NYCS First Impression: Zac Brown Band ‘The Owl’

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The Owl Zac Brown Band

Grammy winning country group, Zac Brown Band released their 6th studio album, The Owl this past Friday. This eleven-song record is one of the band’s most personal and experimental albums to date, blending all types of sounds from a variety of genres. Skrillex, Max Martin, Poo Bear, Ryan Tedder, Caroline Jones, and other songwriters contributed to the album, mashing up and blending each of their unique talents.

“Our music has always been a melting pot and lived outside of anyone single category, The Owl is no exception,” frontman Zac Brown said of the new album. “The collaborators we worked with on this album have been on my wish list for a long time and when everyone brings something new and different to the table, something special comes out of it.”

Fans got a hint of the direction Zac Brown Band was headed with The Owl when they released the lead single, “Someone I Used to Know”. Co-written by pop-star Shawn Mendes, the track has much more of a modern country sound than their previous singles. The group uses synthetic sounds after the final line of the chorus; creating a country-styled bass drop, something the group has never experimented with before. After the first listen, one might think it is another song about a lost love. When you dig deeper into the lyrics, you realize that “someone” is actually the narrator of the story and he is trying re-find himself. The music video tells the story of a high school football star who enlists in the military and comes back with PTSD.  “’Someone I Used to Know’ is a touchpoint to remind people that they don’t have to be alone in what they feel,” Brown says at the end of the video. “Pain and depression doesn’t discriminate; this song is me facing that part of myself of where I want to go and not where I’ve been.”

“The Woods” starts the record off with the positive message of “just because you do something differently doesn’t mean you’re wrong” with lyrics: What floats your boat might sink mine / And what makes me smile might make you cry / You might get low, I might stay high / To each their own, ain’t that right?” Instrumentally, this is completely different from what we’ve heard from Zac Brown Band in the past. They will perform this song tonight on NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“OMW” is another pop-infused song on the album. The verses have that snapping noise you hear on pop radio and now in many country song as well. For the post-chorus, they bring in the electric guitar to get the rock n’ roll sound they love so much back involved.

 “God Given” has to be the most diverse song on the album, in terms of blending genres; it’s honky-tonk meets funk. Brown surprises listeners when he breaks out into rap during the verses. The song’s message is self-explanatory, the men in the song are all fawning over this particular woman because of her looks and swagger.

“I don’t know if you notice that you’re fine as you are / I don’t understand how you keep raisin’ the bar / You know everybody wants to know who you are / I can’t wait to get you into my car”

“Warrior” was another song released before the whole album and is another dedication to the US military. Brown says the lyrics were inspired by a speech written by his friend who was part of the special operations branch of the military. It sounds like the type of track you would hear over sports highlights, hyping up a big, upcoming game. Brown sings: “No one’s born to be a warrior / No one born an average man / We made one or the other / And we try to understand”

Zac Brown Band is heavily influenced on rock n’ roll as any fan who has been to one of their live shows would know. They are known to cover a lot of songs, many of which are rock n’ roll and heavy metal. Between their two shows at Jones Beach Theater this summer, they covered songs by Rage Against The Machine, Def Leopard, Van Halen, Beastie Boys, White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Metallica and more. They have also collaborated with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden on songs in the past. They display country-rock on The Owl in songs such as “Me and the Boys in the Band” and “Already on Fire”.

 

More traditional sounding country songs included “Shoofly Pie” and “Finished What We Started”, which features Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and member of The Highwomen, Brandi Carlile. “Shoofly Pie”, recorded originally by The Wood Brothers, is an upbeat song about a man’s craving of his woman’s shoofly pie. Whether the listener wants to interpret “shoofly pie” literally or metaphorically is up to them. “Finished What We Started” is much slower and describes a mutual breakup between a man and a woman. They both agree that living their unhappy lives together isn’t fair to either of them and they should finally put an end to things.

