jackson-dean-album-dreams

Jackson Dean: ‘On The Back Of My Dreams’ – Album

Jackson Dean’s sophomore album, On The Back Of My Dreams is out now, September 6th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new album below.

Young rising star, Jackson Dean blew fans and the country music industry away when he released his debut album, Greenbroke back in 2022. About two and half years later, the Big Machine Records recording artist is refining his sound with a brand new project. Dean’s new album, On The Back Of My Dreams is officially out today.

The singer named his record with purpose. According to Dean, “The title can be interpreted from a few different angles but the face value of that phrase is that in-between state, when you’re in the process of waking up, but reality hasn’t quite set in and each song on this project has a little bit of that magical surreal feeling…its drawn from a lyric in the song ‘Jane,’ this kind of otherworldly, misty or ethereal tune that immediately embedded into my brain.” shared the singer in a recent press release. “I’ve intentionally lived a lot of life and have watched a lot of life be lived and each of these songs were written from a single frame of life, almost as vignettes, drawn from daydreams, nightmares and everything in between.”

The thirteen song project showcases Dean’s gritty voice and bluesy tone, as well as, his songwriting prowess. Amongst the thirteen songs, the singer is a writer on every single one. Songs like “Big Blue Sky” and “Sweet Appalachia,” combine his captivating vocals with an incredible production that adds to ambiance of the record.

Alternatively, Dean’s talents shine in quieter moments too. Tracks six through nine showcase the power of story-telling, honesty, and authenticity in music. Standouts include “Train,” a haunting track and, of course, “Heavens To Betsy.” The latter, written when Dean was just nineteen yers old, is heart achingly story of a regret-filled man who its seeking redemption.

Another stand track, “Another Century” reads like a church hymn. With little guitar to back him, Dean’s voice takes center stage. As a listener, you cannot help but to hang on every word he sings. The track is an emotive and honest song that feels important and raw all at the same time. It also has a special incredible surprise in the last 45 seconds of the track.

Every single song off On The Back Of My Dream is exactly what music is all about. Dean takes fans on an emotional and honest journey, weaving us all through love, heartbreak, redemption, and reflection. His talent is a former kind of talent, and this record deserves its flowers!

On The Back Of My Dreams Tracklist:

  1. Big Blue Sky – Jackson Dean, Brandon Aksteter, Rich Kolm, Sean Mercer
  2. Duct Tape Heart – Jackson Dean, Casey Beathard, Luke Dick
  3. Talkin’ To Backroads – Jackson Dean, Luke Dick, Ryan Tyndell
  4. Daddy Raised – Jackson Dean, Tucker Beathard, Bryan Simpson, Ryan Tyndell
  5. Long Goodbye – Jackson Dean, RL Burnside, Trent Dabbs, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde
  6. Real Real – Jackson Dean, Luke Dick, Josh Osborne
  7. Heavens To Betsy – Jackson Dean, Benjy Davis, Driver Williams
  8. Train – Jackson Dean, Brandon Aksteter, Luke Dick, Rich Kolm, Sean Mercer
  9. Free – Jackson Dean, Blake Chaffin, Luke Dick
  10. Sweet Appalachia – Jackson Dean, Luke Dick, Ryan Tyndell
  11. Jane – Jackson Dean, Luke Dick, Ryan Tyndell
  12. Heaven – Jackson Dean, Luke Dick, Laura Veltz
  13. Another Century – Jackson Dean, Brian Koppelman, Jon Sherwood

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Another Century
  2. Train
  3. Heavens To Betsy
  4. Talkin’ To Backroads
Jackson-dean-album-dreams

Jackson Dean’s new album, ‘On The Back Of My Dreams,’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Jackson Dean, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

On The Back Of My Dreams 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.

corey-kent-album

Corey Kent: ‘Black Bandana’ – Album Review

Corey Kent releases his newest album, Black Bandana out now, September 6th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

Having cut his teeth in the Texas music scene, Oklahoma native Corey Kent continues to push the genre forward with his unique mix of arena-ready country rock meets the humble beginnings of red dirt. On his new album, Black Bandana, out now, Kent builds on the momentum put forth by his 2023 debut album.

For the “Wild As Her” hitmaker, his signature black bandana represents what he stands for, as both an artist and a man, making the album title an easy choice.  “It started from riding motorcycles and wanting something over your face so you didn’t swallow a bug,” he shares in a statement. “But then it turned into a staple I wear on stage, and then a symbol of the path through my career, and life. Through all the ups and downs, the one constant thing was this relentless hope – this relentless pursuit of believing that if I don’t give up, I can get where I’m going.”

For the Sony Music Nashville recording artist, the bandana represents hope, offering fans an alternative to surrender. “When the going gets tough and  you feel like waving the white flag, I hope this record inspires you to raise a black bandana instead.”

Kent’s new album features ten new tracks, six of which he co-wrote, alongside the likes of Ryan Hurd, Jacob Davis, Casey Brown, and Michael Tyler. The collection features a wide sonic range, pairing radio-ready country rock with beautifully impassioned ballads.

The LP opens with the roaring “Ain’t Gonna Lie,” an ode to a broken heart and the fact that he can’t quite move on. Punctuated by a female vocalist, Kent’s growling rasp is on full display as it builds to an epic climax, and drowns his pain in various vices. “I ain’t gonna lie, I’m up every night, Talkin’ to God, prayin’ he’ll change your mind,” He proclaims over driving guitars. “I ain’t gonna lie, I wish the truth was, you weren’t over me and I ain’t missin’ you, but I ain’t gonna lie.”

Heartbreak and an inability to move past it is a recurrent theme on Black Bandana, weaving its way through songs like “Break Like That,” “This Heart,” “Nothing But Neon,” and “Damn Good Country Song.” While the quartet of tracks may share common lyrical themes, they are each sonically unique, with “This Heart” and “Break Like That” country rock anthems, while “Nothing But Neon” is a whiskey-soaked heartache ballad.

Meanwhile, “Damn Good Country Song” is a tongue-in-cheek take on an inevitable heartbreak, as he seeks a muse to inspire his saddest songs. With its mid-tempo melody, listeners can focus on the lyrics, which find him admitting that “girls like you make a damn good country song.”

“So go on and leave me in some corner booth // Only thing’ll be left is four chords and the truth // I’ll go home and write it all down // They’ll play it every night in every small town // ‘Cause girls like you don’t stay long // And girls like you make a damn good country song”

“Now or Never” finds Kent trading verses with Lauren Alaina on a duet that channels some of the great country power ballads of the 80’s and 90’s. They exchange melodies over a powerful and relatable message: make the relationship work or move on. “‘Now or Never’ is a song about drawing a line in the sand for yourself,” shares Kent. “It’s about loving somebody but refusing to let them continue to hurt you by taking a stand and asking your partner to make up their mind… ‘You either love me or you don’t.’”   

