It’s the best day of the week… New Music Friday! Today we see plenty of new releases included a deluxe album from Kelsea Ballerini on the one year anniversary of Unapologetically. Brett Eldredge gets us in to the Christmas spirit with a deluxe release of his holiday album, Glow. New albums from Josh Turner, I Serve a Savior, Dillon Carmichael, Hell On An Angel and an EP release from Levi Hummon. In addition, we see new music from Brett Young, Mitchell Tenpenny, Brandon Ray, Pistol Annies, Sara Bareilles and more. Check out our Spotify New Country Music Playlist below and be sure to follow for updates each and every Friday:
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It’s the best day of the week… New Music Friday! A few holiday tunes released today, Mitchell Tenpenny’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as well as a complete holiday album from Martina McBride. Check our First Impression of the record here. In addition, we see new music from Kip Moore, Kane Brown, Delta Rae, Pistol Annies and more. Check out our Spotify New Country Music Playlist below and be sure to follow for updates each and every Friday:
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There are few distinct voices in country music that feel like home. Martina McBride’s is one of those such voices, nowhere more so evident than on her festive new album, It’s the Holiday Season. On the cheery collection, released today, the country superstar adds a surprisingly jazzy touch to some of the most classic Christmas songs, and frankly, the only thing missing on this album to make it all the more quintessential Christmas is a duet with Michael Buble.
The album opens with spirited takes on the classics, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” While it’s hard to offer a fresh take on tunes that have seemingly been recorded 19,000 times, McBride’s voice pairs perfectly with the music throughout the album, neither outshining the other. For McBride fans, the album definitely shows a different side of the singer, focusing heavily on the LP’s orchestration, rather than just her golden voice.
One of the highlights of the album is McBride’s take on “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” The track could’ve easily veered off into being cheesy, but McBride offers a fresh take that’s hard not to tap your toes to. Other highlights include “Happy Holidays/ It’s the Holiday Season,” and “Home for the Holidays.” The show tune staple, “My Favorite Things” closes the album perfectly, McBride’s voice covering each and every note like a warm blanket on a cold evening.
Despite the fact that It’s the Holiday Season does not include any originals, it’s a fun take on many of the most classic Christmas songs. Interestingly, it’s an album that could’ve been recorded in the 1950’s or the 2050’s and not sounded out of place. It’s poised to be a future classic, and we can only advise you to add this one to your Christmas mix; you definitely won’t regret it.
In addition to the release of her holiday album today, McBride will be releasing her cookbook, Martina McBride’s Kitchen Mix on October 30, with the premiere of her cooking show, Martina’s Table, premiering on the Food Network on November 18th.
Additionally, McBride will be taking her holiday cheer on the road, performing with a full symphony on The Joy of Christmas Tour. Full dates are as follows:
November 23: Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage
November 24: Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
November 25: Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
November 29: Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
November 30: Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
December 1: Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
December 4: Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall
December 6: Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
December 7: Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
December 8: Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre
It’s the Holiday Season is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
For future tour information, upcoming news and announcements from Martina McBride, visit martinamcbride.com, and follow the rising star on his journey via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/martinacov1.jpg288480Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2018-10-19 00:27:572018-10-19 15:25:17NYCS First Impression: Martina McBride ‘It’s The Holiday Season’
Last November, during our Swag Session with Jimmie Allen, we said we couldn’t wait to watch his career blossom, as he garnered more and more fans and mainstream success. Today (10/12) marks an incredible milestone for the singer-songwriter. His debut album, Mercury Lane is now available everywhere music is sold. Mercury Lane is truly a passion project for the singer. The record shows perseverance and versatility, two characteristics that describe Allen too. It is clearly personal to the Stoney Creek Records recording artist, as the record is named after the street in Delaware, where he grew up and learned the lessons that have led him to this point in his career.
The record is a complete body of work, offering a song for all music lovers. Allen, who NYCountry Swag named a 2018 Artist to Watch, adds some flavor to mainstream country music, mixing in some rock, pop, and R&B influences into the album, produced by Ash Bowers and Eric Torres. From love songs to inspiring songs to songs to drink to, the singer is proving that he is the full package. The recording artist co-wrote on eight of the fifteen tracks, including “Make Me Want To,” Back of Your Mind,” and his hit single, “Best Shot,” with some of Nashville’s hottest songwriters.
Each track shows a different part of the singer’s personality and range as a vocalist, songwriter, and as a human being. “Deserve To Be,” one of the slower songs on the record tells the story from Allen’s perspective about a girl, who deserves to have the most fulfilling life and be treated like someone’s “world.” The track is sure to resonate with the millions of fans, who already fell in love with the lead single “Best Shot”, which is climbing up the charts. The singer expresses another side of his personality with “Underdogs.” With its catchy hook and smooth beat, the song is bound to be a fan favorite. It is Allen’s take on an anthem for people, who are different, and trying to push through adversity. Although the singer didn’t write this one, we can see how the lyrics relate to his 10-year journey to ‘make it’ in the music industry.