Closing out the record is “Leaving Love Behind” which serves as the album’s heart wrenching, breakup song. Although the music video features an adorable mash-up of animals in order to raise awareness and encourage fans to make a donation to Best Friends Animal Society’s Disaster Relief Fund which supports efforts helping animals displaced by disasters like Hurricane Dorian, the lyrics indicate that it’s about a love lost and the woman has found a new man to call her own. He knows that it’s probably for the best, but the “moving on” part has been very hard on him.

“I believe, yes I do /  Oh, that everything we lose will be a gift in time /  I believe, yes I do / The hardest part is leaving love behind”

Zac Brown Band is currently on its 2019 The Owl Tour. Recently, the group extended their Fenway Park sellout venue record with back-to-back sold-out shows during the tour’s stop in Boston, marking their eleventh consecutive sold-out show at the famed venue.

The Owl is available everywhere you buy or stream music. 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.

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

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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NYCS First Impression: Ryan Hurd ‘Platonic’

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Ryan Hurd Platonic

Acclaimed Nashville songwriter, Ryan Hurd, settles into his own style on his new EP, Platonic. No stranger to the limelight, the country artist has written hit songs for everyone from Jake Owen and Dierks Bentley to Florida Georgia Line and Rascal Flatts. Yet, where he really shines is with his own brand of romantic storytelling immersed in hooky melodies.

In 2018, he released an emotional ode to his wife (country superstar Maren Morris) with the single, “Diamonds and Twine” to a smattering a success. The track positioned the artist as more than just a songwriter, but a musician in his own rite. On Platonic, he settles effortlessly into the sound that fans have come to expect, with a renewed focus on the power of storytelling.

If there’s one thing that the “To a T” songwriter does well, is bring a touch of summer sunshine to any track he writes. That’s never more apparent than on “Half Hoping.” Bursting with radiant energy, the regretful breakup song sizzles with the kind of melody you hope never ends — sort of like summer itself. “I’m wishing you would stay / wishing you’d come over /you’re the angel and the devil talking on my shoulder / wishing I’d forget you / but happy I remember / baby, wishing I could pick a side but I’m right in the center”

Title track, “Platonic,” is one of those slow burn romantic stories people write novels (and music) about. Hurd languishes in his usual style, where he paints such a clear picture with his lyrics you can almost see it playing out in front of you. A mid-tempo shuffle that begs for a couples dance, this is a song that’s bound to climb it’s way up the charts and into our hearts.

If ever there was a song that brought you back to your first love, it’s “Florida With A Girl.” The laid back ballad taps into the dizzying anticipation of falling in love for the first time. It captures the moment when you step boldly into adulthood and wrangle with feelings, unlike any you’ve ever felt. From the gentle lull of the melody to the hushed vocals, the songwriter transports us to that place in time. “It was warm cheap beer chasing first kiss fear when the sun goes down / it wasn’t just one week / wasn’t just some beach in a spring break town / it was Florida with a girl”

The final track will break your heart for all the right reasons. A dreamer’s oasis wrapped in a melody, it reflects on how more love in the world would do us all some good. Acoustic guitar mingles with Hurds honied vocals, building a warmth that infuses the meaning of the song into the arrangement itself. On the track, Hurd shares one final line that stands out as a motto we could all live our lives by: “If I could make a wish for the world there would be more music / whenever you got lonely you could always find a friend”

Check out our interview with siner-songwriter from earlier this summer when we caught up with him at Taste of Country Music Festival.

 

The Nashville rising star knows a thing or two about writing great songs, but with his newest EP, he taps into the format that serves him best. Positive vibes and feel good charisma pack the melody-fueled EP — making Platonic a must listen.To keep up with Ryan Hurd follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Platonic is now available everywhere you stream or buy music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist.

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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NYCS First Impression: Brett Young The Acoustic Sessions

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Singer-songwriter, Brett Young released the final track off his The Acoustic Sessions EP on today (9/13). It contains five songs from his most recent album, Ticket to L.A. Young’s current single to country radio, “Catch”, the lead single, “Here Tonight” (featuring Charles Kelley), “Don’t Want To Write This Song” (featuring Sean McConnell), “Chapters” (featuring Gavin Degraw), and the title track, “Ticket to L.A.”

