The Backlog: July '25
An assorted bakers dozen.
Thomas Mac - Stop Loving You
Tracks: 10
Time: 27 minutes
Subgenres 1, 2, 3, 4
Mac is a TikTok artist I never took seriously. He was part of that Cooper Allen house scene thing. On this album, he surprises by embracing a more traditional, less bombastic sound and ends up with interesting material. The ghost tales shtick might run thin, but he delivers it with great aplomb. I feel about this like I felt about young Luke Bryan. For most it would wear thin, but it’s delivered with such cheer and charisma that he pulls it off.
Favorite: The Ballad of Dixie, The First Ghostwriter, Me and Ma
Least Favorite: As Seen on TV
Lanie Gardner - Polaroids
Tracks: 6
Time: 15 minutes
Subgenre: 4, 5
This collection captures different emotional moments of the introspective singer-songwriter gone pop-country. The EP moves from positive focused nostalgia to darker tones. Some tracks touching on funk and Western tinges. Versatility and songwriting are strengths, the all over the place whiplash from track to track are the weakness.
Favorite: Taking The Slow Ride
Least Favorite: Little Bit Of Loving
Dierks Bentley- Broken Branches
Tracks: 11 songs
Time: 36 minutes
Subgenre: 3, 2, 1
Dierks is in the fading stage of his mainstream career, taking a risk-averse approach that’s surprising given his history of boldly calculated pivots. This feels like following the Nashville playbook hoping for a McGraw or Chesney level commercially successful decline phase. Three collaborations leave little room for individuality. The material is commercially competent but delivered without passion or connection. It feels like he’s coasting before the inevitable decline where he can pursue personal projects without commercial pressure.
Favorite: Standing in the Sun
Least Favorite: Jesus Loves Me, Well, Well Whiskey
Kolby Cooper- Love You, Goodnight
Tracks: 14
Time: 43 minutes
Subgenre: 2
Cooper seems fully on board the Koe Wersel career arc: wherein a formerly edgy Texas “country” punk rocker aims his sights towards a more mainstream crowd and in the process sands down almost all that was appealing of his original attitude and output. Just enough quality remains to tantalize listeners with what both was and hopefully still could be.
Favorite: apt. 208, One Big Happy Sad Family, Hello From The Road, Love You Goodnight
Least favorite: Fighting With God, One Last, Kill Me
Hailey Whitters - Corn Queen
Tracks: 16 songs
Time: 54 minutes
Subgenre: 1, 3, 4
Whitters serves as a bridge between independent and mainstream country, offering clever but kitschy songwriting built around rural colloquialisms. The album splits between genuinely clever lyrical and traditional musical moments and formulaic mainstream fare clearly designed for contemporary playlisting. Feels kinda Hee-Haw-ish in both the best and worst ways.
Favorite: Prodigal Daughter, Shotgun Wedding Baby.
Least Favorite: Wholesome
Jonathan Hutchison- American Dream
Tracks: 6 songs,
Time: 18 minutes.
Subgenres 4, 5, 3
A pop country meets contemporary Christian pop project. It featured a duet with Steve Moakler which is why it ended up on my radar. As an introduction to the artist, it serves its purpose for fans of overblown pop-country. For me, the project lacks much distinctiveness, sticking to its niche lane.
Favorite: American Dream, Rest
Least Favorite: Willie Nelson, Work
Matt Oakley- Outside Looking In
Tracks: 14 songs
Time: 45 minutes
Subgenres 2, 3, 4
Oakley works at the intersection of country, pop, and rock with mixed results. Some moments offer specific detail that elevates otherwise generic material, but these highlights are scattered among standard fare. The vocals are entertaining, but the songwriting feels underdeveloped. Some seasoning in the writing room would have greatly improved the overall result.
Favorite: Party on 95, Soldier’s Son, Outside Looking In
Least Favorite: Can’t Take the Dogs, Anything to Turn You Around
Tayla Lynn - Singin’ Loretta
Tracks: 11
Time: 28 minutes
Subgenre: 1
Lynn’s second album of Loretta Lynn covers showcases her solid vocal abilities. Since it’s her second album of covers, she dips deeper into her grandma’s discography, extracting some classics, including a few I hadn’t heard. The downside of having done this already is it feels inessential. Still great, and to be honest, Lynn has the vocal chops to escape Loretta’s shadow if she wanted to. It seems she is content with this lane. It’s a mighty fine one.
Considering it's a collection of Loretta classics, and played pretty straight across, picking a favorite and least favorite feels impossible. Just go listen to the originals. These still are great. Much more appreciable once you are aware of the original material though.
Waylon Wyatt- Out Of The Blue
Tracks: 6
Time: 22 minutes
Subgenre: 1, 3, 2
The generation that has cut their teeth in the post Zach Bryan world is starting to grow up. In other words, there’s actual instrumentals in this record. Don’t worry, as was ultimately the case with Bryan's evolution, the focus is still on the storytelling. No better example is representative then the duet here, which is precisely crafted to actually fit the dual perspectives of the singers. For a young soul, the world weariness presented here is compelling and gripping to listeners. One of the best iterations on this modern crop of singer-songwriters thus far.
Favorite: Old Habits, Smoke and Embers, Sincerely, Your Son
Least favorite: Lord and a Lady
Mary Chapin Carpenter - Personal History
Tracks: 11
Time: 48 minutes
Subgenre: 1
Carpenter’s in her deeply introspective mode, exploring autobiographical themes in the somber folk-country blend she’s been in for ages now. While her songwriting remains sharp and experienced, and the album has solid craftsmanship, it fails to capture the dynamic spirit I associate with her peak material.
Favorite: Paint + Turpentine, The Night We Never Met
Least Favorite: Hello, My Name Is, Home Is A Song.
Ian Flanigan- The Man My Mama Raised
Tracks: 13
Time: 39
Subgenre: 2, 3
Former The Voice third place finisher (Team Blake) tries carving out his niche by presenting his unusually rich and husky vocal tone with more mainstream country rock accompaniment. This is sometimes balanced but other times overdone. I’m unsatisfied but fully acknowledge I’m a very particular listener. Most will find this quite pleasant. Love the lyrical concept and execution in much of the record. The experimental and stripped down moments are far and away the best.
Favorite: Words I Never Heard An Old Man Say, Where The Wild Things Were, Whats Love Got To Do With It
Least favorite: Gimme Cash
Blake Shelton- For Recreational Use Only
Tracks: 12
Time: 39 minutes
Subgenre: 3, 2, 4
Shelton has never quite been as prolific of a recording artist as he pretends, but this album marks one of his best efforts over his now over decade long career. Changing trends allow more textures and throwback notes that add complexity to his often straightforward baritone and artistic sensibility. A welcome return.
Favorite: Texas, Let Him In Anyway, Years
Least favorite: Stay Country Or Die Tryin'
Jon Pardi- Honkytonk Hollywood
Tracks: 17
Time: 56
Subgenre: 3, 2, 4, 1
My misgivings that began to worry me upon the release of Friday Night Heartbreaker have been proven valid. (Read them here). A disappointing and counterproductive pivot. Perhaps radio will appreciate the pop friendly country rock sound, but I suspect long time fans like myself feel more betrayal than interest. I guess we’ll just go listen to Zach Top now.
Favorite: She Drives Away, Nice Place To Visit, Bar Room Blue
Least favorite: Boots Off, Friday Night Heartbreakers, Honkytonk Hollywood
Thank you for reading! If you discovered anything new that you want to share, post it in the comments!
-Joe