The Backlog: Dog Days of August Edition.
It's late August. Let's talk some music.
The summer heat maybe has peaked. Country music is still pumping out music at record high amounts. Some nice variety here. Not strictly “Summer releases”, but Today I Heard has never been tightly bound to release dates.
As mentioned in this month’s first post, music connects to moments. Often the summer season has a signature song or album. For me, its usually something cheerful and upbeat. Keith Urban’s Somebody Like You is a classic of the genre. Do you have any summer classics? Please leave a comment if you do!
(Brief reminder of the Country Subgenre numbering system.
1- Traditional Country
2-. Country Rock
3-. Modern Country
4-. Pop Country
5-. Southern Pop)
Let's dive in to the reviews!
1. Maggie Rose- No One Gets Out Alive
-Tracks: 12
-Time: 45 min.
-Subgenre: 5
With all but the faintest of country roots stripped away, Rose succeeds in presenting an enchanting performance. One of her better ones yet. Clean, straightforward messaging and presentation, but not to a fault. Vocally it really shines.
Favorite: Too Young, Vanish, Thinking Of You
Least Favorite: Another Sad Song
2. Waxahatchee- Tigers Blood
-Tracks: 12
-Time: 42 min.
-Subgenre: 2, 4
Resisting simple categorization, Tigers Blood resolves to a series of snippets, subtleties, stream-of-consciousness recollection, and sketched out thoughts that somehow bond together into a sweeping reflection on the messy, little, disparate details of reality as experienced in the mostly settled arena of one's mid thirties.
Favorite: Bored, Lone Star Lake, Burns Out At Midnight
Least Favorite: Crimes Of The Heart
3. Matt Stell- Born Lonely
-Tracks: 10
-Time: 30 min.
-Subgenre: 2, 3, 4
The pre-release ep had me intrigued. Indeed some singular moments beg to be drawn out. Alas, all personality has been sanded down to a smooth faceless country rock sheen.
Favorite: Built By Broken Hearts, Smooth
Least Favorite: Girl Gets Gone, What We Do Best, One Cold Beer At A Time
4. Brian Kelley- Tennessee Truth
-Tracks: 12
-Time: 34 min.
-Subgenre: 4, 3
The personality displayed in 2021's “Beach Cowboy” era is long gone. Now exchanged for a sanded down, outdated, mainstream, Bro Country sound with absolutely nothing of interest to say. Sometimes the generic FGL demo’s are delivered catchily. Nashville country muzak at its finest.
Favorite: 10 O'clock On The Dock, Doin’ Nothing, See You Next Summer
Least Favorite: Dirt Road Date Night, King Ranch, Barefeet Or Boots, Kiss My Boots
5. Elvie Shane- Damascus
-Tracks: 13
-Time: 46 min.
-Subgenre: 2
Rough hewn return from the “My Boy” singer. Splitting the difference between Kip Moore and Cadillac Three, Shane shines a real world spotlight on all the myriad facets of rural life in this year 2024. Pastiche at its worst, hillbilly poetry at its best.
Favorite: What Do I Know, Forgotten Man, Pill, 215634, Winning Horse
Least Favorite: Outside Dog
6. Shaboozey- Where I've Been Isn't Where I'm Going
-Tracks: 12
-Time: 37 min.
-Subgenre: 4, 3, 5
Generally infectious hip-hop country fusion that mostly adds the strengths of each genre together. Enough moments of uneasy genre compromise exist to prevent the project as a whole from hitting the next level. The excessive auto tune is certainly a choice. Understandable given the current hip hop genre conventions, but it felt distracting over all else. The subdued parts of the record are far better than the attempts at upbeat genre mashup. I generally prefer Willie Jones's take on this kind of fusion, but Shaboozey is doing it better than nearly anyone else.
Favorite: East Of The Massanutten, My Fault (Ft. Noah Cyrus), Steal Her From Me, Finally Over
Least Favorite: Last Of My Kind (Ft. Paul Cauthen), Drink Don't Need No Mix (Ft. BigXthaPlug)
7. Calder Allan- Dreamers, Drifters, and Hiders
-Tracks: 11
-Time: 46 min.
