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Eric Church: ‘Soul’ – Album Review

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.

Eric Church: ‘&’ – Album Review

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.

Eric Church: ‘Heart’ – Album Review

Eric Church’s new album, Heart, is available now, April 16th, on all streaming platforms. The record marks the first of 3 new albums to be released by Church this month, including ‘&’ and ‘Soul‘, which will come next week. Read our first impression review of ‘Heart‘ below as we dig a little deeper into the new music. 

Eric Church's first of three new albums, 'Heart' available everywhere now, April 16th

Eric Church’s first of three new albums, ‘Heart’ available everywhere now, April 16th

There are few artists as unique and innovative as Eric Church. Determined to bend the conventions of the music industry, Church continues down that path with the first release of his three-part collection, Heart & Soul. Heart is out today (April 16), followed by ‘&’ on April 20 (released exclusively on vinyl to members of his fan club, The Church Choir), and Soul on April 23. Each part of the collection was born during Church’s month-long retreat to the mountains of North Carolina, where he collaborated with famed producer Jay Joyce on 24 new explosive and introspective tracks, each with a unique sound and story.

The album opens with “Heart On Fire,” and it’s immediately apparent that Church is back and better than ever, ready to do something different on this record. One of the highlights of many of Church’s recent releases has been the use of a female background vocalist, and this is on full display here, as is a mean guitar solo that begins around the 2:25 mark.

“Heart of the Night” tells the tale of escaping a suffocating life, and the staccato delivery of “Let’s point this thing west //into the chest // of the still-beating heart of the night” is one of our favorite things we’ve heard in a long time. The bridge takes on a life of its own as it completely changes melodically, venturing into almost Broadway-esque territory, and it’s clear we’re witnessing something special on this album.

“Russian Roulette” is a clever take on that moment when a song can literally cripple you. Church assures us that he’s doing okay, but he needs to avoid those songs that will strike him like a bullet, “messing up my head, playing Russian Roulette with the radio.” This is such a relatable topic that those who know and love music can most certainly relate to, as everyone has a song, or songs, that can bring you to your knees. “I need a melody without a memory,” He pleads. “Take me where I’ve never been // I hear ‘em gunnin’ for me // I feel ‘em huntin’ for me // But I ain’t tunin’ them in.”

Church also continues to celebrate humanity in different ways on “People Break” and “Never Break Heart.” The first is a slow homage to heartbreak. “People break, people try // Things happen people cry // Someone leaves, love dies,” Church sings over the melancholy music. “Someone changes their mind // Baby I get it I really do // But now I gotta go and do the hardest part // Break the news to a broken heart.”

As usual, Church isn’t one to stay quiet when it comes to the realness of life, tackling some of life’s toughest topics on “Stick That In Your Country Song”, which is interestingly the only song on this collection that he didn’t co-write. Profiled on the cover of Billboard for encouraging fans to receive the COVID vaccine, Church is open to singing and talking about everything.

The album goes out with a bang, just as it began. “Bunch of Nothing” shows a different side of Church, a more twangy up-tempo than we’re used to from the Chief, lending itself midway through to a hand-clapping musical interlude that is sure to have you bopping along. 

The final song on Heart is “Love Shine Down,” a track that builds from a sparse slow tempo to a full-out Gospel-inspired jam. Here, Church gives a nod to one of his earliest hits, “Sinners Like Me,” as he sings, “It’s cold and it’s dark in this sinner’s heart // Lady let your love shine down.”

Eric Church’s Heart is a unique and genre-bending release, showing different sides of Church, and if it’s any indication of what’s to come, we can’t wait for the next two releases from Heart & Soul.

NYCS Picks:

  1. Heart of the Night
  2. People Break
  3. Russian Roulette
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.

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

Eric Church Releases New Song “Break It Kind Of Guy”

Eric Church surprised fans with another brand new song, “Break It Kind Of Guy” from his forthcoming three-album project due out this April, ‘Heart & Soul’.

Earlier this year, superstar Eric Church revealed plans for an unprecedented new project. The singer-songwriter will be releasing a triple album, ‘Heart & Soul’ in April. Album #1 is entitled ‘Heart’, album #2 is ‘&’, and Soul’ is the third record. Surprising fans once again before the project’s official release, Church debuted the final instant gratification track off the project, a song entitled “Break It Kind Of Guy.”

The new jam has Church written all over it! Co-written by Church with fellow songwriters Luke Dick and Casey Beathard, the song was born out of pure creativity. According to the singer, “Luke was talking about how refreshing it was and how creative he felt in that setting, and then he said Im so surprised you would do it this way because normally people are like if its not broke’ – and when he said that, I went you break it,” referring to Church’s goal of challenging himself to write and a record each song in just one day. “Weve got three songwriters in the room so immediately it turned into if its not broke, Im a break it kind of guy.It was a neat thing for the song to be born in that moment.”

