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.

brothers-osborne

Brothers Osborne: Self-Titled Album Review

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Brothers Osborne’s brand new self-titled album is out now, September 15th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2015 with “Stay A Little Longer,” Brothers Osborne, made up of real life brothers John and TJ, have been one of country music’s most mysterious and enigmatic acts. Now, the mega-talented duo is pulling back the curtain with the release of their self-titled album, Brothers Osborne, their fourth full length on EMI Records Nashville.

For the Maryland natives, the release represents a seismic shift. They chose to move on from producer Jay Joyce, who helped craft the sound of their first three albums, to Mike Elizondo, in order to create what John describes as a “sounds first” album.

“We made a conscious decision very early on to make a hard turn into territories where we’ve never been before,” John continues. “Mike Elizondo is an avid instrument collector, specifically of guitar pedals and synthesizers, and we wanted to incorporate that. The song that bridges the gap between this album and our last is ‘Younger Me,’ which was very synth heavy. That’s the tie that binds Skeletons and the new album.”

While they dabble with new sounds on the LP, they never stray too far from their signatures: TJ’s distinct vocals and John’s incredible guitar prowess. “We’ve always had a lot of mystery intentionally around the things we have done, but with this album, we decided to be all in,” shares TJ. “And doing that reminded me of what it was like when I first started playing music, when it was an outlet for my angst or just a way to have fun.”

Of the album’s eleven new tracks, all were co-written by the brothers, who also enlisted the likes of Elizondo, Casey Beathard, Corey Crowder, Miranda Lambert, and Jessie Jo Dillon. Lambert also lends her vocals to “We Ain’t Good at Breaking Up,” a steamy track about a couple who just can’t seem to quit each other. “We wanted this album to be just John and I — which is why we’re self-titling it — but Miranda’s voice is like an instrument,” TJ reveals of the decision to include her on the song. “You don’t hear a lot of female vocals on our songs, and it helped create a tone and a texture.” 

A female background vocalist also adds a special layer to “Goodbye’s Kickin’ In,” a dark and almost 70’s-rock infused immediate album highlight. With it’s groovy baseline and bluesy rock sonic profile, the track about moving on after a breakup is something special. Likewise, “Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That” and “Love You Too” finds them experimenting with similarly new sounds. On “Ain’t,” there’s another hint of 70’s influence as they lyrically seize the day.

“Ain’t no time for blowing that smoke // No time for messing around // No small town talking out of both sides of your mouth // Don’t want a song that don’t turn me on…Half empty whiskey glass // Ain’t nobody got time for that”

Lyrically, much of the album centers on gratitude, optimism, and inclusion, fitting for the brothers who have experienced huge life changes as of late, with TJ coming out as gay in 2021 while John and his wife, Lucie Silvas, welcomed twins earlier this year. One such track is “Who Says You Can’t Have Everything,” a stirring and breezy mid-tempo that has a great singalong element. “If this ain’t rich then someone’s lying, If this takes money, I ain’t buying, I’m alive and kicking, laid back and living the dream,” TJ croons, his voice laced with emotion. “Who says you can’t have everything?”

“Nobody’s Nobody” is a powerful ode to inclusion, recognizing the importance of differences. “Sun goes up, sun goes down // It takes all kinds of kinds to make this world go ‘round,” they harmonize. “One thing I’ve learned out on the road is // Nobody’s nobody.”

There are also moments of levity on the album, with tracks like the alluring “New Bad Habit,” the funky “Might As Well Be Me” and the airy “Sun Ain’t Even Gone Down Yet.” While “Sun” is a playful take on day-drinking, “Might As Well Be Me” is a driving and radio-ready up-tempo celebration of seizing the day and raising some hell.

“Somebody gotta shake things up // Somebody gotta shut things down // Somebody gotta strike a match // Break the ice and buy the first round // Somebody gotta go all night // Somebody gotta dig down deep // Mean what they say // Say what they mean // Yeah, the way I see // Might as well be me”

“Back Home” is a dreamy mid-tempo which finds the brothers longing for home while they’re out on the road. It’s a stirring and relatable moment for anyone who’s ever longed to escape a small town, but then found themselves longing for that simpler way of life. “I was living just to make it, so I was dying to escape it,” TJ muses. “It turns out there ain’t nothing in the world like being gone, to make you wanna go back home.”

