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Jason Aldean: ‘Highway Desperado’ – Album Review

Jason Aldean shares his new album, Highway Desperado, out now, November 3rd, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Fresh off his remarkable 28th number-one radio single, the polarizing yet popular “Try That In A Small Town,” the reigning ACM Artist of the Decade adds to his already impressive resume with another full-length project. Aldean shared the inspiration for the album’s title came from his latest sold-out headlining tour that just ended last weekend. 

“I think when I look back on it, I built my career early on my live show, and have been on the road touring since I was 18 years old. For us, touring is our favorite part,” Aldean confessed in a recent press release. “Getting on the bus and going town to town and playing our shows and doing our thing and seeing the fans…the title for the tour and album was really inspired from that.” 

That inspiration is exhibited immediately in the project’s opening song, “Tough Crowd.” The phrase, “tough crowd,” typically describes a disengaged audience, but the writers flip it into a favorable attribute. Aldean highlights the veterans and blue collar 9-to-5ers in the audience, giving them credit for partying hard at the show even after working hard all day. The track is filled with crowd cheers to give it that real, live concert feel.

The next song, “Let Your Boys Be Country,” is a PSA to all the moms out there to, like the title says, let their boys be country—let them hunt, drive trucks, fall in love with the girl next door, and be proud of where they’re from. 

Alcohol-aided heartbreak is a prominent theme throughout the record, expressed on tracks such as “I Knew You’d Come Around,” “Whiskey Drink  and “From This Beer On.” In the former, the singer got to the bar early to get a head start on his buzz, because he had a feeling his ex would show up and wreck his good time later that night. The upbeat melody contradicts the somber subject matter, creating a unique and interesting sound. In “Whiskey Drink,” the singer is begging his substances to drown out his feelings and regret. In the latter, the singer pledges to himself that her leaving won’t affect his good time, and from this beer on, it’s all good vibes.

Love is represented in a positive light on the album as well. In the soothing “Rather Watch You,” the singer is in front of the most beautiful and scenic view imaginable, but all he can focus on is the woman next to him—a cute sentiment emphasizing the effect of true love.  The title of the snap-track, “I’m Over You,” suggests the singer has officially moved on from his ex, but instead, he’s over her being just his girlfriend.

“I’m over you not leaving your car parked out in the yard // Not stealing my t-shirts every night // I’m over your boots not next to my boots // I’m over my whiskey not next to your wine // My life could use some forever, and your name could use some new letters // You’ve had yours your whole life // I’m over you not having mine”

Aldean, whose last contribution to song lyrics was on “Keep the Girl” from his third album, Wide Open, has three cuts on this record in “Breakup Breakdown,” Hungover In A Hotel,” and the concluding title track. The former is a rocking tune that features the singer in the middle of an emotional breakdown caused from his former relationship. In the title track, the singer reflects on his lifestyle and the high he gets from being out on the road. He admits he has no intention of changing his ways. The song ends with a 75 second guitar solo.

“Every cowboy knows you can’t hang your hat in just one place // You’re a highway desperado”

In an industry that is constantly evolving, Jason Aldean continues to follow the same musical formula. Yet he continues to enthrall listeners and remains one of country music’s most popular figures—a true testament to his vocal talent, his team of writers and producers, and his showmanship on stage. Not many country artists have been at their peak as long as Aldean, and whether you appreciate his candid attitude, you must acknowledge the impact and the joy he’s had on our beloved genre.

Highway Desperado Tracklist:

  1. Tough Crowd – Kurt Allison, Marv Green, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher
  2. Let Your Boys Be Country – Jaron Boyer, Allison Veltz Cruz, Micah Wilshire
  3. Knew You’d Come Around – Kurt Allison, Ben Hayslip, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
  4. Hungover In A Hotel – Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy, Neil Thrasher
  5. Try That In A Small Town – Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher
  6. Whiskey Drink – Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
  7. Whose Rearview – Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughn
  8. I’m Over You – Josh Phillips, Michael Tyler, Micah Wilshire
  9. Rather Watch You – Jessi Alexander, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher
  10. Breakup Breakdown – Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughan
  11. Get Away From You – Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughn
  12. Changing Bars – Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
  13. From This Beer On – Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan
  14. Highway Desperado – Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Tough Crowd
  2. Breakup Breakdown
  3. Whose Rearview
  4. I’m Over You
Jason-aldean-highway-desperado

Jason Aldean’s new album, ‘Highway Desperado’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

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

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

Highway Desperado 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.

