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Russell Dickerson ‘Bones The EP’ – EP Review

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Russell Dickerson’s new project, Bones The EP is out now, August 30th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Since bursting onto the scene with “Yours” in 2017, Russell Dickerson has been one of country music’s most consistent and ebullient hitmakers. Now, the Tennessee native offers up Bones The EP, a diverse musical collection that shows Dickerson at his best.

The collection features five new songs co-written by the singer-songwriter alongside heavy-hitters and fellow artists like Parker Welling, Seth Ennis, Jordan Reynolds, Ryan Hurd, and Brad Tursi.

“Bones the EP is a nostalgic collection of songs that take me back in time to some of the best times of my life,” shared the Triple Tigers recording artist. “Those nights that you don’t want to end with the people you love most. Relationships that didn’t work out and hurt at the time, but turned out for the best. I hope people hear these songs and get transported to a place with people they love.”

The EP is a follow up to 2023’s Three Months Two Streets Down EP, and is a celebration of the moments in one’s life that make it magical. “What a Life” kicks off the album on a high note, an anthemic and powerful singalong, complete with “ohhhh”s that make it truly explosive. The song is the perfect opener for the collection, as Dickerson muses over the great experiences he’s had a chance to live through. “What a roll, what a ride, what a dream,” He sings in an almost ethereal chant. “Yeah, what a life.”

“Bones” is the EP’s first single, a midtempo and almost happily haunting look at the type of love Dickerson revels in in his own relationship. “I haven’t felt this way about a song since my first single ‘Yours’.” He shares. “When my wife and I first got together I was a gamble but she bet her life on me so this song is my promise of forever to her.”

Both “Miss You So (Letters to You)” and “Those Nights These Days” find Dickerson exploring themes of the past and nostalgia. While “Those Nights” finds him looking back with fondness, longing for the simplicity of simple nights with friends, “Miss You” sees him dealing with the heartbreak of the loss of a first love. Here, he’s vulnerable and lost in the memories of one that got away, cleverly mixing lyrics from the 2003 song “Letters To You” by emo rock band Finch that he listens to on a burnt CD.

The collection ends on a high note, the sparse yet jubilant ode to shared conversations over an ice cold beer. Here, he recalls special moments with his grandfather, an old friend, and his wife, as they talk about God, girls, and the big world turning, reveling in the fact that time spent together in conversation is both rare and to be cherished.

Russell Dickerson’s Bones The EP is truly a jubilant collection of all things that make life special, memorable, and even heartbreaking. From the opening notes of “What a Life” to the closing melodies of “Cold Beer Conversation,” Dickerson lays it all bare on his new EP. 

Bones The EP Track List:

  1. What A Life (Russell Dickerson, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)
  2. Bones (Russell Dickerson, Chase McGill, Chris LaCorte, Parker Welling)
  3. Miss You So (Letters To You) (Russell Dickerson, Seth Ennis, Joe Fox, Alejandro Linares, Alexander James Pappas, Derek Thomas Doherty, Nathan Scot Barcalow, William Strohmeyer Jr.)
  4. Those Nights These Days (Russell Dickerson, Seth Ennis, Jordan Reynolds)
  5. Cold Beer Conversation (Acoustic) (Russell Dickerson, Casey Brown, Ryan Hurd, Brad Tursi)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. What a Life
  2. Cold Beer Conversation
  3. Bones
Russell-dickerson-bones-the-ep

Russell Dickerson’s new EP, ‘Bones The EP’ is out now on alls streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Russell Dickerson releases.

To keep up with Russell Dickerson, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Bones The EP  is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

post-malone-blake-shelton

The Best Songs on Post Malone’s Album ‘F-1 Trillion’

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Post Malone is a bonafide superstar in his own right, and his brand new country album featuring country heavy-hitters is incredible. Here are arguably the five best songs off the new album, F-1 Trillion.

“Guy For That” ft. Luke Combs

“I’m damn near down, to my last dime // I’m pretty good at breakin’ down a heart // But pickin’ up the pieces is the hard part // She’s searchin’ for someone who’s gonna build it back // But I ain’t got a guy for that”

Post Malone enlisted Luke Combs on not one, but two songs off the incredible project. “Guy For That” is the ultimate ear worm, and it’s the perfect collaboration for Posty as he fully submerges himself in the country music landscape.

