnson, Adam Wood)
  10. “My Boy” (Elvie Shane, Russell Sutton, Nick Columbia, Lee Starr)
  11. “Heartbreaks & Headaches” (Elvie Shane, Dakota Payton)
  12. “Nothin’ Lasts Forever” (with Tenille Townes) (Elvie Shane, Luke Preston, Oscar Charles, Matt Willis)
  13. “Keep on Strummin’”(Elvie Shane, Dan Couch, Oscar Charles, Clinton Payton)
  14. “My Mississippi” (Elvie Shane, Jakob Miller)
  15. “Miles (with My Mama)” (Elvie Shane, Jonathan Sherwood, Luke Preston)
elvie-shane-debut-album

Elvie Shane’s debut album ‘Backslider’ is available now.

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

To keep up with Elvie Shane, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Backslider 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.

m10-naughty-list-album

Mitchell Tenpenny: ‘Naughty List’ – Album Review

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Mitchell Tenpenny’s full-length Christmas Album, Naughty List is available now, October 29th on all streaming platforms. Check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

It may be Halloween weekend, but Mitchell Tenpenny has us dreaming about Christmas with his full-length holiday album, Naughty List. The 11-track project is filled with holiday classics and original songs. It is the perfect album to curl up by the fireplace with your loved ones and enjoy the season.

While seven of the tracks were featured on the singer-songwriter’s 2020 EP Neon Christmas, Tenpenny is sharing his spin on two more covers as well as two originals.

We learned with Neon Christmas that Tenpenny can make the classics such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!”,  feel brand new.  There was no doubt that he would deliver again.  Putting his one-of-a-kind vocals together with an electric guitar, you will be up and dancing in no time when listening to “Jingle Bell Rock”.  You’ll continue to be on your feet with “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”. Filled with an epic guitar solo, an appearance from Santa and standout vocals from Tenpenny, it shows the Nashville native’s originality.

“I Hope it Snows” featuring Meghan Patrick is one of the best original Christmas songs we’ve heard. It tells the story of bringing your significant home for the first time to meet your family and take part in the season’s traditions. The ballad starts out with Patrick bringing in M10 during the second verse and chorus. Their vocals blend perfectly creating an instant classic.

“I hope it snows on Christmas Eve // Like a winter wonderland in my parents backyard // And I hope you know how much it means to have you in the picture of our postcard // Holidays in the South is all you know // So we’re headed up North and I hope it snows”

“Don’t Hang the Mistletoe” is the second new original. It’s a fun love track that will have you hanging up mistletoe as soon as possible. But be warned you may never leave the house due to the amount of kissing you’ll be doing. With his country charm with a bit of R&B flare, Tenpenny shows his many vocal ranges.

Overall, Naughty List shows how great of an artist Tenpenny is. We will certainly have the album on repeat all season long!

Naughty List Tracklist:

  1. “Neon Christmas” (Mitchell Tenpenny/Lindsay Rimes/Matt Rogers)
  2. “Snow Angels” (Mitchell Tenpenny/Ernest Keith Smith/Rafe Tenpenny)
  3. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane)
  4. “Naughty List” (Mitchell Tenpenny/Andy Albert/Jordan Schmidt)
  5. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (Sammy Cahn/Jule Styne)
  6. “Don’t Hang the Mistletoe” (Mitchell Tenpenny/Kyle Clark/Jordan Schmidt)
  7. “Joy to the World” (Public Domain)
  8. “Jingle Bell Rock” (Joe Beal/Jim Boothe)
  9. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (J. Fred Coots/Haven Gillespie)
  10. “I Hope It Snows” (feat. Meghan Patrick) (Mitchell Tenpenny/Jeff Cibulka/Meghan Patrick)
  11. “O Holy Night” (Public Domain)
mitchell-tenpenny-album

Mitchell Tenpenny’s holiday project ‘Naughty List’ 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 Mitchell Tenpenny releases.

To keep up with Mitchell Tenpenny, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Naughty List 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.

jessie-james-decker-new-ep

Jessie James Decker: ‘The Woman I’ve Become’ – EP Review

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Jessie James Decker’s major label-debut EP, The Woman I’ve Becomeis out now, October 22nd on all streaming platforms. Check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

Jessie James Decker has been a fixture in the music industry, since she was a young girl. After going through a lot of trials and tribulations and three kids later, she is finally emerging as a full-grown badass woman on multiple fronts. After much anticipation, her major-label debut EP, The Woman I’ve Become is finally here.

Decker’s new project features seven perfectly-crafted songs, including two pre-released tunes, “Not In Love With You” and “Should Have Known Better.” The former is a heartbreak tune. Decker pours her heart out, letting fans into the vulnerability and self-reflection that this song emotes. The latter, “Should Have Known Better” exudes the confidence that you eventually regain after finally shedding a past relationship.