Jason-aldean-highway-desperado

Jason Aldean Lands Number One at Country Radio with “Try That In A Small Town”

Jason Aldean earns another number one song at country radio with his single, “Try That In A Small Town.” Learn more below.

Jason Aldean continues his impressive streak of number one hits, marking his first number one song with his upcoming new album.  “Try That In A Small Town” is officially the number one song at country radio this week.

The superstar never shies away from controversy and speaking his truth in his music. In his song, “Try That In A Small Town,” Aldean speaks candidly about the values instilled in him from small-town living and much more. Written by Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace and Neil Thrasher, the singer and his fanbase clearly connected to the lyrics and the in-your-face melody.

“Try that in a small town // See how far ya make it down the road // ‘Round here, we take care of our own // You cross that line, it won’t take long // For you to find out, I recommend you don’t // Try that in a small town // Got a gun that my granddad gave me // They say one day they’re gonna round up // Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck”

Congrats to Aldean and his team on an incredible number one feat!

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

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

“Try That In A Small Town” 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.

Jason-aldean-highway-desperado

Jason Aldean Shares New Song “Whiskey Drink” Ahead of Album

Jason Aldean releases new song, “Whiskey Drink,” out now, October 6th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

While fans await Jason Aldean’s upcoming album, Highway Desperado, out on November 3rd, the singer is sharing a taste of the record with fans. Last month, he released “Let Your Boys Be Country.” Today, the entertainer is sharing another new song called, “Whiskey Drink.”

Aldean excels at delivering both energetic anthems and heart-filled slow jams. “Whiskey Drink” fits in with the latter. The new song is a slower-tempo track about heartbreak and drinking away the pain. Written almost as a letter or a conversation to whiskey, Aldean laments about needing the drink to drown out the heartbreak, something anyone who has experienced heartbreak can relate to.

“Hey whiskey drink // I know it’s been a while // Gotta talk to you, gotta catch you up on the hell I’m in right now // Yeah, whiskey drink // Now you won’t believe // The things I said, the way she left, the way the leaving all went down // It might take all night to get her off my mind // I need you one more time // Yeah, be a good friend // Come on, Kick in whiskey drink // I don’t want to think, think think”

Aldean is a true mainstay in country music, creating music that is unapologetically him. Fans will definitely flock to this new one. “Whiskey Drink” is one of Aldean’s best songs as of late.

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Jason Aldean shares new song, “Whiskey Drink,” ahead of next studio album, ‘Highway Desperado.’

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

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

“Whiskey Drink” 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.

Jason-aldean-highway-desperado

Jason Aldean Surprises Fans with New Song + Upcoming New Album

Jason Aldean releases new song, “Let Your Boys Be Country,” out now, August 25th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

Jason Aldean is giving his fans so much to be excited about. In conjunction with his brand new song, “Let Your Boys Be Country,” out today, Aldean is sharing the news that his next studio album, Highway Desperado is slated for release on November 3rd.

Much like his controversial song “Try That In A Small Town,” another song off the upcoming album, Aldean is once again praising the small-town, blue-collar lifestyle. “Let Your Boys Be Country” is an anthem for  the country lifestyle and hard-work. The song encapsulates all the lessons that being outside, tough love, and experiences teach you as you grow up.

“Let ’em ride rowdy trucks, making backroad noise // Let ’em hang out on Friday, getting wild with the boys // Let ’em go to the woods in the cold painted up camo green // Yeah, let ’em chasе, let ’em fall for a small-town girl // Let еverything inside these county lines be his whole world // You want him to grow up to be someone he’s damn proud to be // Mamas, let your boys be country”

“Let Your Boys Be Country” adds to Aldean’s impressive catalog of hits. Fans will surely love when the singer adds the track to his live show.

