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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.

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Kane Brown Shares New Song “I Can Feel It” Out Now

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Kane Brown shares brand new song “I Can Feel It,” out now, September 22nd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

On the heels of earning his tenth number one single at country radio with “Bury Me in Georgia,” superstar, Kane Brown is sharing more new music with fans. Known for his ability to weave seamlessly throughout genres, Brown continues to prove his talent. His new song, “I Can Feel It” is out now.

The new song is the perfect blend of country overtones mixed with a fun, pop-tempo beat. While some of Brown’s releases lately have steered more towards the country side of things, “I Can Feel It” is a true blend that will appeal to much of his fanbase. The new track is fun, flirty, and hopeful, all qualities that we cannot get enough of in the singer’s growing catalog of hits.

“I can see you by the bar, skinny margarita with a broken heart // So I slid over like a steel guitar // We started talking til I // Saw your boots bounce to the beat // You said do you dance, wanna dance with me? // Next thing I know, I started to think // We might be on to something // Your putting on a show // No need to take it slow // There’s something here I know // I can feel it in the air”

“I Can Feel It” marks a new era of music for the superstar and a new tour too! Fans can get ready to gear up for an incredible 2024 for Brown!

kane-brown-song

Kane Brown shares new song, “I Can Feel It,” 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.

To keep up with Kane Brown, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“I Can Feel It” 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.

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Wyatt Flores Shares Brand New Song “West of Tulsa”

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Wyatt Flores shares brand new song “West of Tulsa,” out now, September 22nd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

Country music’s talent pool continues to grow with new artists making waves every day. One of country music’s fast rising artists, Wyatt Flores fits the bill. The singer-songwriter blends traditional country sounds with more a modern-day flair, creating music that fans everywhere will love. Today, the artist shares his newest release, a song called, “West of Tulsa.”

The song kicks off with guitar licks until the instrumentals quiet down and a piercing vocal comes through. Flores shows off his vocal range throughout the whole song; however, the lyrics are the true standout. A true country song allows the listener to feel understood and simultaneously called out all at the same time. “West of Tulsa” accomplishes that.

“I wish I could disappear // Cause it ain’t too hard to tell // I think she’s somebody // to somebody else // I’ve been a girl’s last call when the bars closin’ down // I’ve been a guy on stage to the face in the crowd // somethin’ bout wakin’ up in a cheap hotel // makes you wanna be somebody // to somebody else”

Flores is the type of artist you will want to hear more and more music from after listening to a song of his. If “West of Tulsa” is your first introduction to the rising artist, we are sure you will continue to listen again and again!

Wyatt-flores-song

Wyatt Flores shares new song, “West of Tulsa,” 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 Wyatt Flores releases.

To keep up with Wyatt Flores, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

“West of Tulsa” 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.

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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.

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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.

kolby-cooper-song

Kolby Cooper Releases Brand New Song “Hello From The Road”

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Kolby Cooper shares brand new song “Hello From The Road,” out now, September 22nd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

Kolby Cooper paves his way as a rising singer-songwriter by creating music that speaks to him as an a true artist and entertainer. Today, Cooper continues to grow his music catalog, adding another new song to the mix. His brand new track, “Hello From The Road” is officially out now.

The new song is a true expression of what it is like for an artist to constantly be out on the road. For Cooper, who’s been touring since the age of eighteen, the feelings are true to his experience. “Hello From The Road” embodies both the highs and lows of being a touring musician. With vivid imagery and relatable lyrics, Cooper showcases the loneliness and gratefulness that are simultaneously ever present, while continuing to make his dream a reality.

“I just feel alone // I wish I was at home // Guess I gotta go // Hello from the road // Hello from the road // I guess California’s cool // I hate to tell you that I like it // cause I know you’d like it too // Can’t believe that every morning for the shit I get to see // Feels like I should be happy”

The country-rock song is one of Cooper’s best to date. “Hello From The Road” is expressive and fun to listen to. If you have not yet jumped on the Kolby Cooper bandwagon, now is the moment!

kolby-cooper-song

Kolby Cooper releases new song, “Hello From The 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 Kolby Cooper releases.

To keep up with Kolby Cooper, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

“Hello From The Road” 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.

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.

Zach Bryan Surprises with 5 New Songs: Boys Of Faith EP

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Zach Bryan has emerged as one of the biggest and fastest rising superstars in the country music genre. Less than one month after releasing his highly anticipated self-titled album, Bryan returns with a slew of new music. Surprising fans today with five brand new tracks, Bryan drops the Boys Of Faith EP.

Zach Bryan New Music 2023

Photo credit: Trevor Pavlik

Out now, September 22nd, everywhere you listen to music, Zach Bryan’s Boys Of Faith EP hosts five new songs including collaborations with Noah Kahan and Bon Iver. Bryan first teased the new music on Instagram earlier this week. “Locked myself in a studio all week, wrote myself through a notebook, walked around with people I love in the city then went campin, felt restful and hopeful, thankful for breathing no matter the day, just grateful” Bryan shared. Adding, “thank you to @boniver and @noahkahanmusic.”

Listen to the brand new music below and follow us on Instagram, @CountrySwag to let us know know what you think of the new releases.

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

To keep up with Zach Bryan, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Boys Of Faith EP 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.

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The Best Songs on Zach Bryan’s Latest Album

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Zach Bryan has emerged as one of the biggest superstars in the country music genre. His brand new self-titled album is full of hits. Here are arguably the five best songs off the record.

“Hey Driver” ft. The War and Treaty

“So take me down a road that’s a little bit windy // To a place they still put sugar in their iced tea // Where the women are fine and the love is fair // Hey, driver, you can drop me off anywhere”

One of the few collaborations off the record, the second this song kicks off, you know you are in for a good time. Both Bryan and The War and Treaty smash the vocals on this track. It is hard not to fall in love with it almost instantly.

 

“Oklahoman Son”

“You can fight and fiend and sell your guns // But you’ll always be thе Oklahoman son // You’ll always be the Oklahoman son”

Even before the song came out, there was something special about Bryan’s voice and honesty on this song. The song feels haunting, poetic, and achingly beautiful – qualities that many of the superstar’s songs seem to possess.

 

“Fear and Friday’s”

“I got a fear, dear, that it’s gonna end // Won’t you get angry at me, say you love me again? // I got a fear dear, that it’s a Friday spark // You only love me like you mean it when it’s after dark”

While the intro poem version of this song is equally as good, the full-length song is captivating. “Fear and Friday’s” has instantly won the hearts of music lovers everywhere. The song is honest, raw, and relatable making it one of the best songs off Zach Bryan’s self-titled project.

 

“I Remember Everything” ft. Kacey Musgraves

“Pictures and passin’ time // You only smile like that when you’re drinkin’ // I wish I didn’t, but I do // Remember every moment on the nights with you”

While truthfully all the collaborations could have made this list, “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves is a standout. Both Musgraves and Bryan trade verses on the song, adding to the overall ambiance of the track. The tune is all heart, and it’s hard not to love it.

 

“Jakes’s Piano – Long Island”

“I finally quit smokin’ cigarettes // And I don’t go downtown drinkin’ ’til it’s dawn // The best parts of you are here but you’rе still gone”

Finally, our last pick for one of the best songs of Bryan’s self-titled album is “Jake’s Piano – Long Island.” A homage to Long Island, New York, and memories that Bryan clearly had there, it feels important to share this song on this list, since we are a NY-based company. Also, the track just happens to be really incredible too!

 

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

To keep up with Zach Bryan, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Zach Bryan 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.

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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)

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

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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.