 

“Yours”

“And she might be wearin’ white // But her first dress, it was pink // She might be your better half // Yeah, but she’s my everything // We’ll both love her forever // But I loved her long before // And one day, I know I’ll give her away // Buddy, that don’t mean she’s yours”

One of the most talked about songs off the album, “Yours” off of Post Malone’s solo’s on the project, perfectly embodies the father-daughter relationship. The song feels fresh, innovative, and has that country storytelling that Post Malone is so good at in whatever genre he writes for.

 

“Hide My Gun” ft. HARDY

“Girl, if you wanted to, could you get to runnin’ to // That nevеr-endin’ honeymoon Mexico sun? // ’Causе you know I adore ya // No shit, I’d kill a man for ya // And if I did, would you hide my gun? // Would you hide my gun?”

We couldn’t share this list without mentioning Post Malone’s collaboration with HARDY, “Hide My Gun.” An unexpected slow-jam, the song showcases the power of two awesome entertainers in the industry. Both Post Malone and HARDY are at their absolute best on this song.

 

“Losers” ft. Jelly Roll

“You might be lonely, but you’re never alone // You’re right here where you’re supposed to be // Right here with all the losers // The ones like you and the ones like me”

Both Post Malone and Jelly Roll have positioned themselves as leaders amongst the misfits and the people that are trying their best. In the anthemic, “Losers” both artists invite anyone who needs a little extra love to join them in this crazy, wild world that we live in. The song is a special spot on the project.

 

“I Had Some Help” ft. Morgan Wallen

“I had some help // It ain’t like I can make this kinda mess all by myself // Don’t act like you ain’t help me pull that bottle off the shelf // Been deep in every weekend if you couldn’t tell // They say, “Teamwork makes the dream work” // Hell, I had some help (help)”

Finally, our last pick for one of the best songs off Post Malone’s album is his collaboration with Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help.” From the second this song was teased, fans were itching to hear the full song. While it might be “old news” to some, the song is one of the kicking off points for Post Malone in country music, and that’s why it deserves a place on this list.

Post Malone // Photo: Adam DeGross

How does our list match up to yours?

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

To keep up with Post Malone, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

F-1 Trillion 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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Drew Baldridge Goes Number One with “She’s Somebody’s Daughter”

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Drew Baldridge earns his first number one single at country radio with his song, “She’s Somebody’s Daughter.” Get all the details here.

County radio is full of hit songs, but there is nothing sweeter than an artist who finally lands their first number one single at country radio! Today, Drew Baldridge makes history as the first ever independent artist to self-fund a song that has become the number one single at county radio. “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” is officially the number one song this week!

Baldridge has been grinding in the country music industry for several years. While there have been many ups and many downs, his commitment to his music is commendable. The singer’s relentless grit and the loyal fanbase he cultivated allowed his incredible song, “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” to go number one. The song is a true anthem for love, and is a father-daughter dance staple.

“She’s more than a last call kiss // Or a one night stand // Remember, boy, you weren’t the first to hold her hand // She’s somebody’s daughter // She’s somebody’s everything // She’s somebody’s little girl // Even if she’s grown up and moved away // She’s somebody’s whole world // She’s somebody’s baby // And if you don’t treat her right // Hers won’t be the only heart you’re breaking”

Congratulations to Drew Baldridge! “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” is something special.

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Drew Baldridge announcements and releases.

To keep up with Drew Baldridge, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

“She’s Somebody’s Daughter” 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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Who Is Erin Kinsey? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music 2024

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Who is Erin Kinsey? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

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Erin Kinsey // Photo credit: Robby Stevens

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Erin Kinsey
Birthdate – 10/20/2000
Hometown – Rockwall, Texas
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences –Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, John Mayer
Label – RECORDS Nashville
Current Single – “I Ain’t Crazy”  // as of date of article: 8/26/2024

The Beginning:

At the end of 2021, we introduced you to singer-songwriter, Erin Kinsey. Back then, Kinsey was a budding newcomer trying to make a name for herself in country music. Today, we caught up with the songstress and chatted about all that she has going on today too!

The Texas native grew up with a supportive family, and a desire to try many different things. “I was in every sport you could think of. I was in every club you could think of. Even though I tried a lot of new stuff after I started getting into music, it was so obvious to me that I loved nothing like I loved that,” shared the singer, upon learning that music was her passion.

“I got into music pretty young, I was eleven when I got my first guitar for Christmas,” shared the singer-songwriter. “I picked it up and starting learning the songs I loved on the radio, and then eventually I started writing my own, I really fell in love with it.” Artists like Miranda Lambert inspired her to continue to deepen her craft. “Being from Texas, Miranda Lambert was a huge influence as well. I think it’s one that’s showing itself in my music these days. I didn’t realize it would come full circle for. Lately, those roots have really been shining.”

