Justin-moore-number-one

Justin Moore: ‘Straight Outta The Country’ – Album Review

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Justin Moore’s new album, Straight Outta The Country, is available now, April 23rd, on all streaming platforms. With 8 new tracks, take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the new music in our First Impression review.

Justin Moore has always toed the line between traditional and modern country perfectly. With hits like “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” and “Small Town USA” under his oft-oversized belt buckle, Moore has managed to always stay true to his sound. Yet, while staying true to himself, he manages to continuously release music that sounds contemporary with a classic twist. This is the case on his new album, Straight Outta the Country, out today, April 23.

The album opens with “Hearing Things,” an ode to living in the city and missing the greener grass of country life. Written by Rhett Akins, Kelly Archer, and Chris Stevens, the song is fitting for a New York-dwelling country music fan, as we can relate to Moore and his remarks that he can “hear honking horns from the 21st floor,” and thinks he’s going crazy hearing the sounds of his country life. “I think I’m going crazy // Hearing things in my head like // Truck tires rolling on a gravel road // AM static on the radio // Pine trees swinging and singing when the wind blows,” Moore drawls. “I swear I’m hearing things like // Muddy water rippling on the riverbank // The lonesome whistle of a midnight train // Sounds crazy I know // But I’m hearing things // And they’re calling me home.”

The album’s lead single “We Didn’t Have Much” appears two times on the album, as both a full band and an acoustic track. While the former is currently climbing the charts at county radio, it’s the latter that allows the stellar lyrical content to shine. Co-written by Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, and Jeremy Stover, “We Didn’t Have Much” also brings about nostalgia for simpler days and a simpler place. “There was dirt on Daddy’s clothes // From putting that bacon on momma’s stove // Dog barking in the yard at a truck we don’t know,” Moore recalls. “All we had was us // That little bitty house and a lotta love // We had it all when we didn’t have much.”

While Moore can hold his own on an up-tempo, he shines on the slower and sentimental tracks, including “You Keep Getting Me Drunk” and “More Than Me.” The latter is a beautiful love letter of a song, co-written by Moore, DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, and Stover, to Moore’s children. On the heartfelt track, he tells of all the things he wishes for his children. “I hope you love // I hope you hit your knees // Hope you get to see the hometown team win // A little more than me,” He sings. “I know the world’s gonna think the world of you // But I swear on the stars above you // No one’s gonna love you // More than me.”

On “You Keep Getting Me Drunk,” Moore shows his heartbroken side, drinking to dull the pain over his lost love. “How can I get over us when I can’t even sober up?” He asks, the song displays a clever twist of a breakup track, highlighted perfectly by Sarah Buxton’s impeccable background vocals.

The album’s title track is a heavier Moore than we’re used to, driving guitars filling the song. This is an anthem to country-living that we can easily see kicking off or closing out a Moore live show, leaving the audience clamoring for more Moore.

Overall, Justin Moore’s Straight Outta Country is a quintessential mix of modern and contemporary country, Moore’s small-town charm shining on tales of simpler times, country living, celebrating life, and lost love.

TRACKLIST:

  1. Hearing Things (Rhett Akins, Kelly Archer, Chris Stevens)
  2. Consecutive Days Alive (Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell, Jeremy Stover)
  3. We Didn’t Have Much (Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)
  4. She Ain’t Mine No More (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Jamie Paulin, Jeremy Stover)
  5. More Than Me (Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover)
  6. Straight Outta The Country (Michael Hardy, Cam Montgomery, Josh Thompson)
  7. You Keep Getting Me Drunk (Rhett Akins, Kelly Archer, Paul DiGiovanni)
  8. We Didn’t Have Much – Acoustic (Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana, Jeremy Stover)

NYCS Picks:

  1. We Didn’t Have Much
  2. You Keep Getting Me Drunk
  3. Hearing Things

In addition to releasing music and touring, Moore has recently kicked off his own podcast, and upcoming guests include Travis Tritt, Dillon Carmichael, and more. Listen to The Justin Moore Podcast sponsored by Bobcat, here: https://JustinMoore.lnk.to/PodcastPR.

Justin Moore's new album, 'Straight Outta The Country' is available now, April 23rd

Justin Moore’s new album, ‘Straight Outta The Country’ is available now, April 23rd

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

To keep up with Justin Moore, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Straight Outta The Country 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.

brett-young-new-album

Brett Young Announces Next Album & Drops New Song, “Not Yet”

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Brett Young just announced his latest album, Weekends Look A Little Different These Days, due out June 4th, and dropped a brand new song, “Not Yet”, available now, April 23rd, on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we dig a little deeper into the new music.

