The Backlog: End of October
Eleven albums and EP's. Plenty to go around for everyone.
Glad to have done October properly for the Backlog. Hope you enjoy and discover something new!
Quick reminder of the subgenre numbering system
1-Traditional Country
2-Country Rock
3-Modern Country
4-Pop Country
5-Southern Pop
Karley Scott Collins- Flight Risk
Subgenre: 2, 5, 4
Time: 50 min
Tracks: 16
Bold, ambitious debut establishes Collins as a major new voice blending grunge, pop-punk, and country across too many tracks. Gravelly vocals cut through intriguing but frequently impenetrable arrangements. The versatility is impressive, though the length tests her still-developing songwriting consistency. When she hits, she hits hard.
Favorite: Quit You
Least Favorite: Cowboy Sh!t
Scotty McCreery- Scooter & Friends
Subgenre: 3, 1
Time: 17 min
Tracks: 5
Short and sweet EP balances trademark sincerity with dad-humor wit. Sonically about what you’d expect if you ignored the super traditional turn of his last record. It underperformed, so it’s not surprising that the pushed single is a broad-audience-angled attempt.
Favorite: Once Upon A Bottle Of Wine
Least Favorite: Swim Up Bar
Brett Eldredge- Kiss Me In The Moonlight
Subgenre: 5
Time: 8 min
Tracks: 3
Eldredge is dropping a few EPs throughout the year. The overall result is scattered, even if each EP sticks tightly to a specific sound and theme. It’s interesting to see what direction Eldredge goes in after he sacrificed his mainstream career for artistic integrity. His voice is as mellow and melodious as always, but production quality seems to have suffered compared to the lushly produced norm I’m accustomed to. I don’t think this tropical thing is a good idea.
Favorite: St. Tropez
Least Favorite: Hey Mona Lisa
Sunny Sweeney- Rhinestone Requiem
Subgenre: 1
Time: 32 min
Tracks: 10
Sweeney leans fully into her honky-tonk roots with pure, unfiltered traditional country. Tight 10-track collection of proper honky tonk, drinking songs, and heartbreak ballads proves she’s chosen authenticity over mainstream success and it’s paid off with some of the most compelling music of her career. Classic country never goes out of style when it’s done this well.
Favorite: Houston Belongs to Me, Diamonds and Divorce Decrees
Least Favorite: I Drink Well With Others
Cole Swindell- Spanish Moss
Subgenre: 3, 4,1
Time: 1:05
Tracks: 21
These long-established artists have a hard time breaking from their mold. Big trend shifts allow for changes. Swindell managed to break free from bro-country but hasn’t quite defined what comes afterwards, despite big hits. This is more of the same with a nod towards maturing, southern domesticity, and subtle organic trend-following. Inessential but pleasant. I weirdly vibed heavily with it.
Favorite: Dale Jr., Someone Worth Missing, ‘99 Problems, Heads Up Heaven
Least Favorite: Country Boy Can’t Survive
Parker McCollum- Self-Titled
Subgenre: 1, 2, 3
Time: 58 min
Tracks: 14
The mainstream album with the Texan independent edge we were all waiting for. McCollum’s weaknesses are as apparent as ever. However, this is the best version of him that brought him recognition in the back half of the 2010s. Loose and ambling in the best way, it shows there’s much to more to McCollum than has been seen by mainstream crowds. Good on Nashville for allowing him the opportunity.
Editing note: I was harsher then this record deserves. Upon re-assessment I have mkre to say. This isn't just a return to his older style. Rather, it uses that Limestone kid era style as a base and expands in a bluesier direction allowing for emotion, character and a general artistic muse to emerge. McCollum visibly stretches himself and it's refreshing to see it in action. I'm much higher on this now.
Favorite: Watch Me Bleed, Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues, Sunny Days
Editing addition: New York is On Fire
Least Favorite: Come On
Lukas Nelson- American Romance
Subgenre: 2, 1
Time: 43 min
Tracks: 12
The son of Willie takes yet another step towards breaking free of the gravity well of his father by embarking on a solo record. It’s textbook Lukas Nelson every step of the way: wry, observational, beautiful country rock. There’s like a reverse nepotism happening here where, because of the Willie comparisons, he doesn’t get enough independent recognition. Pity.
Favorite: Ain’t Done, Disappearing Light, Born Running Out Of Time, Montana
Least Favorite: The Lie
Ken Yates- Total Cinema
Subgenre: 4
Time: 41 min
Tracks: 11
Not country, but a worthwhile listen for any serious lover of music. Cutting, cunning indie folk—Yates both presents his inner workings to the audience while simultaneously arriving at an assessment and diagnosis of the modern condition.
Favorite: Greatest Of All Time, Perennials, My Love For You Is A Straight Line
Least Favorite: The Master
Hudson Westbrook- Texas Forever
Time: 54 min
Tracks: 17
Subgenre: 1, 3, 2
New act out of Texas impresses on his reasonably traditional, unquestionably Texan debut album. As is constant with these young acts, the sound and passion are there in spades, and for many fans and the general purpose of a debut record that is more then enough, but the main knock I have is how the writing understandably wears thin over the mega-length of the record.
Favorite: House Again, Burning Love, First Time, Weatherman
Least Favorite: Sober
Thelma & James- Starting Over
Subgenre: 3, 4, 5
Time: 28 min
Tracks: 8
Married duo (Jake Etheridge and Mackenzie Porter) steps away from their mainstream past into organic folk-Americana territory with gospel and ‘90s indie-rock flourishes. Lush harmonies create fragile yet powerful moments, though their willingness to experiment with darker textures occasionally feels more like searching than arriving.
Favorite: Happily After Ever You, Parking Lot Prayers
Least Favorite: Loser
Rob Williford- Johnny & Jenny
Subgenre: 2, 3
Time: 55 min
Tracks: 14
Guitarist-turned-singer-songwriter impresses with some bold storytelling swings. At its best moments, truly ambitious narrative is successfully squeezed into the compressed literary mode of song. But ultimately the collection as a whole fails to showcase just why this talented instrumentalist and songwriter decided to pivot to the singing booth.
Favorite: Eden, Heart Unbreaking
Least Favorite: Beautiful Breakdown
Thank you for reading, if you discovered anything cool recently reach out via email or leave a comment!
-Joe