The album’s closing track, “Rollercoaster (Forever and a Day)” may be one of the duo’s most sonically unique: a full-blown piano ballad with a string section. While it’s a poignant look at love and the fact that it’s not always perfect, it shows that John and TJ aren’t afraid to evolve and explore new sounds.  “It’s the most un-Brothers Osborne thing to do,” John teases. “And then we threw strings on it! We said, ‘F**k it. Whatever happens, happens.’”   

For Brothers Osborne, this LP is truly a special offering, allowing the duo to go back to their roots, while also spreading their musical wings. “This is a defining record at this point in our career, where we needed to put it all on our shoulders,” TJ says. “And we did. Like it was when we were growing up, it’s just John and me.”

Brothers Osborne Track List:

  1. Who Says You Can’t Have Everything (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Casey Beathard)
  2. Nobody’s Nobody (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Mike Elizondo, Kendell Marvel)
  3. Might As Well Be Me (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Corey Crowder, Julian Bunetta)
  4. Sun Ain’t Even Gone Down Yet (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Corey Crowder)
  5. Goodbye’s Kickin’ In (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Lee Miller, Mike Elizondo)
  6. Love You Too (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jesse Frasure)
  7. New Bad Habit (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Lee Miller)
  8. We Ain’t Good At Breaking Up (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert)
  9. Back Home (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Lee Miller)
  10. Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jaren Johnston, Lee Miller)
  11. Rollercoaster (Forever And A Day) (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jamie Hartman)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Might As Well Be Me
  2. Who Says You Can’t Have Everything 
  3. Goodbye’s Kickin’ In
  4. Rollercoaster (Forever and a Day)

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

Brothers Osborne will be hitting the stage at New York City’s Pier 17 on October 5.

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

Brothers Osborne 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.

Here is Stephen Wilson Jr.’s Debut Album ‘søn of dad”

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Stephen Wilson Jr’s  brand new debut double album, søn of dad is out now, September 15th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Big Loud Records recording artist, Stephen Wilson Jr. is making his album debut with a double album called søn of dad. The special record features six songs from Wilson’s Bon Aqua EP, as well as, sixteen new songs that add to the singer-songwriter’s growing catalog. Inspired by his relationship with his late father and his life so far, the debut album speaks to Wilson as both an artist and as a human.

“Writing and making this album has been very therapeutic for me to learn who I am and what my existence looks like after my father. Because life has to go on,” Wilson says. “I’m living my own life, but it’s like his death bookended what life he should have had onto mine and I’m carrying it around like a train car.”

A true tribute to his dad, søn of dad is a monumental record for anyone who has every experienced a love and a loss so great. Listen to the record below!

søn of dad Track List:

  1. the devil (Stephen Wilson Jr.)
  2. Cuckoo (Stephen Wilson Jr., Travis Meadows, Jeffrey Steele)
  3. billy (Stephen Wilson Jr.)
  4. patches (Stephen Wilson Jr., Jeffrey Steele)
  5. American Gothic (feat. Hailey Whitters) (Stephen Wilson Jr., Benjamin West, Hailey Whitters)
  6. Werewolf (Stephen Wilson Jr., Bryan Simpson)
  7. Mighty Beast (Stephen Wilson Jr., Ryan Necci)
  8. Year to Be Young 1994 (Stephen Wilson Jr., Benjamin West)
  9. twisted (Stephen Wilson Jr., Jeremy Spillman, Connor Thuotte)
  10. Father’s Son (Stephen Wilson Jr., Josh Kerr, Nick Wayne)
  11. Grief Is Only Love (Stephen Wilson Jr., Jeffrey Steele)
  12. Hang in There (Stephen Wilson Jr.)
  13. Calico Creek (Stephen Wilson Jr., Jesse Murphy, Michael Wilkes)
  14. Holler from the Holler (Stephen Wilson Jr., Craig Wiseman)
  15. Hometown (Stephen Wilson Jr., Marv Green, Tony Lane)
  16. Not Letting Go (Stephen Wilson Jr., Andrew DeRoberts)
  17. For What It’s Worth (Stephen Wilson Jr., Benjamin West)
  18. All the Wars from Now On (Stephen Wilson Jr.)
  19. kid (Stephen Wilson Jr., Lori McKenna, Benjamin West)
  20. Henry (Stephen Wilson Jr., Tony Lane)
  21. You (Stephen Wilson Jr., Bryan Simpson)
  22. The Beginning (Stephen Wilson Jr.)
Stephen-wilson-jr-album

Stephen Wilson Jr.’s new album, søn of dad 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 Stephen Wilson Jr. announcements and releases.