Then in sixth grade, Kinsey and her family took a family vacation to Nashville, where she fell in love with the city. From that point on, the songstress knew that music was her calling.

“My parents put no road blocks up for me to ever slow down on music. […] They didn’t tell me all the warnings or all the things. They let me just love it and be obsessed with it, and they wanted me to love it more than they wanted me to do anything else and I’m so grateful for that because good lord, it’s a complicated business for sure.”

The Turning Point:

Throughout high school, Kinsey made frequent trips to Nashville to network and write songs with other musicians. Then in 2018, at just seventeen years old, the songstress officially made the move to Music City. “I moved up to Nashville immediately after I graduated in 2018. I packed the U-haul all day, walked the stage at night and then drove off at 6AM the next day,” she declared.

Armed with a desire to learn from the industry, she worked with everyone she could to grow her talent. “For the first year and half to two years that I was here, I really just kept my head down and I wanted to get better at everything,” shared Kinsey. Adding, “Whether I was getting better in the writing room, getting better at guitar, or getting better at singing. I took the time to really grow and develop in a place where there was so many resources and everyone knew what they were doing, and I did not.”

Eventually, Kinsey even grew an impressive social media following, which has only grown her fanbase even more over the years, and the singer is currently the most authentic version of herself yet. “A lot has changed in the last couple of years for me, while also a lot is exactly the same. I’m still with the same label. I still have a lot of the same team around me that I had around me then. I do not have the boyfriend that I had then,” she shared.

“There’s been a lot of years where I didn’t think that was who I could be, being that bold and neon colored, and having a lot to say, and being spunky, and different, and leaning into being a little bit quirky – I just didn’t feel comfortable doing that, and to be honest, it was because I was 18, 19, 20, I was so young. […] Everyone one just wants to fit in and feel comfortable, and I think I toned a lot of that down, and as I got older, and as I had a heartbreak, and I learned that I can fly to different cities and play shows myself and get home okay, I just felt more comfortable being whoever I was.”

Today:

Right now, Kinsey is at her absolute best! She has really found her voice in country music, and unapologetically expresses herself through her music. “When I’m not the most polished version of myself, people have been so welcoming with my music. In the last six months especially, I’ve really just leaned in to going with my gut and saying whatever comes to mind, wearing whatever I want to wear, releasing the songs I want to release and I’ve never been more proud of my music and my image, and my brand.”

Her most recent songs, “I Ain’t Crazy” and “Wild” are two of her most impressive songs to date. “I Aint’ Crazy” is also a viral sensation, which the singer wrote two years before releasing it. “I wrote it and the song came from a true place, I was going through it, and I remember writing it, and thinking I’ll never release it. […] What I didn’t know, it would be fun for me two years later [to release]. It was a song that I came back to and I kept remembering, and it like haunted me. It was just so fun to be her, to be who I got to be when I wrote that song, and the confidence that she had. I think it was almost me writing who I hoped to be one day in the situation I was in. […] It did so much for my heart and also it’s so fun,” she shared.

With “Wild,” Kinsey wanted to share a different side to her talent and continue down the path that “I Ain’t Crazy” helped her carve. Written with Josh Kerr and Sara Buxton, “Wild” embodies what it’s like to want to do something that could get you in trouble, but it’s all in good fun.

“I kind of had this vision for the song. I think it’s moody and kind of sexy with the guitar riff. I think the idea is about saying that something seems impossible and crazy, but deep down you actually think it might be fun within the context of a guy,” shared Kinsey.

Both songs feel like a new era of music for the songstress. While it is still just a new beginning for Kinsey, she has already promised more new music coming soon. Stay tuned!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Erin Kinsey, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Erin Kinsey’s music 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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Thomas Rhett ‘About A Woman’ – Album Review

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Thomas Rhett’s new album, About A Woman is out now, August 23rd on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

For Thomas Rhett, it would be easy to rest on his laurels. With 17 #1 hits and six studio albums, he could easily wash, rinse, and repeat his music, and still find success. However, on his seventh full length album, About a Woman, out now, he does the opposite.

Rather than rely on a proven formula for success, Rhett branches out sonically on his new LP, offering something for old and new fans alike. Released via The Valory Music Co, his new album offers fourteen new tracks, thirteen of which he co-wrote.