While Kent shines on uptempo tunes, his slower moments are just as poignant and powerful. This is evidenced on songs like “Black Bandana” and “Never Ready.” The title track is an anthemic cry for the everyman, inviting listeners to stand up, stand out, and stand strong in the face of adversity and despair.

“Hold on tight, don’t let go // Let your heart stay rock n roll // And don’t worry ‘bout when they misunderstand ya // Stand your ground, go for broke // Give ‘em hell, don’t give up hope // Change the game if you don’t like the cards life hands ya // And don’t be afraid to fight back // In a world of waving white flags// Be a black bandana”

Meanwhile, “Never Ready” is a gorgeous ballad about how you can never be prepared for the biggest moments in one’s life. Likewise, “Rust” celebrates the kind of love that can weather any storm, while the album’s closing track, “So Far” is a simple and sparse celebration of the accomplishments that he’s already achieved and what hasn’t happened yet.

“Yeah, ‘cause I’ve been through hell, it’s been a hell of a ride // Been spinning my wheels but now I’m hitting my stride // Got these feet off the ground but still ain’t reached those stars // Who’d have thought a dream could take a boy from Bixby so far”

While “So Far” celebrates Corey Kents achievements to date, it’s clear from his sophomore album, Black Bandana, that there’s much more to come.

Black Bandana Tracklist:

  1. Ain’t Gonna Lie
  2. Damn Good Country SOng
  3. Black Bandana
  4. Never Ready
  5. Break Like that
  6. Nothing But Neon
  7. Now or Never ft. Lauren Alaina
  8. Rust
  9. This Heart
  10. So Far

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Black Bandana
  2. Never Ready
  3. Now or Never
  4. This Heart
corey-kent-black-bandana

Corey Kent shares new album, ‘Black Bandana,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

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

For tour dates and more, including an October 16 stop at NYC’s Gramercy Theater, visit Kent’s official website here. 

To keep up with Corey Kent, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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

Conner-smith-smoky-mountains-sessions-ep

Conner Smith: ‘Smoky Mountains Sessions’ – EP Review

Conner Smith releases his new EP, Smoky Mountains Sessions, out now, August 2nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

For rising star Conner Smith, his new EP, Smoky Mountain Sessions, finds him getting back to the basics. With a stripped down approach, the Nashville native focuses on lyrics and melody on the four tracks, all of which he wrote or co-wrote.

For the Valory Music Co. project, Smith enlisted musical heavyweight Dwight A. Baker to produce the project in just four days. Working with his touring band, the EP was recorded at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, North Carolina.

“Smoky Mountains Sessions came from a desire to get back to the core of songwriting. With these new songs, two of which I wrote by myself, I wanted to create them in a way that felt very raw and honest,” shares Smith. “Working with Dwight Baker for the first time on this project, we took my band up to Echo Mountains in Asheville and brought these songs to life over the course of four days. This collection is just the beginning of more new music on the way I can’t wait to share!”

The EP opens with “Boys in the Picture,” a snapshot of small-town living, surrounded by friends and all the troubles boys get in as they grow up. Likewise, the catchy “Songs for Tennessee” takes Smith back to his roots in a swinging and fun celebration of Smith’s home state. Chock full of slide guitars and fiddles, the track is an immediate standout, grabbing a listener’s attention. “This song’s for the homeland, The good ol’ folks that made me,” He sings. “The song in my heart is a song for Tennessee.”

“Thousand Miles Away” is a romantic ode to a long-distance relationship, and dreaming of the day they can be together in the same place. “I won’t have to spend most my days feeling like my heart is a thousand miles away,” He croons longingly, before the EP ends with a new take on Smith’s collaboration with Hailey Whitters, “Roulette on the Heart.” While the duet itself is powerful in any form, the stripped down versions adds a new depth of ache as the pair deal with the woes of an on-again, off-again dalliance. 

“Are you tryin’ to love me // Are you tryin’ to kill me // Every night with you is a shot in the dark // You touch me with a whisper, kiss me like a stranger // Holdin’ somebody shouldn’t be this hard // Oh and I know this game ends one of two ways // Are you gonna break me // Are you gonna save me // Lovin’ you baby is roulette on the heart”

On his new EP, Smoky Mountain Sessions, Conner Smith breaks things down and goes back to the basics with a simple song-focused collection that shows a different side to the rising star.

Smoky Mountains Sessions Tracklist:

  1. A Thousand Miles Away | Written by Conner Smith
  2. Song For Tennessee | Written by Conner Smith
  3. Boys In The Picture | Written by Conner Smith, Rodney Clawson, Jessie Jo Dillon, Matt Jenkins
  4. Roulette On The Heart (featuring Hailey Whitters) (Smoky Mountains Sessions) | Written by Conner Smith, Jessi Alexander, Chase McGill, Mark Trussell
Conner-smith-smoky-mountains-sessions-ep

Conner Smith shares new EP, ‘Smoky Mountains Sessions,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

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

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here. 

To keep up with Conner Smith, follow him on Instagram, TwitterTikTok, and Facebook.

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

Ella Langley: ‘hungover’ – Debut Album Review

Ella Langley releases her debut album, hungover, out now, August 2nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

With a uniquely honeyed tone and an uncanny vulnerability, Ella Langley has been routinely labeled as one to watch in country music. With the release of her debut full-length album, hungover, out now, she proves why.

The collection features fourteen new tracks, all written or co-written by the Alabama native, alongside Nashville heavyweights like Will Bundy, Brett James, Rhett Akins, Laura Veltz, and more.

“This has been my dream for my whole entire life, so releasing my very first record is a really good feeling, and I’m so proud of it,” Langley says of the Sawgod Records/Columbia LP. “Before this record was even finished, I remember driving around in my car listening to ‘Hungover,’ and it hit me that it was the perfect title to encapsulate this era of my life and all the feelings I’ve poured into the songs. There’s a lot of different ways you can be hungover, but Lord knows every hangover hurts.”

That hurt is a prominent theme throughout the collection, weaving its way in different ways through Langley’s emotive grit and soulful sound. Her lyrics are smart and clever, telling incredibly vulnerable stories in a way that’s both poignant and triumphant.

The titular track is an immediate example of Langley’s prowess as both a songwriter and a vocalist, her stunning tone punctuating the mournful ballad that burns with the ache of a toxic relationship. Over bluesy electric guitars, her soulful vocals cascade through the ode to last call mistakes and the subsequent hangover that comes the next morning.