“Should have known better than to break my heart // Oh, ain’t it funny? // No, I never looked better and it’s all your fault // Oh, sorry, honey // But it’s over, yeah, I moved on, hallelujah, hallelujah // Should have known better than to break my heart”

JJD continues to dig deep into her vulnerable, yet confident side on the record. “Tell You Enough” is romantic and sensual, a song that is a reminder to your lover how much they are loved by you. Similarly, “Girls Like To Dance” feels hopeful and romantic in its own right.

Arguably the best two songs on the record come back to back, “Dance With Someone Else” and the project’s title-track, “The Women I’ve Become.” The former is heartbreakingly beautiful song about loving someone, but it just not being the right fit. You wish them the best and have nothing negative to say about the time spent together.

“Nobody cheated // nobody lied // this is where the sun sets on us // and leaves me out to dry // this part ain’t easy // it’s hard as hell // but I hope the right song comes along and you dance // with someone else” 

The title-track is the most personal on the project. The song appears to be a message to Decker’s father, who was absent in parts of her life. The lyrics touch on her marriage, her children, and the grieving process of not having a present father figure growing up. Although personal, the song is honest and relatable, and shows the influence Nashville has had on the singer over the years.

Despite the vulnerability that Decker shows throughout the record, she makes sure to end the project on a spicy note. “I Need A Man” is the touch of JJD that we are all used to from the old days. The song is sassy and relatable in its own right.

The Woman I’ve Become is our re-introduction to Jessie James Decker. She is a powerhouse vocalist that is sure to continue to be a mainstay in country music. The EP is definitely worth a listen!

The Woman I’ve Become Tracklist

  1. Not In Love With You
  2. Tell You Enough
  3. Should Have Known Better
  4. Dance With Someone Else
  5. The Woman I’ve Become
  6. Girls Like To Dance
  7. I Need A Man
jessie-james-decker-new-ep

Jessie James Decker’s brand new EP ‘The Woman I’ve Become’ 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 Jessie James Decker releases.

To keep up with Jessie James Decker, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

The Woman I’ve Become 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.

lady-a-new-album

Lady A: ‘What a Song Can Do’ – Album Review

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Lady A’s new album, What A Song Can Do is out now, October 22nd on all streaming platforms. Featuring fourteen tracks co-written by the band, the project includes “Like a Lady,” “Talk of This Town,” and “Friends Don’t Let Friends,” with Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, and Darius Rucker. Listen to the new music and read our full review below.

Back in June, Lady A released its What A Song Can Do (Chapter One) EP, composed of seven of the trio’s strongest songs to date. Today, October 22, the consistent hitmakers released the full album of the same name, featuring those initial tracks in addition to seven more.

All but one of the album’s fourteen songs are co-written by at least one member of the band, along with the likes of Ryan Hurd, Thomas Rhett,  Natalie Hemby, Ashley Gorley, and Dave Barnes. That personal touch is evident here, with Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave Haywood each turning in standout performances.

The first half of the album is highlighted by the high-energy “Like a Lady,” the introspective “Worship What I Hate” and “What A Song Can Do,” and the sentimental “Things He Handed Down.” These are all themes that continue into the album’s second half.

The high energy continues on “You Keep Thinking That” and “Friends Don’t Let Friends.” The former is an R&B-infused, Scott-led track, inviting an ex to keep thinking that she isn’t able to move on. “I hate to break it to ya // That I’ve been seeing someone new,” She coos, her voice tinted with revenge. “And he ain’t anything like you.”

Meanwhile, on “Friends Don’t Let Friends,” Lady A trade verses with famous friends including co-writer Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, and Darius Rucker. The bluesy, radio-ready track is an ode to making bad decisions with your friends, the supergroup singing, “Friends don’t let friends // Drink alone.” 

On “Where Would I Be” and “In Waves” show the more introspective side of Lady A. On the latter, they deal with a breakup, admitting that the healing is something that happens in waves and stages. “Where Would I Be” they find themselves wondering where they’d be in life had they not made tiny choices. “Where would I be // If I hadn’t spent that summer // Waiting tables in my hometown?” Scott asks, “Oh, where, where would I be? // If I hadn’t spilled your drink // And you never asked me out.” They continue wondering, “God only knows // If you never found me // Where would I be?”

“Workin’ On This Love” is a rare-Haywood led track, the sensitive singer-songwriter’s voice, accompanied but not overshadowed by harmonies from his bandmates. Co-written solely by the mega-talented and often-forgotten Haywood, the track celebrates love in its purest form. “Baby I believe // We’re framing history // I wanna roll my sleeves up every day,” He sings. “Get to workin’ on this love we’ve made.”

The sparse, piano-driven “Swore I Was Leaving” closes the album, and it’s truly Lady A at its finest, trading beautiful harmonies over a relatively simple country ballad. Here, their voices soar and the lyrics shine, as Kelley and Scott lament over a relationship that just can’t end. “We both know what’s coming at the end of the night,” They admit over a sultry guitar riff. “I swore I was leaving // But with us // It’s never goodbye.”