“From top to bottom, I wanted to exude joy and fun with this project—and really just make people move,” Rhett revealed in a statement. “I went into making this record with a fearless attitude, put my blinders on and my head down to try and make really fun music.”

Produced by Julian Bunetta and Dann Huff, the album centers around love, but does so in different ways. It’s largely uptempo, sampling retro 80’s synths, hip hop beats, country melodies, and a whole lot more. “I feel like if you were to ask me what this record is about, the answer would be it’s about one woman, my wife,” He continues. “And I think we got the opportunity to say ‘I love you’ in a lot of different ways.”

What’s most interesting on About a Woman is its evolution. While the first half is ripe with the mid-tempo pop country anthems that have made Rhett a superstar, the second half finds him truly experimenting with new sounds and genres. On the latter half of the LP, he slides effortlessly from the harmonies of the Beach Boys-meets-Laurel Canyon on “Country for California” to the soulful grit of “Somethin’ Bout a Woman” to the soulful, almost doowop vibe of “Can’t Love You Anymore.” Meanwhile, “Boots” may be the album’s most unique song, a swinging country and western romp that sounds straight out of a Texan dancehall.

“Don’t Wanna Dance” offers a truly special moment, a heartbreak anthem that still supports a huge, stadium-ready chorus. It puts a new spin on the Whitney Houston classic, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” flipping it from a buoyant and hopeful anthem to a pure heartwrencher.  “Once that chorus popped in, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Rhett shares of the song. “I envision myself on a grand piano in the middle of an arena, with people just screaming these words back to me.” 

One of the album’s standouts is “Church” which pays homage to both a relationship with someone special and a relationship with a specific musical artist, Eric Church. Lyrically, the song is incredibly clever, using a play on words, as Rhett mixes Church song titles with a tale of falling in love with both his wife and the Chief’s music, as she was the first to take him to “Church.” “She stole my heart, and I still got the shirt,” He sings of their first concert experience. “She took me to church.”

Like previous albums, Rhett’s new LP is also full of catchy bops, including the previously released “Gone Country,” which celebrates the allure of country life and the R&B tinted mid-tempo, “Overdrive.” Similarly, the album’s opener, “Fool,” is complete with whistling and toe-tapping pop beats, finding him enamored to an almost silly point. “Julian and I went back and forth on ‘How do you open a record that has this many kinds of sounds on it?’” Rhett explains. “I figured, ‘Why not put one of the most sonically progressive sounds first?’”

“What Could Go Right” finds him looking on the bright side of tuning from friends to lovers, embracing all the possible positives. “Girl, don’t think about what could go wrong,” He implores. “Just think about what could go right.”

Meanwhile, both “After All The Bars Are Closed” and “Back to Blue” capture the possibilities of what may happen after last call. On “After,” they spend time together until the sun comes up, while “Back to Blue” is a lush and layered ode to watching the sun come up.

The album’s first single is “an anthem for everybody who feels like they out-kicked their coverage,” revealed Rhett. “There was one day a couple years back when I was looking at my wife, and I was like, ‘Why in the world did you choose me?’ I get to be with someone who could easily be on the cover of a magazine, and I get to see her in all her forms—a partner, a mother, a friend, even a philanthropist. I just feel like I’ve got a first row seat at almost-perfection, if you will. And like the song says, ‘Seriously, what is somebody as amazing as you doing with somebody like me?’”

About a Woman ends with its only true ballad, “I Could Spend Forever Loving You.” Here, Rhett closes the album on a poignant and romantic high note. “I just hope people know I’m just never really done evolving,” he says. “I think there’s two paths you can take in this career. When something works, you can ride that until the day you die – but that’s not really how I’ve ever been.” 

About A Woman Track List:

  1. Fool
  2. Overdrive
  3. Gone Country
  4. Beautiful As You
  5. Can’t Love You Anymore
  6. After All The Bars Are Closed
  7. Church
  8. Back To Blue
  9. Country For California
  10. Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman
  11. What Could Go Right
  12. Boots
  13. Don’t Wanna Dance
  14. I Could Spend Forever Loving You

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Church
  2. Country for California
  3. Don’t Wanna Dance
  4. What Could Go Right
  5. I Could Spend Forever Loving You
Thomas-rhett-about-a-woman-album

Thomas Rhett shares new album, ‘About A Woman,’ 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 Thomas Rhett releases.

To keep up with Thomas Rhett, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About A Woman  is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

colby-acuff-american-son-album

Here Is Colby Acuff’s Album ‘American Son’

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Colby Acuff’s brand new album, American Son is out now, August 23rd on all streaming platforms. Learn more here and listen below.

