Caylee Hammack releases her sophomore album, Bed of Roses, officially out now, March 7th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
Caylee Hammack is gifted at bringing her own flair to country music. Her music is unique blend of 70s soul and red-dirt rock, with the storytelling that the country genre does the best mixed in. Today, the singer-songwriter releases her sophomore album, featuring thirteen new songs. Bed of Roses is officially out now!
“Your bed of roses is the bed you make—you get to decide how you spend your time and how you plant your garden,” shared Hammack in a recent press release. “Good love is flowers that come back every year. Bad love, it’s just the thorn. Sometimes you’ve got to till shit up. You’ve got to work through things, and it’s not going to be fun. And then one day, your friends come over and you sit as a family on the back porch in the garden. And when they compliment the roses near the gate or the cherry tomatoes speckled about in the pasta, you get the pleasure of realizing, ‘I grew that, I put love, time and belief into something, and it paid off.’”
Make sure to listen to Bed of Roses ASAP!
Bed of Roses Track List:
Bed of Roses (Caylee Hammack, Benjy Davis, Jeff Hyde)
Bed of Roses 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/2025/03/caylee-hammack-bed-of-roses.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-03-07 01:16:032025-03-07 01:16:03Here Is Caylee Hammack’s Album ‘Bed of Roses’
Kat Luna shares her new EP, That Girl, officially out now, March 7th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new project below.
Breakthrough singer-songwriter and Sony Music Nashville recording artist, Kat Luna is ready to continue taking the country music genre by storm! Luna infuses her heritage into a cool blend of Spanish and English music. Today, the singer-songwriter shares her newest EP called, That Girl featuring eight tracks.
“This EP is the most honest and personal music I have ever written and I am so excited to share it. This project is a time capsule of a particular part of my life and it really embodies my story of finding myself and my true happiness. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it and I hope it helps others in their journey too,” shared the songstress.
Listen to Luna’s brand new EP That Girl ASAP!
That Girl Track List:
I Don’t (Spanglish Version) (Kat Luna, Emma Kleinberg, Robyn Dell Unto, Erika Ender)
Left Right (Spanglish Version) (Kat Luna, Cole Miracle, Austin Taylor Smith, Erika Ender)
That Girl (Spanglish Version) (Kat Luna, Rhett Akins, KK Johnson, Erika Ender)
Young Again (Kat Luna, Ben Goldsmith, Lauren McLamb)
That Girl 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/2025/03/kat-luna-that-girl.jpg6301200Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2025-03-07 01:13:332025-03-07 01:13:33Here is Kat Luna’s New EP ‘That Girl’
Mackenzie Carpenter releases her debut album, Hey Country Queen, officially out now, March 7th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
With the kind of voice that immediately draws you in and the kind of lyrics that immediately grab your attention, Mackenzie Carpenter is ready to make her debut with Hey Country Queen. Already hugely successful as a writer on songs like Lily Rose’s “Villain” and Megan Moroney’s “I’m Not Pretty,” the undeniable Carpenter is ready to take a step forward as an artist.
On her debut album with The Valory Music Co, the Georgia native reveals herself as a true force to be reckoned with. Carpenter co-wrote each of the album’s thirteen tracks, and it’s truly representative of a young woman in her prime. “This album has been a long time coming, and I’m so excited to finally share these songs with you. I’ve lived with them for years, and now it’s time to set them free,” shares Carpenter. “Hey Country Queen captures the essence of girlhood, heartbreak and love, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.”
Carpenter kicks things off with the bluesy and twangy “Dozen Red Flags,” a tongue-in-cheek look at a dude whose good qualities overshadow the fact that he was a walking red flag. “This one’s for the girls who’ve ever fallen for the guy with more red flags than green,” says Carpenter. “‘Dozen Red Flags’ is flirty, fun and all about knowing he’s trouble but diving in anyway—because let’s face it, he’s cute. The song covers a little heartbreak, a lot of lessons and a fun debrief with your girls.”
“But, man, he was cute and, damn, he was funny // My brother thought he was the man // If violets are blue, then I’m such a dummy // To think he’d have roses in hand I would’ve settled for tulips or daisies // I ain’t picking petals ’cause all that he gave me // Was reasons for running And a couple dozen red flags”
“I Wish You Would” is an immediate standout, a perfect dancehall duet that allows Carpenter to riff off of Midland’s Mark Wystrach as they play a pair of fated lovers, unable to resist each other amongst the promises of neon lights and endless drinks. “‘I Wish You Would (ft. Midland)’ is a fun, flirty tune about wanting someone to be more forward, quit guessing and make the first move. It’s about craving a spark with someone and longing for more than a few glances with that person you’ve noticed from across the bar,” shares Carpenter. “Midland has always been a dream collaboration, and they bring a smooth classic vibe to the song.”
“I loved ‘I Wish You Would’ from the jump when Mackenzie and Jamie Moore sent it our way. When I went to lay my part, I was thrown back in time to the era of Conway and Lorretta Lynn and Kenny and Dolly iconic duets,” adds Wystrach. “The melodies are hypnotic, and the soaring hook is pure Country gold. The structure of the song is non-symmetrical, so it keeps revealing new sonic surprises leaving you wanting to hear it again and again.”
Carpenter also shines on ballads that are full of ache and heartache, evidenced on songs like “Red Wine Blue,” “Jesus, I’m Jealous,” “Guys Like You,” and “The Other Side.” While “Red Wine Blue” was inspired by a message from Dolly Parton that came to her in a dream, “Guys Like You” has her musing about a “guy’s girl” who everyone loves. “The Other Side” is a whimsical wonder that finds her dreaming what a certain love would be like, while “Jesus, I’m Jealous” is a gorgeous ballad that finds her longing for love, watching it all around her.
“But, Jesus, I’m jealous, just had to tell you // Watchin’ the two of ’em head over heels // I guess I was hopin’ I wouldn’t be lonely // And maybe by now I would know how that feels // He’s spinnin’ her ’round like she’s Cinderella // I shouldn’t be starin’, but hell, I can’t help it // Jesus, I’m jealous”
While many of the album’s ballads center around heartache, “Country Queen” and “Only Girl” tell very different stories. “Only Girl” is a sparse and poignant ballad that’s ready for a wedding song or Instagram post, celebrating the love of a man who treats a woman right.
“He looks at me like the only star in his sky // He holds me tight like he’ll never say goodbye // I know there’s millions and billions of people // Living in this world But he loves me like I’m the only girl // l Like I’m the only girl”
While Carpenter shines on ballads, she can also throw down a countrified romp with the best of them. Highlights include “Don’t Mess with Exes,” which finds her channeling her inner Miranda Lambert, while “Sound of a Heartbreak” is a driving and catchy up tempo and “Gowgirl LIke Me” channels a bit of hip-hop-meets-bro-country. “Boots On” is the perfect country pop romp, flirty and seductive as she entices her man to come home, promising that she ain’t got nothin’ but her boots on.
“Gone Fishin’” is a gritty, 80’s country story song of the best type, finding her serving up a bit of vengeance on the lake. “He’s gone fishing out in the dark // Wasn’t hard to fit him in the trunk of my car // Had to scrub down the dock and his tackle box // Used a whole damn gallon of Clorox,” She muses. “He’s gone fishing I’m at the bar // Perfect alibi drinking PBR // Nobody even knows he’s missing, Bet he’s wishing // He’d never gone fishing”
Inspired by the country queens that paved the way for her, Mackenzie Carpenter’s Hey Country Queen is the perfect introduction to the rising superstar who is clearly one of the genre’s next big queens
Country Swag Picks:
Dozen Red Flags
Boots On
I Wish You Would (ft. Midland)
Jesus, I’m Jealous
Gone Fishin’
Hey Country Queen Track List:
Dozen Red Flags (Mackenzie Carpenter, Nicolle Galyon, Brandon Hood)
Boots On (Mackenzie Carpenter, Rhett Akins, Brandon Hood, Ben Williams)
Only Girl (Mackenzie Carpenter, Micah Carpenter, Mia Mantia, SJ McDonald)
I Wish You Would (ft. Midland) (Mackenzie Carpenter, Jonathan Hutcherson, Jamie Moore, Chris Tompkins)
Don’t Mess With Exes (Mackenzie Carpenter, Nicolle Galyon, Brandon Hood)
Gone Fishin’ (Mackenzie Carpenter, Mia Mantia, SJ McDonald)
Red Wine Blue (Mackenzie Carpenter, Luke Laird, Anna Vaus)
Jesus, I’m Jealous (Mackenzie Carpenter, Steve Moakler)
Sound Of A Heartbreak (Mackenzie Carpenter, Brandon Hood, Liz Rose)
Cowgirl Like Me (Mackenzie Carpenter, Micah Carpenter, Lauren LaRue)
Guys Like You (Mackenzie Carpenter, Nicolle Galyon, Brandon Hood)
The Other Side (Mackenzie Carpenter, Mia Mantia, SJ McDonald)
Country Queen (Mackenzie Carpenter, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ben Johnson)
Mackenzie Carpenter shares her debut album, ‘Hey Country Queen,’ 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 Mackenzie Carpenter releases.
Hey Country Queen 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/2025/03/mackenzie-carpenter-debut-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-03-07 01:12:472025-03-07 01:12:47Mackenzie Carpenter: ‘Hey Country Queen’ – Debut Album Review
Craig Morgan shares his new EP, American Soundtrack, out now,February 28th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.
When you think of Craig Morgan, there are a few things that immediately come to mind: faith, patriotism, passion, county living, and that signature voice. On his new EP, American Soundtrack, all of those are on full display.
Over the course of six new songs, the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville artist takes listeners on a journey through all the things in life that are important to him. “I try to celebrate God, family and country in my music and in everything I do,” He shares. “That’s what I have always done and I’ve come to realize it’s my platform. I don’t stress about things as much as I used to. I just try to write, sing, produce and play the best music that we can and go where I think God wants me to be.”
Morgan co-wrote five of the EP’s six new tracks, aiming to create something special for his fans. The lone exception is the stunning “God’s Problems,” an impassioned ballad that finds the Grand Ole Opry Member desperate to live his life in a way that’s easy on God. “I live that song. I truly do,” he says. “I believe in what it says and every day I work hard to not be one of God’s problems. I try not to be one of those guys that God is having to work hard at trying to straighten up. There’s a resurgence in our society right now of people trying to overcome adversities and to do better in life. You can see it in our format. Jelly Roll, especially, is the template for that. He’s changing people’s lives, and I’d like to think that I’m doing the same thing.”
Similarly, “Blue Collar Prayer” is an emotional moment for Morgan, a slide guitar-laden look at simple people and the things they long for to make their lives better. While some may pray for things like money and fame, the protagonists in the story are working-class people like a farmer in need of rain and a pregnant waitress hoping for the best for her child.
“You might not see them every Sunday // In that little white clapboard church // ‘Cause she’ll be serving biscuits and honey // He’ll be in overalls and tractor dirt // I bet my last dime, they’ll both take the time // To talk to the man upstairs // For a real life, red, white, and blue collared prayer.”
“Country Education,” “Roots” and “Who I’m From” each celebrate the upbringings that make Southerners, and Craig Morgan, who they are. While “Roots” is a twangy celebration of the raising that formed him, “Who I’m From” is a tale of who he is and who he came from. It’s a unique spin on the typical hometown song, celebrating those who have influenced his life.
The album’s title track is an especially catchy and jubilant moment, name dropping the songs that accompany many of life’s biggest moments, ranging from “Sweet Home Alabama” to “Ring of Fire” to “Hotel California.”
For Craig Morgan, American Soundtrack represents the best of who he is as an artist and a person. “I hope these songs create positive energy,” shares the Tennessee native. “I want people to feel inspired. I want people to laugh and enjoy what we do, but I also hope it makes them feel motivated to do good, to live a good life and to be kind. I believe we should live our lives in accordance with God’s truth; in honesty, fairness, kindness, love, and generosity. When you are doing all those things everything else will just fall into place.”
American Soundtrack Tracklist:
American Soundtrack (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Dan Couch)
Roots (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Rob Pennington)
God’s Problems (Phil O’Donnell, Wade Kirby, Carlo Colasacco, Styles Haury)
Country Education (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Wade Kirby)
Blue Collar Prayer (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Matt Willis)
Who I’m From (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Chris Wallin, Ira Dean)
*Produced by Phil O’Donnell and Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan shares latest project, ‘American Soundtrack,’ 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 Craig Morgan announcements and releases.
American Soundtrack 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.
Kip Moore releases his new album, Solitary Tracks, officially out now, February 28th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
With his soulful rasp and unique approach to music, Kip Moore has been a mainstay in country music for nearly fifteen years. Now, he’s releasing his most unique and ambitious project thus far, a 23-track collection that truly takes listeners on a journey. On Solitary Tracks, out now, the singer-songwriter offers a collection that finds him stepping outside any preconceived notions and embracing who he is as an artist.
“I’ve gotten to a place where I just don’t give a f**k about [the Nashville optics],” Moore revealed in a statement. “A lot of times I feel like I’m walking this plank. I’ve got people that believe in me and they’re really good to me – but at the end of the day, I know I’m going to walk out on that plank by myself.”
In taking that leap, the Georgia native wrote or co-wrote all but one of the album’s tracks, exploring various sides of his personality and experiences. He enlisted co-writers including Brett James, Nathan Chapman, Kristian Bush, Jaren Johnston, Casey Beathard, and others to craft a story of love, growth, ambition, and so much more..
“I’m never going to cheat by just trying to write what I think people want to hear, or hold onto a sound that worked for me,” shares Moore. “I’m going to always be authentic with myself, with every record, and all I ever hope is that people find a little solace. This project is a journey in itself, so I hope it helps people navigate their own life. There’s no pattern you have to follow, and sometimes you gotta gamble on yourself. You gotta be bold enough to trust your gut, and willing to roll those dice if you believe in something.”
The album opens with “High Hopes,” a fitting title for what kicks off an epic listening experience. With its lush guitars and Moore’s unmistakable voice, it builds to an anthemic chorus as he explores where he’s been, where he is, and where he’s going. “It’s me unpacking in real time where I’m at right now – and for the first time, saying goodbye to it,” he explains.
Although the album starts on an uptempo note, ballads definitely dominate the first half of the collection, ranging from the solo written “Solitary Tracks” to the stunning “Pretty Horses,” which allows Moore to show off his emotive uniqueness. Meanwhile, the album’s titular track builds up to a booming chorus about a pair of outsiders in love who just can’t seem to make it work. “Someday maybe we’ll recross paths…Ain’t never been the ones to run with the pack, just a couple lone wolves making solitary tracks,” he croons.
Two of the immediate standouts on the LP are “Around You” and “Bad Spot,” telling two very different stories. The former is a single-worthy and snappy earworm, dedicated to being unable to resist someone in all the best ways. Alternatively, “Bad Spot,” hits like a late night voice mail and is the only song not co-written by Moore. Written by Beathard, it’s a melodic midtempo that finds him admitting his mistakes and hoping to move on from them with the woman he loves.
“I hit a little rough patch, some rocky road // A stretch of life that took its toll // Next thing I know, you’re breakin’ up on me // But I guess it took some goin’ there to get me here // Some growin’ up to make it clear // That old me in my mirror, he ain’t the guy you need // I know I don’t deserve another shot // But I’m in a better place, kinda like a call drop // Yeah, I lost you in a bad spot, yeah”
“Livin’ Side,” “Learning As I Go,” and “Straight Line Boots” each continue the Georgia native’s reformation, celebrating the steps he’s made to be a good man and the woman who has helped him get there. “You got me closer to a got it all together man, walking these straight line boots,” He sings. “’I’m a better man, baby, when I’m with you.”
“Flowers in December” is another special moment, a booming ballad that also marks one of Moore’s all-time favorite recordings. “I’ve always struggled with some of these things that I’m talking about, and I’ve had a tendency to carry them with me – even when I’m writing about trying to let it go,” he reveals. “But for the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I’m looking as much in the rear view.”
Some of the album’s tracks find him in a place of nostalgia, with “Half Full Cup” celebrating “small town dreamers,” while “Like Ya Stole It” takes him back to the poignant lessons he learned while riding shotgun in a car. Likewise, “Southern Son” finds Moore embracing his Southern upbringing, while “Burn” finds him longing for simpler times and global peace.
“Live Here to Work” is another immediate standout, grabbing your attention with a roaring proclamation of “F**k that, I don’t live here to work!” It’s a mix of alt rock and country in the best way possible, segueing into a blistering guitar solo as he shuns that 9 to 5 lifestyle.
“Love & War” is a driving and catchy uptempo that finds the singer-songwriter proclaiming that “All is fair in love and war,” while “Good Things Never Last” is a soulful and bluesy rompy that shows off a totally new and unexpected side to Moore’s voice.
The album wraps with the one-two punch of “Take What You Can Get,” a breezy and optimistic look ahead, and “Only Me,” a rootsy pop-country search for kindred spirits. It’s a fitting closing note for Solitary Tracks, finding Moore no longer a lone wolf, but instead, in search of a new pack.
For Kip Moore, Solitary Tracks represents a transformation of both an artist and a man, and the result is a powerful and sometimes unexpected collection that is sure to delight old and new fans alike.
Solitary Tracks 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/2025/01/kip-moore-bad-spot.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-02-28 01:03:482025-02-28 21:45:21Kip Moore: ‘Solitary Tracks’ Album Review
Chase Matthew releases his third studio album, CHASE,out now, February 21st, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.
With a unique sound and an incredible story, Chase Matthew has quickly become one of Nashville’s fastest rising stars. On his third album, the simply titled CHASE, Matthew continues to perfect his own brand of country music.
For the Nashville native and Warner Music artist, CHASE represents the next logical step in his career, showing his growth as both a singer and songwriter. The album features thirteen new songs, nine of which Matthew wrote or co-wrote. Other writers on the album include some of the genre’s biggest names, including Brock Berryhill, Ashley Gorley, Michael Tyler, Parker Welling, and more.
Throughout CHASE, Matthew samples hip hop beats, rock guitars, country riffs, and radio-ready pop in a way that somehow works perfectly. Much like megastars Kane Brown, Sam Hunt, and Jason Aldean, Chase Matthew has crafted a uniquely single-ready sound.
The album opens with the earwormy “Drives My Truck,” a catchy and roaring ode to a girl who looks even more attractive behind the wheel of his favorite truck. It’s the perfect opening track, immediately grabbing a listener and setting up what’s to come.
“She’s burning that gas, smoking those tires // Setting this old boy’s heart on fire // She gets me just like it, all jacked up // My baby drives me crazy when she drives my truck”
“Waiting On You” and “No Name Roads” follow similar suit, catchy lyrics over radio-ready melodies that are sure to make Matthew a huge star. “Missin’ Me Missin’ You” is also pop-country perfection, finding him committed to being someone’s ex and not turning back to the relationship.
One of the album’s immediate standouts is “Heart Half Empty,” featuring Lauren Alaina. On the gorgeous breakup ballad, the pair channel some of the greatest duets of all time, trading verses over their broken hearts.
“Need you after one too many // Three shots to try forgetting // All the reasons we didn’t work out// Getting lost in the whiskey cloud// I’m sure I’ll be back tomorrow // Still drinking about what we used to be // With a glass half full // But a heart half empty “
Breakups are definitely a prevalent theme on CHASE, weaving through songs like “Backroads of my Mind,” “You Turn,” and “I Don’t Wanna Know.” While the latter is a hip-hop inspired dedication to ignorance being bliss, “Backroads” is a driving and catchy country-rock anthem.
“You’re tearing up the backroads of my mind // Your memory’s driving me crazy // And ever since the night we said goodbye // It’s all I think about baby // I see you at every turn, every light, Every inch of outskirt, red dirt, we’d ride // You cross my heart like a county line // You’re tearin’ up the backroads of my mind.”
While Matthew is definitely a superstar on uptempo tracks, his heart and talent are on full display on some of the album’s slower and more introspective moments. “Driving Through My Hometown” is a gorgeous piece of nostalgia that finds the young songwriter traveling through his hometown and musing over the memories there. Likewise, “If I Had Wings” finds him longing for wings to pay a special visit to Heaven.
Likewise, “Sunday Clothes” finds him sitting in a pew, heartbreakingly mourning the unexpected loss of a friend. Lyrically, it’s stunning, evoking images of a young man lost and filled with loss. “Here sitting in a front row pew, Tears raining on these old boots, Suffocating in a collared shirt, While I’m waiting to carry you out of this church,” He sings. “Man, we shouldn’t be here today, You got me cussing in and out of this place, You’ve been saying this is where I need to go, But Saturdays ain’t made for Sunday clothes.“
The album ends with “No Way Around It,” a driving uptempo about the struggle that comes with trying to move on after a breakup. “If there was a you fix, I woulda found it,” He growls, unable to find closure. “But I’m going through it, cause there ain’t no way around it.“ It’s the perfect bookend to “Drives My Truck,” ending the album on a high note similar to the way it began.
Country Swag Picks:
Heart Half Empty featuring Lauren Alaina
No Way Around It
No Name Roads
Drives My Truck
CHASE Tracklist:
Drives My Truck (Chase Matthew, Brock Berryhill, Taylor Phillips)
Missin’ Me Missin’ You (Chase Matthew, Brock Berryhill, Taylor Phillips, Lydia Vaughan)
CHASE 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/2025/02/chase-matthew-chase-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-02-21 01:12:332025-02-21 01:12:33Chase Matthew: ‘CHASE’ – Album Review
The War And Treaty share brand new album Plus One, officially out now, February 14th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
There is no one like The War And Treaty. Composed of husband and wife duo, Michael and Tanya Trotter, the band effortlessly blends uncanny soul with country instrumentation, stunning harmonies, and unique sounds.
On Plus One, out now, the Michigan natives share eighteen new tracks that are uniquely them. Produced primarily by Michael and released via Mercury Nashville, the album offers listeners a blend of passion and pain, hope and heartbreak.
“We see this record as an open invitation to be a part of what we’re doing—it came from wanting to be the hope we believe people need right now, as well as the hope that we need for ourselves,” shares Tanya in a statement. “Too often we feel all alone in this world, and when we feel alone it can be easy to succumb to despair,” Michael adds. “One of our main intentions with this album is to inspire people to share themselves with others, and open themselves up to the possibility of being loved.”
There’s no lead singer in the duo, with each taking lead throughout the album, trading verses like a well-rehearsed dance and harmonizing effortlessly over music that takes listeners on a true aural journey.
The album’s first track, “Love and Whiskey” is an immediate attention grabber, its opening horns and Gospel-tinted harmonies informing listeners that they’re in for something truly special. Co-written with Miranda Lambert, they explore a love that runs both hot and cold. “We’ve been friends with Miranda for a while, and we all got together and decided to write a song about how Michael and I work through those times when we’re not getting along,” Tanya explains. “In the past we’ve been told our sound wasn’t radio-friendly, but over time we started getting attention from country radio,” says Michael. “We’ve been seeing a lot of new artists pushing the envelope as far as what country music can be, so we decided, ‘Why not join them, and push it our own way?’”
While The War And Treaty stick to common themes of love and heartbreak, they venture into sounds and styles rarely heard convincingly in country music. Yet, for the duo, they each sound more authentic than the next. While “Stealing a Kiss” has hints of old school R&B, “Teardrops in the Rain” is a gorgeous piano ballad that wouldn’t sound out of place on a John Legend album. “Lead Me Home” pays homage to the John Denver classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” while “I Can’t Let You Go” finds Michael absolutely spitting fire on a rapped verse.
“Skyscraper” is a hip-hop inspired breakup anthem that immediately stands out. The track, which features vocals from both their daughter, Courtney, and Michael’s mother, Deborah, takes a huge musical risk that absolutely pays off. “When you look up at all those skyscrapers in New York City, you don’t usually think about what it took to build them,” says Michael. “We know that sometimes it takes a lot of pain and struggle and loneliness to get to where you’re meant to be, so we wrote that song to remind everyone that we’re all beautiful skyscrapers with a story to tell.”
Alternatively, “Can I Get An Amen?” is a stomping and soulful Muscle Shoals-inspired romp that takes listeners to church. Here, their relationship is on full display as they trade verses over horns and fiddles in a way that is impassioned and inspired. “The whole song came from being thankful for the seven days a week I get to spend with Tanya, and all the good that can come when I really open up and let her in,” Michael shared.
“Carried Away” follows in a similar vein as they slide from pedal steel to groovy R&B, looking at their marriage and the strong foundation upon which it’s been built. “The most important part about nailing that song was making sure that Tanya and I were in the same room, vibing off each other,” Michael recalls in a statement. “We put our foreheads together and left that space between our lips, and then just moved together like the ocean.”
“Save Me,” “Home,” and “Love Light” are all gorgeous ballads, celebrating the different aspects of a relationship. While “Love Light” is sparse and lyrically simple, their harmonies are truly unmatched as they proclaim endless and enduring love. Alternatively, “Home” offers a poignant confession that allows MIchael to shine vocally.
“I was in a place // Where only Heaven speaks // And the Angels there // They all notice me // That’s when I knew // I’m right where I belong // ‘Cause aren’t we all just trying to // Find our way back // Home”
“Drink From Me” finds the pair collaborating with legendary bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings, while “Reminisce” is a clever spin on a breakup song. It tells the tale of the family members who become collateral damage when a relationship falls apart.
“There’s no room in your life // For me right now so I’ll fly // Away in the dead of night // Starry skies in the summertime // I will pray for you // Hope someday when I see you // You’ll have happiness // And we can sit down on a park bench and reminisce”
While The War And Treaty shines on ballads, they are also incredible on the more rousing tunes, as evidenced on “Mr. Fun,” “Love Is On Fire” and “Tunnel Vision.” While “Mr. Fun” is almost haunting with its circus-like pianos, the song truly allows Tanya’s vocals to shine. Meanwhile, “Tunnel Vision” allows them to celebrate what they do best. “I started writing that song during the pandemic, which reminded us how we need to stay focused on doing what brings us joy,” says Michael. “It’s about coming out of that experience with a victorious mindset and telling the world, ‘We’ve got a goal in mind, and we’re not going to let anyone or anything get in our way.’”
Plus One ends with “Glorious Ones,” a stirring and poignant look at life, both in the moment and at the end “Do you see // How far we’ve come // Two broken hearts // Become one // Like a screaming eagle // Soars in the sun // I have found love // In a glorious one“
For The War And Treaty, Plus One is truly a labor of love, showing off their love for each other and the music they get to make together.
Country Swag Picks:
Skyscraper
Love Like Whiskey
Can I Get An Amen
Reminisce
Call You By Your Name
Plus One Track List:
Love Like Whiskey (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter, Jesse Frasure and Miranda Lambert)
Skyscraper (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Can I Get An Amen (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter and Jonathan Singleton)
Called You By Your Name (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Stealing A Kiss (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Teardrops In The Rain (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Leads Me Home (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Carried Away (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Drink From Me ft. Billy Strings (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Reminisce (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Save Me (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Love Is On Fire (Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter and Jonathan Singleton)
I Can’t Let You Go (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
Home (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Love Light (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Mr. Fun (Michael Trotter Jr.)
Tunnel Vision (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter)
The Glorious Ones (Michael Trotter Jr.)
The War And Treaty share new album, ‘Plus One’ 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 War And Treaty releases.
Plus One 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/2025/02/the-war-and-treaty-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-02-14 13:33:322025-02-14 13:33:32The War And Treaty: ‘Plus One’ – Album Review
Ty Myers shares debut album, The Select, officially out now, January 24th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
With a powerfully soulful rasp way beyond his 17 years, country newcomer Ty Myers is already one of the most buzzed about new artists in the genre. Today, the Austin, TX native released his debut album, The Select, which features 16 new songs. Twelve of the tracks were solo writes by the mega-talent, showcasing his skill as both an artist and a vocalist.
The Select’s title is a nod to Le Select, a Parisian restaurant oft-visited by Ernest Hemingway, one of Myers’ favorite writers. From that anecdote alone, it’s clear that Myers is wise beyond his years and one listen to his debut album just solidifies that. The singer-songwriter is clearly an old soul, stories about drinking, regret, and eternal love weaving its way through the LP. As talented as he is as a singer, he’s also a great storyteller, making much of the content believable despite his youth.
“It’s a culmination of everything since I started. That’s kind of how all first albums are, I guess, but I started writing when I was around six or seven and have been writing ever since,” Myers revealed to Holler Country. “I’ve had the opportunity to choose songs from way back then, songs I wrote a couple years ago and some songs I wrote the day before I recorded it.”
The album opens with “Ends of the Earth,” a bluesy and soulful song that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Chris Stapleton. With its gritty vocals and stirring guitar riffs, Myers proclaims his undying love to someone special.
For Myers, there are a few themes that permeate the album, ranging from enduring love to undeniable heartbreak, as well as drinking and blue-collared story songs. The unique power of his voice echoes over each track, weaving each song into a cohesive and impassioned LP.
Heartbreak weaves its way through tracks like “But Me,” “Love is Two Faced,” “Somewhere Over You,” and “Thought It Was Love.” On “Two Faced,” he grapples with the surprise that comes from the ending of a seemingly perfect relationship, while “Thought It Was Love” finds him telling a similar story. “Too Far Gone” is one of the best heartbreak songs on the album, chock full of smoky, darker, and downtuned guitars that’s a perfect kissoff track for a live show.“I don’t know where I went wrong, woke up on a Saturday and found you gone…” He growls. “Keep on rollin’ til you’re too far gone.”
“Let ‘Em Talk” finds him bucking the opinions of others, encouraging a new lover to quell the voices of the naysayers, while “Real World Now” is a twangy and peppy ode to working hard for your family. “Worry is a Sickness” is an immediate standout, a building midtempo that finds him impassioned and lovesick.
“Firefly” is another standout, a stunning piano-laden ballad about someone who lights up the room “like a thousand little stars in the sky.” This is a surefire way to get fans swooning with its unique musical melody that recalls the Bruce Springsteen hit, “Secret Garden.”
“Can’t Hold Me Down” is a swampy, Marc Broussard-esque ode to being a ramblin’ man, while “Never Get Tired (Of Loving You)” is an uptempo celebration of love that never gets boring or stale.
Myers pays homage to his musical hero, John Mayer, on “Man on the Side,” which was co-written by Mayer and Zac Brown Band’s Clay Cook. It’s heavy on the guitar, in the best way possible.
“He’s my number one biggest hero ever,” Myers said of Mayer to Apple Music’s Country Risers Radio podcast with Ward Guenther. “I love the fact that he’s changed so drastically throughout his career. He did what he wanted to do, and that’s what I gravitate towards. He did what he wanted and made the world bend to what he wanted to do.”
Despite not even being old enough to legally drink, Myers has a unique ability to write a whiskey-drenched drinking or heartbreak song. “Drinkin’ Alone” is a lush ballad that finds him determined to not leave a bar alone, while, “Drunk Love” finds him lost under the neon lights and looking for love, while longing for something more than lusty alcohol-fueled nights.
“I’m tired of drunk love // You can only feel the lust when your body’s numb // Another one leads to keepin’ the lights on // Clothes off, decisions you regret // When the sun comes up // Cause it’s nothin’ to speak of // I’m tired of drunk love”
The album ends with“Tie That Binds,” a sparse pickup tune that starts at a bar and leads to forever. “Cuz I’ve been lookin’ for a woman like you for quite some time// I’d be the happiest man in the world to call you mine,” Myers muses. “I think you found a tie that binds.”
Ty Myers’s The Select is out now via Nashville/Columbia records.
Country Swag Picks:
Worry is a Sickness
Man on the Side
Real World Now
Let ‘Em Talk
Too Far Gone
The Select Track List:
Ends of the Earth (Ty Myers)
Real World Now (Ty Myers)
Worry is a Sickness (Ty Myers)
Let ‘Em Talk (Ty Myers, Anderson East, Trent Dabbs)
Love Is Two Faced (Ty Myers)
Somewhere Over You (Allen Shamblin, Michael Reid)
Never Get Tired (of Loving You) (Ty Myers)
Firefly (Ty Myers)
Can’t Hold Me Down (Ty Myers)
Man On The Side (John Mayer, Clay Cook)
Thought It Was Love (Ty Myers)
Too Far Gone (Ty Myers, Jessi Alexander, Rhett Akins)
Drunk Love (Ty Myers)
But Me (Ty Myers)
Drinkin’ Alone (Ty Myers)
Tie That Binds (Ty Myers)
Ty Myers shares new debut album, ‘The Select,’ 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 Ty Myers releases.
The Select 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.
Kane Brown shares brand new album The High Road, officially out now, January 24th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
When it comes to journeying down paths untaken, The High Road finds Kane Brown on a new musical path. For the Georgia native, the LP is his most ambitious and musically diverse project to date, allowing him to stretch himself thematically, melodically, lyrically, and even collaboratively.