The acoustic version of “Catch” has a totally different vibe than the one you hear on the radio. The piano is emphasized making it more of a ballad. The lyrics stayed the same however as the song is about an unintended relationship forming between two people at a bar. The man just wanted to have a nice, chill time with his friends before he caught glimpse of this girl. This track was penned by Young, Ross Copperman, and Ashley Gorley.

Young slowed down his fourth number-one single, “Here Tonight” for this EP and added Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, who co-wrote the song with Young, Ben Caver, and Justin Ebach. The song is about a man who wants this exact moment with his girl to last forever. Kelley takes the second verse and the two team up to make the second chorus sound even more beautiful than the original.

Just when you thought “Don’t Wanna Write This Song” couldn’t sound more melancholy, Young releases the acoustic version of it. This song is Ticket to L.A.’s “Mercy”; it is the most heart wrenching track on the album as it’s about a man having a tough time moving past the death of his wife.  Sean McConnell’s vocals feature in the background of this song, unlike on the original recording. McConnell co-wrote the song with Young and Zach Crowell.

Young kept his childhood inspiration, Gavin DeGraw on the acoustic version of the next song. “Chapters” is based on Young’s true story. He was the star pitcher on his high school and college baseball teams before a serious arm injury ended his career. Luckily for Young, he was blessed with other extraordinary talents, singing, and songwriting. Young wrote this with DeGraw and Copperman.

Just released today, “Ticket to L.A.” is about how two strangers get to know each other in an airport due to a delayed flight and quickly hit it off. She’s headed to L.A., not far from Young’s hometown. Young sings the verses in this acoustic recording with hardly any instruments backing him. Young, Crowell and Jon Nite wrote this song.

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

Listen to the whole EP on Spotify. 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.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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NYCS First Impression: Hailey Whitters ‘The Days’ EP

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Hailey Whitters The Days

Photo Credit: Harper Smith

We love when a strong female artist delivers a record with an undeniably unique perspective and songs with the depth and emotion that we so crave. Rising artist, Hailey Whitters delivered just that with the first part of her newest project entitled The Days.

The EP opens up with arguably the most prolific song off the record, “Ten Year Town.” Our Managing Editor Christina picked this song as her ‘Song of the Month’ back in March, and it’s been one of our favorites ever since. Whitters wrote the song with the exceptional Brandy Clark, during a time in her life, where she was falling out of love with Nashville, after a decade of trying to ‘make it’ in the music industry.

She shared in a recent press release that she was tired of trying to “water herself down to fit in,” and that she was “craving something that [was] raw, real, and imperfect.” Those statements embody the opening track to a ’t.” Although highly personal, the track is as relatable as it gets for anyone who is feeling lost in their current situation. Last Friday evening during her opening slot on Maren Morris’ GIRL The World Tour stop at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Whitters said “To anyone out there tonight hanging on to the tail end of a dream, and wondering if you should just give it up…don’t,” before playing the track for the audience who hung on to every last word.

“Lesser fools woulda given up / They don’t go for broke like a dreamer does / Gotta get back up when you get knocked down / I’m twelve years into a ten year town.”

Next up, the title track is rhythmic and sonically-enticing. Drawing inspiration from her childhood and all the moving moments since, Whitters sings about all the little things that make up this adventure we call life. She flips the script and focuses on the little moments that we sometimes let pass us by. “The other day it hit me like a hammer / that you can’t get back those moments that really matter.”

“Red Wine & Blue” is a bluesy slow-jam, where Whitters emotes how it feels to go through a break-up, while “Dream Girl” is a more upbeat track with an 80s vibe that uplifts women, encouraging them to know their worth and remember that, “you’re someone else’s dream girl” and to “never settle for less than what you need girl.”

