Blanco Brown releases his new EP, Heartache & Lemonade EP, out now, April 5th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.
The viral dance craze, “The Git Up,” put Atlanta native, Blanco Brown on the map in 2019. Fast forward five years, and fans finally have a follow-up to the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter’s debut album. The single “Sunshine Shine,” was released back in February. It’s ear-catching blend of playful melodies and good vibes are reminiscent of his number one single.
Brown branches out from his winning formula on the remaining three tracks with romance being the major theme. In the short opener, the singer is conflicted about what caused his most recent breakup and how he feels about it. “Tailgating In The Sun” and “As Good As It Gets” are love ballads.In the latter, there is a dramatic build-up as the chorus comes in; the singer expresses how much fun life is with his woman. In the bridge, Brown channels in his inner rock star, screeching the final word in front of an electric guitar. While “Tailgating In The Sun” sounds like another party anthem, it’s a mellow tune about how love prevails over everything. He speak-raps the final line:
“Yeah, I remember those summer days // It seemed like I could never get away // I thought I knew what love was // but now I understand what it means // To love even when you’re at the lowest”
Through Heartache and Lemonade, Blanco Brown reaffirms his reputation as a boundary-breaking artist. His ability to seamlessly blend genres enables him to craft a distinctive sound that makes listeners want to dance, cry, love, and everything in between.
“This EP feels a bit different for me,” Brown said in a recent press release. “I’ve now traveled the world, looked death in the eyes and somehow made it back alive. Bitter moments never lasted, sweeter moments brought me back to purpose…Heartache & Lemonade brings about a new chapter. Try turning some of your worst moments into a smile every once in a while.”
Heartache & Lemonade EP Tracklist:
Energy
Tailgating In The Sun
Good As It Gets
Sunshine Shine
Blanco Brown shares new EP, ‘Heartache & Lemonade,” 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 Blanco Brown releases.
Heartache & Lemonade 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.
Sam Hunt releases his brand new EP, Locked Up, out now, April 5th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new project here.
Sam Hunt is the type of artist who truly beats to his own drum. His rhythmic way of approaching music Chas garnered him millions of loyal fans, since he came on the country music scene. While it has been a windy road for the artist, Hunt has remained honest and true to his music through his songwriting and storytelling. Today, the singer-songwriter shares more of his own experiences and his talent in his brand new EP, Locked Up.
The new EP features four songs that feel like a teaser for what’s to come from Hunt. The record kicks off with the title track, written by Hunt with Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne. “Locked Up,” a catchy, mid-tempo song, depicts Hunt’s experience being charged for a DUI back in 2019. Throughout the song, he owns up to his “rowdy days” and shows appreciation for his wife for standing by his side. The song is a nice display of accountability hidden in an ear worm of a song.
Much like the final song off the EP, “Country House” feels reminiscent of older Hunt songs like “Body Like A Back Road.” The song celebrates where Hunt is in his life right now, settled down with a family to call his own. On the other hand, the other new song off the project, “Last Hurrah,” shows Hunt in a more introspective light. The song displays a man reminiscing about what happened to a wild girl he once new. “Last Hurrah” draw the listener in with the haunting vibes and relatable lyrics.
The four-song project wraps-up with his previously released song, “Outskirts.” On the surface, the single feels like just another fun song (and it is), but under the surface, the song depicts the story of a single man in the city, who finds himself reminiscing about what could have been with a lost love.
Locked Up Tracklist:
Locked Up (Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
Country House (Sam Hunt, Ross Copperman, Michael Lotten, Josh Osborne)
Last Hurrah (Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
Outskirts (Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, Josh Osborne)
Sam Hunt’s new EP, ‘Locked Up’ 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 Sam Hunt releases.
Locked Up 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.
Chayce Beckham releases his new debut album, Bad For Me, out now, April 5th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.
Since winning the 19th season of American Idol in 2021, Chayce Beckham has been establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in country music. On the heels of his first radio #1, “23,” the California native released his debut album, Bad For Me, out now.
Featuring thirteen new songs, nine of which he wrote or co-wrote, the album allows the introspective and unapologetic vocalist to soar. Produced by Bart Butler, the album features songs co-written by some of Nashville’s biggest names, including Brett James, Parker McCollum, Andy Albert, Natalie Hemby, Randy Montana, and more.