On the follow up to 2022’s Different Man, Brown explores different sounds, pushing boundaries beyond his typical sound and style. “This is by far my favorite album, from the sequencing to the songwriting to the different sounds. There’s definitely a song for everybody,” he says in a statement. “My other albums, I always kind of, you know, cared what people thought about. And this album, we don’t… we gave our everything into the songs.”
The eighteen song collection features fifteen tracks co-written by Brown alongside of Nashville’s biggest names including HARDY, Morgan Wallen, Josh Hoge, Jacob Davis, Josh Osborne, and more. He also enlists a wide array of collaborators from various genres including his wife, Katelyn, Khalid, Marshmello, Jelly Roll, and Brad Paisley.
Having co-written most of the album’s new tracks, it’s clear that the songs are special to Brown. “Every song is important to me and every collaboration means something personal to me,” He tells the AP. “I’m so incredibly proud of this record.”
The album kicks off with the driving and earwormy, “I Am,” a powerful admission of fear and uncertainty that’s paired with a catchy beat that echoes with resilience and determination to succeed.
“I’m scared of growing up // I’m scared of growing old // I’m scared of falling short // I’m scared of the unknown // Oh, I’m burning on the edge // But I know right where I stand // I know the road ahead // Will make me who I am”
“Fiddle in the Band” is up next, a clear standout that mixes typical country fiddles with stomping drums on the ode to not fitting into one specific box. In fact, it feels like the type of song many music fans can listen to, jumping genres from country to pop to hip hop to rock, all within one playlist.
“I’m just like you // I was raised on the radio // From Memphis blues to Hollywood rock ’n’ roll // Took a trip to Music City // Brought a little bit of everything with me // I’m a little bit of bass, 808s, a little bit of clap your hands // I’m a little bit of six strings on a backbeat // With a fiddle in the band”
Collaborations also play a big and genre-bending role throughout The High Road, as Brown taps into his inner R&B balladeer on “Rescue,” featuring Khalid. Meanwhile, “Miles On It” features Marshmello and techno, dance beats, while “Things We Quit” with Brad Paisley is a tongue-in-cheek pure country anthem.
Brown also pairs with Jelly Roll on the especially poignant, “Haunted,” which finds them trading verses at their lowest. Inspired by a writing session in an old hotel that felt supernatural, Brown and Jelly Roll reveal a new depth of pain and the struggles they face on the road. It’s a dark and moody ballad that deals with the demons that come with fame.
“‘Cause I’m haunted by the voice in my head // I’m haunted by the taste of that lead // I’ve wanted too many times to // Jump off of the edge // Thinking I was better off dead // I’m haunted only every other night // I’m haunted and I wish I knew why // I’ve wanted too many times to be // Gone by the morning // If I’m honest // Yeah, I’m haunted”
Brown slows things down and brings in some romance by pairing with his wife, Katelyn on two very different duets. There’s “Do Us Apart,” a warm and sweeping ballad that would make a perfect wedding song or bookend to their previous duet, “Thank God.” Alternatively, there’s “Body Talk,” a smoky and sultry R&B laden celebration of all the ways in which two bodies can “talk.”
“Backseat Driver” is truly a special moment, as the father of three details the innocence that comes from riding in the car with his child. Here, he muses over his daughter’s sweet and simple questions, hoping those moments last forever. “It’s crazy all the things she sees on the side of the road, Out of that window beside her I wish I could be more like her,” He sings, “My little dangling feet, pretty in pink, backseat driver.”
“Gorgeous” and “3” also show a softer side to the Georgia native, with the latter celebrating the ways in which his favorite number has played a role in his life, ranging from the size of his family to his baseball jersey to the number of kids he has. Meanwhile, “Gorgeous” is an apt title for the sparse and sentimental song, praising someone that’s beautiful both inside and out.
Brown dabbles with other popular songs in unique ways on The High Road, mixing in the Phil Collins classic, “In the Air Tonight” with his own lyrics on “I Can Feel It.” Likewise, he answers Jennifer Nettles’ desperate pleas from the Sugarland song, “Stay,” with his own song of the same name, telling the sordid tale of infidelity from the male perspective as he implores her not to leave.
Other tunes that find Brown sampling new styles include “Says I Can,” a fun ode to liquid courage and “Back Around,” a twangy and peppy two stepper that is all about karma catching up with someone. Equally sunny and delightful is “Beside Me,” an almost-beachy inspired jaunt that wouldn’t feel out of place for Kenny Chesney or the Zac BrownBand.
The LP ends with the startlingly honest, “When You Forget,” a beautiful tribute to his grandfather who passed away after battling Alzheimer’s.
“Your memory’s fading // It’s breaking my heart // If you look in that mirror // And wonder who you are // You’re still our hero // You’re still the man // A hell of a father // And a damn good friend // You could fix any problem // With a wrench or some words // The backbone of our family // In the front of that church // You kept every promise // For worse or for better // I’m writing you this // So, when you forget // You can remember”
For a consistent superstar like Kane Brown, it would be easy to rest on his laurels and stick to a formula that’s been successful. Yet, on The High Road, he does just the opposite, taking risks and experimenting with new sounds and styles. And while it may have been a gamble, it certainly paid off.
Country Swag Picks:
Fiddle in the Band
Backseat Driver
Haunted ft. Jelly Roll
Miles On It
I Am
The High Road Track List:
I Am
Fiddle in the Band
Backseat Driver
Miles On It with Marshmello
Says I Can
3
Rescue with Khalid
Haunted with Jelly Roll
Star a Fire
Body Talk with Katelyn Brown
Gorgeous
Beside Me
I Can Feel It
Things We Quit with Braid Paisley
Back Around
Stay
Do Us Apart with Katelyn Brown
When You Forget
Kane Brown shares new album, ‘The High Road,’ 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 Kane Brown releases.