To keep up with Stephen Wilson Jr., follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

søn of dad 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.

dan-and-shay-save-me

Dan + Shay: Bigger Houses Album Review

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Dan + Shay’s brand new album, Bigger Houses is out now, September 15th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Ten years since “19 You + Me” skyrocketed them to stardom, Dan + Shay are back with their most impressive release to date. While Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, have admitted to nearly breaking up after their 2021 tour left them both bitter and burnt out, the pair managed to rekindle their love of music, and the result is their fifth studio LP, Bigger Houses.

All but one of the album’s twelve tracks were co-written by either (or both) Dan + Shay, with co-writers including Adam Doleac, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley, ERNEST, Lori McKenna, and more. Due to this, the album is true to the singer-songwriters’ roots, with the majority of tracks falling into the late 90’s/ early ‘00s type of harmonic country that was a trademark of groups like Lonestar, Emerson Drive, and Rascal Flatts.

“Some of our records have been more pop- or hip-hop/R&B-infused,” Smyers shares, “But on this record, I wanted to make tracks that we could hop up at any bar anywhere with our live band and play the songs as they were recorded. Ultimately, this music, this whole album, is something that I’ll be able to look back on in a decade or two and be really proud of the way it turned out.”

Fiddle and slide guitar is prevalent on Bigger Houses, but never in a way that seems disingenuous. In fact, “We Should Get Married” may be one of the duo’s most true country songs, a tongue-in-cheek proposal that sashays away from their reputation as balladeers and instead takes them through a swinging, two stepper. “We should get married // Take it out to Vegas // Find a little chapel // Hire us an Elvis,” They muse, tongues firmly planted in cheek.

Likewise, “Neon Cowgirl” and “Heartbreak on the Map” continue to show the duo’s 90’s influence, channeling their inner Brooks and Dunn on “Cowgirl,” an encouragement anthem to a heartbroken girl in a bar. “Neon cowgirl, don’t you cry, don’t you know you were born to shine// Rain stops falling and hearts unbreak,” They croon “So let that cowboy ride away // It won’t be like this forever // Ain’t no storm that you can’t weather // Neon cowgirl, don’t you cry.”

Clever lyricism is a predominant theme on Bigger Houses, as Mooney and Smyers manage to put new stamps on old tropes. For example, on the summery album opener “Breakin’ Up with a Broken Heart,” the pair is moving on from a heartbreak, while “Missing Someone” puts them in the position of rebound lovers. “Save Me the Trouble” finds them imploring a girl not to let them fall in love, in order to avoid a broken heart. The track builds to a powerful bridge, Mooney’s vocals soaring into the stratosphere.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of a song that I am this one,” says Smyers of “Save Me the Trouble.” “We wanted to have something that was a real moment, and when we started writing this, it felt like it could be something big. I wanted every section to build, and even in the second chorus, when you’re like, ‘Okay, there’s no way it could possibly get any crazier,’ then Shay takes off even further.”

“From the Both of Us” is an especially beautiful and poignant moment that’s sure to be played at weddings for the rest of eternity. On the heart-swelling ballad, they promise a father to love his daughter forever. “I’m in love with your daughter // And I’ve been since the first time I saw her // I’ll ask her the question // If you give your blessing,” They harmonize. “When she takes my hand you can trust // I’ll love her enough for the both of us.”

Love and fate weave their way through songs like “Always Gonna Be,” “Then Again,” and “What Took You So Long.” While “Always Gonna Be” is a celebration of the things in life that are just meant to be, “Then Again” is like a modern day “Unanswered Prayers.” “There’s a few things I might’ve changed if God put me in charge,” Mooney muses. “Then again I would’ve never met you.”

The album’s closer and title track, “Bigger Houses” is an especially poignant moment, notably when considering that the duo almost hung up their microphones. On the stark ballad, they celebrate that life isn’t all about having the best things, and while the grass may appear greener elsewhere, that’s not what’s important.