“Yeah I’m hungover // Still a long way from sober // Dammit I’m hurtin’ // This morning I’m learning // How much that Bourbon in your kiss don’t lead to closure // And yeah I’m hungover // This on again, off again is takin’ its toll // I try but I can’t seem to tell myself no”

“Love You Tonight” tackles a similar theme, as she deals with the aftermath of “doing what I swore I wouldn’t do. It’s a modern day retelling of Lee Ann Womack’s “I May Hate Myself in the Morning,” as she proclaims, “Gonna love you tonight, gonna hate me tomorrow.”

Heartache songs are foremost on the album, but no two are alike. “I Blame the Bar” is one of the most unique lyrical breakup tracks in recent memory, blaming the place of the meet cute for her heartbreak, as opposed to the guy who did the breaking. Meanwhile, “Better Be Tough” is an almost raucous pop-rock-tinted kiss off to a cheating boyfriend that shows Langley isn’t taking a guy’s BS.

On “Paint the Town Blue,” she’s drinking to forget her pain, accepting that she needs to drown her sorrows to truly move on, while “Cowboy Friends” finds her moving up and moving on to get over a terrible ex. The song finds her channeling hints of Miranda Lambert meets Kacey Musgraves, with its unapologetic lyrics as she looks past one bad boy to the next. “So saddle up and ride away, It ain’t like it was love anyways,” She sings teasingly. “I won’t have no trouble rounding up the next when this ends, I’ve got me more than a few cowboy friends.”

Langley is sunny and optimistic on tunes like “Nicotine,” which finds her looking for a new love to be her new addiction, while “You Look Like You Love Me” is a clear stylistic standout on the album. Featuring fellow Alabama native Riley Green, the viral release finds the pair mixing spoken verses with a singsong chorus on the uniquely timeless country track.

“Girl Who Drank Wine” and “Closest to Heaven” are classic country story songs, with the former a smoky-bar Western that tells the tale of a one night stand where the girl walks away with a cowboy’s heart. Meanwhile, “Heaven” provides an especially ethereal moment, recalling the kind of eternal love between her grandparents that is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth.

Three of the album’s most special tracks come late in the album, with “Monsters” finding her both utterly  vulnerable and relatable. On the introspective track, she battles the “real monsters” living inside her head, dealing with self-doubt, painful memories, and being her own worst critic.

“Inside my head I over-analyze // Let my worst critic criticize // Every last mistake I ever made // Every woulda, coulda, shoulda, on replay // I’ve got some real monsters // Livin’ inside my head // Memories I’d like to leave // Shoved up under my bed // Caught up in a bad dream // Don’t even have to sleep // To see every regret, take it from me // I’ve got some real monsters // Livin’ inside my head”

The album’s final two tracks are both sparse and acoustic, with “Cowgirl Don’t Cry” shining as an ode to a girl who has been numbed by heartbreak. Finally, “Broken In” closes the album in a stunning manner, her voice on full display as she sings that oftentimes, things are better when they’ve been used. Ranging from horses to trucks to hearts and hands, things are just better when they’ve got some miles and some scars.

For Ella Langley, that is true of the music on hungover, each song showing pain and scars that ultimately led to something beautiful.

hungover Tracklist:

  1. Hungover (Ella Langley/Josh Kear/Chris Tompkins)
  2. I Blame the Bar (Ella Langley/Joybeth Taylor/Chris LaCorte/Meg McCree)
  3. You Look Like You Love Me Ft. Riley Green (Ella Langley/Aaron Ratiere/Riley Green)
  4. Nicotine (Ella Langley/Joybeth Taylor/Zachary Kale/Jon Nite)
  5. Love You Tonight (Ella Langley/Will Bundy/Lydia Vaughan)
  6. Better Be Tough (Ella Langley/Will Bundy/Brett James/Erik Dylan)
  7. Paint the Town Blue (Ella Langley/Will Bundy/Rhett Akins/Travis Wood)
  8. Cowboy Friends (Ella Langley/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan/Austin Goodloe)
  9. Girl Who Drank Wine (Ella Langley/Joybeth Taylor/Johnny Clawson)
  10. Monsters (Ella Langley/Joybeth Taylor/Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski)
  11. People Change (Ella Langley/Joybeth Taylor/Laura Veltz/Austin Goodloe)
  12. Closest to Heaven (Ella Langley/Smith Ahnquist/Johnny Clawson)
  13. Cowgirl Don’t Cry (Acoustic) (Ella Langley/Jordan Fletcher)
  14. Broken in (Acoustic) (Ella Langley/Ian Christian/Jordan Fletcher)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Hungover
  2. You Look Like You Love Me with Riley Green
  3. Cowgirl Don’t Cry
  4. Monsters
Ella-langley-hungover

Ella Langley’s debut album, ‘hungover,’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Ella Langley, follow her on InstagramTwitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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

Megan-moroney-am-i-okay-album

Megan Moroney: ‘Am I Okay?’ Album Review

Megan Moroney’s brand new album, Am I Okay? is officially out now, July 12th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.

Following in the footsteps of her stellar debut, 2023’s Lucky, Megan Moroney is back with her sophomore effort on Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records, Am I Okay?. Out now, the new collection is a clear next step for the rising superstar.

Produced by Kristian Bush (of Sugarland), each of the album’s fourteen tracks were written or co-written by Moroney, alongside the likes of Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jessi Alexander, Ashley Gorley, Liz Rose, Shane McAnally, and more. The result is an exhilarating release, proving that the Georgia native’s meteoric rise is only bound to continue.

Am I Okay? opens with its title track, a triumphant midtempo that finds her stronger on the other side of a breakup. Accompanied by a triumphant chorus of gang vocals, she’s moving on and moving up with someone better than her no-good ex. “I don’t feel like a sad song soundtrack, The old me doesn’t know how to feel about that,” She muses, chock with self-realization. “Am I okay? I think I’m okay.”

Much of the album deals with the universal themes of breaking up, making up, and moving on, without ever sounding sameish or repetitive. There’s the stirring “28th of June,” a piano-ballad about the bittersweet recollections of an anniversary after a relationship ends. “Today would’ve been a day that we’d celebrate,” She sings. “And now it’s just another Tuesday.”

“Third Time’s the Charm” finds her buoyant and optimistic as she falls in love again, hoping that the third love in her life will also be the final one. Meanwhile, the previously released “No Caller ID,” finds her eager to move on despite late night calls from an ex. Similarly, “I Know You” finds her admitting to herself that the man in her life isn’t a good one. It’s a sparse and stirring guitar ballad, her broken heart on full display.

“I know you, And you’re out sipping whiskey with some girl you barely know // While you’re texting me you miss me, say you’re sitting home alone // I’m two-thousand miles away and you can’t help that you can’t change, you’ll wake up with her in the bed I made”

Moroney can do ballads like a pro, but she can also sell an uptempo with fervor, evidenced on tracks like “Man on the Moon” and “Indifferent.” The latter is a gritty and guitar-driven anthem about moving on and no longer caring about a “guy who was more wrong than right,” finding herself happy to have found indifference. Likewise, “Man on the Moon” is a roaring rocket to the stratosphere, a surefire hit of pop-tinted country perfection. On the kiss-off tune, she’s moving on, ejecting someone from her life into another atmosphere.