In “Loose Strings” Whitters relies on her gritty, yet beautiful vocals. With a simple instrumentation, she reveals her truth in the breathtaking song. The track was written by Whitters with a team of A-list female songwriters, including Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsay, Nicolle Gaylon, and Brandy Clark.

Rounding out the expressive record is “Heartland.” The final song on the first part of this project was inspired by Whitters’ Midwest upbringing. It’s romantic, nostalgic, and catchy. The play on words is simple, yet effective, as she sings about letting her “heart- land in the middle of nowhere” and despite life not going the way it would have if she stayed in her smalltown, she knows that she can always fall back on her roots.

As Whitters says, “this is the first record that feels 100 percent me. It’s a time capsule of my time in Nashville and coming to terms with dreams and what they mean to you,” and The Days is truly just that. It’s an enticing project that makes you feel like you know exactly who she is, which is both inspiring and makes you want to root for her success.

We recently caught Whitters in her opening spot on tour with Maren Morris and Kassi Ashton at the iconic Radio City Music Hall. Check out some of our highlights from the show here. She will continue to play shows on ‘GIRL The World Tour’, through September. In October, the songstress will open up for singer-songwriter, Brent Cobb. For tickets and more information, head to haileywhitters.com.

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

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

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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NYCS First Impression: HARDY Hixtape Vol. 1

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HARDY HIxtape

HARDY is already an established songwriter in Nashville, but he’s surely becoming one of country music’s favorite new artists. He just wrapped up his opening gig on Florida Georgia Line’s headlining tour, just in time to gear up for his own tour. The recording artist continues to keep fans on the edge of their seats with his own music, and his newest project Hixtape VOL. 1 is no exception. Filled will star-studded collaborations, the album is truly a breath of fresh air.

On each of the ten tracks, HARDY had a little help from his friends, collaborating with a total of seventeen artists, who span the country music genre. From Joe Diffie to Keith Urban to Lauren Alaina to heavy-metal legend, Zakk Wylde, HARDY covers the whole spectrum, delivering a record for every kind of country music lover.

Beginning with the countrified track, “Boy From The South,” HARDY leans on Cole Swindell and Dustin Lynch to lend their vocals to the song. He somehow manages to intertwine all the country boy stereotypes into refreshing and rhythm lyrics. The song feels easy, yet packs a punch that fans will definitely appreciate. Keeping with a similar theme, HARDY continues to lament about country living in “Redneck Tendencies” with Trace Adkins and Joe Diffie. Though similar in spirit, the song has a much softer arrangement but is just as enticing.

“Can’t nobody tell me what I’m going to do / Yeah mama tried to raise me right / But she couldn’t raise a hell out of me / I told her rednecks tend to have some redneck tendencies.”

On the contrary, “He Went to Jared” has a more in your face arrangement. Featuring Morgan Wallen, the singer and HARDY trade verses, singing about their experiences losing their perspective girls to a clean-cut guy. The track, as well as, “Nothing Out Here” with Thomas Rhett, was one of the two songs that were released prior to the record, and it has already made a splash on the charts. HARDY collaborates with Wallen yet again in “Turn You Down,” which also features killer guitar skills from Ozzy Osborne’s guitarist, Zakk Wylde. The song has an undeniable charm that makes it nearly impossible to turn it off.

“When you turn me on, I just can’t turn you down / Like a damn good time.”

HARDY honors his Mississippi roots in most of the tracks off the record, but it is especially prevalent in “My Kinda Livin,” “What They Make Backroads For,” and “No Place Like Hometown.” In “My Kinda Livin,” the Mississippi native enlists help from his friends, Hunter Phelps and Jameson Rodgers. The trio pay tribute to rural living in the perfectly crafted mellow tune. Each singer takes a verse, causally expressing how “less busy, more laid back” is their “kinda livin’.”

HARDY, Tracy Lawrence, and Jake Owen also sing about the highs of good ole’ country living in “What They Make Backroads For,” while Keith Urban and Hillary Lindsay help sing praises for his hometown in the edgy “No Place Like Hometown.”