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Jason Aldean shares new song, “Let Your Boys Be Country,” ahead of next studio album, ‘Highway Desperado.’

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

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

“Let Your Boys Be 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.

Jason-aldean-song

Jason Aldean Releases Surprise New Song “Try That In A Small Town”

Jason Aldean releases new song, “Try That In A Small Town,” out now, May 19th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new track below.

Superstar, Jason Aldean never shies away from controversy and speaking his truth in his music. In his new song, “Try That In A Small Town,” Aldean speaks candidly about the values instilled in him from small-town living and much more.

Although the song was written by Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace and Neil Thrasher, the singer clearly connected to the lyrics and the in-your-face melody. The song tackles taboo subjects, but at its core, it is a song about small town values and how it is important not to lose them.

“Try that in a small town // See how far ya make it down the road // ‘Round here, we take care of our own // You cross that line, it won’t take long // For you to find out, I recommend you don’t // Try that in a small town // Got a gun that my granddad gave me // They say one day they’re gonna round up // Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck”

“Try That In A Small Town” marks Aldean’s first radio single off his next studio album, which he is currently in the studio working on! Check back for more updates.

Jason-aldean-song

Jason Aldean shares new song, “Try That In A Small Town,” out now.

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

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

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

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Here Are The 2023 ACM Awards Winners (Full List)

Here is the full list of 2023 winners of The ACM Awards…

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2023 ACM AWARDS WINNERS:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR:
Jason Aldean
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton *** WINNER
Carrie Underwood
Kane Brown
Morgan Wallen

 

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Lainey Wilson *** WINNER
Carly Pearce
Kelsea Ballerini

 

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Kane Brown
Jordan Davis
Morgan Wallen *** WINNER

 

DUO OF THE YEAR:
Brooks and Dunn
Brothers Osborne *** WINNER
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War & Treaty

 

GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion *** WINNER
Zac Brown Band

 

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Priscilla Block
Megan Moroney
Caitlyn Smith
Morgan Wade
Hailey Whitters *** WINNER

 

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Zach Bryan *** WINNER
Jackson Dean
ERNEST
Dylan Scott
Nate Smith
Bailey Zimmerman

 

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]:
“Heart Like a Truck” – Lainey Wilson
“Never Wanted to be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
“She Had Me at Heads Carolina” – Cole Swindell *** WINNER
“Thank God” – Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown
“Til You Can’t” – Cody Johnson

 

SONG OF THE YEAR
*Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s):

“Sand In My Boots” – Morgan Wallen
“She Had Me at Heads Carolina” – Cole Swindell *** WINNER
“‘Til You Can’t” – Cody Johnson
“wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson
“You Should Probably Leave” – Chris Stapleton

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Ashley McBryde Presents Lindeville – Ashley McBryde
Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson *** WINNER
Growin’ Up – Luke Combs
Palomino – Miranda Lambert
Mr. Saturday Night – Jon Pardi

 

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Nicolle Galyon
Ashley Gorley *** WINNER
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne
Hunter Phelps

 

ARTIST SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
ERNEST
HARDY *** WINNER
Miranda Lambert
Morgan Wallen

 

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
“HEARTFIRST” – Kelsea Ballerini
“She Had Me at Heads Carolina” – Cole Swindell
“Thank God” – Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown
‘Til You Can’t – Cody Johnson
“wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson *** WINNER
“What He Didn’t Do” – Carly Pearce

 

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

“At the End of a Bar” – Chris Young with Mitchell Tenpenny; Producers: Chris DeStefano, Chris Young; Label: RCA Nashville

“She Had Me at Heads Carolina [Remix]” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: Warner Music Nashville

“Thank God” – Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: RCA Nashville

“Thinking ‘Bout You” – Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: Broken Bow Records

“wait in the truck” – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson; Producers: Derek Wells, HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt; Label: Big Loud Records *** WINNER

 

 

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

Jason Aldean Earns Another Number One Song with “Trouble With A Heartbreak”

Jason Aldean earns another number one song with his single, “Trouble With A Heartbreak.” Learn more below.