Colby Acuff is gifted at creating music that speaks to his own personal experiences. His songs are special, innovative, and intentional. Today, Acuff shares his latest creation, his brand new album, American Son, featuring sixteen brand new songs including an incredible collaboration with The Castellows called “How Do I Feel Alive.”

Acuff shared his intentions in his announcement post on Instagram for the album. “The entire purpose for this project was to make something that could truly make an impact. After going through personal trials and hardships over the last year I decided that I couldn’t be the only one facing these issues. So I hope this album and these songs find you when you most need them.”

Listen to the brand new album now!

American Son Track List:

  1. Nightmare
  2. Scared of the Dark
  3. How Do I Feel Alive​ ft. The Castellows
  4. Starving​
  5. Better Days
  6. Ain’t So Bad
  7. Devil That You Know​
  8. Plastic Horses’
  9. Bruised​
  10. High Noon​
  11. Man in the Paper Mask’
  12. Suzanne’
  13. Hello Rain’
  14. Me​
  15. Heavy Hearted Man​
  16. American Son
colby-acuff-american-son

Colby Acuff shares new album, “American Son,” 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 Colby Acuff releases.

To keep up with Colby Acuff, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

American Son is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

lainey-wilson-whirlwind

Lainey Wilson ‘Whirlwind’ – Album Review

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Lainey Wilson’s brand new album, Whirlwind is out now, August 23rd on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

With one of the genre’s most unique voices and standout styles, Lainey Wilson has been a tornado through the boys club that is often the hierarchy of country music. Today, the acclaimed singer-songwriter releases her aptly-titled album, Whirlwind, taking listeners on a journey inside her life.

On the follow up to 2022’s Bell Bottom Country, which featured the monster hit “Heart Like a Truck,” Wilson stretches herself artistically, taking a fearless step into what’s made her one of the most exciting artists of our generation. On Whirlwind, the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville artist co-wrote all fourteen tracks, enlisting superproducer Jay Joyce to bring her vision to life. While the album takes listeners on a journey through country music, the reigning CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year stays true to what has made her a superstar.

“This album has been a long time coming, and I can’t wait for the world to have this body of work in their hands…” says Wilson of the project. “This new chapter of music is the most cathartic and personal piece of art I’ve ever made. I hope this record brings some peace to your whirlwind and wraps its arms around you like it did for me.”

Roaring in with the one-two punch of  “Keep Up With Jones” and “Country’s Cool Again,” one thing is immediately clear: Wilson isn’t about to stay stagnant. Instead, the swampy and swinging album opener recalls images of George Jones on a barstool, as Wilson aims to keep up with the joneses, cleverly turning phrases with a lyrical play on words. The track is immediately followed by the previously-released “Country’s Cool Again,” a fun celebration of all things country.

“Country isn’t just a genre for any of us that live & breathe it every day. It’s a way of life. It’s always been cool & I think I speak for everyone when I say, we’re just glad it’s gettin’ a lil more love these days.“ Wilson shared of the playful track.

“Everybody wanna be a cowboy // Drive a jon boat, whip a John Deere // Everybody want a backwoods front porch // With a tub full of iced-down beer // Must be something in the water flowing out of the holler // Blue collar must’ve caught a new wind // Doggone, dadgum it, didn’t see that coming // Country’s cool again”

Country life and the singer’s Louisiana upbringing are themes that weave their way throughout the album on songs like the stirring “Bar In Baton Rouge,” the celebratory “4x4xU,” and the spectacular “Call a Cowboy.” While “4x4xU” celebrates finding home wherever you are, “Call a Cowboy” is a slide guitar laden ballad that extolls the virtues of cowboys, and how they’re the ones to call when you’re in need. 

Wilson enlists fellow twang queen Miranda Lambert on “Good Horses,” the pair harmonizing and trading verses as if they’ve been singing together for decades. Their voices work perfectly together, tackling a topic usually reserved for the genre’s boys. On the poignant duet, they’re prone to roam but always return home.

“I don’t need a map // I don’t need a road // I don’t need a fence // I just need to roam If you wanna love me // You don’t need a rope // You just need to know Good horses come home // They always come home”

“Hang Tight Honey” is the ultimate earworm, its background vocalists and music setting the mood for a long distance love affair. “Hang tight honey, got a pocket full of money,” She sings buoyantly. “And I’m headed straight home to you “

Wilson experiments with different sounds throughout the album, most noticeably on the album’s lush title track, which finds the bell-bottomed chanteuse channeling her inner Stevie Nicks. Likewise, “Counting Chickens” is a plucky ode to jumping the gun and counting your chickens before they hatch in a relationship.