Eric Church's new song "Break It Kind Of Guy" is available now, March 26th

Eric Church’s new song “Break It Kind Of Guy” is available now, March 26th

“Hold up on rollin’ up the streets in this town // I got a bucket full of paint left and a match to burn it down // When it comes to raisin’ hell I’m ‘bout to take you all to school // Ain’t big on all your laws and don’t care about your rules // Yeah, I tell my eagle where to fly // If it’s not broke, I’m a break it kind of guy”

That anecdote is a perfect embodiment of what the song shares. In all ways, Church is not afraid to push the envelope and break molds. In fact, some may say that he is a risktaker and a rule-breaker, but we argue that he is a trendsetter and innovator.

Fans can anticipate more creativity and innovation from Church as we await his three-part record. Proving to be an artist for the fans, the middle project, ‘&’ will only be viable for the Church Choir fanbase. Visit ericchurch.com to join!

Eric Church set to release three albums, 'Heart', '&', 'Soul' this April 2021

Eric Church’s three-album project, ‘Heart’, ‘&’, ‘Soul’ due out this 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.

“Break It Kind Of Guy” 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.

Eric Church Releases New Song “Heart On Fire” Ahead of Triple Album Project

Eric Church just surprised fans with a brand new song, “Heart On Fire” from his forthcoming three-album project due out this April, ‘Heart & Soul’.

Church is a contemporary icon of country music, and his dedicated fan base, the Church Choir, got a first taste of the three-part project, Heart & Soul, with the release of “Heart On Fire”. This song is the first of the Heart album, and captures the highway drive anthem of his listeners. His writing sessions have been intense, and he’s found the ability to have more than one song on each theme to be a comforting undertaking.

“Heart On Fire” has a classic country beat with an edge of blues from a piano and rock with an electric guitar. Its foot-tapping power provides the comfort and drive we need to keep going while live music feels like such a thing of the past. Church manages to create the atmosphere of a crowded southern bar with patrons up against the stage all in the resonance of a song.

Eric Church's new song “Heart On Fire” is available everywhere now, January 29th

Eric Church’s new song “Heart On Fire” is available everywhere now, January 29th

‘We weren’t old enough to drink but we damn sure did it, Hat turned backward singin’ “Paradise City”
That look on your face was full of young desire, Soakin’ my soul in gas and settin’ my heart on fire”

With continued restrictions and winter in full force, the lyrics capture the release and carefree escape we’re all yearning for. As Church continues to release music at an unabating pace, listeners can rely on his music to speak words to feelings otherwise uncaptured.

Eric Church lovers can see Church at Super Bowl LV on February 7, performing the National Anthem.  Heart is available for preorders now, and set for release April 16.

Eric Church set to release three albums, 'Heart', '&', 'Soul' this April 2021

Eric Church’s three-album project, ‘Heart’, ‘&’, ‘Soul’ this 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.

“Heart On Fire” 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.

Eric Church ‘Heart & Soul’ Release Dates + Track Lists

Eric Church confirmed today, January 21st, he will be releasing three new albums in April 2021.
Eric Church set to release three albums, 'Heart', '&', 'Soul' this April 2021

Eric Church set to release three albums, ‘Heart’, ‘&’, ‘Soul’ this April 2021

In a video message delivered directly to his fans through his fan club, the Church Choir, country superstar Eric Church shared the exciting news that this April fans can look forward to receiving three individual albums from the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year.

“I have three albums coming out in April. They came out of my 28 days in the mountains of North Carolina, where the songs were recorded and written. The collection is entitled Heart & Soul.” Church shared in the message.

Creating the middle album, ‘&’, specifically for his Church Choir fan club, the project will be available exclusively to those fans and only as a vinyl record on Tuesday, April 20. The other two albums, ‘Heart’ and ‘Soul’, will be available everywhere on Friday, April 16 and Friday, April 23, respectively. Pre-orders for all three albums begin for the Church Choir next Thursday, January 28 and for the general public, next Friday, January 29.

“It’s been a long 10 months. With the power of music and love for each other, we will get through this, we will gather again soon. I cannot wait to play this music for you live. It is the very best we’ve ever made. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the records” Church shares to conclude the video message.