Jason Aldean continues his impressive streak of number one hits with his current radio single, “Trouble With A Heartbreak.” The song marks the second number one single off Aldean’s impressive double project, Macon, Georgia.

“Trouble With A Heartbreak” is an incredible, soulful country song. According to Aldean, the single stopped him in his tracks right after he heard it for the first time. Written by Brett Beavers, John Morgan, Kurt Allison, and Tully Kennedy, the single pulls at everyone’s heartstrings.

“And that’s the trouble with a heartbreak, it’s gonna hang around // Leave you midnight breaking down, wonderin’ how // Long that it’s gonna take gettin’ over her // It’s a can’t drown whiskey down kinda hurt // Yeah, you can burn them four wheels up that road // But there ain’t nowhere her memory can go // That’s the trouble with a heartbreak”

Congrats to Aldean and his team on an incredible number one feat!

This summer, Jason Aldean will bring the Rock N’ Roll Cowboy Tour across the nation with 34-stops including Hartford, Boston, New Orleans, Nashville, and more. Tickets and more info can be found here.

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

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

“Trouble With A Heartbreak” 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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Jason Aldean: ‘Georgia’ – Album Review

Jason Aldean’s highly anticipated album, GEORGIA is officially here. The last fifteen tracks of his double album are out now, April 22nd. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Today, April 22, Jason Aldean released the second half of his Macon, Georgia double-album, completing the ambitious thirty-song project. With ten new songs, as well as five live greatest hits, the Georgia portion, out today, is the follow-up to November’s Macon.

“We’ve always tried to lean toward more songs than less…and this album is no different,” Aldean explains in a statement. “We decided to pepper in some of the live tracks we’ve had stockpiled for a while. After nine albums and 16 years of recording, I hope people can tell I wanted to make this tenth album fun and different from anything we’ve done before.” 

While part one included the mega-hit “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, part two features future chart-toppers like “God Made Airplanes,” “Whiskey Me Away,” and “Trouble with Heartbreak.” Like Macon, the theme of Georgia seems to revolve heavily around heartbreak, which is where Aldean shines.

“Whiskey Me Away” opens Georgia, perfectly setting the tone, and highlighting Aldean at his best. With his deep voice and brooding style, the superstar tends to excel on mid-tempo heartbreak and this track is the perfect example, hearkening back to some of his earliest hits with its clever play on words.

“Throwing quarters down that jukebox // Play some old-school Alabama // You got the lonely I brought in here // Almost gone without a trace // I know I’ve had a few, yeah, but I’m buzzing on you // You’re a hangover I’d love to wake up to // So come on, baby, whiskey me away // Come on, baby, whiskey me away.”

Likewise, “The State I’m In” and “Trouble with a Heartbreak” are other highlights, both with tension-building and moody melodies, finding the superstar grappling with lost love. On both songs, the heartbreak is inescapable for him as “There’s nowhere her memory can’t go.” Likewise, “The State I’m In” is like a long-lost cousin to 2009’s “The Truth” in the best way possible.

With a tour named after “Rock and Roll Cowboy,” it’s safe to assume the track is destined to be a single, and it’s obvious why. With its catchy hook and driving guitars, the song about a traveling musician is perfectly crafted for a live show.

“God Made Airplanes” is another standout and single-worthy track. Here, he’s desperate to escape, looking to take to the sky to get away from another broken heart.

“That’s why God made airplanes, and runways, and half-price tickets, one-ways // If I could get high up off the ground, ain’t got the wheel can’t turn around // Show me a place without her in it, I’ll be there in a New York minute // If I’m driving, I might hit the breaks // That’s why God made airplanes.”

There are songs on Georgia that find Aldean experimenting with new sounds. For example, “Midnight and Missing You” and “Ain’t Enough Cowboy” find him dabbling with R&B beats and slightly electronic-tinged vocals on the chorus. 

Of the new tracks, the most uncharacteristically Aldean here is “Your Mama,” a sparse and sentimental ballad dedicated to his wife, Brittany. On the stunner of a song, he celebrates the role of his wife as the mother to his children. “It’s just a different kind of song than what you would typically hear from me,” Aldean explains. “Then we turn around and go right back to the rock-driven stuff.”

While the live tracks on Macon were some of Aldean’s earliest hits, including “Amarillo Sky” and “Big Green Tractor,” the five featured on Georgia are newer additions to his catalog. Here, you’ll find live versions of “Take a Little Ride,” “Any Ol’ Barstool,” “Burnin’ It Down,” and “Rearview Town.” The album concludes with a live version of his 2020 hit “Blame It On You.”

For Aldean, the entire Macon, Georgia collection is a celebration of where he’s from. “To me it’s just throwing it back to where it all started,” Aldean revealed in a statement. “I don’t care who you are, where you were raised is such a big part of who you end up being, and for me it’s no different. Macon is a crossroads of country music, Southern rock, blues and R&B, and just that whole combination of music was such a big influence on me growing up – and ultimately on how I make music myself.”

GEORGIA Track List

  1. “Whiskey Me Away”
  2. “Trouble With A Heartbreak”
  3. “The State I’m In”
  4. “Midnight And Missin’ You”
  5. “Ain’t Enough Cowboy”
  6. “God Made Airplanes”
  7. “My Weakness”
  8. “Holy Water”
  9. “Rock And Roll Cowboy”
  10. “Your Mama”
  11. “Take a Little Ride” (Live from Las Vegas, NV)
  12. “Burnin’ It Down” (Live from St. Louis, MO)
  13. “Any Ol’ Barstool” (Live from Knoxville, TN)
  14. “Rearview Town” (Live from St. Louis, MO)
  15. “Blame It On You” (Live from Manchester, TN)
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Jason Aldean’s new album ‘GEORGIA’ is officially out now.

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

This summer, Jason Aldean will bring the Rock N’ Roll Cowboy Tour across the nation with stops in Hartford, Boston, New Orleans, Nashville, and more. Gabby Barrett, John Morgan, and Dee Jay Silver will join him on the 34 city stint, and more info can be found here.

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

GEORGIA 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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Jason Aldean Surprises Fans with New Song “Whiskey Me Away”

Jason Aldean’s brand new song “Whiskey Me Away,” is out now, December 3rd on all streaming platforms. Learn more about the brand new track here.

As fans gear up in anticipation of GEORGIA, the second installment of Jason Aldean’s double album, the singer dropped the first song off the upcoming record. “Whiskey Me Away” comes just a few weeks after the release of MACON.

The new single was written by superstar Morgan Wallen with Rodney Clawson, Jeff Hyde, and Drive Williams. “Whiskey Me Away” tells the story of a guy falling for a girl unexpectedly. The budding romance is at the forefront of the country-rock slow-jam. Aldean continues to keep his southern charm on the track, keeping with his classic, signature sound.

“Throwing quarters down that jukebox // Play some old-school Alabama // You got the lonely I brought in here // Almost gone without a trace // I know I’ve had a few, yeah, but I’m buzzing on you // You’re a hangover I’d love to wake up to // So come on, baby, whiskey me away // Come on, baby, whiskey me away,”

With a few months left before Aldean drops his next album GEORGIAit will be interesting to see what new releases come down the pipeline next. Until then, make sure to stream the song below!

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Jason Aldean surprises fans with new song “Whiskey Me Away,” out now.

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

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

“Whiskey Me Away” 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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Jason Aldean: ‘MACON’ – Album Review

Jason Aldean’s highly-anticipated album, MACON is officially here. The first fifteen tracks of his double album is out now.

Aldean will go down as one of the most successful country artists ever. He has accumulated 26 number one hits, 15 billion streams, and more than 20 million albums sold over his 16-year career. In 2019, the Academy of Country Music awarded him the Dick Clark Artist of the Decade. Aldean’s hometown of Macon, Georgia means a lot to him, which motivated him to name his tenth studio album after it. 