“‘Yeah but he’s the kind of man I’d like a hundred thousand miles from here // ‘Cause he wants me and he needs space // Someone take this cowboy away // Somewhere far, let him fly // Out of this world and off my mind // C’mon there’s gotta be a rocket somewhere taking off soon // I think it’s time we put another man on the moon”

“Heaven by Noon” shows her contemplating life and loss, a poignant and touching wish that she had said and done more before someone passed on. “When I talked to you this morning, I said I’ll see you soon,” She sings, voice laced with emotion. “Would have said so much more, If I only knew, That you’d be in heaven by noon.” Meanwhile, “The Girls” is a true celebration of the female support system, its lyrics primed for Instagram videos and TikTok montages of special moments with the friends who can get you through anything. 

Lyrically, Moroney and her co-writers truly stretched themselves on this album, notably on songs like the cheeky “Miss Universe” and “Mama, I Lied.” On the former, she’s happy that if she had to be dumped, it was for a beauty queen, while the latter finds her admitting some hidden truths to her mom. On the rootsy and old-school country ballad, she confesses many of her lies, with the most prominent being that her ex was a good guy.

“Noah” feels very early Taylor Swift, as the Georgia native teasingly sings about a high school sweetheart, while “Hope You’re Happy” is a bittersweet ballad that finds her wishing an ex well, while remaining blissfully ignorant of his life. She’s joined by the unmistakable Vince Gill here, who lends his smooth harmonies to the gorgeous track.

The album ends on a stunning note, Moroney strong yet vulnerable on “Hell of a Show.” Much like Taylor Swift’s, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” the sparse ballad speaks to putting on a smile while aching inside. It’s a short and sweet ballad that speaks to the power of a performer, her vulnerable vocals floating over a sparse acoustic guitar as she pulls back the curtain between the public and private personas.

“Keep it together, I can keep it together, For the room full of people here who love me better // Than he could’ve, or would’ve, and should’ve I know, I guess you could say I put on a hell of a show // ‘Cause I’ll smile and I’ll sing and I’ll wave and repeat // And tonight I’ll cry myself to sleep”

Since bursting onto the music scene with “Tennessee Orange,” Megan Moroney has been making quite the name for herself. Am I Okay? proves that she’s much more than just okay, she’s arguably country’s next big superstar.

Am I Okay? Track List:

  1. Am I Okay? 
  2. Third Times a Charm 
  3. No Caller ID 
  4. Man on the Moon 
  5. 28th of June 
  6. Indifferent 
  7. Noah 
  8. Miss Universe 
  9. Mama, I Lied 
  10. I Know You 
  11. The Girls
  12. Heaven By Noon
  13. Hope You’re Happy
  14. Hell of a Show

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Am I Okay?
  2. Man on the Moon
  3. Miss Universe
  4. The Girls
Megan-moroney-am-i-okay-album

Megan Moroney shares new album, ‘Am I Okay,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

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

For tour dates and more, visit her website or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Am I Okay? 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.

Chase Matthew: ‘Always Be Mine’ – EP Review

Chase Matthew releases his new EP, Always Be Mine, out now, July 4th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

Warner Music Nashville recording artist Chase Matthew continues to release music that speaks to his talent and attracts more and more followers. Today, the singer-songwriter is sharing a brand new EP called Always Be Mine. The record features five new songs.

The record kicks off with the title track, a nostalgic song that feels summer-ready. Despite the bittersweet message in the song, the track feels like the perfect groove for the summer season. “Always Be Mine” fits in effortlessly with Matthew’s previous, nostalgic releases.

“You’ll always be try senior year summer // You’ll always be my can’t believe I got your number // You’ll always be that tear in a bench seat // Wine in a Dixie // First girl I told I love her // You’ll always be the one I saw forever with // You’ll always be the one my momma would picked // Yeah you’ll always be the one I’m // talking to the sun ‘bout // why’d it have to end like this”

The bittersweet feeling is evident on the next song of the project called “First.” Matthew laments on how it feels to miss an old lover; despite, trying to get over her. With lyrics like, “it’s hard to love anybody else, when I loved you first,” the song hits you right in your chest with that all-to-familiar heartache.

Matthew brings some edge to track three, “Crazy Girls.” The song is the perfect embodiment of falling in love with the wild and crazy girls aka the girls that will burn your house down. As the only song not co-written by the singer, “Crazy Girls” fits into the project perfectly.

One of the standout songs on the record is “Saltwater Cinderella.” “This Always Be Mine EP came together somewhat spontaneously, and ‘Saltwater Cinderella’ is a great example of inspiration striking me in the moment,” shared the singer in a recent press release, “I wrote that one with close friends as I was headed down to Florida for BMI’s Key West Songwriters Festival. It’s a fun summer song about those girls that love to spend time at the beach. Hope y’all get out on the water and turn it up!”

“And her nicotine // Ain’t blowing smoke / The sand on her feet // A little Toby Keith on the radio // She’s a saltwater Cinderella // One kiss is all it takes // When she’s swimming in the water // Heaven ain’t far away // She’s the beauty queen of the ocean // Hit ya’ like at idol wave // Sunshine when it’s storming // Kissing her in the rain // Saltwater Cinderella // My saltwater Cinderella”

Matthew closes out the EP with a slower song called “How You Been (Letter To The County Line Girl).” The song is a heartfelt and honest one-sided conversation to the girl the singer wrote his song, “County Line” about. Arguably the best song on the project, Matthew shows off his songwriting girt, as well as, his ability to convey emotion in his music.

“Do your friends still think I”m crazy // We never cared we were so in love // Is your car still running on empty // While my minds still running on us // I still hear your voice singing to me // As you were playing on your Gibson guitar // I’m not here to tell you something that we should be // It’s just been weighing on my heart // I don’t miss what we had back when // But how you been”

Overall, Always Be Mine solidifies Matthew’s incredible talent. While we were already fans of the singer, this EP makes us root for him even harder! Anyone who hasn’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, needs to get to it ASAP!

Always Be Mine EP Tracklist:

  1. Always Be Mine (Chase Matthew, Jacob Durrett, Andy Albert, Jaxson Free, Taylor Phillips)*
  2. First (Chase Matthew, Jacob Rice, Ben Hayslip, David Lee Murphy)^
  3. Crazy Girls (Michael Hardy, Jessie Jo Dillon, Daniel Ross)+
  4. Saltwater Cinderella (Chase Matthew, Jacob Rice, Alex Maxwell, Will Pattat)^
  5. How You Been (Letter To The County Line Girl) (Chase Matthew, Alex Maxwell, Will Pattat, Philip Morgan, West Webb)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. “How You Been (Letter To The County Line Girl)”
  2. “First”
  3. “Saltwater Cinderella”
chase-matthew-ep-always-be-mine

Chase Matthew shares new EP, ‘Always Be Mine,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Chase Matthew, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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

Lauren Watkins: ‘The Heartbroken Record’ – Debut Album Review

Lauren Watkins releases her brand new debut album, The Heartbroken Record, out now, June 2st on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new project here.

With a honeyed vocal tone that evokes a mix of the country greats with today’s modern female superstars, rising singer-songwriter Lauren Watkins is full of promise. The Nashville native’s debut album, The Heartbroken Record, out now, features 17 new tracks that take listeners on a journey.

Each track was co-penned by Watkins, enlisting Music Row heavy-hitters like Nicolle Galyon, Lance Miller, Andy Sheridan, and more, to lend their talents. Collaborators include Ashley Monroe, Sheryl Crow, Carter Faith, and Jake Worthington, each who lend their voices to the Joey Moi-produced debut.

Released via Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters, the album centers around the universal theme of heartbreak but touches on everything from wallowing to revenge to moving on. “It’s the one thing that connects everybody, because no matter who you are, what your status is or how much money you have, we all feel heartbreak – it makes us the same,” Watkins revealed in a statement. “And I happen to think that as much as it can be sad, it’s a beautiful, necessary part of life.”

For Watkins, much of her debut project reads like an extremely well-written and poignant journal, her voice and style recalling icons like Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraces, LeeAnn Womack, and more. “I didn’t want to just put an album out – I wanted it to be purposeful,” she says. “It’s the past several years of my life, and that was just so much heartbreak and dramatic girl-feelings, but I think in a really deep and relatable way… and it just needs to get off my chest.”

Sonically, the album tends to embrace the influences of 90s country and a rootsy twang, with moments of singalon- worthy anthemic empowerment.  “I brought all my influences to the table – from Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson to Miranda Lambert – and tried to cover every emotion that comes with heartbreak. The good, the bad, and the ugly,” she reveals. “It’s exactly the space in country I thought was missing and wanted to fill. It’s sweet and warm, but also gritty and tough at the same time, and that’s my favorite thing. I love it.”

The album’s opener “Leavers Leave” is an immediate attention-grabber with its mid-tempo 90’s inspired melody that finds her vocals floating over the inevitable facts of life. Likewise, the album’s titular track is equally poignant, as she finds herself spiraling like a broken record after a heartbreak.

While Watkins shines on ballads, she’s also right at home on up-tempo tunes, evidenced on the clever kiss off, “One Trick Pony” and “Sad Songs and You,” which finds her musing that “the only things that ever make me cry are sad songs and you.” The tune is a twangy two-stepper just made for the Opry stage, while the earwormy “Gallatin” bounces along with a summery and endlessly catchy Shanty-esque cadence.

“Mama I Made It” finds her channeling her inner Reba, cleverly turning tongue-in-cheek phrases on the lyrical disaster of her own making, while “Stuck in Her Ways” is a reflective acceptance that she’s not about to change who she is.

“I keep a six pack in the Fridge // And a rocking chair out back // I keep a light on, on the porch // And a key under the mat // I don’t park in that spot where you parked your Chevrolet // I ain’t sitting ‘round hoping you’ll come back someday // I’m just stuck in my ways // Yeah I’m stuck in my ways”

The collabs on the album provide another set of highlights, truly allowing Watkins to experiment with different sounds and styles. On “Set My Heart On Fire,” she joins forces with Sheryl Crow in an attempt to not be swayed by another bad boy. It’s rootsy and guitar-driven, much like much of Crow’s catalog. Likewise, “Pretend You’re Coming Home” finds Watkins trading verses with the ethereal Ashley Monroe, the pair longing for a simpler time when someone was still coming home. “Around five every night, I go back in time,” they sing. “Even though you’re gone, I pretend you’re coming home.”

On “Fly on the Wall,” she harmonizes with Jake Worthington, whose pristine baritone perfectly complements her emotive twang as they deal with the waltzing aftermath of moving on. Carter Faith joins in on “Cowboys on Music Row,” the pair musing over the sad state of today’s cowboys and country singers, longing for the days of the “redheaded stranger” or a “real rodeo man.” It’s a modern take on Paula Cole’s “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?,” as they lament “Where oh, where oh, where did they go, There ain’t no cowboys on music row.”

On “Settling Things,” Watkins shows shades of Musgraves’ “Merry Go ‘Round,” musing that “we’re all kind of happy, we’re all kind of bored.” Likewise, “Burn the Bridge” has her realizing that some things just can’t be saved and it’s better to move on and move forward. It’s a catchy and lush moment of acceptance. 

“Yeah I burned up a backroad // On my way outta town and // I Lit up a cigarette // To put that old flame out // Gonna burn down the bar // Burn some pictures in the yard // ‘Cause it is what it Is // If you can’t mend the fence // Burn the bridge”

Songs like “Anybody But You,” “Shirley Temple,” and “Jealous of Jane,” find her trying, with varying degrees of success, to move on. On “Anybody,” she admits that “the only way to fall out of love is to hate you,” while “Jealous” has her admitting that she “don’t want him back, but I don’t want him to want her.” 

The album ends with “Too Much to Dream,” an ethereal showcase of Watkins’ gorgeous twang and brilliant lyricism. Here, she’s still trying to move on, finding an escape in her dreams.

“So if I seem like I’m a ten out of ten // I owe it to a few sheets to the wind // Tucked me in faster than I could cry // I had too much to dream last night // So if I seem like I’m a ten out of ten // I owe it to a few sheets to the wind”

With seventeen tracks centered around the central theme of heartbreak, it would’ve been easy for The Heartbroken Record to come off as same-ish and one dimensional. However, that’s not the case here. Instead, Watkins delivers a multi-faceted and humanized take on broken hearts and the aftermath in a way that shows that healing may not always be linear. It’s truly a work of art that the singer-songwriter should be proud of as she moves into her next chapter, personally and professionally.