The next song off the record has arguably the most unique sound out of the ten. “Something A Lil Stronger” hooks you right away with the first lyric, “I’m just a good time junkie / always leaving the things that love me / wish I could make it last just a little longer / but I keep looking for something a lil stronger.” Swag session alum, Mitchell Tenpenny and Jon Langston combine their talents with HARDY in this refreshing new track.

Closing out the record, HARDY chooses to show off his vocals and softer side in “One Beer,” a collaboration with fellow “God’s Country,” songwriter, Devin Dawson and songstress Lauren Alaina. Quite possibly the most surprising combination of voices, it may be the most poignant track off the impressive collection of songs. The three singers lament about how so much in life and love can start with just a beer, singing “ain’t it funny what one beer can turn into.”

Overall this record is a perfect interpretation of who HARDY is an artist and as a human. He’s managed to deliver an innovative project, where each and every song could possibly work as a single. Clearly, he is just as loved as he is respected amongst his country music family, and we can’t wait to see what collaborations he has in the works for the next installment.

Take a look back at our interview with HARDY earlier this summer where he talks about his transition from songwriter to artist.

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

Hixtape VOL. 1 is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

NYCS First Impression: Meghan Patrick ‘Wild as Me’

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Meghan Patrick Wild as Me

Canadian country music singer-songwriter Meghan Patrick is a girl boss humbly blessing country music amidst the likes of Ashley McBryde and Kacey Musgraves. Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, and later settling in the music scene in Nashville, the two-time CCMA Female Vocalist of the Year is sustaining her coast to coast journey and making a prominent introduction in American country music with her new EP, Wild as Me, following her previous releases Country Music Made Me Do It and Grace & Grit.

“Girls Like Me” mightily kicks off the musical assemblage with the allure of feminine individualities and the attractiveness of male qualities, promulgating what works for “girls like her.” These include tattoos and a working man persona. This prompts the second track, “Things I Shouldn’t Say;” a sensual, slow-talking, rhythmically ballad, begging you to hold the one that you love close. Perhaps not the most appropriate for the younger ears but the strongest love ballad in the mix.

“Wild as Me,” the EP’s title track, unveils a softer side of the singer-songwriter, musically and emotionally, but powerfully delivers a love story singing: “Baby, you’re wild as me / My once in a lifetime made of the same kind of crazy / I want every sunset, and every sunrise / When you hold me tight, it sets me free / I thank God I found somebody / Wild as me.”

Closer, “Chaser” insinuates a late-night bar karaoke, feel good love story. Not minding taking the position of a rebound love interest for the night, the track written by Patrick with Joey Hyde and Dan Isbell relays a care free situation. “I’ll be your chaser, something sweet, get your mind off her and on to me / the eraser of memories, and you get your lips where they want to be, right on mine cause boy it’s time to send that her on down the line / I’ll be your chaser, yeah I’ll be your chaser, so take a shot on me”. 

Patrick will be hitting the road in 2020 opening for Old Dominion’s “We Are Old Dominion” tour across Canada alongside fellow country music singer-songwriter and beau, Mitchell Tenpenny.

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

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

 
 
 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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NYCS First Impression Trisha Yearwood ‘Every Girl’

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Trisha Yearwood

When it comes to the all-time great female vocalists in country music, it would be impossible to not mention Trisha Yearwood. Today (August 30), the songstress released her new album, Every Girl, her first original solo project since 2007’s Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love.

When speaking of the project, Yearwood reveals, “I like the songs that take me on a journey through a lot of different emotions. The theme of the album is it’s okay to be who you are no matter what. Sometimes, you’re playful. Sometimes, you’re frustrated. Sometimes, you’re sad. Sometimes, you’re happy. It’s okay. The album gave me permissions to be all of those things.”