“Where you were raised has such a big influence on who you become and for me it’s no different…especially from a music standpoint,” Aldean said in a recent press release. “My little hometown of Macon was heavily instrumental in my musical background. Growing up in an environment that was a crossroads between country music, southern rock, blues and R&B, it was just natural to blend different sounds in my own way.”

Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, and Lydia Vaughan were the four main writers on this project, having cuts on four of the nine new songs. Allison and Kennedy are also in Aldean’s touring band and play their instruments on the record as well. Heartbreak and healing share the overarching theme on MACON. In “Over You Again,” the singer finds himself in an endless cycle of falling in and out of love with his ex. When he finally starts to think he’s over her, he shortly backslides and needs to go through the process again. This is the most poppy-track on the record and features backing vocals from an uncredited female. In “This Bar Don’t Work Anymore,” the singer leans on the neon lights to mend his broken heart, but the one he is trying to get over is on the dance floor with another guy. 

“They might as well close it down, shut it down, go ‘head and board up the windows and lock the door // “cause this bar don’t work anymore”

John Edwards adds his input to the third track on the album, “That’s What Tequila Does.” Aldean sings about the confidence tequila gives drinkers when trying to get back with an ex. You might think it’s working at first, but it will just leave you disappointed at the end of the day. The quartet also penned the multi-week number one single “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood as well. The two performed the song together for the first time at the CMA Awards earlier this month. Watch here:

The writers of “After You” (Micah Wilshire, Michael Tyler, Thomas Archer) use clever wordplay to portray this former relationship. It started with the man chasing after her and following her every move to trying to figure out what life was “after love, after leaving, after too much drinking, after you.” 

The bar is the setting in most of the tracks on this album, and “Story For Another Glass” is no different. Upon taking his seat, he tells the people around him he has no interest in talking about his ex right now. However, that might change a few drinks from now.

“Just wanna pour beer on an ol’ heartbreak // Drink ’em outta José and shoot ’em outta limes // Maybe kiss a stranger in the neon light // Buddy, I know that you’re tryna help // Just don’t remind me I’m goin’ through hell // If I get enough in me, man, I might just crack // But right now, she’s a story for another glass”

Aldean took songs from other major-label recording artists in Brantley Gilbert, Michael Ray and Morgan Wallen. Brantley and Ray co-wrote “Small Town Small” with Taylor and Josh Phillips, Chase McGill, Brock Berryhill, Brian Davis, and Brandon Day. “Small Town Small” is an ode to small town life and the people who rule it. It is the only fun, party song on the album, which is very unlike Aldean.

Fans who are aware of Wallen’s recent history can metaphorically hear him in the “The Sad Songs.” Everything is going great in this new relationship, but the man fears that once she hears about some of his poor past behaviors, she will leave right then and there. Wallen wrote this with Josh Thompson and Brandon Kinney.

Aldean released his Bryan Adams cover of “Heaven” exclusively on Amazon Music in May but is now available everywhere and included on MACON. Although the two singers have very different vocal ranges, Aldean does a great job of creating a new sound and giving the song a new meaning. The first half of the project ends with five live tracks from different shows including “Amarillo Sky,” “Johnny Cash,” “She’s Country,” “Big Green Tractor,” and “My Kinda Party.” Between Macon and Georgia, one song from all nine of Aldean’s previous albums will be represented in live tracks. Click here for the Georgia tracklist which will come out on April 22nd. 

MACON Track List

  1. After You
  2. Over You Again
  3. That’s What Tequila Does
  4. Small Town Small
  5. If I Didn’t Love You with Carrie Underwood
  6. Story For Another Glass
  7. Heaven
  8. This Bar Don’t Work Anymore
  9. The Sad Songs
  10. Watching You Love Me
  11. Amarillo Sky (Live from Nashville, TN)
  12. Johnny Cash (Live from Los Angeles, CA)
  13. She’s Country (Live from Las Vegas, NV)
  14. Big Green Tractor (Live from Dallas, TX)
  15. My Kinda Party (Live from St. Louis, MO)

Jason Aldean’s new album ‘MACON’ is available now on all streaming platforms.

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MACON 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.