“Once I finished recording this album and had time to live with it, I felt the title Bad For Me fit perfectly. It sums up a lot of my own faults,” reveals Beckham in a statement. “I like a lot of stuff that’s bad for me, even though it ends up being kryptonite but that’s all a part of being human. I am so proud of this record. I just hope there’s a song on this album that makes somebody feel something.”
Accepting his vices is a common theme of the LP, as Beckham struggles with moving on from a broken relationship, drowning himself in alcohol, dealing with addiction to a toxic woman, and so much more. The album’s title track is an introspective ballad that finds him doing just that, growling through lines like “Tonight I want something bad for me that’s gonna keep me up and losing sleep” and “I want that poison in her kiss to run right through my veins.”
Likewise, the rousing “Waylon in ‘75” and the album’s opening track, “Devil I’ve Been” continue with that outlaw vibe. “Devil” is a blistering and stomping ditty that allows the singer-songwriter to show off his vocal grit. On the Brothers-Osborne-meets-Eric-Church barn burner, he’s an outlaw trying to outrun his past. “Right now I need some saving // This much I know… Trying to outrun the devil I’ve been.”
Beckham is introspective and apologetic on the stirring, “Mama,” which is a letter of apology for all of the mistakes he’s made. Written while he was competing on Idol, the penitent tune is sparse and heartfelt, as he recognizes both his mistakes and her sacrifice. “A woman shouldn’t have to carry anyone, let alone her own son…” He croons. “I’m sorry Mama, a woman shouldn’t have to do the things you’ve done.”
The 19 Recordings/Wheelhouse Records/BMG artist shows his more country-leaning side on tunes like “Everything I Need,” “Drink You Off My Mind,” “Addicted and Clean,” and “Smokin’ Weed and Drinkin’ Whiskey.” The latter is a full out honky tonk tune which finds Beckham celebrating the finer things from both his homes, California and Tennessee.
Meanwhile, “Drink You Off My Mind” pairs musical sunshine with more downtrodden lyrics in a clever juxtaposition, while “Addicted” is a mid-tempo that finds Beckham a walking contradiction, his voice softer and full of emotion as it subtly shimmies over slide guitar. “Everything” finds him celebrating the simpler things in life, celebrating that the wins are more common than the losses.
“I’m alive and I’m breathing, out here breaking more than even // I ain’t leaving, there’s no place I’d rather be // Ain’t no worry on my mind // Might even roll me one tonight, Let the smoke rise in the moonlight by the creek // And when the sun comes up, I’ll let it dawn on me, I’ve got everything I need.”
“Glitter,” “Something Worth Holding On To,” and “Whiskey Country ” each allow Beckham to show a hint of his more bluesy side, with the latter a romantic invitation for someone to join him down in Nashville. Meanwhile, “Glitter” truly shines, the lyrics painting a poetic picture of appearances being deceiving. “You can’t water silk flowers, expect them to grow or pretend it’s a diamond, when it’s a rhinestone // Yeah, we made it look perfect, like a magazine cover // Shine bright for the pictures, but not for each other // Love wasn’t real, kiss was for show, Baby it was only glitter, it was never gold.”
Pairing an incredible collection of songs with his warm soulful rasp, Bad For Me truly allows Chayce Beckham to shine in a way that’s way more than glitter… It’s gold.
Bad For Me Tracklist:
Devil I’ve Been (Chayce Beckham, John Pierce, Lindsay Rimes)
Addicted And Clean (Chayce Beckham, Emily Landis, Justin Morgan)
Waylon In ‘75 (Jon Randall, Brett James, Parker McCollum, Lee Thomas Miller)
Bad For Me (Joe Fox, Randy Montana, Tyler Chambers)
Drink You Off My Mind (Chayce Beckham)
Everything I Need (Chayce Beckham, John Pierce, Lindsay Rimes)
Whiskey Country (Chayce Beckham, John Pierce, Lindsay Rimes)
Glitter (Joey Hendricks, Mark Trussell, Natalie Hemby)
Smokin’ Weed and Drinkin’ Whiskey (Chayce Beckham, Andy Albert, Mark Trussell)
Something Worth Holding On To (John Pierce, Brandon Kinney, Micah Wilshire)
Mama (Chayce Beckham)
If I Had A Week (Chayce Beckham, Scooter Carusoe)
23 (Chayce Beckham)
Country Swag Picks:
Glitter
Smokin’ Weed and Drinkin’ Whiskey
Waylon in ‘75
Addicted and Clean
Everything I Need
Chayce Beckham’s debut album, ‘Bad For Me’ is officially 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 Chayce Beckham releases.
Bad For Me 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/chayce-beckham-song.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2024-04-05 00:07:182024-04-05 00:07:18Chayce Beckham: ‘Bad For Me’ – Debut Album Review
George Birge releases his brand new EP, Cowboy Songs, out now, April 5th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new project here.
RECORDS Nashville recording artist, George Birge is one to look-out for in the country music landscape. He has found a way to bridge the gap between Texas-country music and more modern-country, while making sure to keep with his signature sound. Today, fans get a taste of his talent with his brand new EP, Cowboy Songs, out now.
The new record features seven songs, including, “It Ain’t Austin” and the title track, “Cowboy Songs.” On “It Ain’t Austin,” Birge reveals a deeper side, as the song expressing a longing for a relationship that has run its course. On the other hand, on the smokey-feeling, “Cowboy Songs,” the singer-songwriter showcases a more edgy version of his talent. The track is mesmerizing upon first listen, much like, track 6, “Hard on the Bottle.”
“‘Cause she only dances to cowboy songs // Loves to get lost in a moment // She comes alive when the neon’s on // Don’t wanna leave ’til it’s closing // So I’ve got a twenty on the jukebox to keep it playing // Anything that sounds like Waylon // And right here’s where I’ll be staying all night long // ‘Cause she only dances to cowboy songs // She only dances to cowboy songs”
Themes of love and loss continue to duel and blend in a perfect way throughout the record. On “Made You, Made Me,” Birge shares candidly about how different two people can be, putting the girl on a pedestal, and pondering how God could make both of them. The song feels different in a way that will have listeners wanting to listen to the song again and again. Similarly, on “Damn Right I Do,” Birge dives into the introspective nature again, yet this time, in a more relatable, nostalgic way. The singer-songwriter continues to delve into his feelings and nostalgia on “OK Breakin’ Up.” While the song depicts heartbreak, Birge appears to find solace, as the lyrics unfold in a beautiful story-telling way.
Finally, Birge ends the record with a mid-tempo song called, “Miss Missin’ You.” Throughout the song, the singer shares an all-to relatable experience of a relationship that is no longer. Despite missing things about the relationship, the idea of missing someone is no longer something he misses. The song is both a perfect addition to the record and a perfect way to end the EP.
Cowboy Songs truly has a song for every country music lover. All seven of the songs display different threads that make up George Birge’s unique knack of story-telling and sharing his art. The EP is a perfect addition to his growing catalog of music.
Cowboy Songs EP Tracklist:
Cowboy Songs
Made You, Made Me
Damn Right I Do
It Ain’t Austin
OK Breakin’ Up
Hard on the Bottle
Miss Missin’ You
Country Swag Picks:
“Cowboy Songs”
“Made You, Made Me”
“OK Breakin’ Up.”
George Birge shares his brand new EP, ‘Cowboy Songs,’ 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 George Birge releases.
Cowboy Songs 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.
Josh Ross releases his new EP, Complicated EP, out now, March 29th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.
For Canada native, Josh Ross, today marks the release of his U.S. debut EP, Complicated. Featuring eight new tracks, seven of which he co-wrote, the UMG Nashville/Universal Music Canada artists takes listeners on a journey through his head and his heart, both lyrically and musically.
“For me, things can kind of go all different directions,” Ross says. “Whether it’s healthy or not, I’m a complicated person, and the music is all different, too. It’s not straight traditional, or even rock or pop – it’s complicated, and I’m not afraid to let it stand out. … But that’s just me.”
Throughout the EP, Ross experiments with different sounds, occasionally veering into rock or pop but always staying country. The collection opens with the building, earwormy and effusive “Single Again,” which finds Ross dropping hints that he’s the one that a girl wants to settle down with once she dumps her current beau. It’s an immediate piece of ear candy that invites listeners to have another and keep listening.
“When you’re single again // and you’re Thinking of me // Ya know I got that same ole Tennessee // 615 that you used to hit up // Half past where you at pick me up // When you’re all over him // I hope you’re all over me // I got a king size bed // Just missing a Queen // Make me your first call // after your last call with him // And you won’t ever be single again”
The EP’s title track finds Ross thinking outside the box melodically with a sound he describes as “The Weeknd meets country pop.” On the synth-laced, 80’s inspired track that finds Ross experimenting with something outside of his typical twang, he cleverly juxtaposes darker lyrics over upbeat music, creating the ultimate contradiction as he wonders how a relationship went awry. “Why’d we have to go and complicate it?” He asks. “Weren’t we supposed to be the ones who made it?”
Heartbreak is definitely at the forefront of Complicated, weaving its way through songs like “Tell Me A Lie,” “Burn Back,” and “Truck Girl.” Each allows the singer to sample different sounds and themes, with “Lie” setting a moody and dark tone as he pleads with someone to lie to him about the fate of an ill-fated relationship. LIkewise, “Truck Girl” finds him dealing with an ex who’s moving on, while the R&B-tinted “Burn Back” finds him wondering how to get the heat back in a relationship that’s lost its spark.
“She Don’t Smoke” deals with a toxic woman who’s full of lies that he can’t quite quit, while “Trouble,” already a hit in Canada, finds him in a dark place, missing someone. “Trouble” truly allows him to flex his vocals, growly rasp on full display as he throws back a few drinks. Here, his voice sounds almost whiskey-drenched as he proclaims “Baby I’m in trouble” over darker instrumentation.
“For me, I would not have picked any other song to be the first identifying song for me,” Ross says of “Trouble.” “It’s the most honest song I had released up until now, and watching what it does for other people? Some of the stories I hear are heartbreaking, but it’s really nice to feel like your music helps heal.”
The EP ends with “Matching Tattoos,” a nostalgic piano ballad that looks wistfully at what’s left of young love. “I wonder where you are now // Sometimes I still think of how // We said something ‘bout forever,” He croons. “But what’s that mean at 22? // ‘Cause all that lasted are some matching tattoos”
“I always like to say the songs are where I’m at in my life, and I think this project is like that,” Ross says. “I want to keep people on their toes.” On Complicated, he does just that.
Complicated EP Tracklist:
Single Again (Josh Ross, Joe Fox, Brad Rempel)
Tell Me A Lie (Cameron Bedell, Lauren McLamb, Johnny Clawson)
Truck Girl (Josh Ross, Johnny Gates, Mason Thornley, Jared Griffin)
Complicated (Josh Ross, Heath Warren, Mason Thornley, Matt Geroux)
She Don’t Smoke (Josh Ross, Joe Fox, Brad Rempel, Mason Thornley)
Trouble (Josh Ross, Mason Thornley)
Burn Back (Josh Ross, Mason Thornley, Sam Martinez, Benjamin Stoll)
Matching Tattoos (Josh Ross, Joe Fox, Brad Rempel, Mason Thornley)
Country Swag Picks:
Single Again
Complicated
Matching Tattoos
Josh Ross shares new EP, ‘Complicated,’ 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 Josh Ross releases.
Complicated 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.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/josh-ross-complicated-jpg.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2024-03-29 00:05:522024-03-29 00:05:52Josh Ross: ‘Complicated’ – EP Review
Dylan Scott’s brand new deluxe album, Livin’ My Best Life (Still), is out now, March 29th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new songs here.
Back in 2022, Dylan Scott released his first project in three years, an album called Livin’ My Best Life. The record featured sixteen incredible songs including fan-favorites, “New Truck” and “Good Times Go By Too Fast.” Today, Scott is celebrating the album’s incredible life with the deluxe version called Livin’ My Best Life (Still), featuring 26 songs in total.
The record as a whole in an incredible compilation of party songs, true-blue country songs, honest tracks, and overall songs that depict where Scott is in his life and in his career. Fan favorite new songs like, “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” “I’ll Be A Bartender,” and “Boys Back Home” all depict different sides of the Louisiana-born star. Similar to “Boys Back Home,” featuring Dylan Marlowe, “Me and My Kind” has Scott firmly planted in his country-roots. While naysayers may be sick of this narrative, the singer does it in a way that is both refreshing and authentic to who he is as an artist, something we appreciate.
On songs like “What He’ll Never Have,” “What I’d Want Mine To Say,” and “Getting Out Alive,” Scott leans into his more vulnerable song. “What He’ll Never Have’ depicts a love story that might not work out, while the other two tracks showcase a more introspective side to the singer. Two of our favorites off the project, both “What I’d Want Mine To Say” and “Getting Out Alive” remind us how short life truly is and to live life to the fullest. Another standout track, “Heartbeat of America” depicts all of the cliches in a country love song in a way that works. Scott reminds listeners, yet again, that the simple things are often the most important.
Other notable new additions come at the end of the project. Scott collaborated with fast rising, EDM-country artists VAVO on a new version of both “Good Times Goo By Too Fast” and “This Town’s Been Too Good to Us.” Both renditions bring a fun and dance-ready vibe to the already incredible tracks.
Overall, Livin’ My Best Life (Still) is an elevated version of exactly what we have come to expect (and want) from Dylan Scott. The singer continues to be unapologetically himself and makes music that his fanbase can relate to, find themselves in, and enjoy all at the safe time.
Livin’ My Best Life (Still) Track List:
This Town’s Been Too Good to Us
What He’ll Never Have
Boys Back Home
Me and My Kind
I’ll Be a Bartender
What I’d Want Mine to Say
Heartbeat of America
Getting Out Alive
New Truck
Amen to That
Can’t Have Mine
In Our Blood
Static
Lay Down With You
Boy I Was Back Then
Livin’ My Best Life
Killin’ Some Time
Ain’t Much Left of Me
Leave Her Alone
Tough
Hell Out Of Me
Nobody
Good Times Go By Too Fast
Nothing to Do Town
Good Times Go by Too Fast (Vavo Remix)
This Town’s Been Too Good to Us (Vavo Remix)
Country Swag Picks –
Getting Out Alive
What I’d Want Mine To Say
This Town’s Been Too Good to Us (Vavo Remix)
Boys Back Home
Dylan Scott’s deluxe album, ‘Livin’ My Best Life (Still)’ 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 and announcements about future Dylan Scott releases.
Livin’ My Best Life (Still) is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dylan-scott-deluxe-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2024-03-29 00:03:562024-03-29 00:03:56Dylan Scott: ‘Livin’ My Best Life (Still)’ – Deluxe Album Review
Beyonce shares her new album, Cowboy Carter, out now, March 29th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.
County music has evolved to include many different sounds that accompany incredible, often story-telling lyrics. While Beyonce may not be synonymous with the genre, she is a superstar in her own right. It is up to interpretation if Beyonce’s brand new record, her 8th studio album, Cowboy Carter, out today is country or not, but it is safe to say that there is room for a superstar like her in any and all genres.
According to the songstress, she never intended to make a country album.“This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.” she shared via her social media, also adding, “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
Listen to the viral hit, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and the other 26 tracks here!
Cowboy Carter Tracklist:
American Requiem
Blackbird
16 Carriages
Protector
My Rose
Smoke Hour Willie Nelson
Texas Hold ‘Em
Bodyguard
Dolly P
Jolene
Daughter
Spaghetti
Alligator Tears
Smoke Hour II
Just for Fun
II Most Wanted
Levii’s Jeans
Flamenco
The Linda Martell Show
Ya Ya
Oh Louisiana
Desert Eagle
Riverdance
II Hands II Heaven
Tyrant
Sweet Honey Buckin’
Amen
Beyonce shares her brand new album, ‘Cowboy Carter,’ 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 Beyonce announcements and releases.
Cowboy Carter is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/beyonce-cowboy-carter.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2024-03-29 00:00:292024-03-29 00:00:29Here is Beyonce’s Album ‘Cowboy Carter’
The Frontmen’s self-titled debut albumis officially out now, March 22nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new record here!
Last year, three of ’90s country’s most recognizable voices combined their talents to form a new trio called The Frontmen. Together, Richie McDonald (Lonestar), Tim Rushlow (Little Texas), and Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), reimagine their iconic classics and give fans more music that pays homage to the 90s country decade. Today, their debut self-titled album is officially here!
“It’s super cool to release brand new music as a full album” shared Stewart in recent press release.”I’m so excited about this music, these songs and how this project represents the three of us so perfectly.” Rushlow added, “It feels quite surreal to finally let the world in on what we have been cooking in the kitchen with The Frontmen. For 14 years playing select shows at home and overseas for our men and women in uniform, it’s time to see what the world thinks of us! I am more proud of this record with Larry and Richie than any music I have ever been involved in making.”
The debut record features six previously released songs off the EP Familiar Faces and six new songs. Amongst some of the released songs are The Footmen Editions of classic country songs, “I’ll Still Be Loving You,” “Amazed,” and “God Blessed Texas.” On both “I’ll Still Be Loving You” and “Amazed” The Frontmen breathe new life into the already classic songs. On “God Blessed Texas,” they prime a song that is fun and made for the live show. High-energy and uptempo, the song is hard not to sing and dance along to, even after just one listen.
“I Need You” is a familiar mid-tempo song that pays homage to the early 00’s country landscape that we all still feel nostalgic about. On “It Was Always You,” The Frontmen bring their iconic voices to centerstage. The song feels reminiscent and like coming home upon listening. It also feels stage-ready, clearly something that The Frontmen seemingly know a thing or two about. Additionally, “Left Their Mark” tells a poignant story. It touches the edges of sacrifice, losing someone you love, and the incredible military men and women who put their lives on the line each and everyday for all of us.
On “I Need You,” a familiar mid-tempo song, the trio pay homage to the early 00’s country landscape that we all still feel nostalgic for. Similarly on “It Was Always You” and “Left Their Mark,” The Frontmen show off their story-telling prowess. The latter song touches the edges of sacrifice, losing someone you love, and the incredible military men and women who put their lives on the line each and everyday for all of us.
Amongst the new songs are songs like “The Radio Played,” Beatles and Eagles,” and “Should’ve Run Out of Angels.” On the former, The Frontmen lean into the nostalgia of it all. The song feels like the perfect summer-ready tune, primed for radio. “Beatles and Eagles,” while more melancholy in nature also has that impressive nostalgic quality to it. The record ends with an appropriately-titled song, “Goodbye Beautiful Goodbye,” that truly speak to The Frontmen’s one-of-a-kind talent.
Nostalgia is a common thread woven throughout the entire record. The Frontmen have found a way to both modernize their sound, while also bringing every element country music fans have always loved from the 90s and early ’00s. Their debut album is as impressive as ever!
The Frontmen Track List:
It Was Always You
The Radio Played
I Need You
Beatles and Eagles
Left Their Mark
Should’ve Run Out of Angels
Rattlesnake
Layin’ Low in Mexico
I’ll Still Be Loving You (The Frontmen Edition)
Amazed (The Frontmen Edition)
God Blessed Texas (The Frontmen Edition)
Goodbye Beautiful Goodbye
Country Swag Picks:
“The Radio Played”
“Beatles and Eagles”
“Amazed (The Frontmen Edition)”
“Goodbye Beautiful Goodbye”
The Frontmen’s debut album is officially 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 The Frontmen releases.
The Frontmen’s debut album is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/the-frontmen-debut-album.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2024-03-22 00:06:252024-03-22 00:06:25The Frontmen: Self-titled Debut Album Review
Chris Young’s new album, Young Love & Saturday Nights, featuring “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” “Looking for You,” and “Young Love & Saturday Nights” is out now. Read our review below!
With one of country music’s strongest and most impressive voices, Chris Young’s music is instantly recognizable. He has a penchant for combining modernism with traditionalism that has made him one of the genre’s most consistent hitmakers for nearly twenty years.
Today, the singer-songwriter releases his most ambitious project to date, Young Love & Saturday Nights, an eighteen track collection that shows him stretching himself, musically, sonically, and lyrically. On his ninth full-length release for Sony Music Nashville, the Tennessee native continues to do what he does best, but does it even better. “The biggest thing for me – is I wanted this album to be special, I had a lot of time to work on this record,” He shared in a recent roundtable. “I really was just trying to find a lot of things that I wanted to say…I think I was just trying to pour out a little more of myself on this record that I haven’t really delved into before.”