“There’s always gonna be a higher high // You could chase for the rest of your life // Greener grass in the yard next doo r// Or a shined up Chevy little newer than yours // You’re never gonna fill an empty cup // If what you got’s still not enough // The thing about happiness I’ve found is It don’t live in bigger houses”

On Bigger Houses, Dan + Shay take listeners on a nostalgic country journey, chock full of clever lyrics, country instrumentation, and their patented harmonies and soaring vocals.

Bigger Houses Track List:

  1. Breakin’ Up With a Broken Heart – Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley
  2. Save Me The Trouble – Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Ashley Gorley, Jordan Minton, Jordan Reynolds
  3. Heartbreak On The Map – Dan Smyers, Jimmy Robbins, Ernest Keith Smith
  4. Always Gonna Be – Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Ashley Gorley, Jordan Minton, Jordan Reynolds
  5. For The Both of Us – Dan Smyers, Andy Albert, Jordan Reynolds
  6. Then Again – Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Andy Albert, Lori McKenna, Jordan Reynolds
  7. Heaven + Back – Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson
  8. What Took You So Long – Dan Smyers, Jordan Minton, Jordan Reynolds, Jimmy Robbins
  9. Missing Someone – Trannie Anderson, Adam Doleac, Dylan Guthro, Gordie Sampson
  10. We Should Get Married – Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Andy Albert
  11. Neon Cowgirl – Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Zach Crowell, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Gorley
  12. Bigger Houses – Dan Smyers, Andy Albert, Jordan Minton, Jordan Reynolds

Country Swag Picks:

  1. We Should Get Married
  2. Always Gonna Be
  3. For the Both of Us
  4. Heartbreak on the Map
dan-+-shay-bigger-houses

Dan + Shay’s new album, ‘Bigger Houses’ 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 Dan + Shay announcements and releases

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

To keep up with Dan + Shay, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

Bigger Houses 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-hall-debut-album

Here is Alex Hall’s Debut Album ‘Side Effects Of The Heart”

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Alex Hall’s brand new album, Side Effects Of The Heart is out now, September 15th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Monument records recording artist, Alex Hall is finally releasing new music! His debut album, Side Effects Of The Heart is out now features ten songs, including a collaboration with Brandy Clark. The record truly speaks to his undeniable talent as both a singer and as a songwriter.

“I’m so excited to finally announce my debut album, Side Effects Of The Heart,” shares Hall in a recent press release. “[Thea album is] a journey of my life story and stories from others I’ve picked up along the way. Leading with my heart first, the ups and downs of love and loss and the transitions between being single, getting married and having my first child is all woven into the fabric of this record. I’m looking forward to the world getting to hear it!”

Listen to Hall’s brand new album below!

Side Effects Of The Heart Track List:

  1. Side Effects Of The Heart
  2. Women and Horses ft. Brandy Clark
  3. Her To Here
  4. I Know A Guy
  5. Denim and Diamonds
  6. Radio Waves
  7. For The Love
  8. Easy On A Heart
  9. I’m Comin’ Back
  10. Dad Now
Alex-Hall-debut-album

Alex Hall’s debut album, ‘Side Effects Of The Heart’ 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 Alex Hall announcements and releases.

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

Side Effects Of The Heart 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.

Jon Langston: ‘Heart On Ice’ Debut Album Review

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Jon Langston’s new debut album, Heart On Ice is out now, September 8th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Ten years since the release of his first single, “Forever Girl,” Jon Langston has finally released his highly-anticipated debut album, Heart On Ice. While the introductory track was certified gold and he’s released other singles and EPs, this project marks his first full-length debut with 32 Bridge Entertainment/EMI Records Nashville.

Featuring fourteen new tracks, eleven of which the Georgia native co-wrote, the album allows Langston to flex his musical muscles, settling into a sound ten years in the making. “It’s like I got called up,” the former college football player admits. “Each artist has a different timing for that, but you dream of putting together a body of work that means something to you. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long… and you finally get to that point where you give it all you got.”

Heart On Ice allows Langston to look inwardly, reflective and introspective on tracks like “Granddaddy’s Watch” and “Where’s That Girl?,” while also showing off his wilder side on tracks like “Days in the 90’s”  and “I Ain’t Country” that better reflect his more raucous on-stage persona.

The aforementioned “Days in the 90’s” is a song-title-name-dropping party song that celebrates both the decade and the temperature. It’s a fun tune that, according to Langston, “feels just like the title sounds.” 