Created with longtime collaborator and producer Garth Fundis, Every Girl is truly Yearwood at her finest, perfectly pairing her resplendent voice with powerful, yet relatable, lyrics and lush instrumentation. The album also features an array of Yearwood’s famous friends, including her husband Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, and Don Henley, on background vocals, only further elevating the stellar collection of tracks.

The album opens with “Workin’ On Whiskey,” a slow-burn ballad that truly sets the mood for the album. Put simply, Yearwood’s delivery here is masterful. Her vocals are only further complemented here by background vocals from Clarkson, who adds a beautiful layer of high harmonies that send the song soaring even further into the stratosphere. Look for Clarkson to appear again on “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know,” a heartbreaking tale of ill-fated love. “Tell me something I don’t know/ This winds gonna have to blow/ I know you’re only trying to help,” Yearwood agonizes. “But I will find out for myself/ I know your heart’s in the right place/ But I can make my own mistakes/ It’s gonna hurts when he lets go/ Tell me something I don’t know.”

The album is far from a collection of sad songs, however, as evidenced immediately on the Motown-esque “Find A Way,” originally recorded by Lucie Silvas on her stellar 2015 release, Letters to Ghosts. Likewise, the collection’s first single, and title track, is an up-tempo country bop that every girl can relate to. “Every girl in this town’s had a Friday night / That ended in tears under the yellow porch light / Thinking it was love / But it was only seventeen,” Yearwood sings. “And we dance / And we laugh ’til we all fall down / We keep kissing boys trying to figure it out / Stretching for stars on our tiptoe hearts trying to get our big dreams off the ground / Like every girl in this town.”

“Drink Up” is Yearwood’s closest foray into the genre of party songs, inviting listeners to lift a cup and celebrate life. While she may be encouraging raising a cup and drinking up, the song is truly a metaphor for embracing where your life is now, and embracing that. “Sip it, Chug it, Shoot it, Raise it, High / Don’t waste it / Taste every drop of this life / Yeah, toast it / Chase it down ’til it’s dry / Drink up / Whatever you got in your cup/ drink up.”

There are other stand out tracks on the album, including “Matador,” which shows Yearwood as the consummate storyteller on this darker story song. There’s also “Bible and a .44,” originally recorded by Ashley McBryde, that Yearwood dedicates to the memory of her late father, as well as the moving “Home,” originally recorded by Bonnie Raitt in 1977.

Yearwood pairs with husband, Garth Brooks, on the sultry “What Gave Me Away,” which she tells People is about “an intimate moment between two people. I couldn’t imagine asking anyone else to sing on this song except Garth. He’s my person. He’s my crush.”

One of the album’s most poignant and powerful moments comes on the album’s final track, “Love You Anyway.” Here, Yearwood enlists “Walkaway Joe” collaborator Don Henley. While Brooks may be her soulmate, Henley just may be her vocal soulmate, their voices harmonizing in a way that is absolutely ethereal. No matter what happens in this relationship, the pair sing of undying love over a haunting piano melody, “So break my faith, forget my name, either way, it’s, all the same, / You’re my first word / You’re my last breath / My will to live / When nothing’s left / Tear this heart right out of me / Lock it up and lose the key / Curse my name when you kneel to pray / I’m gonna love you anyway.”

When speaking on the new album, Yearwood says, “I’m so grateful the songs were there. I found 14 tunes I couldn’t live without. You want people to recognize you as an artist, but you also want to take them somewhere they haven’t necessarily been with you before….I’d love for people to be as moved by the songs as I was when I recorded them,” Yearwood says. “I’ve never experienced more joy in the studio.”

And that joy shines through on every track on the album. Yearwood may have found 14 tunes she couldn’t live without, but she also gave listeners 14 songs that WE couldn’t live without.

In support of Every Girl, Yearwood performed on The Today Show yesterday and will headline her own solo tour for the first time in five years, kicking off October 3rd. She’ll hit New York’s Town Hall Theater on Thursday, November 21.