The Heartbroken Record Tracklist:

  1. Leavers Leave (Lauren Watkins, Lance Miller, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
  2. Mama, I Made It (Lauren Watkins, Rocky Block, Lauren Hungate)
  3. Heartbroken Record (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Caroline Watkins)
  4. Sad Songs And You (Lauren Watkins, Lauren Hungate)
  5. Set My Heart On Fire (feat. Sheryl Crow) (Lauren Watkins, Emily Landis, Summer Overstreet, Lydia Vaughan)
  6. Stuck In My Ways (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, David Garcia, Emily Landis)
  7. Gatlinburg (Lauren Watkins, Jessie Jo Dillon, Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Ashley Monroe, Caroline Watkins)
  8. Anybody But You (Lauren Watkins, Rodney Clawson, Mark Holman, Ernest Keith Smith)
  9. Settling Things (Lauren Watkins, Lauren Hungate, Luke Laird)
  10. One Trick Pony (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan, Caroline Watkins)
  11. Fly On The Wall (feat. Jake Worthington) (Lauren Watkins, Andy Sheridan, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
  12. Shirley Temple (Lauren Watkins, Nicolle Galyon, Meg McRee)
  13. Pretend You’re Coming Home (feat. Ashley Monroe) (Lauren Watkins, Ashley Monroe, Mark Trussell)
  14. Jealous Of Jane (Lauren Watkins, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Caroline Watkins)
  15. Cowboys On Music Row (feat. Carter Faith) (Lauren Watkins, Jessie Jo Dillon, Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Ashley Monroe, Caroline Watkins)
  16. Burn The Bridge (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Emily Landis, Mark Trussell)
  17. Too Much To Dream (Lauren Watkins, Forrest Finn, Nicolle Galyon)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Gatlinburg
  2. Leavers They Leave 
  3. Burn the Bridge
  4. Cowboys on Music Row
Lauren-watkins-debut-album

Lauren Watkins shares her debut album, ‘The Heartbroken Record,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

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

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here.

To keep up with Lauren Watkins, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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

mackenzie-porter-debut-album

MacKenzie Porter: ‘Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart’ – Debut Album Review

MacKenzie Porter shares her new debut album, Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new tracks here.

With a slew of #1 hits already under her belt in Canada, MacKenzie Porter is poised to make a name for herself in the states. On her debut full length with Big Loud Records, the singer-songwriter promises that Nobody’s Born with a Broken Heart.

Produced by Joey Moi, the nineteen track collection is sure to take listeners on a journey. Porter co-wrote on nine of the album’s tracks, enlisting Music Row heavyweights like Hillary Lindsey, Tofer Brown, Emily Weisband, Parker Welling, and more to contribute.

Best known for duet with Dustin Lynch on the #1 hit, “Thinking ‘Bout You,” Porter is thrilled to get these new songs to her fans. “Nobody’s born with a broken heart. We all start with the naivety and innocence of youth, but then life happens. There are so many circumstances and events in a lifetime that can slowly chip away at your heart, and in the end you’re this beautiful, imperfect, cracked, mess. But isn’t that what living really is? If you didn’t have the grit, would you really know the grace?” She wrote on Instagram. “That is what this record is about. These songs are those moments in my life. I hope they maybe heal a couple of those moments in yours.”

Despite being happily married with a new baby, much of the album revolves around the universal theme of heartbreak. “Every time I tell people that [the album is about heartbreak], they’re like, ‘well, you’re in a relationship and you’re happy.’ I am, of course, but there’s a lot of different elements of heartbreak in life.” 

The album opens with one of those such songs, “Easy to Miss,” a perfect slice of R&B tinted country pop that’s the perfect album kick off. The project was built around this track, allowing Porter to stretch herself vocally, lyrically, and stylistically.

Other songs centered around heartbreak include “Young at Heart,” “Confession,” and “Pay Me Back in Change.” On “Young,” Porter channels her inner “Picture to Burn”-era Taylor Swift, admitting that she can’t quite be mature in the aftermath of a breakup. On the powerful “Confession,” she’s more vulnerable, admitting she’s still in love with her ex, voice laced with sadness. Lastly, “Pay Me Back in Change” is lyrical brilliance, Porter imploring a guy to change in order to be a man who’s worthy of her. 

“You can’t pay me back in sorry // Can’t pay me back with what you say // All those pretty words lose meaning // If I’m still lonely the next day // Can’t pay me back with breakfast in bed // Or a Sunday matinee // The only thing that’ll settle this debt// Is if you pay me back in change”

Likewise “Strong Things” finds her drowning her sorrows in the bottle, while “Foreclosure” cleverly compares the end of a relationship to losing a house. “Sucker Punch” leaves her breathless after an infidelity, remembering both the good and bad moments that managed to take her breath away.

“Thought we were the champions// Thought we were the type// To never throw the towel in// Never lose a fight// Didn’t hear the train// ‘Til it hit me from behind// Feeling like a fool now// ‘Cause it caught me by surprise// When you laid it on me all at once//It hit me like a sucker punch”

On “Bet You Break My Heart,” the Canada native finds herself swooning over a guy who she knows isn’t good for her, while “Wrong One Yet” is a bit more optimistic, finding hope in a new relationship. Over airy music, her heart is aflutter as she muses, “I ain’t saying he’s the right one, but hell, he ain’t the wrong one yet.”

Porter is truly content on tracks like “Coming Home to You” and “Less is More,” both which find her achieving solace in simplicity. On the latter, she admits, “They say that we got nothing, but nothing here is everything.” LIkewise, “Coming Home” is a sweet midtempo which finds her soothing lilt soaring above strumming acoustic guitars and light percussion to achieve a whimsical and airy feel. Here, she loves what she has, and realizes that the grass isn’t always greener.

“There’s always gonna be bigger houses // Longer driveways with nicer cars // There’s always gonna be whiter fences // Redder roses, in a greener yard // Most people would kill for a // Higher up hill looking down on a better view // But I don’t want no bigger house if I ain’t coming home to you”

Porter puts her own spin on truck songs with “Along Those Lines” and “Pickup,”  with “Pickup” finding her wondering who’s riding shotgun now. With the catchy TikTok-able soundbite, she asks “Who’s that pickup picking up now?”

There are some  country bangers here in the form of “Walk Away” and “Rough Ride for a Cowboy.” Both find her putting a cowboy in his place, with “Rough Ride” settling into a wild west, horserace musical vibe. It’s uber catchy as she proclaims, “Now he’s ‘bout to learn what lonely looks like // When I cut him loose but his hands are tied // Nothing breaks his heart like breaking his pride // When he ain’t got the reigns on goodbye // That’s a rough ride for a cowboy.”

Other pieces of earwormy pop-country include “Have Your Beer,” a kiss off track that finds her toying with the old adage that one can’t have his cake and eat it too, musing “You can’t have your beer and drink it too.” Likewise, “Chasing Tornadoes” sounds like early 2000’s-inspired country in the best way possible, finding Porter flexing sounds that could best be compared to Some Hearts-era Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, or Gloriana.

Porter is as sensitive as she is tough, evidenced on songs like “Nightingale” and  the title track, “Nobody’s Born with a Broken Heart.” “Nightingale” is a poignant letter of encouragement to her current self to be more like her younger self. “The song is about just being the girl that I was when I moved to Nashville, who literally thought that anything was possible and that I was going to be on the radio and a star,” She reveals. “I wanted to think like her again.”

The album concludes with its stunning title track about the innocence of youth, inspired by her own young daughter. “My little girl is gonna come into this world with no negative thoughts or preconceived notions, and she’s going to have relationships and experience heartbreak,” She reveals. “And I hope she does, because that’s what shows that you loved and that you lived.” 

“I learned the hard way that growing up is hard // ‘Cause nobody’s born with a broken heart // Love’s a blade and God it’s sharp // Smooth as steel but leaves a mark // Proof of life is dying with scar // ‘Cause nobody’s born with a broken heart // Yeah nobody’s born with a broken heart.”

While heartbreak may be a prevalent theme on Nobody’s Born with a Broken Heart, MacKenzie Porter possesses a vulnerable honesty seen by the likes of early Kelsea Ballerini or Taylor Swift, sure to win over a whole legion of new fans.

Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart Track List:

  1. Easy To Miss (Hillary Lindsey, Emily Warren, Will Weatherly)*
  2. Young At Heart (Tofer Brown, Lauren Hungate, Emily Weisband)
  3. Bet You Break My Heart (Mark Holman, Chris Tompkins, Travis Wood)
  4. Pay Me Back In Change (Emma Klein)
  5. Rough Ride For A Cowboy (MacKenzie Porter, Lauren Hungate, Luke Niccoli, Lydia Vaughan)
  6. Coming Home To You (Tofer Brown, Lauren Hungate, Caroline Watkins, Emily Weisband)
  7. Strong Things (MacKenzie Porter, John Byron, Jacob Durrett, Lauren LaRue)
  8. Confession (MacKenzie Porter, Emma-Lee, Karen Kosowski)
  9. Wrong One Yet (Blake Pendergrass, Josh Thompson, Lauren Watkins)
  10. Pickup (MacKenzie Porter, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan)
  11. Nightingale (MacKenzie Porter, Mark Trussell, Parker Welling)
  12. Have Your Beer (MacKenzie Porter, Jason Massey, Lydia Vaughan, Parker Welling)
  13. Sucker Punch (MacKenzie Porter, Tommy English, Nick Long)
  14. Walk Away (MacKenzie Porter, Chris DeStefano, Jon Nite)
  15. Foreclosure (Jared Hampton, Harper O’Neill, Vinnie Paolizzi, Ash Ruder)
  16. Less Is More (Devin Dawson, Zachary Kale, Jon Nite)
  17. Along Those Lines (Rocky Block, Blake Pendergrass)
  18. Chasing Tornadoes (Emily Landis, Jamie Moore, Lainey Wilson)
  19. Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart (MacKenzie Porter, Luke Niccoli, Lydia Vaughan, Parker Welling)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Wrong One Yet
  2. Coming Home to You
  3. Rough Ride for a Cowboy
  4. Pickup
  5. Chasing Tornadoes
Mackenzie-porter-4-new-song

MacKenzie Porter’s new album, Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, out now.

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

To keep up with MacKenzie Porter, follow her on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

Visit her official website for tour dates and more.

Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart are 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.

Wyatt-flores-half-life

Wyatt Flores: ‘Half Life’ – EP Review

Wyatt Flores’ brand new EP, Half Life is out now, April 19th on all streaming platforms. Check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

If you haven’t heard of Wyatt Flores yet, it’s time you hop on the bandwagon; no country artist’s popularity has grown as fast as this Oklahoma-native’s. After releasing his seven-track EP, Life Lessons, he dropped another collection of eight songs just six months later. Like all of Flores’ lyrics, they are passionate, hard-hitting, and real, allowing listeners to get to know the 22-year-old on a personal level.

“These songs capture my perspective on relationships I’ve had with my family, friends, love, music, mental health, life, and death over the past couple years. I still have a lot of learning and growing to do at 22 but I’m thankful for everyone who’s ever given my music a chance,” he gratefully posted on Instagram. “I hope these songs help you with whatever you might be going through and remind you that you’re not alone in whatever it is you’re facing.”

No song is heavier than the title track. Directed to his family, he sings about the regret of leaving home to chase his dream without calling, and his addiction and how it affected his relationship with his now deceased father. He apologizes for living only a “half-life.” The opening track, “Running Out of Time,” speaks on making the most out of life. Sang from the funeral of someone close to him (likely his father), he says we have to hold the ones we love and do what makes you feel alive before we all die. Our time on this earth is short, and we must make the most of it. The most powerful lyric comes in the second verse, “Most people die at twenty-seven, get buried at seventy-two.”

The EP contains the previously released tracks, “Wish I Could Stay,” and “Milwaukee.” The former is the most light-hearted tune on the album. The singer talks about the difficulty of leaving the one you love; if he could keep her in his arms forever, he would. In “Milwaukee,” the singer feels remorse about his past relationship but wants to assure her it wasn’t for a lack of love. He also included his cover of The Fray’s “How To Save A Life” on the project. Just when you think a song couldn’t get more emotional, Flores adds his raw vocals to it, making listeners tear up almost twenty years after its initial release.

At the end of the project are “I Believe in God” and “Devil,” two extremely powerful songs. In the first, the singer confesses he is having a hard time connecting to his faith because he feels God lost faith in him. The latter is about a relationship, but not one with another human, the one with himself. He constantly fights with his inner thoughts when he’s lonely, singing in the bridge:

“Why do you find me at the worst times, just when I thought I was doin’ fine? // You wanna put a gun to my head and turn that ceilin’ red // Well, I won’t let you steal my soul // God damn lonely, just leave me alone”

At 22, most people are finishing college and discovering who they are and what they want to do for the rest of their life. Although Flores took a different route, he’s on the same path, which makes his music so relatable to others. From love, death, and mental health, there are a lot of intense themes for someone so young to explore, but they are real, and hearing someone overcome these hardships will aid others who are struggling with similar problems. The future is bright for the new singer-songwriter, and it’s only a matter of time before country fans all over the world know the voice of Wyatt Flores.

“I’m only getting one chance at life, so I try to be present,” he states in a recent press release. “There’s more to existence than what the average person experiences. No matter how old or young you are, life is here and gone. Death is always riding in the passenger seat. You can either be friends with it or make it an enemy. I choose to be friends with it. If you know that and start questioning what you’re doing, maybe you’ll go out and live a better life.”

Half Life Tracklist

  1. Running Out Of Time
  2. Half Life
  3. Wish I Could Stay
  4. Milwaukee
  5. If I Don’t See You Again
  6. I Believe In God
  7. How To Save A Life
  8. Devil
Wyatt-flores-half-life

Wyatt Flores shares his brand new EP, ‘Half Life,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

In celebration of the new music, Flores will embark on his “Here, There & Gone” headline tour this summer with shows in the middle, western, and southern parts of the United States. For tickets, head to his website. 