Likewise, “I Ain’t Country” features Travis Denning and is a simple ode to the fact that the duo is as country as they come. “You can say I’m just a redneck down in Tennessee // A beer drinking, country singing, SOB // Fire burning, hardworking, don’t ever quit,” They sing. “Boot wearing, Bible swearing, red clay kid // Call me what you want, think what you want of me // But you damn sure can’t say that I ain’t country”

Heartbreak is a common denominator through Heart on Ice, weaving its way through the title track, as well as songs like “Whiskey Does,” “Never Left Me,” “Where’s That Girl,” and “If You Ever Leave Atlanta.” Throughout these tracks, the singer-songwriter drowns his sorrow in the bottle (“She don’t love me anymore but whiskey does.”), attempts to move on, and finally resigns himself to being unable to visit old spots out of fear of her memory (“Let me know if you ever leave Atlanta”). Lastly, on the especially poignant “Wrong Side of the Bottle,” Langston stretches his vocal chops as he croons, “I’m trying to outrun her and outdrink a memory.”

It’s not all doom and gloom on the LP, with Langston finding unexpected new love on “Beer in a Bar” and looking forward to a bright future on “Dirt Roads & Diamonds.” He’s also ready to fight any ol’ cowboy for a woman’s love on “Ain’t No Cowboy,” while staying true to himself and the “symbol of the man I wanna be” on “Granddaddy’s Watch.”

 “My granddad was the most important person in my life,” He reveals. “He was always encouraging me, always making sure I was on the right path. And this watch reminds me to stay on that path.”

The album ends with the especially moving “May Magnolia,” a sparse and acoustic dedication to his young daughter. “We planted a magnolia tree in the yard when she was born, and every May, it starts blooming,” Langston says. “When I come home, I come down that driveway and see that magnolia tree, and that’s all I can think about on the road. It represents why I’m doing it, who I’m doing it for, and that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”

For Jon Langston, Heart on Ice may have taken awhile to get here, but it arrived at the perfect time. “This album is about putting your life on pause for reflection, healing, and growth. With each song you can find those Heart On Ice moments, whether it’s taking time for yourself with a day on the lake, or missing a loved one who reminds you of what kind of person you want to be. That’s what I did the past couple years. And that’s what I put into this album.”

Heart On Ice Track List:

  1. Heart On Ice (Nick Columbia, Jordan Gray, Jake Mitchell, Hunter Phelps)
  2. Beer In A Bar (Jon Langston, Sam Carter, Jody Stevens, Jordan Walker)
  3. I ain’t Country (Feat. Travis Denning) (Jon Langston, Brad Clawson, Jordan Rager, Brad Wagner)
  4. Whiskey Does (Jon Langston, Jordan Gray, Cole Taylor, Brad Wagner)
  5. Where’s That Girl (Jessi Alexander, Jordan Gray, Ben Hayslip)
  6. Never Left Me (Josh Dorr, Jordan Gray, Nate Jones)
  7. Dirt Roads & Diamonds (Jon Langston, Brad Clawson, Jordan Rager, Brad Wagner)
  8. Granddaddy’s Watch (Jon Langston, Jeb Gipson, Lynn Hutton)
  9. Day In The 90’s (Jon Langston, Chris Miller, Jody Stevens, Jordan Walker)
  10. Ain’t No Cowboy (Jon Langston, Jordan Gray, Brad Wagner)
  11. Better Off (Jon Langston, Jordan Gray, Nate Jones)
  12. If You Ever Leave Atlanta (Jon Langston, Brent Anderson, Lynn Hutton)
  13. Wrong Side Of The Bottle (Jon Langston, Benjy Davis, Jody Stevens, Jordan Walker)
  14. May Magnolia (Jon Langston, Jordan Fletcher, Austin Nivarel)*Produced by Jody Stevens, Jacob Rice and Brad Wagner

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Beer in a Bar
  2. Where’s That Girl
  3. Granddaddy’s Watch
  4. If You Ever Leave Atlanta
Jon-langston-debut-album

Jon Langston’s debut album, ‘Heart On Ice,’ 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 Jon Langston announcements and releases.

The singer-songwriter is currently supporting Luke Bryan on select tour dates and will headline his own tour this fall. For dates and more, visit his website here.

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

Heart On Ice 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.