Produced by Dan Haff, What a Song Can Do shows Lady A at its very best.  “We’ve rediscovered our purpose, and it’s to entertain and spread a positive message –I really truly believe that,” Kelley revealed in a statement. “I want our legacy to be songs that make people feel good. …But I also think there’s more to our story that hasn’t been written yet.”

Scott agrees, sharing “We are all living in the now together…we’re all a work in progress, and that is what we wanted to share with these songs.”

That work in progress is evident here, as the album focuses heavily on songs with powerful lyrics and beautiful harmonies. If you’re wondering what a song can do, just take a listen to this LP.

What a Song Can Do Track List:

  1. “Talk Of This Town” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds
  2. “What A Song Can Do” | Charles Kelley, Sam Ellis, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz   
  3. “Like A Lady” | Hillary Scott, Dave Barnes, Michelle Buzz, Martin Johnson, Brandon Paddock
  4. “Things He Handed Down” | Charles Kelley, Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett
  5. “Fire” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Justin Ebach
  6. “Chance Of Rain” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Topher Brown, Justin Ebach   
  7. “Worship What I Hate” | Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, Natalie Hemby, Amy Wadge      
  8. “Where Would I Be” | David Garcia, Natalie Hemby, Jordan Terry Minton
  9. “Friends Don’t Let Friends” (featuring Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker) | Charles Kelley, Julian Bunetta, Ashley Gorley, Thomas Rhett
  10. “In Waves” | Charles Kelley, Joey Hendricks, Alysa Vanderheym, Michael Whitworth
  11. “You Keep Thinking That” | Charles Kelley, Dave Cohen, Chris Gelbuda, Steven Lee Olsen
  12. “Be That For You” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Corey Crowder
  13. “Workin’ On This Love” | Dave Haywood
  14. “Swore I Was Leaving” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Jordan Reynolds, Parker Welling

OUR PICKS:

  1. “Friends Don’t Let Friends” with Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett & Darius Rucker
  2. “Swore I Was Leaving”
  3. “Where Would I Be”
  4. “Talk of This Town”
lady-a-new-album

Lady A’s new album ‘What A Song Can Do’ is out now.

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

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

What a Song Can Do 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.

tenille-arts-album

Tenille Arts: ‘Girl to Girl’ – Album Review

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On Girl to Girl, Canadian singer-songwriter Tenille Arts co-wrote thirteen new tracks that tell tales of heartbreak, growing up, and more, including a duet with Matt Stell. Listen to the new music and read our full review below.

When it comes to country music, Canadian singer-songwriter, Tenille Arts is the ‘every girl’ the genre needs. On her album, Girl to Girl, out today, October 22, Arts deftly embraces the relatability and country hooks that have made superstars out of the likes of Taylor Swift and Kelsea Ballerini. 

While many other artists have tried to fabricate the role of lyrical doe-eyed innocence, it’s the authentic songwriting on Girl to Girl that puts Arts in a league others rarely play in. Arts co-wrote each of the album’s thirteen tracks and its evident on the delivery of each.

There’s genuine ache present on “High School Sweetheart,” which takes cues from Swift’s “Fifteen” and Brad Paisley’s “Letter to Me.” Meanwhile, “That’s My Friend You’re Talking About” deals with subjects of body-image and self-confidence that any female can relate to, while “One Bedroom Apartment” is about that first apartment that’s nothing special, but everything to its first-time occupant.

On “Breaking Up with Break Up Songs,” she’s finally found a good guy, and is ready to give up break up songs for love songs. “The sound of a steel guitar // Don’t break my heart // Like it used to,” She admits, wistfully. “I guess I’m finally moving on.”

While all of the aforementioned tracks are clear standouts on the album, other high points include the LP’s title track, as well as “Sweet Sixteen,” and her duet with Matt Stell on “Over You is You.” On “Girl to Girl,” Arts is warning a girl about the guy she’s dating. And how does Arts know this guy’s tricks? She’s been there, much in the way Carly Pearce warns the “Next Girl” in her own song.

“Girl to girl // He ain’t worth your time // Girl to girl // He wasted lots of mine // Bet he used the same damn lines // Over tequila and lime,” She warns. “From stealing your heart // To wrecking your world // That boy only knows // How to go // Girl to girl”

Arts enlists Stell to join her on the breakup-but-not-quite-over-you song, “Over You is You.” Here, we find the pair trading verses about trying to move on from a failed relationship, but not quite succeeding. On the mid-tempo builder, the pair sound seamless together, admitting “No matter what I do // Over you is you // Coming over, coming over // Over you is all over you // So come over // We’re not over // Over you is all over you.”

On the stripped down album closer, “Growing Old Young,” the singer-songwriter deals with life in a broken family, and how it forces one to grow up way before their time. “A ten year old should be playing house // Not holding one together,” she sings on the heartbreaking ballad of losing one’s innocence. “You never kissed a boy // But your heart’s in two // Never had a drink // But you know what it can do // Never got to see the world // Before yours came undone // That’s growing old young.” Near the end of the track, Arts takes a breath, regaining her composure, and thus breaking the listener’s heart. “Growing old ain’t a choice // but sometimes growing up ain’t either.”