If you’re looking for a new tailgate song, don’t worry, Mercury Lane has that too. The soulful track, “County Lines,” which Allen recently released a lyric video for, is sure to become a staple at summer tailgates. “County Lines” has an R&B vibe, with a catchy chorus that keeps listeners wanting to tap their toes and sing along from first listen.
Following the release, the Delaware native announced via his Twitter, three album listening parties, beginning in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 14th. After a short stint in the U.K. with Chase Rice, Allen will embark on Scotty McCreery’s tour, which hits New York on January 26th and Kane Brown’s tour in November, where he will definitely be playing music off his new record.
Mercury Lane is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
For future tour information, upcoming news and announcements from Jimmie Allen, visit jimmieallenmusic.com, and follow the rising star on his journey via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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Since the 2017 release of his debut American single “Kiss Somebody,” Australia’s Morgan Evans has been lauded as one of country music’s next big things. Today, Evans released his debut album on Warner Music Nashville, Things That We Drink To. While much of the album reads as a love letter to Evans’ wife, Kelsea Ballerini, and believe me, it’s swoon-worthy, the overall body of work is a solid and diverse debut.
Evans, who NYCountry Swag named a 2018 Artist to Watch, co-wrote all eleven songs on the album with producer, Chris DeStefano and a handful of Nashville’s hottest hit-makers including Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley, Josh Kear, Jaren Johnston, and Jon Nite. Additionally, Evans joined forces with DeStefano to play every instrument on the LP.
“My album is a collection of songs that I wrote over the last two years,” said Evans in a statement. “It’s my story. It’s leaving behind everything and everyone you know to chase down a country music dream on the other side of the world. It’s the excitement of the unknown, it’s the fun, it’s the loneliness and it’s the struggle. It’s losing someone and finding the strength to keep your head up and make them proud. It’s meeting a girl, falling hopelessly and marrying the love of your life. It’s the Things That We Drink To.”
The album opens with “American,” an anthemic up-tempo about an American girl who enchanted Evans from the get-go. It’s immediately evident that the track is about Ballerini, without ever veering into cheesy. He credits feeling at home whenever he’s with his American girl. “She’s American, making my world better than it’s ever been,” He sings. “One part Norma Jean, and one part Marilyn. She’s making me fall in love with everything…American.”
The album continues up-tempo with the aforementioned “Kiss Somebody” and “I Do,” both which provided Evans’ with his initial introduction to the U.S. country scene. There’s “Day Drunk,” which like the former two tracks appeared on his EP, and is easily one of the ear-wormiest tracks on the album. The song celebrates living in the moment and getting day drunk, enjoying happy hour on the hour. It’s sure to be a staple of Evans’ live shows and merchandise for years to come, and we fully expect this to be the song that the crowd sings back at the top of their lungs, drinks buoyantly raised in the air.
While other songs simply allude to Evans’ relationship with Ballerini, the golden-voiced blonde lends her vocals to the album’s first ballad, “Dance with Me.” Written by Evans and DeStefano, the romantic track is easily a future first-dance classic. Using Ballerini on background vocals here makes it all the most personal, but also adds a haunting hint to an already sweet track.
Other highlights of the album include the title track, “Things That We Drink To,” a sparse piano ballad made uber-powerful by an anthem of voices in its chorus. “We Dream” creates another compelling moment, using a choir of children’s voices to emphasize the song’s wishful meaning. They remind us, “When we look at the world and don’t like what we see, we close our eyes and we dream.”
The album concludes with “Young Again,” which has been a favorite of ours since we first heard it. Channeling his inner Ed Sheeran, “Young Again” celebrates a perfect night out with friends that just can’t last long enough. “So what the clock says 3am?” Evans asks, “We will never be this young again.”
With Things That We Drink To, Morgan Evans has released a stellar debut album, cementing himself as Australia’s most exciting country music export since Keith Urban.