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

To keep up with Wyatt Flores, follow him on InstagramTwitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Half Life 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.

anne-wilson-rebel

Anne Wilson: ‘REBEL’ – Album Review

Anne Wilson’s brand new album, REBEL is out now, April 19th on all streaming platforms. Check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

Anne Wilson is a rebel, but not in the traditional sense. While country music tends to walk the line between faith and outlaw living, Wilson has her feet firmly planted in her faith. In fact, her debut album was 2022’s Christian mega-hit, My Jesus. However, with Christian and country often going hand-in-hand, she’s committed to both on her debut country project, Rebel, out now.

 “I am who I am — I’m Anne Wilson. I love God and that’s my everything, but I love Country music, too, and I can have a beautiful mix of both,” She says of the album that magically combines both.”I ’ve been working so hard over the past 15 months to write these songs, record them and get them into the world! I was raised on two things: the love of God and the love of all things Country. That’s what fuels the music I make and that’s what you’ll hear more of on Rebel.”

The Kentucky-native co-wrote all of the album’s 16 songs, collaborating with some of Music Row’s biggest names, including Nicolle Galyon, Emily Weisband, Jaren Johnston, Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, and more. Christian superstar Matthew West also helped Wilson craft much of the album, co-writing 13 of the 16 songs with her.

Produced by Jeff Pardo and Jonathan Smith, Rebel is a beautiful work that shows a singer who is clearly in love with both her music and her God. The 22-year-old is not afraid to be herself, and if that makes her a “rebel” in the eyes of the world, than that’s just fine by her.

The album opens with the title track, perfectly weaving together the UMG artist’s Christian roots with a modern country sound. In some ways, it’s similar to something Gabby Barrett or Carrie Underwood might release, etched with genuine conviction. The twangy and bluesy stomp immediately sets the stage for what’s to come, lyrically revealing just who Wilson is over a twangy and bluesy revival stomp.

“Who talks to a man that they can’t see? // Who finds power in an old book they read? // In a world full of doubt, who still believes? // Who talks to a man that they can’t see? // Call me crazy, call me a fool I ain’t scared ’cause I know the truth // Ain’t gonna run, ain’t gonna hide // Ain’t gonna change my mind”

“I remember thinking ‘If being a follower of Jesus makes me a rebel, because Jesus was a rebel,’ I’m gonna stand up for my faith,” She says. “In that moment, it all kind of clicked. I wrote the song, then the whole viewpoint of the record came into focus. We had that title on a white board, and every song we wrote after came from that question: what does it mean to be a rebel?”   

Like the title track, “God & Country” is an immediate standout that shows exactly who Anne Wilson is, as both a person and an artist. It’s a catchy and earwormy piece of pop-tinted country that is equal parts catchy and poignant. “I wanted to write a song that explains who I am as an artist. I was writing with Matthew, Jeff, and Trannie Anderson, and we talked about what the message was and how to put all the pieces of me in it.” 

“I’m hallelujah hands high and friends in low places // Red, white, and blue and red letter pages // Back row pew and front seat Ford // New King James and old King George // I’m washed in the water and mud on the tires // I’m Friday night lights and Sunday morning choir // I’m prayers up to heaven, roots down in Kentucky // Made by God and country”

Much of the album revolves around the theme of finding strength in the Lord, as evident on songs like “Strong,” “The Cross,” “Sinners Prayer,” and “Rain in the Rearview.” The latter has her questioning how much a heart can “take before it breaks,” starting as a ballad before building triumphantly. Meanwhile, “Strong” finds her overcoming tough times by hitting her knees. “The world’s gonna try to break me,” she acknowledges, “But I know the one who makes me strong.”

The album also includes some star-studded moments including Christian superstar Chris Tomlin on “The Cross”, and country’s own Jordan Davis and Lainey Wilson. Davis and Wilson trade verses on “Country Gold,” which finds them celebrating the simple things that are important and how great it is to strike country gold. Meanwhile, Wilson (Lainey) joins Wilson (Anne) on “Praying Woman,” the incredible women trading verses about faith and the power of a devoted woman.  “When she whispers ‘Dear Jesus,’ Heaven can hear it, and the devil gets back to Hell running, that’s the power of a praying woman,” they sing, backed by a female choir that helps build the song to an ethereal level.

While the album is incredibly deep and powerful, there are also moments of fun and levity, including the guide to choosing a man, “Red Flag” and the standout and twang-laden “Songs About Whiskey,” which finds her examining her place in country music.

“I’ve heard songs about Jack Daniels // Songs about Jim Beam // Heard songs about one night regrets, neon and nicotine // I guess I’m just kind of fixed on, the only thing that’s ever fixed me // That’s why I sing songs about Jesus, instead of singing songs about Whiskey.”

“Southern Gospel” is a full on call and response revival, while “My Father’s Daughter” is a beautiful love letter to her dad and the man he is. “Dirt Roads in Heaven” finds her pondering the afterlife, while “316” shares her conviction over the Bible verse, John 3:16.

The album ends with the solid one-two punch of “Milestones” and “Out of the Bluegrass.” While the latter is a fiddle and steel ode to her home state, the former is a moment of vulnerability as Wilson wonders what she’s missing out on for her career. “This four wheel spinning dream I’m living, got me feeling like I’m skipping milestones,” she sings, powerful voice laced with emotion.

“There was a moment when I wondered if I was too country for Christian music and maybe too Christian for country music,” Wilson reveals. “I felt a little afraid that I didn’t fit in any box. But then it kind of fired me up because that’s the point! I don’t want to fit into any box. I want to be uniquely who God made me to be and I’ve got to stand up for what I believe and the kind of music I believe in,” Wilson shares with the same conviction that laces her music. “I don’t want to change who I am to fit in. Not in the music industry, and not in this world.” 

REBEL Tracklist

  1. REBEL
  2. Rain In The Rearview
  3. Strong
  4. God & Country
  5. Praying Woman ft. Lainey Wilson
  6. Song About Whiskey
  7. Sinner’s Prayer
  8. The Cross ft. Chris Tomlin
  9. My Father’s Daughter
  10. Red Flag
  11. Country Gold ft. Jordan Davis
  12. Southern Gospel
  13. Dirt Roads In Heaven
  14. 3:16
  15. Milestones
  16. Out Of The Bluegrass

Country Swag Picks:

  1. God & Country
  2. Praying Woman with Lainey Wilson
  3. Songs About Whiskey
  4. Rebel
anne-wilson-rebel-album

Anne Wilson shares her new album, ‘REBEL,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

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

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REBEL 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.