In a music world full of curated images and fabricated lyrics, there’s no denying that Tenille Arts is the real deal. On each of Girl to Girl’s thirteen tracks, the singer-songwriter is both ebullient and downtrodden, introspective and observant, reflective yet hopeful. She’s relatable on each track, her lyrics telling tales that will both break the heart and have you singing into your hairbrush. 

Girl to girl, this album is one that every girl needs in her life.

Girl to Girl Track List:

  1. Back Then, Right Now
  2. That’s My Friend You’re Talkin’ About
  3. One Bedroom Apartment
  4. Breaking Songs (ft. Callista Clark)
  5. Life Goes Like That
  6. Girl to Girl
  7. Heartbreak Regulars
  8. Mama’s Boy
  9. Over You is You (ft. Matt Stell)
  10. Give It To Me Straight
  11. High School Sweetheart
  12. Sweet Sixteen
  13. Growing Old Young

OUR PICKS:

  1. “Girl to Girl”
  2. “Over You Is You” (with Matt Stell)
  3. “That’s My Friend You’re Talking About”
  4. “One Bedroom Apartment”
tenille-arts-girl-to-girl-album

Tenille Arts new album ‘Girl to Girl’ is officially out now.

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

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

Girl to Girl 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.

who-is-troy-cartwright

Troy Cartwright: ‘Halfway To Houston’ – EP Review

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Troy Cartwright’s major-label debut EP, Halfway To Houstonis out now, October 15th on all streaming platforms. Check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

Warner Music Nashville recording artist, Troy Cartwright is officially making his major label debut. The singer-songwriter’s brand new EP, Halfway To Houston features five new songs that showcase his artistry and undeniable talent. Halfway To Houston is out now.

The record kicks off with the title track. Written by Cartwright with Brandon Hood and Billy Montana, the rock-heavy tune explores the nuances of lust and love. The single showcases the gritty side of the country singer’s persona.

Next up is “Breaking Every Heart In Texas.” The touching slow-burn shows off the vulnerable side of the singer. Similar topically to “Marry Me” by Thomas Rhett, the song emotes the hard-to-explain feeling of watching someone you are in love with, marry someone else. The storytelling song is one of the best on the record.

“She’s breakin’ every heart in Texas // Leavin’ behind a bunch of could’ve-been should’ve-been’s // As her daddy gives her hand away // From Amarillo down to Galveston Bay // She’s makin’ all them cowboys jealous // Wishin’ they could hear her say, “I do” in his shoes // But they all try to force a smile // She don’t know it walkin’ down the aisle // She’s breakin’ every heart in Texas”

Cartwright continues to firmly plant his feet in vulnerability and honesty on the next track. “God is Good” sings about life and faith on this stellar new song. His vocals shine on the heartfelt tune that is a true ode to a friend who is battling an illness, while remaining steadfast in his faith. This song is one anyone can relate to, regardless of your relationship with God.

On the other hand, “Hammer” leans into the more gritty side of the singer-songwriter. The imagery the song conveys is what makes this break-up track so intoxicating. Cartwright shows off his present and his readiness for the live show on this absolute jam.

Finally, the record ends with Cartwright’s “Shine On Me.” The single is the autobiographical song on the new EP. It is clear that the entertainer has always been just a kid with a big dream. As a listener, it is inspiring to listen to Cartwright convey his story, his heart, and his journey on this catchy and heart-filled song.

“Cause if it happened for Waylon // Willie and the king // One of these days // Luck’s gonna shine a little light on me // It’s gonna shine on me // Yeah, I know it’s gonna shine on me // It’s gonna shine on me // Yeah, I know it’s gonna shine on me”
Overall, Halfway to Houston is an EP you are going to want to listen to. It is the perfect introduction to all of the talent Cartwright has to offer, while keeping you invested for much more in the future!

Halfway To Houston EP Tracklist

  1. Halfway To Houston (Troy Cartwright, Brandon Hood, Billy Montana)
  2. Breaking Every Heart In Texas (Brett Tyler, Wynn Varble, Jeff Outlaw, Troy Cartwright)
  3. God Is Good (Troy Cartwright, Brandon Hood, Billy Montana)
  4. Hammer (Troy Cartwright, Brandon Hood, Billy Montana)
  5. Shine On Me (Nolan Sipe, Ben Caver, Troy Cartwright)
Troy Cartwright's debut EP 'Halfway To Houston' is out now, October 14th.

Troy Cartwright’s debut EP ‘Halfway To Houston’ is out now, October 14th.

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

To keep up with Troy Cartwright, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Halfway To Houston 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.

Zac Brown Band: ‘The Comeback’ – Album Review

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Zac Brown Band’s latest album The Comeback is out now, October 15th on all streaming platforms. Check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

Today (October 15), Zac Brown Band released their seventh studio album titled The Comeback. The 15-track project is their follow-up to the controversial The Owl from 2019 and contains seven previously released tracks including “Old Love Song,” “Out in the Middle,” “Slow Burn,” their current single, “Same Boat,” among others. Keep reading below as we dive deeper into this new record.

 Fans of Zac Brown Band love their feel-good, traditional-sounding tunes that made them one of the most popular country groups of the 2010s. With The Owl, the band went outside their comfort zone and experimented with new sounds and topics, which received mixed reviews from fans and critics. Now, The Comeback is Zac Brown Band’s…well, comeback into the traditional country music scene. 

Starting with the previously released tracks, “Same Boat” came out on June 11th and is currently sitting at number nine on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. It has a similar sound as arguable their biggest hit to date, “Chicken Fried” but with a more “islandy” theme. Penned by Zac Brown with Ben Simonetti and Jonathan Singleton (who have cuts all over this record), this upbeat and fun tune reminds us that we are all going through life together and are all merely humans trying to make sense of everything going on. “Old Love Song” and “Out in the Middle” are both Luke Combs co-writes. The former is a traditional love song while the latter is a southern-rock anthem in which Brown sings about the beauty of growing up in the fly-over states. He touches upon his southern roots again in “GA Clay.” 

Love found is one major themes on this album. “Stubborn Pride” features and was co-written by Marcus King and is about a man who finally finds true love and settles down. The slow, acoustic vibe highlights the raw emotion in Brown and King’s voices. The electric guitar solo in the bridge brings added excitement to the blues-influenced country tune. “Love and Sunsets” also touches on romance, but in a different and more cheery fashion. The singer doesn’t have a lot of money to his name, but luckily for him, she doesn’t need a mansion, expensive truck, and diamond rings; love and sunsets are free and that’s good enough for them. In “Closer to Heaven,” he speaks on the faults of the man he was before this women, but now since he’s with her, he’s closer to heaven. Two-time Grammy Award-winner, Gregory Porter brings his jazz influence onto the track, taking the second verse and chorus and providing backing harmonies with Brown in the final chorus.  

While Zac Brown Band touches on the fun side of love, there is also a challenging side of it—love lost. In the western-themed track “Wild Palomino,” he sings about the girl who was difficult to lock down. He compares her to the untamed horse that you simply cannot rein in. Even though he lost her, he will never stop loving her. “Any Day Now” may be the most emotional track on the record. The woman in the story tells the man that any day now she is going to walk out on him, to which he replies ‘I’m going to change my ways any day now.’ Unfortunately for him, the former came before the latter and he never got his chance to make it up to her. 

“Any day now, I’ll make up for the heartache // Any down now, but you couldn’t wait // Judging by the screen door slamming to taillights fading out of town // I guess it’s any day now”

The next two songs discuss young love—some prevail and some fall apart. In “Slow Burn,” the singer describes the feeling of not being able to get over a past fling. He paints vivid pictures of his girl’s sun-kissed skin on the Georgia lakeshore, and simple sights such as the stars in the night sky make her appear back in his mind. There is a lot of imagery and specific memories described in “Us Against the World” that helps the listener feel what these young lovers are feeling at that moment. However, whether or not this couple survived is not indicated in the song, leaving the end up to our interpretation. These songs are the two most studio-produced tracks on the album, but they also incorporate steel guitar and other country elements sprinkled throughout, making it a song for all types of country fans.

Zac Brown Band throws some light-hearted stuff in the project as well, such as “Don’t Let Your Heart” and “Fun Having Fun.” In “Don’t Let Your Heart,” Brown reminds us to keep our heads up even in the darkest of times. All is lost once you let go of love and hope. Keys are very prevalent in this track, which makes it fun to sing-along to. In the latter, the singer tells stories (hopefully fictional) of making reckless mistakes as a young boy in bluegrass fashion. When he is confronted by an elder, his excuse was simply “it’s fun having fun.” Life only comes around once and you have to enjoy it while you’re alive. 

“The Comeback” sits right in the middle of the album at track number eight. It hints at life during the pandemic; how there were no crops in the fields, no children in the classrooms, and no bands on stage. But Brown lifts our spirts by stating the comeback is best part of going through hardships. The backing vocals in this song make it feel almost like a Broadway show finale, which is cool when you compare it to finally climbing out of the pandemic and getting our normal, everyday lives back.

“It’s an underdog story the whole world can see // And the only good thing about getting knocked down is the comeback when it comes back around”

It’s not only Zac Brown Band’s comeback, it’s ours as well. Live music was always something we took for granted—an industry we always thought would be around—but for a year and a half, the world had other plans. So next time you’re on the fence about going out to a show because you have no one to go with, the tickets are expensive, or it’s a weeknight, remember how empty that year and a half felt. This record puts that in perspective—cherish the things in life we currently have because we don’t know how long it is going to be around for.

The Comeback Tracklist

  1. “Slow Burn” (Zac Brown, Ben Hayslip, Ben Simonetti)
  2. “Out in the Middle” (Brown, Luke Combs, Simonetti, Jonathan Singleton)
  3. “Wild Palomino” (Brown, Wyatt Durrette III, Simonetti, Singleton)
  4. “Us Against the World” (Brown, Simonetti, Singleton)
  5. “Same Boat” (Brown, Simonetti, Singleton)
  6. “Stubborn Pride” [feat. Marcus King] (Brown, Marcus King, Simonetti)
  7. “Fun Having Fun” (Brown, Kenny Habul, Kurt Thomas, Simonetti)
  8. “The Comeback” (Brown, Durrette, Ray Fulcher, Simonetti, Singleton)
  9. “Old Love Song” (Brown, Combs, Simonetti, Singleton)
  10. “Any Day Now” (Brown, Clay Cook, Josh Dunne, Fulcher, Simonetti, Singleton)
  11. “Paradise Lost on Me” (Brown, Durrette, Simonetti, Singleton)
  12. “GA Clay” (Brown, Durrette, Neil Mason, Simonetti, Singleton)
  13. “Love & Sunsets” (Brown, Luke Dick, Simonetti)
  14. “Closer to Heaven [feat. Gregory Porter] (Brown, John Driskell Hopkins, Simonetti)
  15. “Don’t Let Your Heart” (Brown, Durrette, Levi Lowrey, Jimmy De Martini, Simonetti)
Zac Brown Band's new album "The Comeback' is out now.

Zac Brown Band’s new album “The Comeback’ 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 Zac Brown Band releases.

To keep up with Zac Brown Band, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Comeback 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.

avenue-beat-new-debut-album

Avenue Beat: ‘the debut farewell album’ – Album Review

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Avenue Beat’s debut and final album the debut farewell album is officially out on all streaming platforms today, October 15th. Listen to the full project below and check out our review.

Our favorite country-pop girl group, Avenue Beat is officially breaking-up. Although sad, it is the perfect, ironic timing for the trio to release their debut record. Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, and Sam Backoff established themselves as trendsetters and true individuals, and the brand new record is the perfect send off. the debut farewell album is officially out now.

The record kicks off with arguably the song of 2020, the iconic, “F2020.” A true embodiment of how we all felt during the height of the pandemic, Avenue Beat do not shy away from he truth in this song, a common thread throughout their music. Similarly their previously relate songs “woman” and “I don’t really like your boyfriend,” showcases their flirty and sassy sides of their artistry.

On “rock in outer space,” the threesome explore the idea that we take life so seriously, yet we are literally “floating on a rock in outer space.” Their approach is both interesting and introspective.

The ladies continue their cool-girl vibe on “dtf” and “space for you.” The former is a catchy tune about getting closer with someone you like. Although we all know what the acronym stands for, Avenue Beat changes it to “down to fly” and later, “down to fight.” The latter, “space for you” is a slow-burn that feels confident and deep. It is clear the songstresses know a thing or two about love.

Avenue Beat continue to explore the meaning of life and love on the next couple of tracks, “new strangers” and “parties.” “new strangers” is a harmonic masterpiece.  With lyrics like, “I feel like I’m not keeping old friends, I’m just making new strangers,” it is hard not to fall in love with this pensive jam. On the other hand “parties” is an explorative song about both anxiety and dealing with our twenties.

Before the last three songs off the project, Avenue Beat feature a personal interlude. The final three songs all convey the sadness the artists feel about Sami deciding to leave the band.

“different” showcases how Backoff and Santos feel about losing their band member. Their honesty and integrity shine on this sad, but beautiful track. “happy for you” takes things a step further and deeper into the vulnerability. “it’s weird that both these things can be true // that I’m happy for you // and I hate that I have to be happy for you.”

Finally, the record culminates with “this is goodbye” featuring Summer Overstreet, the unofficial forth member of the band. The song is a harmony-forward ballad. All their vocals shine on the track. It is clear that the ladies are saying goodbye to the incredible artistry that they have created together throughout their time at major label.

Although this record is a goodbye record, we sincerely hope there will be more from Sam Backoff and Savana Santos in the future. The twosome clearly love what they do, and country music, and fans around the world need them, even if its not Avenue Beat. Congrats to the ladies on a stellar project!

the debut farewell album Track List:

  1. F2020 | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos
  2. woman | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Joey Hendricks, Michael Whitworth*
  3. I don’t really like your boyfriend | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet
  4. rock in outer space | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet+
  5. dtf | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet, Jordyn Shellhart, Emily Weisband^
  6. space for you | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet^
  7. new strangers | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Jason Gantt
  8. parties | Sam Backoff, Sami Bearden, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet
  9. interlude | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos
  10. different | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos
  11. happy for you | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos, Victoria Canal, Summer Overstreet
  12. this is goodbye (featuring Summer Overstreet) | Sam Backoff, Savana Santos, Summer Overstreet

Produced by Savana Santos
*Produced by Savana Santos, Alysa Vanderheym
+Produced by Savana Santos, Julian Bunetta
^Produced by Savana Santos, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Afterhrs

OUR PICKS:

  1. “new strangers”
  2. “this is goodbye”
  3. “F2020”
  4. “different”
avenue-beat-new-album

Avenue Beat’s record ‘the debut farewell album’ is officially out now.