Things That We Drink To Track List & Songwriters:
“American” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Josh Osborne)
“Kiss Somebody” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Josh Osborne)
“I Do” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley)
“Song for the Summer” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, David Hodges)
“Day Drunk” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Lindy Robbins)
“Dance with Me” feat. Kelsea Ballerini – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano)
“Me on You” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Josh Osborne)
“Things That We Drink To” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Josh Osborne)
“We Dream” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Jaren Johnston, Jon Nite)
“Everything Changes” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Blair Daly)
“Young Again” – (Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Josh Kear)
Things That We Drink To is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
Evans hits the New York area in December for Chris Young‘s “Losing Sleep Tour” along with Dan + Shay. Tickets and more information here. For upcoming news and announcements from Morgan Evans, visit morganevansmusic.com, and follow the rising star on his journey via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/mecpv1.jpg288480Nicole Pieringhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngNicole Piering2018-10-12 00:04:282018-10-12 00:04:28NYCS First Impression: Morgan Evans ‘Things That We Drink To’
It’s a big day for new music. Two of our NYCountry Swag 2018 Artists to Watch, Morgan Evans and Jimmie Allen each release their debut albums. Check out our “First Impression Reviews” of Evans’ Things That We Drink To and Jimmie Allen’s Mercury Lane. In addition, we see new music from Old Dominion, Chuck Wicks, Mitchell Tenpenny, Randy Houser, Justin Moore, Pistol Annies and more. Check out our Spotify New Country Music Playlist below and be sure to follow for updates each and every Friday:
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Following a successful year of live shows and number one singles, Old Dominion is ready to begin the next era of their career with a brand new single and headlining tour, both entitled “Make It Sweet.” Co-written by all five members of the group (Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Geoff Sprung, Whit Sellers) and Shane McAnally, this upbeat and infectious single is the perfect blend of a love story and a take on the imperative phrase “life is short.”
The guys shared how unexpectedly and effortlessly it came to be in a note via the band’s Twitter account, check out the Tweet below.
Photo via @OldDominion Twitter
The band sings in the chorus, “’Cause I’m stuck on you, you’re stuck on me / I never gotta wonder where my honey be / I ain’t saving all my sugar for a Saturday night / Seven days a week I got an appetite / Sunsets like a tangerine, let’s find a road we’ve never seen / Don’t waste another mile or a minute not kissing me / Life is short, make it sweet”
The tune precedes more music to come from the Academy of Country Music award-winning group. Along with the song’s release is a brand new music video to go along with it, displaying young couples reveling in each other’s company upon some majestic scenery which concludes in a mountainside house party with the band. Tursi, Ramsey, Rosen, Sprung, and Sellers had one more surprise in store for fans this week: a winter headlining arena tour. Kicking off on January 18, 2019, in Chicago, IL, the twenty-four date tour will run through April 27, 2019, ending in San Jose, CA. The band will be joined by special guests Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny and Morgan Evans, each at select dates. For a full list of dates and ticket information, visit https://olddominionband.com/tour/.
“Make It Sweet” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music.
Listen to the new song below on our new music playlist and check out more new tracks here. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
Old Dominion is currently out on the road for their ‘Happy Endings Tour’ with special guests High Valley and Michael Ray. Follow the guys on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and future announcements.
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/olddcov1.jpg288480Danielle Tornatorehttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngDanielle Tornatore2018-10-09 13:25:312018-10-09 13:25:31Old Dominion Releases New Single & Makes 2019 “Sweet” with Big Announcement
Cale Dodds “What We Gonna Do About It” / Photo via @caledodds on Instagram
New York Country Swag 2018 Artist to Watch, Cale Dodds is back with a brand new single, “What We Gonna Do About It”, and a hilarious music video to go along with it. The Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville recording artist teased fans all week long via his Twitter and Instagram with stills from the new music video for the track, which was also released Friday (Oct 5.). “What We Gonna Do About It” follows the singer-songwriter’s debut single “Take You Back”.
Penned by Dodds with Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and producer Corey Crowder, the gifted songwriter delivers another jam. The dynamic track is upbeat, fun, and cheeky, fitting the entertainer’s personality to a tee. It’s infectious beat and catchy lyrics will have fans blasting it through their speakers and singing along in no time.
“We’ve been waiting on a night like this / on a night like this / to be right like this / We’ve been looking for a good excuse / yeah a good excuse / to get a little loose / You know we got the whole night / We’ve got the moonlight / Ain’t no better time then now / We’ve been waiting on a night like this / on a night like this / So what we gonna do about it”
The music video, starring the singer and his band, matches the vibes of the track perfectly. Directed by Dustin Haney, the video was created to show fans the level of energy and performance they could expect from one of the singer’s shows. The video showcases Dodds working as a janitor at a nursing home. When he sees a flyer for an open mic night, he runs around the place eagerly convincing his co-workers and real life bandmates to perform with him. The crew ends the video playing for the seniors, which adds great comedic value to the visuals.
Watch the entertaining music video for “What We Gonna Do About It” below.
“What We Gonna Do About It” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music.