“Ring Finger” also finds Wilson experimenting with a new sound, her distinct voice tinted with an almost electronic sounding filter over doo-wop inspired background vocals and roaring guitars. Here, she roars through a kissoff to a cheating ex. “I got the ring, he got the finger,” She growls. “You got the cheatin’ country song, and baby I’m the singer”

While Wilson shines on any tempo, the ballads on Whirlwind are exceptional, with standouts like the triumphant “Middle of It,” “Broken Hearts Still Beat” and the vulnerable “Devil Don’t Go There.”  On “Broken Hearts,” she struggles in the aftermath of a breakup, building to a heart wrenching climax as she picks herself up and mends her cracked heart.  “Broken hearts still beat, and that’s what you showed me, I thought if you ever let me go, That’d be the end of the end of my rope,” She sings, voice laced with vulnerability and emotion. “It ain’t good as new, and boy thanks to you, It may never be the way it used to be, but broken hearts still beat.”

Likewise, “Devil Don’t Go There” finds Lainey Wilson at her absolute best, channeling her inner Dolly as her voice veers into a low and emotional whisper at times. “Even the devil don’t go there, the way you did me that night // I bet the hell you put me through // Could make his angels cry // How’d you ever leave me like that?” She asks. “Are you really that cold? // I bet even where he lives, he wouldn’t go that low // And boy I swear, even the devil don’t go there.”

The album ends on a slightly different note, a classic country story song that finds a child dealing with his father’s alcoholism. It’s an incredible performance from Wilson, proving that there are still unique ideas out there. 

“He drew a big orange sun // Shining down on, a little red house // With a little green tree, a little blue car parked out on the street // Brother with the football, sister with the puppy dog // Mother with a smile and her church dress on // Then he raised his hand, Said ‘teacher I can’t draw my daddy, do you have a whiskey colored crayon?’”

On Whirlwind, Lainey Wilson continues to establish why she’s country music’s newest superstar, well deserving of every accolade that has come her way.

Whirlwind Track List:

  1. Keep Up With Jones (Lainey Wilson, Josh Kear, Wyatt McCubbin)
  2. Country’s Cool Again (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Aslan Freeman)
  3. Good Horses (feat. Miranda Lambert) (Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick) 
  4. Broken Hearts Still Beat (Lainey Wilson, Dallas Wilson, Josh Thompson, Blake Pendergrass)
  5. Whirlwind (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson) 
  6. Call A Cowboy (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson) 
  7. Hang Tight Honey (Lainey Wilson, Driver Williams, Jason Nix, Paul Sikes) 
  8. Bar In Baton Rouge (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Kasey Tyndall, Jason Nix) 
  9. Counting Chickens (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Josh Kear, Dallas Wilson, Jon Decious)
  10. 4x4xU (Lainey Wilson, Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere)
  11. Ring Finger (Lainey Wilson, Aaron Raitiere, Marti Dodson, Jon Decious) 
  12. Middle Of It (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson) 
  13. Devil Don’t Go There (Lainey Wilson, Abram Dean, Lance Miller, Joe Fox) 
  14. Whiskey Colored Crayon (Lainey Wilson, Josh Kear, Wyatt McCubbin)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Devil Don’t Go There
  2. Broken Hearts Still Beat
  3. Hang Tight Honey
  4. Good Horses
lainey-wilson-whirlwind

Lainey Wilson shares brand new album, ‘Whirlwind,’ out 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 Lainey Wilson releases.

For tour dates and more from the superstar, visit her official website.

To keep up with Lainey Wilson, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Whirlwind  is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Dylan Marlowe Shares New Song “Heart Brakes” Ahead of Debut Album

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Dylan Marlowe shares brand new song, “Heart Brakes,” out now, August 23rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

Dylan Marlowe is emerging as one of country music’s biggest rising stars. As fans await the release of his debut project, Mid-Twenties Crisis, out September 27th, Marlowe is sharing another taste of the new album. His brand new song, “Heart Brakes” is officially out now.

Marlowe has successfully released music that tugs at our heartstrings, tells a story, and is fun to listen to. “Heart Brakes” is a combination of the latter two. Cleverly written with enticing instrumentals and a catchy chorus, “Heart Brakes” paints the picture of not being able to quit a relationship that has run its course. It’s an all-too familiar anecdote of wrestling with the back and forth with what you should do and what your heart is telling you to do.