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

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

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

Ryan-hurd-new-album-pelago-debut

Ryan Hurd: ‘Pelago’ – Album Review

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Ryan Hurd’s long-awaited debut album, Pelago is out now, October 15th on all streaming platforms. Featuring eleven new songs, including “Chasing After You” with Maren Morris, check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

After making a name for himself as one of Nashville’s hottest songwriters, with #1 hits for Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Lady A and more, Ryan Hurd branched out as an artist of his own. And we’re oh-so-glad he did.

After a string of EPs and songwriting #1s, the rising superstar released his debut full-length album today (October 15) with Arista Nashville, Pelago. Inspired by growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan, the album was produced by Hurd’s childhood friend Aaron Eshuis, with assistance from Jesse Frasure and Teddy Reimer.

Having co-written ten of the album’s eleven tracks, Pelago truly continues Hurd’s introduction as both a brilliant songwriter and an incredibly talented artist. This is evidenced throughout the album, as he artfully weaves clever lyrics with catchy melodies that paint brilliant pictures, break your heart, or make you want to dance.

The album opens with the anthemic “Pass It On,” a bright and beachy invitation to listeners to share whatever it is that’s good in their life. It’s the kind of song that immediately turns a day around or a frown upside down, making it the perfect song to introduce the album. “What good is your dollar or your love or your bottle // If you keep it all to yourself // There’s enough to go around // So send it on down,” Hurd sings. “‘Cause you can’t take it with you when you’re gone // So pass it on, pass it on, pass it on.”

While it may seem out of place for a kid from Michigan to embrace the beachy musical tones that are often heard from the likes of Jake Owen or Kenny Chesney (name dropped on this album), those themes come just as natural to Hurd, and are absolutely authentic. Tracks like “Coast,” “June,  July, August,” and “Palm Trees in Ohio” continue that homage to the coastal life on the shores of Lake Michigan that filled Hurd’s childhood.

While the album is truly filled with standout tracks, one such highlight is “Palm Trees in Ohio.” The love song puts a unique spin on the idea of loving someone forever, putting Palm trees in Ohio up there with pigs flying and hell freezing. “‘Til there’s palm trees in Ohio // No traffic in LA // No snow in Colorado // No cold beer on a Saturday,” Hurd proclaims. “When the Great Lakes run out of water // When the sky stops turning blue // That’s when I // That’s when I // That’s when I’m gonna stop loving you.”

While Hurd shines on the tropical-tinted up-tempos, he’s just as convincing on the slower tracks, including the sultry duet “Chasing After You” with his wife, Maren Morris. “What Are You Drinking” and “The Knife or the Hatchet” are other album highlights. On the former, a moody piano ballad, Hurd wonders what an ex is drinking, curious if she’s celebrating with champagne or drowning her sorrows in a glass of something stronger. 

Likewise, “The Knife or the Hatchet” is a shining moment of the album, finding Hurd stuck in relationship limbo, unsure if his heart should stay or go. “Anything’s better than you and me living in the in-between,” He croons, his voice breaking with emotion. “So all I ask is// Twist the knife// Or bury the hatchet.”

Meanwhile, on “If I Had Two Hearts,” Hurd is admitting defeat and wondering how to move on after a relationship ends. The guy is broken and wishing for another heart to heal from its brokenness. “If I had two hearts // One wouldn’t be broken // If I had two hearts,” He admits. “One would still be mine // On my sleeve out in the open // Knowing someday I’d be fine // But if I had one more to give you baby // I know what’s I’d do // Oh-oh-oh // Oh-oh-oh // I’d let you break that one too.”

For Ryan Hurd, each song on Pelago is a story in itself. “Writing’s my vocation, and I enjoy the people I work with,” says the singer-songwriter in a recent statement. “I’ve learned there are a lot of ways to do this. But then there’s the personal. As I move through life, every experience, every person, every story could be a song.”

While it would be easy for Ryan Hurd to make a living as a writer, evidenced by his ever-growing and impressive body of work, he’s even more magical as an artist. These songs and stories are uniquely his, making Pelago a personal and powerful debut album.

Pelago Track List:

  1. Pass It On
  2. Coast
  3. Chasing After You (with Maren Morris)
  4. June, July, August
  5. Palm Trees in Ohio
  6. If I Had Two Hearts
  7. Tab with My Name on It
  8. What Are You Drinking
  9. Hell Is an Island
  10. The Knife or the Hatchet
  11. I Never Said I’m Sorry

Our  Picks:

  1. Palm Trees in Ohio
  2. If I Had Two Hearts
  3. The Knife or the Hatchet
Ryan-Hurd-album-pelago-debut

Ryan Hurd’s debut album ‘Pelago’ 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 Ryan Hurd releases.