After a busy month of releasing “You Got Away With It”, announcing his family is growing once again with a second baby girl on the way, and celebrating his 40th birthday, Brett Young has a full plate of exciting things to come both personally and professionally. Along with announcing a new forthcoming album, Young also dropped a brand new song “Not Yet” ahead of the project. The track is one of those good things that is sure to be eaten up and devoured by country radio; parallel with rising to the top of the country charts.

A song that demands to be heard on the way to the beach with your girlfriends or during a late-night long way home, cruisin’-around-town type of night, this new single from the singer-songwriter is as endearing and memorable as any good country-pop hit has been and will be to come. The starry-eyed and moon-chasing performer who has provided the public with access to being enchanted by his wife, Taylor Mills, specifically with the recently acclaimed #1 hit “Lady”, Young adds to his discography with “Not Yet”.

Brett Young's new song, "Not Yet" is available now, April 23rd

Brett Young’s new song, “Not Yet” is available now, April 23rd

“You still got a lot of kisses left on your lips // Yeah, you still got a lot of time to take away my breath // You still got a lot of driving me wild left // with that smile, with those eyes // I ain’t done loving you tonight, not yet”

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

To keep up with Brett Young, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Not Yet” 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.

Eric Church: ‘Soul’ – Album Review

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Eric Church’s new album, Soul, is available now, April 23rd, on all streaming platforms. The record marks the last of 3 new albums released by Church this month, including ‘&’ and ‘Heart‘.. Read our first impression review of ‘Soul’ below as we dig a little deeper into the new music.

Eric Church’s last of three new albums, ‘Soul’ available everywhere now, April 23rd

Eric Church’s last of three new albums, ‘Soul’ available everywhere now, April 23rd

For Eric Church fans, the final piece of his incredible Heart & Soul collection is Soul, released today, April 23. Following in the footsteps of Heart and &, Soul shows Church stretching himself musically, sampling different sounds and truly making another standout record. Out of the three new releases, Soul is sonically the most diverse of Church’s offerings, truly living up to its name.

Soul opens with the grooving “Rock & Roll Found Me,” which tells the tale of a “skinny little white kid,” whose life was changed when he discovered music. He compares it to his faith and to a drug, a new addiction for a kid from the wrong side of the tracks. “I turned on my amps and all at once my blind could see,” He proclaims. “Yeah when rock and roll found me.” 

Church continues to explore his soulful side throughout this project with songs like “Where I Wanna Be” and “Look Good And You Know It.” The latter track mixes driving guitars with a breakdown that actually sounds like an old doo-wop song, Church seamlessly trading vocals with the female background singers. Meanwhile, “Where I Wanna Be” also shows Church experimenting musically and vocally, his voice sliding into a falsetto as he croons, “And I’m down, I’m game, I’m in, I’m free // Wherevеr she is that’s where I wanna bе.” 

“Break It Kind of Guy,” is classic Church with a twist, the chorus almost venturing into Bee Gees-esque territory, while “Bad Mother Trucker” continues in that similar vein, as its Church dialed up to eleven. The breakdown midway through is truly something special, and we cannot wait to hear this live.

While Church is experimenting with different sounds and styles here, there’s also some tried and true Chief on Soul. This is exemplified on one of the album’s highlights, “Hell of a View,” Church singing of life with him, “This ain’t for everybody // Toes hanging off the ledge // Like we got nothin’ to lose // Ain’t always heaven, baby // This livin’ on the edge // You holdin’ me holdin’ you // It’s a hell of a view.”

Likewise, “Jenny” is a mid-tempo country song that Church debuted at this year’s Country Radio Seminar, revealing to those in attendance that it was inspired by a broken generator.

Soul ends with “Lynyrd Skynard Jones,” the only track not co-written by Church. Written by his frequent collaborator Casey Beathard, the song reveals the story of an Alabama boy whose mother was a big fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd, “born to carry on who his mother was a fan of.” Church tells the haunting tale over a simple acoustic guitar, a twist coming in the song’s final line. While Eric Church can rock with the best of them, he’s also one of the genre’s finest storytellers, as evidenced on “Lynyrd Skynard Jones.”

Soul is Church’s most eclectic collection yet, beginning with “Rock & Roll Found Me,” and we’re so glad it did, as it’s impossible to imagine a world without Eric Church’s music.

NYCS Picks:

  1. Hell of a View
  2. Break It Kind of Guy
  3. Look Good and You Know It
Eric Church set to release three albums, 'Heart', '&', 'Soul' this April 2021

Eric Church’s three-album project, ‘Heart’, ‘&’, ‘Soul’, April 2021

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

To keep up with Eric Church, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Soul 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.

Luke-bryan-singles-number-ones

The Best Deep Cuts from Luke Bryan

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With seven studio albums since his entrance into country music in 2007 with his debut album, I’ll Stay Me, ACM Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan has given us a collection of nearly 100 songs including 26 #1’s. Here are a few of our favorite Deep Cuts from him…

“You Don’t Know Jack” – Tailgates & Tanlines

“So brother just be glad // and tonight hold your kids, kiss your wife // and when you talk to God // Count up all your blessings // And thank the good Lord that // You don’t know Jack”

When we talk about the storytelling aspect of country music, this is a prime example of what we mean. The way Bryan is able to tell the story of these two men as if we know them or are them is beautiful, as is the play on words of not knowing Jack – as in nothing about the situation as well as the bottle. It’s the unique way of saying that you’ll never know someone’s whole story or what they’re going through.

 

“We Run This Town” – Crash My Party

“We thought we made the world go ‘round // Nothing but a bunch of time to kill // Sit up on a hill // Make a toast, drink it down // Say, yeah, man, we run this town // high-five and look around // Damn right we run this town”

Bryan definitely has a good amount of nostalgic songs, but this is one of our favorites. It perfectly embodies the feeling of being seventeen again, hanging out with your friends every day, and having no worries in the world. 

 

“Dirt Road Diary” – Crash My Party

“It’s right here in my dirt road diary // It ain’t a book underneath my bed // Just a dusty memory lane burned in my head”

There are too many great songs to choose from on this album, but “Dirt Road Diary” is one of the most raw and honest songs from Bryan – he is quite literally saying that he is an open book. He shares his story and says he simply is where he came from- which means it also has the perfect amount of nostalgia. 

 

“Land of a Million Songs” – What Makes You Country

“So you packed up your pickup and crossed that Tennessee line // You’re always searching for a little something different to say” 

This song is unique compared to the types of tracks that we’re used to hearing from Bryan. I feel like a lot of times people can generalize Bryan’s songs to being your basic country songs about girls, beers, hunting, fishing, and trucks. Not to say that’s not part of his identity either (I mean isn’t that what makes you country?), but I think that can make fans overlook songs like this one and the others on this list that hold a deeper meaning.

Much like Tim McGraw’s “Damn Country Music”, “Land of a Million Songs” flips the script on the thrill of making it in the industry and highlights the struggles to get there, all that is given up to make it possible, how slim the chances of making it really are and how all of that circles back to writing and playing music because make it or not, that’s what you’ll always do – whether others are listening or not. 

 

“For A Boat” – Born Here Live Here Die Here

“And Daddy saying ‘son, don’t they bite just fine right here?’ // He’d say, “Love what you got, buddy, not what you ain’t’ // And just about then that bobber would sink // And that outboard dream of mine would disappear // I grew up pretty lucky as far as lucky goes // Too broke for a boat”

About a shared love for fishing, and the relationship and memories that it created, this song is simply about appreciating what you have over hoping for things that you don’t and realizing that you don’t need the fancy things in life to be considered one of the lucky ones. Rather, looking back on it, that’s precisely what made you one of the lucky ones.

 

How does our list match up to yours? Let us know and be sure to follow our ‘Deep Cuts’ playlist on Spotify. Check out more deep cuts from some of our favorite artists like Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, Brett Young, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Kelsea Ballerini, and Luke Combs here.

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

To keep up with Luke Bryan, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

Win Tickets to Thomas Rhett ‘One Night Only From Nashville’ Livestream

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In celebration of his new album Country Again, Side A (available 4/30), Thomas Rhett is hosting a ‘One Night Only From Nashville’ Livestream and we’ve got your tickets! The special event is happening on April 30th at 8PM ET on Veeps. Win your way in using the form below.

To enter, follow the steps below and make sure you’re following @NYCountrySwag on Instagram for additional contests and opportunities to win.

 

New York Country Swag Giveaways:

Step 1 – Follow @nycountryswag on Instagram.

Step 2 – Follow @nycountryswag on Twitter.

Step 3 – “Like” NYCountry Swag on Facebook.

Step 4 – Complete the form below…

 

* One entry per person *

Eric Church: ‘&’ – Album Review

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Eric Church’s new album, ‘&’ is available now, April 20th, exclusively on vinyl to members of his fan club, The Church Choir. It’s the second of 3 new albums to be released by Church this month, including Heart, released on April 16th, and Soul, due out April 23rd. Read our first impression review of ‘&‘ below as we dig a little deeper into the new music. 

Eric Church's second of three new albums, '&', is available now, April 20th, exclusively on vinyl to members of his fan club, The Church Choir, only.

Eric Church’s ‘&’ is available now, April 20th, exclusively on vinyl to members of his fan club, The Church Choir, only.

If you want to hear the second piece of Eric Church’s Heart & Soul collection, ‘&’, you need to be a member of his Church Choir fan club, and you need to own a record player. Released exclusively on vinyl (at least for now), the six-track collection is the second of three albums released this month by Church. Last Friday, April 16th, he shared his Heart, and he’ll share his Soul this Friday, April 23rd.

Overall, ‘&’ shows Church’s sensitive and introspective side, the majority of the songs lean towards being more low-key and mid-tempo. The exception is “Do Side,” a guitar-driven track that puts Church’s rock influences on full display. On here, he’s the left behind and not the leaver, remarking “Yeah, the player got played.” However, the emotional change of pace is a welcomed one, as he realizes that he might have gotten what he needed, finding himself on the “do side of a give a damn.”

As a release solely for his devoted fans, much of ‘&’ pays homage to those who have been loyal to Church since the beginning. The opening track, “Through My Ray-Bans,” is a heartfelt ode to the Chief’s view every night from the stage. “Everybody’s got their arms around // Everybody else’s shoulders // Guarding against the world outside // Like an army of Friday night soldiers,” He sings. “The battle wages tomorrow // But tonight you don’t give a damn // Wish you could stay the way I see you // Through my Ray-Bans.”

On “Doing Life With Me,” Church continues to show his softer side on this musical thank you to his wife, and all of those special people “doing life with him.” It’s a beautiful track, perfect for first dances and wedding receptions, with Church singing, “Spend my living giving thanks // For the ships I never sank // Every big, every little in the everyday things // The notes and the words and the songs I sing // To the ones doing life with me.”

Church is also heartbroken on ‘&’, as evidenced on “Kiss Her Goodbye” and “Mad Man.” The former tells the clever tale of all of the places he loves to kiss someone, except now he can’t bring himself to “kiss her goodbye.” On “Mad Man,” he sings of a man driven crazy by his lost love. While this track starts off slow, it picks up with a blistering guitar solo in the second half, Church’s vocals shining as he proclaims he’s “like a mad man.”

The album ends with “Lone Wolf,” another epic track that builds and explodes with meaning. “Yeah, this lone wolf is done runnin’ down the moon // In the daylight dark of the night this heart is howlin’ for you,” He sings, “Yeah, this lone wolf ain’t lonely anymore // ‘Cause you weren’t afraid to reach out and save a lone wolf at your door.”

While ‘&’ is shrouded in a bit of mystery due to the exclusivity of its release, it features six solid new tracks that Church devotees are sure to love. However, for those who aren’t yet members of the Church Choir, ‘&’ might just make the membership worth the investment. 

NYCS Picks:

  1. Through My Ray-Bans
  2. Doing Life With Me
  3. Kiss Her Goodbye
Eric Church set to release three albums, 'Heart', '&', 'Soul' this April 2021

Eric Church’s three-album project, ‘Heart’, ‘&’, ‘Soul’, April 2021

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

To keep up with Eric Church, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Check out 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.

Best Country Music Songs of April 2021: “What We’re Listening To” Picks

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NYCountry Swag’s “What We’re Listening To” playlist highlights the wide range of our team’s favorite songs and artists when it comes to the country music genre.  At the end of the day, we are all fans first with a passion for country music and are eager to share with you all what we’ve got on repeat each month.

Find below each of our team member’s favorite songs and why in our April 2021 picks of the current best country music songs. Then be sure to give our Spotify account a follow and listen to our favorite tracks!

 

APRIL PICKS:

 

 

Stephanie Wagner, Founder

Pick: “Country Again” – Thomas Rhett
Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Thomas Rhett, Zach Crowell

I know this song has only been out for a little over a week, but the second I heard it, it instantly moved me and I’ve had it on repeat since. Although the lyrics speak personally to Rhett, I think it acts in a relatable way to anyone who has had the opportunity to slow down over the past year and enjoy the things they once took for granted. Time with friends and loved ones, being home, and enjoying the simple things in life.

To me, I think of the word ‘wholesome’ when I think of this song, it’s so nice to see Rhett enjoying the little things and getting back to his roots. I love the idea that although 2020 wasn’t the best year, we can look back and think that there were some good things to come from it.

“I traded sunsets with my wife // For hours on my phone // And even when I was right beside her // I still wasn’t really home // But last night we built a fire // Watched the moonlight kiss her skin // I thought, “Man, it feels good to be country again”

 

Lucie Bernheim, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Do You Think About Me” – Caitlyn Smith
Songwriters: Rollie Gaalswyk, Jeremy Lardani, Caitlyn Smith

Caitlyn Smith’s “Do You Think About Me” has been on rotation for at least 4 years, and lately, I’ve been listening to it more than ever. The Starfire EP in general got me through my freshman year of high school! As it has started getting really nice out, I’ve been taking more walks and drinking my coffee outside – and to me, that’s what this song sounds like. It has this calming presence over me, and it’s rootsy alternative country perfection. The combination of the rolling drums and gorgeous electric guitar over Smith’s silky vocals make for a song you simply can’t get sick of.

 

Dylan Bestler, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Famous Friends” – Chris Young & Kane Brown
Songwriters: Cary Barlowe, Chris Young, Corey Crowder

This song came out a few months ago, and I was hoping it would start gaining some traction because I think it’s a perfect representation of country music and small-town life. Everyone looks up to politicians, athletes, celebrities, and other individuals whose names carry weight but as the pandemic has exaggerated, the real heroes are the doctors, teachers, shop owners, and friends that helped us through tough times. The two emphasize the importance these people have in our community.

I love when Chris Young and Kane Brown collab because Brown often credits Young for being an idol to him when he was growing up and pursuing music as a career. Knowing Brown’s backstory and being a huge fan, it’s nice to see it become full circle.

 

Pick: “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” – Chase Rice ft. Florida Georgia Line
Songwriters: Chase Rice, Hunter Phelps, Cale Dodds & Corey Crowder

I’ve always been a huge fan of both Chase Rice and Florida Georgia Line, so I couldn’t wait to hear them collaborate on a song together. “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” is exactly what it sounds like, a country song featuring the essentials: beer, God, and great friends.
“Sittin’ here, drinkin’ beer, talkin’ God, Amen // Killing time, living life with some down-home friends // When the world’s gone crazy man it all makes sense // Sittin’ here, drinkin’ beer, talkin’ God, Amen // Amen”
I can’t wait to blast this song with the windows down this summer and *hopefully* hear it live sometime very soon.

 

Erin Crosby, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Wings” – Jackson Dean
Songwriters: Jackson Dean, Park Chisolm

“Wings” from newly signed recording artist Jackson Dean is a paralyzing production of a deep-rooted sentiment through heavy vocals of attractive rasp and intriguing range. From the finger-picking that opens the song and leads up to the words sprung out from this Maryland native who teeters on the same stylistic approaches as Chris Stapleton in this debut song, Dean Jackson is one to look out for. “Wings” is an incredible start to his journey with Big Machine Records.

 

Caleigh DeCaprio, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Hard to Stay Mad At” – Tim McGraw
Songwriters: Lori McKenna, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally

In honor of Tim McGraw releasing the Ultimate Edition and the Ultimate Video Edition of Here on Earth, I’ve been re-listening to the album, and “Hard to Stay Mad” is one of my favorite songs off of it. I love any song that finds a way to reference other songs in it, but I especially love that McGraw has reached a point where he is referencing his own songs within his new tunes, which he does multiple times on this album alone.

In “7500 OBO”, McGraw name drops “Where the Green Grass Grows” and “Southern Girl” and he does it again in “Hard to Stay Mad At”. You can hear musical undertones that sound similar to “I Need You” throughout the song, that eventually form to “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you”  that follows the same pattern, until adding in the infamous “I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you” and ending the song with “I want you” in the same beat. Not only is “I Need You” an iconic song and a staple when it comes to the careers of both Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, but McGraw’s inclusion of it on his songs and albums now speaks volumes to the success of his career. He even threw in an anecdote about him and Hill in his latest release off the upcoming album in “God Moves the Pen”. Can’t wait to see what other surprises he has for the rest of the album!

“If you weren’t so damn stubborn, we would’ve never got this far // Be just another casualty, two people in a bar // Here we are, another day // Everytime I walk away, I walk right back // ‘Cause you’re hard to stay mad at”

 

Julia Grubbs, Contributing Writer

Pick: “No Sad Songs” – Niko Moon
Songwriters: Alysa Vanderheym, Anna Moon, Joshua Murty, Niko Moon, Steven Lee Olsen

As we crawl our way out of winter in the Northeast, I needed something truly uplifting to pick up my mood. I came across Niko Moon’s “No Sad Songs”, and the title itself told me everything I needed to hear. It instantly lifted my spirits and gave me the fun summer vibes I’m so longing for. No more desperate winter heartbreak songs; I’m done with it all and looking forward. This song has the pop-country vibe that is so popular and appealing to all listeners, even those who claim to not like country music. The electric guitar and rapped verses give it the groove to keep you moving.
‘Dancing all the way ’til last call // drink in my hand got me feelin’ right”

 

Pick: “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris
Songwriters: Brinley Addington & Jerry Flowers

I’m a sucker for country couples (Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans, anyone??) and I can’t stop listening to Ryan Hurd’s track with wife and mega-star Maren Morris, “Chasing After You”. The song is simple, catchy, and relatable and the fact that the two are in love in real life is the icing on the cake.

“But I know, yeah I know it’s a matter of time // ‘Till you walk, ’till you walk back out of my life // Leave me standing here lonely feeling like a fool // Every time, every time you say we’re done // You come back to the love you werе running from // Don’t know why, don’t know why I let you but I do // Guess I love chasing aftеr you”

 

Pick: “That’s When” – Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
Songwriters: Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Taylor Swift

My pick for this month is “That’s When” by Taylor Swift featuring Keith Urban. It’s no secret that “country Taylor” is my favorite era, so when she announced new songs from the vault coming I was so excited. “That’s When” is the perfect breakup track whether it was when you are 17 (like I was when Fearless came out) or now as an adult. Having Keith Urban on the track also makes it super special as they were former tourmates. Their voices fit so well together.

 

Nicole Piering, Contributing Writer

Pick: “I Would’ve Loved You” – Jake Hoot & Kelly Clarkson
Songwriters: Dean Sams, Jake Hoot, Jamie Floyd

My pick this month is “I Would’ve Loved You,” by The Voice winner Jake Hoot and his coach, Kelly Clarkson. There’s just something to love about a country power ballad, and this one is as good as they get. Written by Hoot, Jamie Floyd, and Dean Sams of Lonestar, the song is an interesting take on a breakup song, the pair belting, “I’m gonna hate you as long and as much as I would’ve loved you.” Both Hoot and Clarkson shine vocally on this song, singing their hearts out, and sounding absolutely beautiful together while doing so.

 

Erica Zisman, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Ran into You” – Mitch Rossell & Trisha Yearwood
Songwriters: Dave Turnbull, Mitch Rossell, Tommy Karlas

This month my pick came easy. As soon as I heard our recent Swag Spotlight artist Mitch Rossell’s song with Trisha Yearwood “Ran into You,” I knew that would be my pick.

The song is everything I love about country music. It tells a story. It has impeccable lyrics and the vocals are just out of this world. The added collaboration with Trisha Yearwood and the harmonies are just a bonus! The song feels honest and authentic, making me feel for the protagonist despite not experiencing this particular story myself.

“I ran like hell to nowhere fast / From myself / From my past / From my hometown and everyone I ever knew / I ran from God when he got too close / I ran from love and the hearts I broke / And from all the wreckage I left in my rear-view. All I ever knew was running / ’Til I ran into you”

Mitch Rossell is also an artist that I really believe in him, so I was honored to get to pick his song as my favorite of the month! Now, go listen to it!

 

Listen to our picks on our “What We’re Listening To” playlist on Spotify and be sure to give it a follow, so you can catch our monthly updates.

Who Is Roman Alexander? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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

Roman Alexander

Roman Alexander

We love championing up-and-coming artists in the country music industry. There is so much talent out there to look forward to. Roman Alexander is one of those singer-songwriters that we are currently excited about. We chatted with Alexander all about his blossoming career, his path to Nashville, and of course, his newest EP, “Between You & Me”.

Growing up outside of Kansas City in a town called Parkville, Alexander was one of those kids that loved music from an extremely early age. The singer recalls playing gigs at bars in a family band at the early age of just seven years old. “It was a big part of my childhood,” shared Alexander, “My mom hardly ever missed one [gig]” he added, laughing at the memories.

Alexander’s family also played a big role in the music he was introduced to. “My family always had a really wide variety of music playing around the house,” shared the singer, “My parents were both ‘80s kids. They loved ‘80s rock and ‘80s alternative.” He credits his mother for introducing him to country acts like Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, and Kenny Chesney, but Elvis Presley still remains the singer’s biggest musical influence to this day.

Shortly after high school, Alexander made the move to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a career as a country artist. Filled with talent and a hunger to make it the industry, the singer worked odd jobs to meet and network with as many people as possible. He recalls working at an Audi dealership exactly for that reason. “When people would pull up, I would sometimes steal their business cards out or their cars or take a picture of it,” he laughs adding “I would email them to try to get a meeting, and 99.9% of the time I didn’t get a response.” This just lit a bigger fire under Alexander. Ultimately he ended up working as a merchandise guy for country music bands and then for Easton Corbin, which led him to sign his publishing deal.

Now Alexander is living his dream, writing and recording songs for a living. He recently released a killer duet with newcomer, Alana Springsteen called “Trying Not To.” “It was the first song we ever wrote together,” shared Alexander, “I wanted to have a duet of some sort but we didn’t want to do it like the norm […] We kinda wanted to make it unique and kinda intertwine things.” This resulted in a song that equally showcases the singers’ talents and vocals.

Alexander has another duet coming down the pipeline soon too. He collaborated with fellow songstress Ashley Cooke on a new version of his song “Between You & Me.” The new version will be out on April 24th. According to Alexander, the decision to drop a new version of the song with Cooke was an easy one. “My manager was like what if we got ya know a female on “Between You & Me” and just throw some fuel on the fire and keep things going […] and I said what about Ashley Cooke, it was a no brainer.”

Fans can check out Alexander’s EP, also called Between You & Me. The collection of songs gives music lovers a taste of everything that makes the singer who he is. “The first year of my publishing deal was me writing and just trying to figure out what I wanted to say […] And “Cocktail Conversations” was the first song we wrote on the EP that absolutely solidified this is the right direction. It had every bit of who I am in it […] It all flowed together really well,” shared the singer when asked about the record.

Although Alexander has given us a lot of new music to hold us over for a while, he promises fans that there will be new music coming in the near future. However, above all else, the singer cannot wait to get back on the road to groove and play for fans. We know we’re excited to see him live!

To keep up with Roman Alexander, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

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

Gabby Barrett Lands Second Consecutive #1 Single with “The Good Ones”

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Gabby Barret lands her second consecutive number one song at country radio this week with “The Good Ones”, following her massive debut single, “I Hope”.

Gabby Barrett has had much success in her blossoming career in the industry. Her sassy debut single “I Hope” soared to the top of the charts and subsequently went 5x double platinum. Now, her follow-up single, “The Good Ones” is following suit,” rising to the number one spot on the country charts this week.

Her first single may have been a sassy one, but “The Good Ones” is a straight-up love song that we all swoon listening to. The lyrics highlight what it feels like to be in a relationship that is full of mutual love and respect. Barrett shares all the things she loves about her man.

“A love me like he should one // Like he wrote the book one // The kind you find when you don’t even look one // Anybody can be good one // But he’s good all the time // He’s one of the good ones // And he’s all mine // He’s one of the good ones”

Although the representation of female singer-songwriters on the radio is still not enough, it is exciting to see Barrett break down molds. Like fellow female artists, Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini, Barrett is proving to have radio success with her singles, as women continue to break glass ceilings in and beyond the music industry.

Congrats to Barrett and her team!

Join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Gabby Barrett releases.

To keep up with Gabby Barrett follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

2021 ACM Awards: The Complete Recap – Winners, Performances & More

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Last Night, April 18th, The 56th Annual ACM Awards show aired live on CBS from Nashville. Hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton, the special show was full of one-of-a-kind moments and epic performances as the country music family honored the highest talents of 2021 celebrating the best of the best in the genre.

Nashville’s brightest stars, and even some real, non-cardboard cutout fans, headed to music city for the special night. Like last year, the show took place over several locations across Nashville including the Station Inn, Bluebird Café, Riverfront Park, Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry. While many received much-deserved honors and recognition throughout the night, it was ultimately Luke Bryan who took home the show’s most prestigious award, Entertainer of the Year for the third time in his career.

The night was full of first-time performances and collaborations. Miranda Lambert and Elle King kicked off the show with their exciting, cross-genre smash, “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).”

This was followed by Chris Young and Kane Brown’s chart-climbing hit, “Famous Friends.” Brown’s video for “Worldwide Beautiful” won Video of the Year earlier this week as well. Lambert took the stage again to sing backing vocals for Chris Stapleton on their rendition of his emotional tune, “Maggie’s Song” from his latest album, Starting Over. The record was awarded Album of the Year later in the show.

Right before Thomas Rhett asked fans “What’s Your Country Song?” he debuted his newest track, “Country Again,” off his upcoming record of the same name, due out next Friday, April 30th. Blanco Brown announced the first award of the night, Group of the Year, to Old Dominion, making it their fourth consecutive win in the category.

One of country music’s favorite couples, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd sang their latest love song “Chasing After You” making for a spectacular duet, giving off Tim McGraw and Faith Hill vibes.  Next, Lady A performed their latest female-empowerment anthem, “Like a Lady” at Riverfront Park. Later, Darius Rucker presented Morris with the Song of the Year for “The Bones.” She thanked her co-writers and the person who inspired the song, her husband, Hurd.

Country music wasn’t the only genre represented last night. Dierks Bentley paid tribute to bluegrass music and the late owner of the Station Inn, JT Gray, who passed away last month, with a performance of “Pride (In The Name of Love) alongside The War and Treaty. Carrie Underwood, who honored women in country music at last year’s ACMs with a melody of hits, performed a melody of Christian songs from her latest album, My Savior last night, including “Amazing Grace,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” “Old Rugged Cross,” and “How Great Thou Art.” She was joined by gospel artist, CeCe Winans.

Lambert took the stage for the third and final time alongside Jack Ingram and Jon Randall to perform “In His Arms,” from their upcoming project, The Marfa Tapes. Jimmie Allen, who earlier this week was awarded Best New Male Artist, was surprised by Brad Paisley who snuck up on him at the Bluebird Café to join him in singing their collaborative track and current single, “Freedom Was A Highway”.

“I Hope Your Happy Now,” which won Musical Event of the Year earlier this week, also won the Single of the Year during the show. Lee Brice and Carly Pearce showed their excitement walking up to the stage. The two displayed their dominant vocals on the number one song later in the show, as well.

Kenny Chesney delivered a powerful performance of his new single, “Knowing You” from the Ryman Auditorium. After the song, members of the country community who lost their lives this past year — Mac Davis, JT Gray, Charley Pride, and many others — were honored on the screen. Chesney later joined Kelsea Ballerini on stage to honor Knoxville, Tennessee in an intimate performance of their song, “Half of My Hometown.”

Country icon, Alan Jackson returned to the ACM stage last night with performances of “Drive” and “Always Be My Baby,” in honor of his daughter’s recent wedding. Another country legend, Blake Shelton sang his debut single “Austin” in honor of its 20thanniversary, then followed it with a performance of his most recent single, “Minimum Wage.” After, Dan + Shay were awarded with another Duo of the Year, making it their third-straight. They performed their touching new single, “Glad You Exist” earlier in the show.

Both hosts got their chance to take the stage – Mickey Guyton sang “Hold On” from the motion picture Breakthrough and Keith Urban displayed his guitar skills during his performance of “Tumbleweed,” from his latest album, THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1.

Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, Thomas Rhett took home the Male Artist of the Year, while Maren Morris won Female Artist of the Year. She gave recognition to all the hard-working ladies in the category during her speech.

Before the Entertainer of the Year award was given to Luke Bryan, Little Big Town performed their fun, current single, “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” on the streets of Lower Broadway in Nashville. Brothers Osborne, who previously performed “Not For Everyone,” closed out the night with another song from their Skeletons album, “Dead Man’s Curve.”

Other notable performances included Eric Church, who sang a song from his brand-new album, Heart, “Bunch of Nothing;” Luke Combs, who was backed by an entire orchestra sang “Forever After All;” Ashley McBryde gave a fiery performance of her song “Martha Divine;” and Gabby Barrett, who took home New Female Artist of the Year earlier this week, sang her single “The Good Ones.”

Click here to see a full list of winners and follow us on Instagram and Twitter for more special moments from the show.

Fans can also join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music.

To keep up with the Academy of Country Music follow along here on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Check out the full list of winners from the show here and follow along on Instagram, @NYCountrySwag for more special moments from the show.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music.