Listen to the new song below on our new music playlist and check out more new tracks here. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
NYCountry Swag worked with Cale Dodds back in January for a special LIVE Swag Session from Refinery Rooftop in New York City. Check out his live performance and interview in the video below.
For more tour information, upcoming news and announcements, visit caledodds.com, and follow the rising star on his journey via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CaleDodds_Cover.jpg288480Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2018-10-08 16:52:342018-10-08 16:59:55Cale Dodds Debuts Hilarious Music Video with Brand New Single
Singer-songwriter Heather Morgan has released her highly anticipated debut album, Borrowed Heart.
The Texas native has had major success as a songwriter, penning numerous hits for artists like Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris, Kenny Chesney, Danielle Bradbery, and many more. Now, it’s time for Morgan to let her voice shine and create a name for herself as a performing artist.
While searching for her own sound, Morgan spent many long days and late nights in the writing room, but it wasn’t until a spontaneous soul-searching trip to Joshua Tree, that Morgan found her unique voice.
From a small AirBNB tucked away in the Joshua Tree area, Morgan created the beautifully composed song “Your Hurricane”, which stands out clearly through the album, feeling the helplessness of love and how it overcomes us. Followed by her edgy, almost heavy metal track “Morning Light” which captures her feisty side.
Morgan’s personality beams through with every track on the album. It’s soulful, truthful, and without a doubt, relatable in every single lyric she’s singing. From beginning to end, the entire record is a masterpiece of storytelling. It’s clear and strong writing that doesn’t miss any important details.
In a recent press release, Morgan explains the idea behind the title track “Borrowed Heart”, which she co-wrote with Lori McKenna, “There is so much meaning to the words ‘Borrowed Heart’, together for me that goes beyond the song.” she says. “I have been writing with other artists for a while and it’s such a gift to create with them. You literally pass on parts of your story and your soul in the writer room to other people and they do the same. This title just seemed to fit the moment and summarize everything I put into it.”
Most of the songs on the album are composed by Morgan, along with some help from fellow Nashville songwriters and friends including Ross Copperman, Paul Moak, and Lori McKenna.
It’s clear that Morgan’s unique sound and previous experience in the songwriting scene was just the right step for her in creating this project.
Borrowed Heart is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Heather_Morgan_Cover.jpg288480Kelly Cunninghamhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngKelly Cunningham2018-10-05 14:18:472018-10-05 14:18:47NYCS First Impression: Heather Morgan Releases Debut Album “Borrowed Heart”
ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year, Lauren Alaina released her latest single, “Ladies in the ‘90s” to country radio today (Oct 5). The song is said to be the first single off her next studio album. It follows the songstress’ first number one song, “Road Less Traveled” and its successor “Doin Fine,” both off her sophomore album Road Less Traveled.
Co-written by Alaina, the nostalgic track celebrates female artists of the 90s across all genres of music, and the time where women artists ruled the country genre. The lyrics remind fans that the 90s were a decade where talented female musicians, like Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks, did not have to struggle to be prominent on the radio and at award shows. Pop icon Britney Spears, girl group Destiny’s Child, and the iconic Spice Girls are also referenced on the track.
“I was raised on radio waves / where the ladies dominated / Sometimes I close my eyes and just replay it / I just want to feel like ladies in the 90’s / Turn the dial and find me some ‘Strawberry Wine’ / So I can sing all night long / Acting like I’m Britney”
The single seems to follow the name-dropping trend we’ve seen in country music, mentioning singers’ name and song titles, such as “Strawberry Wine” and “(Baby) One More Time.” Alaina delivers a girl power anthem with the same excitement as former tour-mate Walker Hayes’ “90s Country.”
Showing her enthusiasm for the new record just before its release, the singer-songwriter took to Twitter, “Tomorrow. Ladies in the ‘90s. This is my favorite single I’ve ever released. I hope you love it too. This is me “Feeling like I’m Britney” at @BrdgstoneArena.”
As Alaina’s opening role on Jason Aldean’s “High Noon Neon Tour” comes to a close, which included playing for a sold out crowd in New York City at Madison Square Garden back in August, Alaina gets ready to embark on another tour. The singer was recently announced as a supporting act on Cole Swindell’s “Ready to Drink… Another Tour”. The tour has not announced a NYC Area stop… yet.
“Ladies In The ’90s” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music.
Listen to the new song below on our new music playlist and check out more new tracks here. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.
Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!
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https://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LaurenAlaina_Cover.jpg288480Erica Zismanhttps://countryswag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-new-cs-white.pngErica Zisman2018-10-05 13:25:432018-10-05 13:30:21Lauren Alaina Takes Us Back to The ’90s in New Single