To keep up with Ryan Hurd, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Pelago 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.

Old Dominion: ‘Time, Tequila & Therapy’ – Album Review

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Old Dominion’s new album, ‘Time, Tequila, and Therapy’ is out now, October 8th, on all streaming platforms. Featuring thirteen new tracks co-written and co-produced by the band, listen to the full project below and check out our review.

Since forming in 2007, Old Dominion has become one of country music’s biggest success stories. Today, the quintet released their fourth studio album, Time, Tequila, and Therapy, coming nearly two years since the release of their self-titled album, which featured hits such as “Make It Sweet” and “One Man Band.” 

Produced by Shane McAnally and Old Dominion, Time, Tequila, and Therapy features thirteen new tracks, all co-written by the band with help from longtime collaborators, McAnally and Josh Osborne. The LP continues to show Old Dominion doing what they do best: writing and releasing catchy and harmonic country music.

Unlike many of  their country contemporaries, Old Dominion has managed to find a sound that’s distinctively their own. From the opening notes to the toe-tapping choruses to the breezy instrumentation, there’s no doubting an Old Dominion song when you hear one, and this is apparent throughout this album. From “I Was On a Boat That Day” to “Blue Jeans” to “All I Know About Girls,” Time, Tequila, and Therapy is Old Dominion through and through.

Opening with “Why Are You Still Here?,” lead singer Matthew Ramsey finds himself pondering about a lost love on the breezy intro track. In the opener, the girl is gone but still haunting every aspect of someone’s life, as they muse, “If I lost you, then why are you still here?”

As songwriters before they were artists, all five members of Old Dominion contributed to each track on this album. This is apparent on the clever wordplay that weaves itself through every song on the LP. Two of the finest examples here are “All I Know About Girls,” “No Hard Feelings,” and “Ain’t Nothing Wrong with Love,” where interesting lyrical twists make them stand out. On “All I Know About Girls,” the band muses about how little they know about the opposite sex. “I’m a jack of all trades, and a master of none,” Rosen sings, before making his way to the lyrical plot twist. “All I know about girls is // I don’t know nothing at all.”

Meanwhile, “Ain’t Nothing Wrong with Love,” the album’s final track, finds the band musing about all of the reasons love hasn’t worked out for them. “Daddy had Mama // Johnny has June // Even that dish ran away with the spoon,” they sing. “So if there ain’t nothing wrong with love // Then it must be me.” Additionally, on  “No Hard Feelings,” we discover the LP’s title, as the song opens with “I took a little time, tequila and therapy // And threw it in a blender with ice.”

Other highlights of the album are “Hawaii,” “Blue Jeans” and “Lonely Side of Town,” which couldn’t be more different from each other, yet all work oh-so-well. “Lonely Side of Town” shows the band trading vocals with the legendary Gladys Knight. On the soulful and bluesy ballad, Knight provides an absolutely unexpected, but delightful, treat, harmonizing perfectly with the band in a way that’s absolutely magical.

“Blue Jeans” is a catchy, snappy up-tempo that sounds musically similar to the George Michael classic “Faith,” and celebrates the moment you meet your perfect match. “I feel you like music //  Pray for you like rain // Wait for you like Christmas // Count on you like change // I lost you like car keys // Then found you like faith,” They sing here. “You trip me like shoe strings // You fit me like blue jeans.” Meanwhile, “Hawaii” provides an aural vacation, which finds the band longing for the simpler days of a trip to the islands. “I wonder // why we // ever left Hawaii.”

The thing that makes Old Dominion great is that they are unapologetically themselves in all of their music. With a distinct sound that includes clever lyrics, snappy musicianship, and 5-part harmonies, everything Old Dominion does best is evident on Time, Tequila, and Therapy.

Old Dominion’s Time, Tequila & Therapy Tracklist

  1. Why Are You Still Here
  2. Hawaii
  3. Walk On Whiskey
  4. All I Know About Girls
  5. Blue Jeans
  6. No Hard Feelings
  7. Lonely Side of Town (feat. Gladys Knight)
  8. I Was On A Boat That Day
  9. Drinking My Feelings
  10. Somethings The Same About You
  11. I Want To Live In A House With You
  12. Don’t Forget Me
  13. Ain’t Nothing Wrong With Love

 

OUR PICKS:

  1. Blue Jeans
  2. Ain’t Nothing Wrong with Love
  3. Lonely Side of Town
Old Dominion's new album, 'Time, Tequila & Therapy' is out now, October 8th

Old Dominion’s new album, ‘Time, Tequila & Therapy’ is out now, October 8th

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

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

Time, Tequila & Therapy 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.