The High Road 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/2024/11/kane-brown-katelyn-brown-body-talk.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-01-24 01:13:392025-01-24 01:13:39Kane Brown: ‘The High Road’ – Album Review
LANCO shares brand new sophomore album We’re Gonna Make It, officially out now, January 17th on all streaming platforms. Learn more and listen to the new album below.
Ten years into their tenure as a band, LANCO returns with their new album, We’re Gonna Make It, the follow up to 2018’s debut Hallelujah Nights. The sophomore release marks their first with Riser House Records, and a musical rebirth of sorts over the course of 14 new tracks.
Of the new album, founder and frontman Brandon Lancaster reveals, “Country music has always had a lot of pain in it. When I’m writing a song, I acknowledge that pain, but I also believe in restoration and redemption, and I wanted to explore that on this record.”
In many ways, the album tells the tale of a relationship, traveling through the highs and lows of real life, but proclaiming victory through it all. “There are two characters you are following throughout this entire record,” Lancaster shares in a statement. “You’ve heard a little bit about her, you’ve heard a little bit about him, and you’ve heard about their friends and kids. But ultimately this album is about these two people, who are there for each other through fire and brimstone, come hell or high water.”
Opening with the title track, a twangy and jubilant ode to overcoming obstacles, is the perfect way for LANCO to introduce their newest chapter. Having overcome much since their debut release, the almost Appalachian-inspired ode opens the album on a poignant and optimistic note towards the future, building to a momentous chorus of gang vocals proclaiming “we’re gonna make it!”
The band, composed of Lancaster, multi-instrumentalist Jared Hampton, bassist Chandler Baldwin, guitarist Tim Aven and drummer Tripp Howell, continue with thirteen additional tracks that combine pop, country, rock, and Americana, all centered around honesty and relatable lyrics. There are hints of nostalgia and broken hearts mixed with triumph and hope, all weaved together in a uniquely cohesive package.
Nostalgia for simpler times finds its place on songs like “Memories (We Didn’t Know),” “Million Dollar Memory,” and the especially poignant, “Beer With Younger Me.” While “Memories” is a look at those special moments that don’t seem important until they’re gone, “Beer” is a standout, much in the vein of Brad Paisley’s classic “Letter to Me.”
“If I could sit down and have a beer with younger me, I would first just listen. And then I’d tell them to not be afraid of making a wrong decision, ” Lancaster says of the track. “Because you learn from all the things you’ve done, both your mistakes and your wins.”
“Low Class Lovers” and “Sounds of a Saturday Night” are two of the album’s most anthemic and upbeat tracks. While the former is a celebration of the fact that money doesn’t lead to happiness, “Saturday Night” is a roaring, pop-influenced celebration of the weekend with its anthemic chorus and instrumentation.
“Yeah, Seger on the speakers teachin’ us night moves // Yeah, got a wild in your eyes, no tellin’ what you might do // Got my heartbeat beatin’ like a kickdrum // When you’re dancin’ in thе pale moonlight // Woo-hoo, don’t it sound so right? // Yeah, that’s the sound of a Saturday night”
Love songs are also prevalent on the LP, in all forms. “Where I Belong” is a catchy and melodic ode to finding home in someone else’s arms, while “Come Over” soars over Eagles-esque slide guitars on the invitation to a romantic rendezvous. “You’ll Always Be” is an ode to the type of love that endures and changes, while remaining true to where it began.
“You’ll always be that dancin’ in the bar // At two in the morning while they’re kickin’ us out // You’ll always be that tattooed arm // Makin’ waves out the window with the headlight out // Yeah, I know time will paint some lines on the face of you and me // But in the end you’ve always been the better half I need // You’ll always be // Days move fast and years fly by // You can’t go back and you can’t rewind // But every night lookin’ in your eyes // You take me there again”
Another clear standout is “We Grew Up Together,” featuring vocals and harmonies from Christian artist Cory Asbury. The song is a simple look at how parenthood transforms parents, forcing them to grow up along with their children. “We often think our parents have it all together, but they’re just people that met each other, fell in love, and then had a kid. I realized in raising my own children that we’re all learning as we go,” he says. “There’s so many times that I’m trying to instill a lesson in my kids, and I’m thinking at the same time of how it applies to me.”
“You learned to walk I learned to walk in my faith // You learned to talk I learned the things I shouldn’t say // You ain’t the only one who’s gonna make mistakes // God made you, you made me better // We both won’t stay young forever // You don’t know it now but one day you’ll find out // That we grew up together”
The album ends with the sparse and intimate “Nothing That You Could Do,” a promise of love that’s unshakeable and unbreakable. Of the track, Lancaster reveals, “The song is a set of musical vows, connecting the dots of a love story that began with the album’s opening track.”
Throughout the new album, LANCO takes listeners on a relationship journey with a couple who have been bumped and bruised, but are sure to make it in the end. With the release of We’re Gonna Make It, the same can be said for the talented quintet.
Country Swag Picks:
Where I Belong
We Grew Up Together
Beer With Younger Me
You’ll Always Be
Sounds of a Saturday Night
We’re Gonna Make It Track List:
We’re Gonna Make It – Brandon Lancaster / Chandler Baldwin / Tripp Howell / Jared Hampton / Ben Williams
We’re Gonna Make It 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/2024/12/lanco-sophomore-album.jpg6301200Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2025-01-17 01:20:402025-01-17 14:17:13LANCO: ‘We’re Gonna Make It’ – Album Review
