Kylie-morgan-album

Kylie Morgan: ‘Making It Up As I Go’ Album Review

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Kyle Morgan’s brand new album, Making It Up As I Go is out now, October 13th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

“At what age do you feel like a grown up?” Kylie Morgan asks on the titular track of her debut album, immediately drawing listeners in and setting the stage for the 12 tracks to come. On Making It Up as I Go, Morgan is approachable and relatable, introspective and outspoken, vulnerable yet strong.

All of the tracks on the LP were written or co-written by the Oklahoma native who manages to tap into a confessional yet approachable style of songwriting, remnant of early Taylor Swift or Kelsea Ballerini. This is especially evident on tracks like the introspective “Quarter Life Crisis,” the stirring “Class Rings,” the moving “Don’t Stay Gone Too Long,” and the empowering “Ladies First.”

“This album is for the in-betweeners. The ones who pretend to have it all figured out but are still finding out where they want to go, who they want to be, and how to get there. Whether you’re a child who’s supposed to feel like a teenager, a teenager who’s supposed to feel like a grown up or a grown up that still feels like a child. We’re all just doing our best and I hope this is the soundtrack to your journey,” The EMI Records Nashville artist shares. “‘Cause if we’re all being honest… we’re just makin’ it up as we go.”  

That in-between feeling works its way through the title track, as well as songs like the ode to various goodbyes, “Don’t Stay Gone Too Long” and the reflective “Quarter Life Crisis,” which finds her wondering about her life and how she’s living it. Written alone in a hotel room, she shares. “I was living my dream, but I couldn’t have felt more alone in that moment. The closer you get to your dream, sometimes the further you get from yourself, and that’s how it felt.”   

Female empowerment is a theme on tracks like the up-tempo “Country Girl,” the make-your-own-money-anthem, “Sugar Daddy,” and the kiss-off, “If He Wanted to He Would.” While “Country Girl” and “Sugar Daddy” are both fun pop-tinted tracks, “If He Wanted to” is more straightforward country, Morgan warning a girl not to give a guy too much credit. “If he loved you, he would tell you // If he missed you, he would call,” She muses. “If he wants you to meet his momma // Then he would bring you home // Oh, there ain’t no excuse // He ain’t Mr. Misunderstood // Quit lying to yourself // If he wanted to, he would.”

Likewise, guys are on put on blast on songs like “Bad Girlfriend” and “Happy Ever After Me.” The former is a Carrie Underwood-esque, guitar-heavy and tongue-in-cheek banger that tries to convince a man to put a ring on it in the most unconventional ways. Meanwhile, Morgan describes  the sweet “Happy Ever After Me” as “the prettiest version of a middle finger to my ex.” With its sweet vocals and slide guitars, the description is right on the money.

Morgan is at her finest when she’s at her most vulnerable, evidenced on songs like “Class Rings,” “Ladies First,” “A Few Hearts Ago,” and the album’s closer, “Old Me.” While “Rings” is about a high school love that doesn’t stick around (“That’s why class rings aren’t made of diamonds // Even my mama believed him.”), “Ladies First” deals with the insecurities and stigmas that often come along with womanhood. “How do you expect someone to respect you if you don’t respect yourself?” She asks on the especially poignant track.

While “A Few Hearts Ago” is an earwormy and catchy take on meeting someone at the right time, the lyrics prove that Morgan knows her emotional maturity. “A few hearts ago // Would’ve broke yours, I’d be missing out // Wouldn’t have these lips I’m kissing now // Time did what it’s supposed to do // Thank God I didn’t meet you // A few hearts ago.”

Finally, the LP concludes with “Old Me,” a poignant letter to Morgan’s younger self, much in the vein of Brad Paisley’s “Letter to Me.” It’s the perfect closer for an album that takes you on a journey, in the best way.  “I’m going to continue to grow, continue to discover new things about myself, and continue to reach the people that I feel like I need to say things to that they feel but don’t know how to say.”   

Making It Up As I Go Tracklist:

  1. Making It Up As I Go (Kylie Morgan, KK Johnson, Jordan Minton)
  2. Class Rings (Kylie Morgan, Ben Foster and Jack Newsome)
  3. Country Girl (Kylie Morgan, Gabe Foust, Nate Kenyon and Lance Miller)
  4. Sugar Daddy (Kylie Morgan, James McNair and Seth Mosley)
  5. Ladies First (Kylie Morgan, Ben Goldsmith, Josh Jenkins)
  6. Happy Ever After Me (Kylie Morgan)
  7. Bad Girlfriend (Kylie Morgan, Emily Earle, Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram)
  8. A Few Hearts Ago (Kylie Morgan, Casey Brown, James McNair)
  9. Quarter Life Crisis (Kylie Morgan)
  10. If He Wanted To He Would (Kylie Morgan, Zandi Holup, Ben Johnson)
  11. Don’t Stay Gone Too Long (Kylie Morgan, Nelly Joy, Jason Massey)
  12. Old Me (Kylie Morgan, Megan Conner, Jeff Garrison)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. “Making It Up As I Go”
  2. “A Few Hearts Ago”
  3. “Class Rings”
Kylie-morgan-album

Kylie Morgan’s new album, “Making It Up As I Go,’ 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 Kylie Morgan announcements and releases.