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

Every Girl is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more 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.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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NYCS First Impression: Dylan Schneider ‘Whole Town Talk’ EP

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Whole Town Talk Dylan Schneider

19-year-old Interscope Records singer-songwriter Dylan Schneider has partnered with Round Here Records to release his fourth EP titled Whole Town Talk last Friday. The EP contains four songs all co-written by Schneider, including “How to Country”, “Hometown Heartless”, “Bad Thing About a Backroad” and the title track “Whole Town Talk”.

The first two songs, “Whole Town Talk” and “How to Country” are great party/tailgate songs. The title track written by Schneider with Corey Crowder and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line is about an epic party thrown in his home town that got everyone talking about it.  In “How to Country”, Schneider sings about the things he does and the way he lives his life, reminding everyone that “Nobody gotta teach me how to country”.

The next two songs, “Hometown Heartless” and “Bad Thing About a Backroad”, are more vulnerable, talking about lost love. In the former, he sings “I know they said home is where the heart is, but you left this hometown heartless”, proving that his smalltown is not the same without the girl he loved who moved away, while the latter twists a played out narrative about backroads and country living turning depressing after a breakup.

The Terre Haute, Indiana native’s favorite genres growing were pop and hip-hop but discovered his love for country music around the age of 13. His biggest country music influence was Brett Eldredge which began when he saw him live at a show in Paris, Illinois, Eldredge’s hometown. The following year at Eldredge’s show in Terre Haute, he invited Schneider on stage to sing with him. Since then, Schneider has released four EPs before his 20th birthday.

“We are so excited to get to join team Dylan to help encourage, support, and create opportunities for this amazingly talented artist and writer,” shares Hubbard and Kelley in a recent press release. “We’ve loved Dylan since the day we met three or four years ago and are so thankful to have him in our family and on our roster. Timing is everything— and for Dylan, the time is now.”

“I’ve looked up to BK and Tyler for a long time now, and Interscope has been an amazing label home,” added Schneider. “To have two monsters in the music industry like FGL and Interscope joining forces on my behalf is a dream come true. Truly humbling. This new EP has been a long time coming, but I promise it’s worth the wait. This is hands down the best music I have ever written and recorded – can’t wait to share it with the world.”  Schneider will join FGL on the remaining dates of the Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour. For tour dates and more information head to https://www.dylanschneidermusic.com/

Keep up with Schneider on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

“Whole Town Talk” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. 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.

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NYCS First Impression: American Young ‘Soundtrack of Your Life’ EP

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American Young

For country music duo American Young, to say a great deal of excitement is anticipated over the next few months would be an understatement. On top of the premiere of their latest single “Die Another Day” by BBC Radio 2 earlier this month, becoming three-time nominees with the British Country Music Association, and announcing a ton of new tour dates and performances in the U.K., the group has officially released their newest EP Soundtrack of Your Life today, Friday August 23rd.

Soundtrack of Your Life consists of 5 songs featuring already fan-favorite “Gonna Be You,” the widely received title track, “Die Another Day”, and two others titled “Falling Star”, and “Seminole Wind.”

“We’re stoked to finally release what we’ve been working on for so long. We’re so lucky we get to live our dream!”, American Young said with elation at Tuesday’s announcement of American Young as International Tourist Artist Nominees by the British Country Music Association for the third year in a row.

The EP as a whole has a very uplifting and pragmatic feel to it. “Die Another Day” is a song about putting an end to violence, coming together, and realizing what is really important in this world, sending out an extremely positive and relevant message in a time where gun violence is a major issue facing our world.

“Gonna Be You” is a love song about not being able to imagine a life loving someone other than your significant other, while “Falling Star” is all about the moment you meet that one special person. They even put a folky twist on a cover of John Anderson’s classic “Seminole Wind”.

The title track is an inspiring anthem that will give you feelings of nostalgia of milestones in your life such as your “16th Fourth of July”, and “the song on the radio the day you learned how to drive” that truly make up the soundtrack of your life. American Young recently visited Houston Middle School in Memphis, Tenn., where they performed this song with the school’s band in attempts to inspire young students to live out their dreams. This video, that has gained notice and been shared by the CMA Foundation, has already gained more than 65K views, you can watch the clip here.