“This is what this album felt like it needed to be for me,” Young shared. “It’s a little louder, a little more raw. Even the stripped-down songs are heavier. I love creating music and I love making it and the fact that I get to do that for a living is a pretty incredible thing.”
The album finds Young branching out beyond love lost, sexy times, and drinking songs to examine things like getting older, God, and his love for his dog. The seasoned singer-songwriter co-wrote 15 of the album’s 18 tracks, and was involved in producing or co-producing the bulk of the songs, bringing a new flair to his sound.
When speaking to reporters, Young revealed that he has one main issue with the album. “Here’s the problem with this record: I feel like there are about nine or ten singles on it. That’s the only negative I would say about this record, and that’s why I’m so excited to talk about it.”
While it may be commonplace for artists to feel that way, it’s truly the case on Young Love & Saturday Nights, as there are multiple single-ready tracks, just begging for radio play. Ultimately, it will depend on what direction Young and his team wants to go, as this album truly offers him the opportunity to put out something unexpected.
A perfect example of this is “Country Boy’s Prayer,” which he describes as “one of those really, really special songs.” For Young, it shows a different side, as he thanks God for all of the “country” things that make life great. “Yeah, I pray // There’s gas in my truck // And dust in my mirror // That every day my fridge is full of ice-cold beer,” He sings. “Gimme friends that I would fight for // And a girl that I would die for // Let us grow old on a front porch chair // That’s a country boy’s prayer.”
Other songs tackling new topics for Young include the previously-released ode to man’s best friend, “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” the blistering “Fire,” the celebration of small town life, “Everybody Grew Up,” and a special song for his dad, “Growin’ Up.” On that tune, he touches on themes of aging and mortality, and admits he had tried to write a similar song many times, but kept coming up empty. Instead, it came to him from writers Johnny Clawson, Dave Fenley, and Kyle Sturrock. “It’s really, really special,” he says. “It’s one of those where you hear it and you’re like, ‘Damn, I wish I wrote that.’”
For those who love Young for his sexier songs, he admits they’ll always have a place on his records. “I think that’s something that’s indicative of my records. There’s always going to be love songs, sexy songs. It’s just something that has to happen.” On Young Love & Saturday Nights, he turns the lights down low and his voice down lower on the 90’s-tinged “Call It a Day” and the seductive “Don’t Stop Now.”
“What She Sees in Me” is a study in incredulity as Young can’t imagine what a childhood friend-turned-lover could possibly see in him. “I get to see how pretty she is when she wakes up // I get to see how perfect she is with no makeup // I can see us twenty years from now on an old porch swing // I still see her in every dream // I can see her faith when it gets tough // I can see her grace when I mess up // I can see how far she is out of my league // But I still can’t see what she sees in me.”
While Young is falling in love on tracks like “What She Sees,” he’s trying to fall out of it on “Don’t Call Me,” “Million Miles,” and “Fall Out.”. “But how do you fall out// How do you tell your heart don’t break // How do you not care // Whenever someone says her name // How do you rewind back to the good times // Act like she didn’t mean so much,” He croons. “I know how to fall in, but how do you fall out // Fall out of love.”
It’s not all love and heartbreak here, however. There’s “Double Down,” “Looking for You,” and “Knee Deep in Neon,” all driving up-tempos that provide more raucous moments. Likewise, the album’s title track is a catchy and nostalgic explosion, sampling the iconic guitar riff from the David Bowie classic, “Rebel Rebel.” “I had no idea what it was. The minute it started, I’m like, ‘Are they playing me “Rebel Rebel” right now? That’s weird,’” Young recalls of the song written by Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, and Josh Thompson. “Then I realized it was an entirely new song.”
The album concludes with “Down,” the final track added to the album. While the relationship may have ended, it certainly had its good moments, and according to Young, that’s worth recognizing. “It’s like, ‘Hey we knew this wasn’t going to last, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t amazing while it did,’” he says of the album’s closing moment
On Young Love & Saturday Night, Chris Young is at his absolute finest, perfectly walking the line between modern and traditional country.
Young Love & Saturday Nights Tracklist:
Looking for You
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Young Love & Saturday Nights
Don’t Call Me
What She Sees in Me
Country Boy’s Prayer
Double Down
Call It a Day
Drink to Remember
Don’t Stop Now
Fall Out
Fire
Gettin’ Older
Right Now
Million Miles
Everybody Grew Up
Knee Deep in Neon
Down
Country Swag Picks:
What She Sees in Me
Don’t Call Me
Fall Out
Country Boy’s Prayer
Knee Deep in Neon
Chris Young’s new album, ‘Young Love & Saturday Nights’ 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 Chris Young releases.
Young Love & Saturday Nights is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/chris-young-young-love.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2024-03-22 00:00:572024-03-22 00:00:57Chris Young: ‘Young Love & Saturday Nights’ – Album Review
Kacey Musgraves shares her fifth studio album, Deeper Well, out now, March 15th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.
Kacey Musgraves has long been one of country’s – and forget just country, music’s – most influential songwriters of the 21st century. Her way of cutting straight to the bone of a lyric has rocked listeners’ worlds for over a decade, and her latest, Deeper Well, continues to weave universal storytelling with sonic ethereal magic.
The album’s opener, “Cardinal” is a wonderful opener for a variety of reasons. For one, it’s probably one of the funkier tracks, sounding like a cross between a 2000s Nelly Furtado hit and deep-cut off The Chicks’ Home. There are interesting rhythmic and tempo changes that occur by the time the listener gets to the bridge, and lyrically, it sets the tone for the entirety of the album: seeing signs in everything, falling in love, anxiety, growing up, and letting yourself make mistakes and learning from them.
Title track “Deeper Well” is the second song, and previously released “Too Good To Be True” is third, and while already lovely on its own, fit seamlessly into the story of the rest of the album. The threads of anxiety and falling are leaned into.
You can clearly hear the inspiration of everyone from Willie Nelson and John Prine to Nick Drake and Judee Sill on tracks like “Dinner With Friends” and “Giver/Taker”. Musgraves and her musical partners, Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian modulate on “Dinner With Friends” in this particularly interesting way that is reminiscent of the 70s more psychedelic folk like Drake and Sill, although lyrically it falls slightly short of that vibe. “Giver/Taker” is just generally fantastic, with the drums coming in on the second verse in that floaty, “Slow Burn” perfection way. There are a lot of metaphors to the outdoors on this album, but also, a lot to “the house” that Musgraves is in. “Moving Out” clearly follows that metaphor as well.
Transitions from one song into the next flow seamlessly together, another nod to the 60s and 70s songwriter influence, and this is really heard on a favorite, “Sway”. It’s floaty and gorgeous sonically, but also incredibly thoughtful. “Most of the time thoughts in my mind keep me running/Show me a place where I can just think of nothing”. It’s existential, but also a surrender to anxiety, with Musgraves sharing that “maybe one day I’ll learn how to sway”.
Perhaps the middle of the album gets a bit redundant lyrically – “Lonely Millionaire” and “Heart Of The Woods” are slightly forgettable – but every track is still truly stunning in the effortless sonic planet that Musgraves, Fitchuk and Tashian have created.
The only song written without Fitchuk and Tashian is “The Architect”, written with longtime, original collaborators Shane McNally and Josh Osborne. As usual, the three wrote a song that is like a masterclass in country storytelling. “Is it too late to make some more space?” Musgraves ponders throughout. Sonically, it could fit the bill of any Lilith Fair performer.
Deeper Well feels like a slightly more countrified Laurel Canyon project, and the wonderful closer, “Nothing To Be Scared Of” solidifies this. Musgraves successfully stripped back a layer of vulnerability when writing this album that resonates, and Deeper Well is already shaping up to be one of the musical highlights of 2024.
Deeper Well Tracklist:
Cardinal
Deeper Well
Too Good To Be True
Moving Out
Giver / Taker
Sway
Dinner With Friends
Heart of the Woods
Jade Green
The Architect
Lonely Millionaire
Heaven Is
Anime Eyes
Nothing To Be Scared Of
Kacey Musgraves shares her new album, ‘Deeper Well,’ 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 Kacey Musgraves releases.
Deeper Well 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.