Check out the full track list for each of the albums below:

Heart Track List

(songwriters in parentheses)

  1. Heart On Fire (Eric Church)
  2. Heart Of The Night (Eric Church, Jeremy Spillman, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell, Travis Hill)
  3. Russian Roulette (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell)
  4. People Break (Eric Church, Luke Laird)
  5. Stick That In Your Country Song (Davis Naish, Jeffrey Steele)
  6. Never Break Heart (Eric Church, Luke Dick)
  7. Crazyland (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Michael Heeney)
  8. Bunch Of Nothing (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde)
  9. Love Shine Down (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Jeffrey Steele)

& Track List
(songwriters in parentheses)

  1. Through My Ray-Bans (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Barry Dean)
  2. Doing Life With Me (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Jeffrey Steele)
  3. Do Side (Eric Church, Casey Beathard)
  4. Kiss Her Goodbye (Eric Church, Casey Beathard)
  5. Mad Man (Eric Church, Casey Beathard)
  6. Lone Wolf (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell)

Soul Track List
(songwriters in parentheses)

  1. Rock & Roll Found Me (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Driver Williams)
  2. Look Good And You Know It (Eric Church, Jonathan Singleton, Travis Meadows)
  3. Bright Side Girl (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Scotty Emerick, Clint Daniels)
  4. Break It Kind Of Guy (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Luke Dick)
  5. Hell Of A View (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell)
  6. Where I Wanna Be (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Jeremy Spillman, Ryan Tyndell)
  7. Jenny (Eric Church)
  8. Bad Mother Trucker (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Luke Dick, Jeremy Spillman)
  9. Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones (Casey Beathard)
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.

Looking for new country music? Check out the latest recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

BREAKING: Eric Church Set To Release Triple Album – ‘Heart & Soul’

Eric Church is set to release not one, not two, but THREE albums this April.
The country music superstar confirmed in a newsletter to his fan club and during his latest episode of Outsiders Radio on Apple Music Country:

“If you haven’t heard by now, we just announced some big news to start off the new year.  It’s an announcement I’ve been waiting a long time to make: I will have THREE ALBUMS coming out in April.

That is the first song on the first of three new albums that I’ll have comin’ out in April.  Album 1 is titled ‘Heart,’ and will be released on April 16th.  The album features 9 songs including “Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Crazyland,” and the song you just heard: “Heart On Fire”.

The THIRD is called ‘Soul,’ and it’ll be released on April 23rd.  We’ll tell you about the second one later, but the ‘Soul’ album is where you’ll find the current single “Hell Of A View,” and it ends with this song, titled “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones.”

In between those two will be a special album we call ‘&.’  It will be available on white vinyl for Church Choir members only on April 20th.  The three albums together will be ‘Heart’ ‘&’ Soul,’ with a total of 25 songs.  The middle album has a couple of songs you’ve already heard: “Through My Ray-Bans” and “Doing Life With Me.”  We’ll reveal more news about the album in the coming months.”

Check out the full track list for each of the albums below…

Eric Church set to release three albums, 'Heart', '&', 'Soul' this April 2021

Eric Church set to release three albums, ‘Heart’, ‘&’, ‘Soul’ this April 2021

Heart Track List

(songwriters in parentheses)

  1. Heart On Fire (Eric Church)
  2. Heart Of The Night (Eric Church, Jeremy Spillman, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell, Travis Hill)
  3. Russian Roulette (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell)
  4. People Break (Eric Church, Luke Laird)
  5. Stick That In Your Country Song (Davis Naish, Jeffrey Steele)
  6. Never Break Heart (Eric Church, Luke Dick)
  7. Crazyland (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Michael Heeney)
  8. Bunch Of Nothing (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde)
  9. Love Shine Down (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Jeffrey Steele)

& Track List
(songwriters in parentheses)

  1. Through My Ray-Bans (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Barry Dean)
  2. Doing Life With Me (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Jeffrey Steele)
  3. Do Side (Eric Church, Casey Beathard)
  4. Kiss Her Goodbye (Eric Church, Casey Beathard)
  5. Mad Man (Eric Church, Casey Beathard)
  6. Lone Wolf (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell)

Soul Track List
(songwriters in parentheses)

  1. Rock & Roll Found Me (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Driver Williams)
  2. Look Good And You Know It (Eric Church, Jonathan Singleton, Travis Meadows)
  3. Bright Side Girl (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Scotty Emerick, Clint Daniels)
  4. Break It Kind Of Guy (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Luke Dick)
  5. Hell Of A View (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell)
  6. Where I Wanna Be (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Jeremy Spillman, Ryan Tyndell)
  7. Jenny (Eric Church)
  8. Bad Mother Trucker (Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Luke Dick, Jeremy Spillman)
  9. Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones (Casey Beathard)
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.

Looking for new country music? Check out the latest recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.