To keep up with Kylie Morgan, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Making It Up As I Go 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.

John-morgan-debut-ep

John Morgan: ‘Remember Us?’ – Debut EP Review

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John Morgan releases his brand new debut EP, Remember Us?, out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new project here.

For BBR Music Group recording artist and acclaimed songwriter John Morgan, Remember Us? marks his debut EP as an artist. Featuring six new songs co-written by Morgan, the collection features a wide range of anthemic country and heartbreak tunes.

The North Carolina native is best known for writing Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s chart-topping duet, “If I Didn’t Love You,” and partnered with Aldean and his bandmates Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy to co-write and co-produce select tracks. Other contributors on the project include Rodney Clawson, Will Bundy, Justin Wilson, Ben Hayslip, and David Lee Murphy, but at the end of the day, it’s pure Morgan.

“I’m proud to put out this project, so people can really see what I’ve been doing the last couple of years,” says Morgan in a statement. “I haven’t just been writing songs for other people. I hope they see the time that’s put into the details. A lot of these songs are two or three years old. They’ve stood the test of time and are still some of my favorites. They are special to me in different ways. I hope the EP really gives people an opportunity to see me establishing myself as an artist and not just a songwriter. These songs are true to me, and I hope people connect with them.”

Heartbreak and longing are common themes on Remember Us?, weaving their way through the nostalgic title track, as well as songs like “Cold Summer in San Antone” and “Ain’t the Leaving.” “Remember Us” finds him forgetting the bad and reminiscing about only the good parts of a past love, as he’s a man “stuck here in the could’ve been, caught up in the used to be.” 

“Cold Summer in San Antone” is an immediate standout, a stirring country ballad that finds him dealing with the ice around a broken heart.

“It’s been a cold summer in San Antone // Well, that Texas sun don’t even feel like it’s on // It’s a hundred and somethin’, damn near record high //  But it’s minus one in this bedroom tonight // I wonder if she even knows // That it’s been a cold, cold summer in San Antone”

Meanwhile, “Ain’t the Leaving” may also be about a broken relationship, but it’s a blistering and stadium-ready anthem that finds him grappling with goodbye. “It ain’t the goodbye, it ain’t two taillights that keep me up all night, with a half empty glass, girl it’s the knowing, you won’t stop going, it’s starting to sink in,” He proclaims. “It ain’t the leaving, it’s the not coming back.”

Clever lyrics are commonplace on Remember Us?, especially noticeable on “Friends Like That” and “Won’t Be As Good.” The latter is a gritty and almost swampy stomp about how someone special makes life a whole lot better, while “Friends Like That” finds him seeking solace in friends like Willie and Jack.

“I’m doing alright for the shape I’m in //  Sitting by a fire with some damn good friends //  Willie on my left, Jack on my right //  Blowin’ that smoke on a Friday night // Waylon turned up on the JBL //  Girl, you probably think I’m going through hell //  But I don’t care, if you never come back  ‘Cause who needs you when I got friends like that”

The final song on the EP is “Ain’t Been There Yet,” starting with a Sam Hunt-esque spoken word intro that segues into a full out mid-tempo country tune as Morgan looks for somewhere to forget an ex. “There’s gotta be somewhere I can go…Where I can just go to forget, Wherever it is, I ain’t been there yet.”

For John Morgan, Remember Us? may mark his debut EP, but it’s certainly one that won’t be forgotten.

Remember Us? EP Tracklist:

  1. Won’t Be As Good (John Morgan, Will Bundy, Rodney Clawson, Justin Wilson)
  2. Remember Us (John Morgan, Kyle Fishman, Rodney Clawson, Justin Wilson)
  3. Friends Like That (John Morgan, Brent Anderson, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan)
  4. Cold Summer In San Antone (John Morgan, Ben Hayslip, Will Bundy)
  5. It Ain’t the Leavin’ (John Morgan, Kyle Fishman, Casey Beathard, Josh Thompson, Rocky Block)
  6. Ain’t Been There Yet (John Morgan, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Cold Summer in San Antone
  2. Won’t Be As Good
  3. Friends Like That
John-morgan-debut-ep

John Morgan shares his debut EP, ‘Remember Us?,’ 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 John Morgan releases.

To keep up with John Morgan, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

Remember Us? 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.

drake-white-ep

Drake White: ‘The Bridge’ – EP Review

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Drake White releases his brand new EP, The Bridge, out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new project here.

With one of country music’s most compelling voices and stories, Drake White is back with his new EP, The Bridge. The 7-song collection marks the followup to 2022’s LP, The Optimystic, which chronicled White’s recovery from a career and life-altering stroke.

For the Alabama native, The Bridge is a collection of both the old and new. “The Webster dictionary defines a bridge as a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle,” White says. “This is the bridge taking me [to] back to why I started making music in the first place.” 

All seven songs were co-written by the Alabama native, including reimagined versions of “50 Years Too Late” and “Power of a Woman,” both which appeared on The Optimystic. While the newly released version of “50 Years” is a gritty and soulful “ruff cut” of the ode to simpler times, “Power” is reimagined as a duet with Colbie Caillat. Here, the breezy singer-songwriter’s warm voice perfectly complements the grit and gravel of White, breathing new life into the track that celebrates an amazing woman.

“Makin’ Me Look Good Again” is also a new version, originally appearing on White’s debut album, Spark. On the new take, aptly dubbed a “wedding version,” his stunning vocals soar over slowed and stripped down instrumentation, making it perfect for a first dance. “And then those loving arms, they pull me back in,” He croons, voice full of emotion. “Oh there you go, baby, yeah, Oh making me look good again.”

“Turn You On” offers another romantic moment, with a seductive invitation to slow things down and enjoy the moment. Co-written with Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, the track can be likened to a modern day “Let’s Get It On,” with White seductively offering to “turn it all off so I can turn you on.”

As one of country music’s most prolific optimists, Drake White shines on introspection in the forms of “Spirit” and “Ladder to the Sky.” The former finds White as a drifter, his soul meant to wander, while “Ladder” offers an especially poignant moment of reflection as a small part in a bigger picture.

“Where it leads nobody knows //  Past the stars and left at the rainbow //  Ya everybody, everywhere, everyday is trying to climb //  Up that ladder //  The ladder to the sky // Ya the view gets better from way up high //  So climb that ladder // the ladder to the sky”

While the Alabama native shines on romance and introspection, he also knows how to have fun, as evidenced on the EP’s final track, his collaboration with Hayes Carll, “Happy Hour.” On the twangy up-tempo, the pair find themselves asking life’s biggest questions, musing “Who says happy only gets to last an hour?”

“Why do mommas always worry? // Why can’t payday come on time // Why does agave tequila taste, better with salt and lime // Why are sunsets so romantic? // Why are fun things all so wrong? // Why can’t I ever stop singing them sad ol’ country songs? // And why can’t stopping time be my superpower? // And who says happy only gets to last an hour? “

On his new EP, Drake White continues to prove why he’s one of music’s most unique and powerful artists. With his unique output on life and his patented blend of country, soul and Muscle Shoals, each new release offers listeners something truly special, and The Bridge is no exception.

The Bridge EP Tracklist:

  1. 50 Years Too Late (Ruff Cut) (Leith Loftin, Drake White) 
  2. Spirit (Drake White, Phil Pence, Leslie Satcher) 
  3. Power of a Woman (ft. Colbie Caillat) (Kelli Johnson, Lindsey Hinkle, Drake White) 
  4. Makin’ Me Look Good Again (Wedding Version) (Drake White, Monty Criswell, Shane Minor) 
  5. Turn You On (Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Drake White) 
  6. Ladder To The Sky (Drake White, Vanessa Olivarez, Andy Skib) 
  7. Happy Hour (Drake White, Hayes Carll) 

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Ladder to the Sky
  2. Happy Hour
  3. Makin’ Me Look Good Again
drake-white-ep

Drake White shares new EP, ‘The Bridge,’ 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 Drake White releases.

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

The Bridge 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.

Colbie Caillat: ‘Along The Way’ Album Review

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Colbie Caillat’s brand new album, Along The Way is out now, October 6th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

After having success in pop music from 2007-2014 with hits such as “Brighter Than The Sun,” and “Bubbly,” California-native, Colbie Caillat is expanding her craft into the country scene. Although this is her first solo-country project, Caillat was a part of the former pop-country group, Gone West when they released their debut album Canyons in 2020. 

Caillat penned all thirteen songs on the record, with AJ Pruis and Liz Rose contributing to six of them. There are several common themes but none more significant than “change.” The album kicks off with the reflective “Wide Open,” a mid-tempo track about enjoying the moment without worry. Life is constantly changing, so don’t get discouraged when things don’t go exactly your way—a symbol of her new career path. “Sometimes You Need a Change” is also an illustration of this.

The next track, “Pretend,” contains a lot of traditional country elements like fiddle and steel guitar. While the lyrics check-off the boxes of classic country stereotypes, the overall meaning is very clever. When looking back on the last relationship, she realizes that their love wasn’t pretend, so her and her former love interest should pretend they didn’t make those crucial mistakes and try again. 

“Of that first summer night in the back of your truck // Kissin’ in the moonlight, stars above // Dancin’ in a field with the radio on // The moment we found our favorite song // Burnin’ like a fire that would never go out // Heartache wasn’t somethin’ we were thinkin’ about”

Along The Way’s secondary theme is “acceptance,” and this is displayed in “For Someone,” “Meant For Me,” and the lead single, “Worth It.” All songs discuss breakups where the singer was initially disappointed but admits she has no regrets and accepts the fact that they weren’t meant to be. In the former, the singer “fixed” the other, just so he can run off and be with someone else. She must remind herself that everything happens for a reason, and at the end of the day, they are probably better off on their own.

“We teach him how to walk and then he runs // Love’s cruel, but it’s cool // For me he might not be the right one // But I made him the right one for someone”

Every good country album needs a few lighthearted tunes to balance out the deeper and more vulnerable ones — “Two Birds” and “I’ll Be Here” provide this. The former is about sticking with the people you love no matter what. A Caillat solo write, the track is layered with traditional country instruments like harmonica and banjo to round out the fun and uplifting message. Caillat recruited country music legend, Sheryl Crow for the feel-good, “I’ll Be Here.” Its message is all about supporting one another through tough times. 

It would be great if we could choose the people we love, but unfortunately life doesn’t work like that. The final theme is nostalgia and longing for people in your past.  “Blue,” another Caillat solo wrote, and “Still Gonna Miss You” represent the singer’s feelings of coping with heartbreak. The latter paints the picture of how difficult it is to end true love, even if it’s for the best. The singer hopes that one day she’ll understand why leaving was the right thing to do.

The closing songs, “Old and New” and “The Other Side,” wrap up the project nicely. The singer conveyed her eagerness to begin her new journey but expresses how she’ll never forget the people and things in her past that helped shape the person she is today. If there’s one line to describe the album, it’s “It’s okay to miss the past while wanting something new.”

Whether this was just a fun project for Caillat or the start of a new, resurrected career, Along The Way is everything that’s good about pop-country—a fresh sound combined with real, meaningful lyrics. On behalf of country music fans, we would love to see Colbie Caillat as a mainstay in the genre. 

Along The Way Tracklist:

  1. Wide Open | Colbie Caillat, Alysa Vanderheym, Jordyn Shellhart
  2. Pretend | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  3. Worth It | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  4. Sometimes You Need a Change | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  5. For Someone | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  6. Meant For Me | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  7. Still Gonna Miss You | Colbie Caillat, Jason Reeves
  8. I’ll Be Here featuring Sheryl Crow | Colbie Caillat, Brett James, Jason Reeves, Kenny Edmonds
  9. Buying Time | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose
  10. Blue | Colbie Caillat
  11. Two Birds | Colbie Caillat
  12. Old and New | Colbie Caillat
  13. The Other Side | Colbie Caillat, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Worth It
  2. For Someone
  3. Two Birds
  4. Old and New
colbie-caillat-album

Colbie Caillat shares her new album, ‘Along The Way,’ out not on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Colbie Caillat, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Along The Way 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.

Alex Mather: ‘The Long Way Home’ – Debut EP Review

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Alex Mather’s releases his debut EP, The Long Way Home, out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

For Australian artist, Alex Mather, The Long Way Home marks his official debut EP, released via After Platinum Records. The 8-track project takes listeners on a journey of love lost and love found, establishing the young artist as a new face in the genre.

“Approaching the creation of this EP has been a remarkable journey,” He shares. “Every step has been an incredible ride, and I’m absolutely thrilled to share it.” That sentiment was echoed by the CEO of his label, Ernie Romero who also praised Mather. “This EP stands as a testament to Alex’s incredible talent and dedication to his craft,” he says. “We firmly believe it will resonate deeply with fans and further establish his position as one of country music’s most exciting newcomers.”

Inspired by the likes of Morgan Wallen, Florida Georgia Line and One Republic’s Ryan Tedder, Mather’s music toes the line between country and pop with infectious tracks like “That Summer” and “Hell on My Heart.” There’s also a stirring and romantic duet with Brittany Maggs on “Everything Changed,” which allows the singer-songwriter to slow things down and share his heart.

“When I saw you // Yeah, my heart skipped a beat and I fell for you // Saw forever in a second // Give me that big white dress and that picket fence // Years and years full of happiness // So when I saw you // That’s when everything changed”

The singer recently headlined his first show in Sydney, bringing his unique brand of country and infectious stage presence to a live audience.  “I’ve worked so damn hard on this EP, my first ever,” shared Mather on social media. “It’s better than anything I’ve ever created before, this is real music….This is just the beginning.”

The Long Way Home EP Tracklist:

  1. Hell on My Heart
  2. Hurts the Best
  3. That Summer
  4. The Long Way Home
  5. A Memory to Life
  6. Let’s Just Drive
  7. Everything Changes (with Brittany Maggs)
  8. By My Side
Alex-mather-debut-ep

Alex Mather shares debut EP, ‘The Long Way Home,’ 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 Alex Mather releases.

To keep up with Alex Mather, follow him on Instagram, X/Twitter, and Facebook. 

The Long Way Home – EP 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.

Boy Named Banjo: ‘Dusk’ Album Review

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Boy Named Banjo’s major-label debut album, Dusk is out now, September 29th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Admittedly, prior to receiving Dusk in my inbox, I had never heard of Boy Named Banjo. Yet, from the opening chords of “Something Bout a Sunset” to the final moments of “Opposite Directions,” I was hooked. 

For the quintet, who have been together for over a decade, the nine track album represents their major label debut with Mercury Records Nashville. Produced by Oscar Charles, the collection is a bluegrass-laden, Laurel-canyon-inspired jaunt through an epic sonic whirlwind of country meets folk meets Americana.

Composed of Barton Davies, Ford Garrard, Sam McCullough, Willard Logan and William Reames, Boy Named Banjo formed while Davies and Reames were still in high school, honing their chops busking on the streets of Nashville. Garrard, McCullough, and Logan would join soon after, completing the group.

“Our band has so many different sides and personalities to it,” says Davies. “One minute we might be singing bluegrass harmonies around a condenser mic, and the next we’ve got these big, distorted guitars and pounding, rock and roll drums. This album feels like the first time we’ve been able to capture it all at once, the first time we’ve been able to bottle that live energy and share it on a record.”

“We wanted to make a big statement with our first full-length release on Mercury,” Reames adds in a statement. ”Our influences have always been really broad and our sound has always been really wide-ranging, and we didn’t want to shy away from that. At the end of the day, this is who we are.”

The album opens with “Something Bout a Sunset,” a lush and dreamy mid-tempo about the promises a sunset seems to hold. With its hints of the Eagles and Laurel Canyon, Boy Named Banjo’s harmonies evoke visions of stunning pinks, oranges and blues. “We wanted these songs to take you on a journey,” Davies explains. “You start out soaking in a sunset with someone you think you’ll be with forever, and by the end, you’re going your separate ways and coming to terms with heartbreak and moving on.”

“Heart Attack” is an immediate standout, building fervently to a powerful musical climax where banjo meets drums that is sure to set any live stage ablaze.

“Let a spark turn into a fire //  Let it burn into the night // Let love walk us out on a wire // Girl don’t hold back // Let your heart attack mine.”

Likewise, “Feel For You (Dusk),” “Whiskey Dreams,” “Lonely in this Town” and “Young Forever” follow in a similar vein with anthemic, stadium-ready feels. Peppered with fiddle and steel, the quintet celebrates the undeniable appeal of eternal youth on “Young Forever.”

“Tonight, could be the rest of our lives // If you wanna run, we’ll hold on tight // If we could stay young together // We could stay young forever,”They sing celebratorily. “Time might pass us by // You know the way the days gonna fly // If we could stay young together // We could stay young forever”

Meanwhile “Lonely in this Town” has a hint of 90’s alternative mixed with banjo-laden twang, sounding as some sort of perfect amalgamation of the Gin Blossoms, the Eagles, Eli Young Band, and the Steeldrivers. Trust me, it works.

“I’ve always felt like ‘Lonely In This Town’ is best enjoyed driving with the windows down in your car,” shares Davies. “The music feels uplifting and euphoric with the three-part harmonies and steady groove, but then the lyrics come in and give the complete opposite vibe. It’s almost like you’re lonely but you’re happy about it. I love that duality in the song.”

“Whiskey Dreams” keeps the party going, featuring a full out jam session in the middle as the group celebrates a good buzz.

“Cause we ain’t got no troubles, honey // We ain’t gotta worry bout a thing // Ain’t it better when it’s blurry, honey // Let’s just sit and have another drink // Maybe someday everything will be like in our whiskey dreams // In our whiskey dreams”

“Mama, I’m Misbehavin’” is quite the special track, offering a different feel than the rest of the album, while still managing to fit in perfectly. Despite being the only track not written by one of the band members, the staccato delivery of the chorus over sparse instrumentation makes it another standout.

“Goodbyes are Sad” and the album’s final track, “Opposite Directions” allow the band to slow things down as they move on from the end of a relationship. While “Goodbyes are Sad” still has a hopeful feel, “Opposite Directions” finds them moving on and splitting up with resignation, sparse instrumentation adding to the haunting vocal performance.

“You go your way and I’ll go mine // She took the mountains, I took the prairies // Somewhere under that western sky I came to peace with what we buried // Ain’t no bad blood, ain’ t no one to blame // Pressure makes a diamond or pressure makes the rain // There ain’t no shame in opposite direction”

On Dusk, Boy Named Banjo makes their major label debut in the best way possible. The album is an explosive, memorable mix of catchy lyrics, brilliant instrumentation, and unmatched harmonies. I may not have heard of Boy Named Banjo prior to hearing Dusk, but I’m officially a fan who can’t wait to hear so much more.

Dusk Track List:

  1. Something ‘Bout A Sunset (Barton Davies, William Reames and Stephen Wilson Jr.) 
  2. Heart Attack (Barton Davies, William Reames, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell)
  3. Feel For You (Dusk) (Barton Davies, William Reames, Daniel Fernandez and Michael David Whitworth)
  4. Young Forever (William Reames, Luke Preston and Jonathan Sherwood)
  5. Whiskey Dreams (Barton Davies, William Reames and Angelo Petraglia)
  6. Mama, I’m Misbehavin’ (Ethan Bryan Baumgarner, Oscar Charles, Olivia Rudeen and Jonathan Sherwood)
  7. Goodbyes Are Sad (William Reames, Barton Davies, Oscar Charles and Stephen Wilson Jr.)
  8. Lonely In This Town (Barton Davies, William Reames, Marv Green and Chris Stevens)
  9. Opposite Directions (Barton Davies, William Reames and Jonathan Sherwood)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Heart Attack
  2. Young Forever
  3. Whiskey Dreams
  4. Lonely in this Town
boy-named-banjo-dusk-album

Boy Named Banjo’s debut album, ‘Dusk’ 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 Boy Named Banjo announcements and releases.

Boy Named Banjo will take the stage at New York's Brooklyn Bowl on November 17. For more tour dates, click here.

To keep up with Boy Named Banjo, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Dusk 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.

dustin-lynch-number-one

Dustin Lynch: ‘Killed The Cowboy’ Album Review

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Dustin Lynch’s brand new album, Killed The Cowboy is out now, September 29th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

“Everybody wanna know where did all the cowboys go?” Dustin Lynch asks on the first line of his new studio album, Killed the Cowboy, out now. For the 38-year-old Tennessee native, his sixth studio album marks a crossroads for the singer-songwriter, one of country music’s remaining hat-wearing crooners. 

Lynch co-wrote five of the LP’s 12 tracks, enlisting the likes of mega hitmakers like Devin Dawson, Jessi Alexander, Jordan Reynolds, Jameson Rodgers, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley, and more to also lend their talents. The result is arguably Lynch’s most interesting and sonically cohesive album to date.

“When I’m off the road and working on my farm, I have a lot of inner dialogue. It’s a boxing match inside of me, between living in the moment and enjoying where I am, versus what’s the best version of me five, 10, or 20 years down the road,” Lynch explains in a statement. “What do I want to be? What do I want life to look like? Who do I want to be around? Killed The Cowboy is that back-and-forth. It’s me asking myself, ‘Am I okay? Or am I weird for not having found my person yet? And is she even out there?’ My hope is that this album finds someone who needs to hear it. I want Killed The Cowboy to embrace the single people of the world and lift them up, to let them know that you don’t have to live a ‘normal’ life to still be happy in your own skin.”

The album opens with that title track, a darker and more mysterious sound for Lynch, who blames a “girl like you” for breaking his cowboy heart. “When I first heard ‘Killed The Cowboy,’ I was drawn to its haunting melody, and then I got to thinking about the lyric and realized, ‘Damn, I’m this guy right now in my life,’” adds Lynch. “Relationships can come in hot and heavy and then implode. But that heartbreak, in a weird way, also makes you feel alive, to have another person move you like that. You feel that roller coaster of emotion and passion, and that sparks me creatively as an artist.” 

“Honky Tonk Heartbreaker” is a surefire hit, a catchy and earwormy pop country gem about a girl that’s sure to break some hearts. “I think she might be a honky tonk heartbreaker // She’s gonna hurt somebody up in this bar // I think she might be a honky tonk heartbreaker,” He croons over the addictive medley. “Lucky for me, I got a honky tonk heart.”

“Chevrolet” features Jelly Roll, and adds new lyrics to Dobie Gray’s classic melody on “Drift Away.” “There is something in the air in Nashville right now, where writers are on the same wavelength and doing cool things like interpolating classic songs into something new,” Lynch said in a statement. “When ‘Chevrolet’ came across our plate, it floored me. Everyone knows Dobie Gray’s ‘Drift Away’ – the melody of that song is timeless. Having Jelly Roll on it adds an extra edge.”

“Just gimme a dirt road, the windows down // Wanna get lost on the edge of town // In your Chevrolet // She said gimme a six-pack, some Brooks & Dunn // If you want a country girl you just found one // Let’s step away, yeah // In your Chevrolet”

Meanwhile, songs like “George Strait Jr,” “Only Girl in this Town,” and the radio-ready “Trouble With This Truck” are the kind of modern country Lynch is best known for, with the latter being a stellar breakup track. “It’s like I drove it off the showroom floor,” He sings of a truck that’s just a bit empty. “Only trouble with this truck, she ain’t in it no more.”

There’s the introspective “If I Stop Drinkin’,” which finds Lynch lonely at the bottom of a bottle, while “Blue Lights” is dark and moody, comparing escaping memories of an ex to trying to outrun the law. “Trying to outrun your memory is like trying to outrun blue lights,” He muses on “Lights,” while he cleverly spins lyrics on “Breakin’ Up Down,” lamenting “We got breakin’ up down.”

Lynch slows things down on songs like “Listen to the Radio” and “Lone Star,” which finds him smoothly moving on and approaching someone special in a bar. Meanwhile, “Listen to the Radio” embraces a familiar trend in country music, as he name-drops other songs when a girl suggests they turn up the radio.

“I think we should listen to the radio // Turn it up and let it tell us where to go // Sit out underneath an Amarillo sky // Baby take our time // Yeah, I already got one bottle of wine and two dixie cups // Ain’t goin’ down ‘til the sun goes up // Do a little kiss me in the dark // Add a couple stars where the cool grass grows // I think we should listen to the radio”

The album ends with “Long Way Home,” a 90’s-country-inspired two-stepping ballad that allows Lynch to flex his vocal muscles. Here, the cowboy-hatted crooner is realizing that he’s in for a special night if he takes the scenic route, 

“We should probably take the long way home// We should probably take that old dirt road// Steal some minutes from your miles// Some kisses from your smiles// Yeah, I’m thinking we both need some more time alone// We should probably take the long way home”

On Killed the Cowboy, Dustin Lynch does what he does best, but he does it even better than before. While the singer-songwriter may be at a crossroads in his personal life, it’s lent itself to some great new songs, and the cowboy is musically alive and well.

Killed The Cowboy Track List:

  1. Killed The Cowboy (Jordan Reynolds, Devin Dawson, Anderson East)
  2. Honky Tonk Heartbreaker (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell, Ben Johnson)
  3. George Strait Jr. (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Reynolds, Andy Albert)*
  4. Chevrolet (feat. Jelly Roll) (Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Hunter Phelps, Mentor Williams)
  5. If I Stop Drinkin’” (John Morgan, Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Jordan Minton)
  6. Only Girl In This Town (Devin Dawson, Josh Thompson, Kyle Fishman)
  7. Breakin’ Up Down (Hunter Phelps, Zach Crowell, Blake Pendergrass, Brent Anderson)
  8. Trouble With This Truck (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell)
  9. Blue Lights (Jameson Rodgers, Jake Mitchell, Brent Anderson, Hunter Phelps)
  10. Lone Star (Devin Dawson, Jordan Reynolds, Alysa Vanderheym)
  11. Listen To The Radio (Dustin Lynch, Hunter Phelps, Randy Montana, Ben Johnson)
  12. Long Way Home (Dustin Lynch, Kyle Fishman, Andy Albert)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Honky Tonk Heartbreaker
  2. If I Stop Drinking
  3. Trouble With This Truck
  4. Listen to the Radio
dustin-lynch-album

Dustin Lynch’s new album, ‘Killed The Cowboy’ 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 Dustin Lynch announcements and releases.

Lynch will head out on his Killed the Cowboy Tour in early 2024. For tour dates and more, click here.

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

Killed The Cowboy 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.

Brent-cobb-album

Here is Brent Cobb’s Album ‘Southern Star”

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Brent Cobb’s brand new album, Southern Star is out now, September 22nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

In his first self-produced album, Brent Cobb is sharing a love letter to his Southern roots. The ten song project speaks to Cobb’s artistry as both a singer and as a songwriter. Each of the ten tracks touch on different themes through life that many of us can relate to.

“You know how when you’re growing up, you’re told that if you ever get lost out there, look for the northern star to help find direction back home? Well, I’m from Georgia. So, I always look for the southern star,” explains Cobb in a recent press release. “This album, the songs, the sounds… it’s all a product of where I’m from both musically and environmentally. Historically and presently, that place also happens to be the same place that cultivated a good many of the most influential artists in the whole world of music. Music as we know it would not exist without the American south. It’s funky and sentimental. It’s simple and complex.”

A true tribute simplicity and complexity of life and music, Cobb’s new album, Southern State is a must-listen to!

Southern Star Track List:

  1. Southern Star
  2. It’s a Start
  3. Livin’ the Dream
  4. Patina
  5. ‘On’t Know When
  6. Kick the Can
  7. Devil Ain’t Done
  8. When Country Came Back to Town
  9. Miss Ater
  10. Shade Tree
Brent-cobb-album

Brent Cobb shares new album, ‘Southern Star,’ 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 Brent Cobb announcements and releases.

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

Southern Star 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.

parmalee-for-you-2

Parmalee: ‘For You 2’ Deluxe Album Review

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Parmalee’s brand new deluxe album, For You 2 is out now, September 22nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Over two years since the July 2021 release of their album, For You, Parmalee is back with a deluxe edition, out now. Released via Stoney Creek Records, For You 2, features five new tracks, including “Girl in Mine” and “Boyfriend.”

For the band, made up of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, cousin Barry Knox, and friend Josh McSwain, the deluxe version will feature the chart-topping “Girl in Mine,” in addition to the #1 tracks, “Take My Name” and “Just the Way.”

Each of the five new tracks were co-written by Matt, spanning a gamut of emotions, ranging from heartbreak to tongue-in-cheek candor. “Boyfriend” finds them grappling with feelings for a girl who’s with the wrong guy, as they vow to treat her better than he ever could. “You’re in love with a girl who’s getting treated badly and all you can think is if she was yours, you would treat her right and put a ring on her finger,” says Matt. “The melody and production has a bit of a Country-Punk vibe, and I think it’s going to add some fun energy and attitude to our set.”   

Likewise, “Girl in Mine” is a super catchy piece of pop country perfection, as Matt professes his love for the special woman in his life. “Baby, you’re the only girl In that picture // In my pocket // On my cell phone when I lock it,” He sings. “It’s all you, no lie // Baby, you’re the only girl in mine.”

The band slows things down on “Gonna Love You,” a rock-tinged piano ballad that’s wedding-ready. Stylistically, the track is much in the same vein as “Yours” by Rusell Dickerson or “From the Ground Up“ by Dan + Shay, and we can smell a mega-smash in Parmalee’s future. “Even if the whole world turns itself against us, I’m gonna love you, I’m gonna love you,” They croon. “Even with my last breath // the last beat in my chest // I’m gonna love you // I’m gonna love you.”

Alternatively, Parmalee struggles with love lost on “Is It Just Me” and “Wish You Never Loved Me.” On the former, they grapple with the breakup, wondering if an ex feels the same. “Do you think that we made a mistake,” Matt sings of the split. “Or is it just me?” Lastly, on the power ballad, boyband-tinged power ballad, “Wish You Never Loved Me,” they once again struggle with moving on from a broken relationship. 

“I can’t move on when all I do is miss you // I wish you never loved me at all // Somebody tell me what I’m supposed to do // ‘Cause no one’s ever going to come close to you // Yeah it’s all your fault // If I can’t be with you //I wish you never loved me at all”

Parmalee will be hitting the road with Train this fall, taking their unique blend of country-pop-rock to a whole new audience. “We’re thrilled about the tour with Train, and we’ve been fans of them and their music for a long time,” revealed Matt. “They share a band mentality, just like we do, and I feel like we’re cut from the same cloth in a lot of ways. We’re excited to play our music for their fans.”

For You Track List:

  1. For You (Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Justin Wilson)
  2. Just the Way (Matt Thomas, Kevin Bard, Nolan Sipe)
  3. Backroad Girl (Matt Thomas, Tommy Cecil, Blake Bollinger, Brinley Addington)
  4. Take My Name (Matt Thomas, Ashley Gorely, David Fanning, Ben Johnson)
  5. I Do (Tyler Hubbard, Matt Thomas, Corey Crowder, David Fanning)
  6. Miss You (Michael Tyler, Matthew McGinn, David Fanning)
  7. Greatest Hits (feat. Fitz) (Matt Thomas, Kevin Bard, Nolan Sipe, Andrew Goldstein, Michael Fitzpatrick)
  8. Better With You (Matt Thomas, Ashley Gorely, David Fanning)
  9. Forget You  (feat. Avery Anna)” (Matt Thomas, Shane Minor, David Fanning, Thomas Archer)
  10. Alone Like That (Matt Thomas, Tommy Cecil, David Fanning, James McNair)
  11. I See You (Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Justin Wilson, Steven McMorran)
  12. I’ll Take The Chevy (Matt Thomas, Josh McSwain, Barry Knox, Zachary Kale, James McNair, Josh Mirenda)
  13. For You (Matt Thomas, Barry Knox, Josh McSwain, Scott Thomas, David Fanning)
  14. *Girl In Mine(Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Ashley Gorley, Casey Brown, Travis Wood)
  15. *Gonna Love You (Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Abram Dean, Andy Sheridan)
  16. *Is It Just Me (Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson)
  17. *Boyfriend (Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps)
  18. *Wish You Never Loved Me (Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Ashley Gorley, Andy Sheridan)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Gonna Love You
  2. Wish You Never Loved Me
  3. Boyfriend
Parmalee-for-you-2

Parmalee’s deluxe album, ‘For You 2’ 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 Parmalee announcements and releases.

For dates and more, visit the band’s website here.

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

For You 2 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.

carrie-underwood-deluxe

Carrie Underwood: ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ Deluxe Album Review

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Carrie Underwood’s deluxe version of her album, Denim & Rhinestones is out now, September 22nd on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

“I really just wanted to make an album that felt like fun.” That’s how country music superstar Carrie Underwood described her last project, ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ ahead of its June 2022 release. And that fun is still going a year later because the Deluxe version is finally here!

The extended release features the original 12 tracks plus six new ones, including a live version of the twangy fan favorite, ‘She Don’t Know’, a song Underwood intro’d on tour by explaining it was inspired by the ‘other woman’ in Dolly Parton’s 1973 smash hit, ‘Jolene’.

“I didn’t want [the era] to end, so we decided to add some tracks that kind of fit in the family” the eight-time grammy winner explained while visiting the TODAY show to promote the new album. “[The Deluxe is] just more denim, more rhinestones, more fringe, more sparkles, more all of it!”

The new songs are a perfect compliment to the rest of the album, adding fresh yet nostalgic melodies and the kinds of descriptive stories the singer-turned-songwriter-turned-producer has come to be known for. New tracks, ‘Give Her That’, ‘Out of That Track’, ‘Drunk and Hungover’, and ‘Damaged’ all reflect on lost love, much like original fan-favorites ‘Ghost Story’ and ‘Burn’.

“You can’t give her those wild summer nights where I learned all your secrets // Those “I love you’s” that already fell off your lips // That part of your heart that you gave me and you can’t get back // You can’t give her that”

‘Take Me Out’ (first written for Underwood’s 2018 project, ‘Cry Pretty’) joins the existing love songs on ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ like the title track, ‘Pink Champagne’, ‘Wanted Woman’, and ‘Faster’.

“Take me out on the town // Flirt with me in the dark // Make my heart skip a beat // Like only you can do to me // Stealin’ kisses in some old dive bar // Make me feel like your woman // Slow burnin’ in a neon crowd // Yeah, I’m wantin’ you to want me, baby // So take me out”

Underwood isn’t the only one looking to extend the era she’s been living in for the past year. Fans took the theme to heart last spring and fall, decking out in – you guessed it – denim and rhinestones night after night on Underwood’s 43-city tour.

Underwood has been busy since then, launching a new Sirius XM Channel called Carrie’s Country, touring with Guns n’ Roses for a few dates, performing the NBC Sunday Night Football theme for the 11th consecutive year, and most recently, announcing an extension of her REFLECTION residency at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas. With 12 Vegas dates left in 2023 and 18 already announced for 2024, country music lovers will have plenty of chances to bring the sparkle and shine to the strip and check out the show everyone is still talking about. Tickets for REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency are available at www.AXS.com/carrieinvegas. 

Denim & Rhinestones Deluxe Track List:

  1. Denim & Rhinestones
  2. Velvet Heartbreak
  3. Ghost Story
  4. Hate My Heart
  5. Burn
  6. Crazy Angels
  7. Faster
  8. Pink Champagne
  9. Wanted Woman
  10. Poor Everybody Else
  11. She Don’t Know
  12. Garden
  13. Out of That Truck*
  14. Give Her That*
  15. Drunk and Hungover*
  16. Damage*
  17. Take Me Out*
  18. She Don’t Know (live from Denim & Rhinestones Tour)*

* – Deluxe Edition tracks

carrie-underwood-deluxe

Carrie Underwood shares new deluxe album, ‘Denim & Rhinestones,” 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 Carrie Underwood announcements and releases.

To keep up with Carrie Underwood, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Denim & Rhinestones Deluxe 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.