In between writing their new music, American Young has appeared on the first two seasons of E!’s “Very Cavallari” and will definitely be seen much more in the upcoming season three.

To keep up with American Young, follow them on  Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For their latest tour dates, visit americanyoung.com

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

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NYCS First Impression: Midland ‘Let It Roll’

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Midland Let It Roll

Country group, Midland, are known for their cohesive mix of classic rock and country twang, an undeniably catchy sound that defined their debut album On The Rocks. The critically acclaimed debut garnered them a slew of accolades including winning the ACM Top New Duo or Group award and two Grammy nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Performance, not to mention grabbing #1 single at country radio with “Drinkin’ Problem”. The eclectic band, consisting of lead singer/guitarist Mark Wystrach, lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson and bassist/vocalist Cameron Duddy, return with the follow-up to their debut, the immersive Let It Roll.

The 14 track album is chock full of songs that range from Eagles-influenced classic rock, just begging for an open road, to a hint of old school Garth Brooks style. The Dripping Springs, Texas band recruited the best musicians in the genre for the project, including Shane McAnally, Dan Huff and Josh Osborne (producing and writing) as well as songwriters Liz Rose, Rhett Akins, and Bob DiPiero. Needless to say, Let it Roll is crafted to entice the classic cowboy, folky songstress, and ramblin’ man in all of us.

The album starts fresh and light with the wistful title track, “Let It Roll.” This one makes you want to roll down the windows and lose yourself in the California desert, with its layered vocals and sweeping guitars. Equal parts Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, it launches the album with effortless musicality.  On “Fourteen Gears” and “Mr. Lonely,” Midland sink into a cowboy’s paradise with stacked steel guitar, pristine harmonies, and rhythms made for dancing on an old wood floor.

Another standout on the project is the beachy, do-me-wrong “Cheatin’ Songs.” It’s a Kenny Chesney meets early Zac Brown Band feel-good vibe, designed for stadium sing-alongs and couples dances. In fact, we think this line sums it up, “steel guitars are back in style / like tears falling from a smile / yeah its been a while since country music loved a fool / and running around was cool.”

Heartbreak washes over you on “Put The Hurt On Me,” a country-western shuffle with a wild, yet painful Spanish guitar. It melds easily into “I Love You, Goodbye,” with its mariachi influences and aching vocals provided by the ever emotive Wystrach.  They give country music fans what they love most in the form of “Every Song’s A Drinking Song.” This meandering shuffle moves along almost as if there was a little alcohol involved in the production itself.

Then there’s “21st Century Honky Tonk American Band.” If ever there was an album moment that took you back to outlaw country and hair metal all at once, this is it. Booming guitars, howling vocals, and a hint of twang raise the roof off this rock-forward moment. Of course, there’s a surprise twist towards the end, but only after they’ve sung “And the wheels keep rolling on and on / and I hear them singing some song / ever since hank sang to me I knew I was born to be a 21st-century American band.”

The rocking anthem is followed up by quieter, more emotional album moments “Fast Hearts And Slow Towns,” “Cheatin’ By The Rules,” and “Lost In The Night.” There’s the rambunctious, just-get-drunk number, “Playboys,” that’s sure to be on repeat at tailgates come football season. And, of course, we can’t forget the moment where Carson’s vocals shine on the slow, emotional ballad “Gettin’ The Feel.”  It all comes to an elegant, harmony-infused end with the rambling “Roll Away.” The steel guitar shines bright on this stripped track, making for a stunning melody that, even if just for a moment, takes us back to the music of the ’70s.

Midland has crafted a remarkable record, catering to fans from all walks of life and country music, on their new album, Let It Roll.

New Yorkers can catch Midland on September 17th at Terminal 5 for their Let It Roll Tour. Grab your tickets here.

You can keep up with Midland on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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

 

 

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: