Parmalee: ‘Fell In Love With A Cowgirl’ – Album Review

For Parmalee, Fell In Love With a Cowgirl, represents the band’s return to its roots and a look towards its future. On the seven song collection, which is part one of a two-album set, the quartet blends its breezy country style with its pop rock influences.

Made up of brothers Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas, their cousin Barry Knox and life-long friend Josh McSwain, Parmalee has long been one of country music’s most consistent bands. On the follow up to 2021’s For You, the North Carolina natives continue down that path of making catchy pop country anthems.

Writers on the collection include members of the band, as well as heavy hitters like Ashley Gorley, David Fanning, Michael Tyler, Andy Albert, and more. “This project is getting back to the organic side of it,” Josh shared in a statement. “It’s more acoustic instruments, and there’s still slick production, but no made-up sounds. It’s real instruments.”  

The collection opens with “Feels Like Home,” a mid tempo celebration of the type of love that feels as comfortable as home. “It embodies that whole thing of returning to where you came from and finding somebody that makes you feel like home,” Matt said. “It’s got the fast beat, and I feel like most people are waiting for the train kind of beat. But we wanted to do it more like Green Day or with steel guitars and fast picking.”

“Cowgirl” is a strumming uptempo, flirting with pop beats and an earworm of a chorus that’s perfect for a high energy live show. It’s a radio-ready summer anthem, a bop for cowgirls of all kinds.

“Yeah that’s the kinda woman // Make you call your friends up and say // I fell in love with a cowgirl // I’m followin’ her curves like a backroad // The way she fit it in them Levis // Make a man never wanna go home // I only came for a minute // Now she make me wanna live it // Yeah her southern charm ain’t no joke // Thank God for the cowgirl // I fell in love with a cowgirl // And I ain’t comin’ home”

The band shows its romantic side on tracks like “Enough,” “God Knew Better,” and “Day One.” While the latter is a playful midtempo that revels in love at first sight, “Enough” is a romantic ballad about the kind of love that can’t be put into words, but is impossible to get enough of. 

“God Knew Better” shows a more introspective side to the band, reflecting on the decisions in life that led them to where they are and a special woman. “I thought nothing would settle me down, if the old me could see me now,” Matt muses. “I thought I knew best, but God knew better.”

“Beautiful” is a genre-bender, building in a way that wouldn’t be out of place on a Benson Boone record. Here, they move effortlessly from straightforward midtempo to impassioned anthem. “I just like the way that it builds from the beginning to the end, and it’s just massive,” Barry revealed. “It’s a beautiful song.”  

The album ends with “Miss Me When You’re Drinkin,’” a 90’s alternative-tinted story of being on the receiving end of a drunk dial. On the smoky yet twangy number, Matt channels heartbreak into his voice, admitting “But I miss you all the time, not just on some downtown night…,” while she only calls when she’s drunk. It’s an all-too-relatable situation and the tune is sure to top all kinds of heartbreak playlists.

On Fell in Love With a Cowgirl, Parmalee continues to do what they do best: Mix genres to create a unique brand of catchy pop country. “We’re good-time guys,” Matt said. “We love to have a good time, and that’s what we’re all about. We just hope people can sing along, smile and ride the roller coaster of emotions with us.”  

Country Swag Picks:

1. Feels Like Home
2. God Knew Better
3. Beautiful

Fell In Love With A Cowgirl Track List:

1. Feels Like Home (Ashley Gorley, David Fanning, Matt Thomas, Beau Bailey, Ned Cameron)
2. Day One (Ashley Gorley, David Fanning, Matt Thomas, Steph Jones, Ben Johnson, Taylor Phillips)
3. God Knew Better (Abram Dean, David Fanning, Jamie Collazo, Andy Albert, Parmalee)
4. Cowgirl (James Daniel Lewis, David Fanning, Peter Daniel Newman, Robbie Jay, Thomas Frank Ridley Horsley, Parmalee)
5. Enough (Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Abram Dean, Sydney Cubit, Dave Villa)
6. Beautiful (Matt Thomas, David Fanning, Michael Tyler, Ben Stennis)
7. Miss Me When You’re Drinkin’ (Matt Thomas, Ben Williams, David Fanning, Andy Sheridan)

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Fell In Love With A Cowgirl s 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.