“And I should probably hit the heart brakes // Turn this thing around before it’s too late // And I wind up in your driveway // ‘Cause baby we both know, how me showing up goes // I need to take a little rearview ride // Whip a one eighty at the next stop sign // Kick a little I don’t need ya dust up high // Instead of taking a right, right into your place // I should probably hit the heart brakes”

“Heart Brakes” is another exciting new song from Marlowe, that makes us sure his debut album is going to one of the best of the year!

dylan-marlowe-heart-brakes

Dylan Marlowe shares brand new song, “Heart Brakes,” 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 Dylan Marlowe releases.

To keep up with Dylan Marlowe, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Heart Brakes” 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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5 Things to Expect from Thomas Rhett’s Album ‘About A Woman’

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We chatted with country singer, Thomas Rhett about his new album, About A Woman, out Friday, August 23rd. Here are five things to expect from the upcoming project.

  1. Thomas Rhett purposely and intentionally decided to make the About A Woman project a smaller batch of songs than many artists are doing lately.

“Picking 14 songs was really complicated for me. […] It’s become really popular to put 20, 30, 40 songs, double album, triple albums, and I think for me, there’s so much music that comes out everyday, and especially every Friday that when I see records that have 20 or more songs on them, I’m like I don’t know if I can sit and listen to that in one sitting, so I wanted it to be a very digestible record. […] The sequencing part is always so long because as a songwriter, I write so many songs.”

  1. The record was titled About A Woman because of the chosen songs and thanks to Rhett’s wife, Lauren’s challenge to write more upbeat love songs.

“I think once I started listening through all the songs, they had a very common theme. They really all were about a moment I had in my relationship with my own right. [Lauren told me] I love when you write songs about me, but I wish they weren’t all slow all the time.”

  1. Eric Church has always been a big inspiration to Rhett, and it is the most evident it’s ever been on his new song, “Church.”

“Hints of Eric Church are all over the record. He was the soundtrack of my teenage years. He was my version of what Zach Bryan is today. […] When I heard this song, it was genuinely my story reincarnated with my wife.”

  1. There is one outside cut on the record called “Country for California” which happens to be a heartbreak song penned by John Morgan.

“I think I’m always looking for songs that I wouldn’t innately write in a session. I think I’ve recorded maybe two heartbreak songs in my whole career. “Marry Me” being one of them, which happened to be a big hit for us. […] When I’m listening to heartbreak songs, I’m listening for something that has melody and also makes me feel happy in a way like “Crash and Burn” did that for me, where it felt so sad, but also made me want to dance.”

  1. While Rhett is known for his incredible ballads, the superstar only included one ballad on the record, a song called “I Could Spend Forever Loving You,” which is both timeless and fitting for the theme of the record.

“It killed me to only put one ballad on the record, but now that I’ve lived with it for a while, I’m so glad that there’s one, and it’s the last one. And I wrote that song with my buddy Ernest. […] What I loved about it, was that it was so simple, and reminded me of just the facts of ‘I don’t know how to say this to you, but I want to spend my entire life with you.’” 

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Thomas Rhett’s new album, ‘About A Woman,’ comes out this Friday, August 23rd.

Check back this Friday, 8/23 for our full album review of Thomas Rhett’s record About A Woman.

To keep up with Thomas Rhett, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Thomas Rhett releases.

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Who is Chase McDaniel? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Who is Chase McDaniel? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

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Chase McDaniel // Photo credit: R. Stevens

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Peyton Chase McDaniel
Birthdate – 06/22
Hometown – Greensburg, Kentucky
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Josh Turner, Randy Travis, AC/DC, Eminem
Label – Big Machine Records
Current Single – “Heart Still Works” (as of date of article 8/19/24)

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight artist is Big Machine Records recording artist, Chase McDaniel. McDaniel is the real deal in country music. He brings his unique rock-country flavor to each of his songs, while infusing his own authentic flair and honesty into each and every song. We chatted with the singer-songwriter about his relentless grit, his journey, and his new music.

“I grew up in a small-town called Greensburg, Kentucky, two hours north of Nashville. Bit of a rough start, but always had a dream of country music,” began McDaniel. “I had two sets of grandparents that were musically inclined. One of them was a pastor of a small church and he played bass in a gospel group, and he taught me how to sing. My other Papaw was just obsessed with country music, it was his first love, and he would show me videos of George Jones at the Grand Ole Opry and Ricky Skaggs, and he gave me my first CD which was Josh Turner’s Long Black Train. I fell in love with country music kind of through a family connection.”

McDaniel recalls playing that Josh Turner album over and over again throughout his childhood. “Music was a form of connection. My Dad was an addict growing up and living with my mom, we were just super poor,” he shared. “You kind of combine some of the worst aspects of that, I was kind of put into a place, where things weren’t great, so I would take that Josh Turner CD, my headphones, and hide in my bedroom, and listen to it for hours, and that was kind of my escape, and then shortly after that I traded a pack of Yu-Gi-Oh cards for an AC/DC record in like 4th grade, and so rock music became induced into my veins, and shortly after that it was Eminem, and music was what got my back.”

At fifteen years old, McDaniel got his first guitar and writing music became a therapeutic release that I fell in love with. “It’s always been an instinct of mine to put the things I’ve been through, put the things I’m feeling into music and it’s been there for me, when I needed a way to communicate, and I didn’t have anyway else to say it.”

The Turning Point:

Despite knowing that country music was his path, McDaniel went to college for a little bit to appease his grandparents, who raised him. “I was obsessed with music. I would be in my room, playing my guitar or skipping my 8AM. playing Call of Duty.” Shortly there after, McDaniel decided to follow his heart and made the move to Nashville in 2016 to chase his dreams.

“It was all I could think about. I didn’t know what or why, but it felt like my compass was pointing towards Nashville, so I got a U-Haul trailer, threw everything I had into that, didn’t have anywhere to sleep for the first few weeks, I just knew I had to be here, so I crashed with friends, until I found a job.”

While in Nashville, the singer worked at least two jobs and spent every waking moment and dollar writing and recording music. In 2020, his dream halted when he lost both of his jobs and could no longer afford to pay his rent. “I’ve always had a couple of jobs, and then 2020 hit and everybody lost their jobs, including me, I lost both jobs, so July comes around, and I’m broke, and we’re having a party at my house, and I’m kind of realizing that this is probably the last time I’ll be in Nashville because I can’t afford rent. […] Then a buddy of mine came outside, while I was super emotional, and offered me enough money to pay my rent, and we fought on it, and eventually I accepted the offer, and the next day I got a job.”

With a new lease on life, McDaniel worked even harder to pursue his dream. “Everyday of the week I worked, double shifts, sleeping three hours a night, and going back up to the studio and just writing. I felt like I had a second chance, and once that second chance hit me, I hit a new gear, it was like a new gear I didn’t even know I had.” His hard work paid off and luck was finally on his side, when he got the attention of Big Machine Records because of social media, and subsequently signed his record deal.

“I just grinded, and then 2022 came along, and I had been posting on social media for a decade with no luck, and then all of a sudden luck. […] I’ve been doing this thing consistently for a long time, and then all of a sudden it was just working and I couldn’t explain it. After that I started playing a bunch of shows regionally, met an incredible agent, and then partnered with Big Machine Records.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, McDaniel is living his dream of being a country singer-songwriter. With songs like “Project” and “Your Daughter” previously released that showcase the singer’s different sides and new music coming out soon, McDaniel shows no signs of slowing down.

Most recently, the singer-songwriter released a brand new song called “Heart Still Works.” “I think there were elements of a pop-punk attitude in my lyrics and a little bit of a sound [in my other work] and I think “Heart Still Works” ups the ante a little bit with the guitar and drums. I was heavily influenced by the era because it was a time when my Dad was sober and I lived with him and I was around him from about 9-10 years old, and all he listened to was pop-rock radio,” shared McDaniel, adding, “That year just heavily influenced and just the attitude of that error, and I wanted to share bigger ideas into my music that maybe haven’t been said in country music before and I think rock has such a rich history of that, but also I’m a storyteller, and I don’t know how to write anything other than a country song.”

“Heart Still Works” is a true anthem for anyone who needs a reminder that their grief is valid, as well as, that it is better to feel the live feeling numb. “I was in an elevator one day, and I think song ideas are just like gifts, I’ve never really forced a song idea to life that was a great song, you just kind of have to live life and be open to when an idea comes, and I was in the elevator and it hit me, my heart still works, and it’s kind of wild to think it sometimes because I spent so long being numb to everything,” shared the singer. “I just wanted to try to bring that story to life but also make it redemptive and anthem for people that need to be reminded of something like that.”

Stay tuned for more incredible music coming down the pipeline soon!

Connect:

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

To keep up with Chase McDaniel, follow him on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

Chase McDaniel’ music 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.