-Subgenre: 2, 3, 1
Newish name out of Texas provides rock infused take on Texan singer songwriter. Perspective in spades. Kinda a Shane Smith meets Zach Bryan sort of thing. A work in progress as an artist, but massive flashes of potential show.
Favorite: The Conservationist, Just Pray, Give Me A Memory, Skipping Stones
Least Favorite: Leave it All Behind
8. Various Artists- Twisters: The Album
-Tracks: 29
-Time: 1 hour, 33 min.
-Subgenre: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5
The flyover country event of the summer takes a broad look at the full tent of country music. Same as a mirror, it perfectly reflects. Both for good and bad.
Favorite: Ain't No Love In Oklahoma, Steal My Thunder, Tear Us Apart, Already Had It, Death Wish Love, Shake Shake (All Night Long), New Loop, Ghost Riders In The Sky
Least Favorite: Hell Or High Water, Country Classic, Song While You're Away, Too Easy, Touchdown
9. Palmer Anthony- You, Me & The Moon
-Tracks: 10
-Time: 33 min.
-Subgenre: 2, 3, 1
A Texas name I've had an eye in for a couple years now. Anthony represents the rough middle zone of the Texas country gamut. There's some rock, some singer songwriter, some straight country, some Texas pride, some wit, some heartbreak, and a live scene seasoned, well executed presence behind the microphone.
Favorite: You, Me & The Moon, West Texas Cloud Appreciation Society, Sleep, My Mind & You, Cowboy Ride Home
Least Favorite: Forever Gone
10. Cody Hibbard- Long Ride In A Short Bed
-Tracks: 10
-Time: 33 min.
-Subgenre: 2, 3
Hibbard’s take on Texas country rock gets some polish, but doesn't sacrifice grit. The writing takes a large step forwards towards a defined outlook, personality and sensibility. His best work yet.
Favorite: Kill The Messenger, Had It Been A Boy (Brinley's Song), Long Ride In A Short Bed,
Least Favorite: Set In My Ruts
11. Josh Turner- This Country Music Thing
-Tracks: 11
-Time: 38 min.
-Subgenre: 1, 3
A long awaited return to original music. Historically, Turner's voice has always been a standout, the delivery is always adequate, and the lyrical material usually underwhelming. In large part, this album follows along that path. However, taken as a whole, more care was shown to the small details on the record, leading to his best original record since the 00’s. Perhaps the lack of commercial aspirations unlocked a more Turner focused project, rather than a Turner meets Top 40 project.
Favorite: This Country Music Thing, My Side, Pretty Please, Unsung Hero
Least Favorite: If You Ain't With Me
12. Thomas Rhett- About A Woman
-Tracks: 14
-Time: 43 min.
-Subgenre: 5, 4
Now, two albums past the aborted country renewal project, Country Again, Rhett pushes even further into pop. Looking at the liner notes, large parts of this album seem squarely aimed at pop radio. Grading on a pop curve, the upbeat pop sensibilities come through neatly. Execution wise, far superior to the mishmash of Where We Started. It's still surface level and shallow for the most part. But hey, it's pop music. What did you expect?
Favorite: Country For California, Boots, Back To Blue, I Could Spend Forever Loving You.
Least Favorite: Overdrive, Gone Country, After All The Bars Are Closed, What Could Go Right.
13. Kaitlin Butts- Roadrunner!
-Tracks: 17
-Time: 59 min.
-Subgenre: 1, 2
High-concept kitsch is tough to land. It's very audience dependent. For many, Butts’ breathlessly exuberant, musical inspired presentation provides plentiful perspective and profound enjoyment. For others, it's too overblown to allow connection. Color me firmly on the latter side of things. Even so, I can still see what she is trying to do, and admire it. It may not be on my end of year list, but I get why it'd be on many others.
Favorite: Wild Juanita’s Cactus Juice, Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow), People Will Say We’re In Love, Elsa
Least Favorite: If I Can’t Have You
Thanks for reading! What were some favorites you had during August? Please leave a comment or reach out to today I heard blog at Gmail dot com.
-Joe
Loving Maggie Rose’s new album. Will now listen to Waxahatchee !!