The Backlog: November
Year end is in sight. Fifteen album reviews slide in under the deadline. Big milestone unlocked!
Big news! In this piece we pass 100 total albums reviewed this year! Total count now roughly at 110. Still a good few to go. November hopefully will have time for one more review roundup. Crunch time approaches. As a heads up, I'm thinking about breaking year end content into two or three separate pieces. That doesn't leave much room for additional content over the month. Maybe a final backlog post the first week of December as well. Remains to be seen.
As always, the Subgenre Numbering System.
1- Traditional Country
2- Country Rock
3- Modern Country
4- Pop Country
5- Southern Pop
Enjoy!
1. Mason Lively: Burn the Ground Down
Time/Tracks: 8, 29
Subgenre: 3, 2
Vocals that are craggy and rich simultaneously. Lively has been on my radar for a few years. The output is solid and has a clear sense of genre. Similar in style to Caleb Lee Hutchinson. Little to differentiate from the scads of country rock projects that get released, but the vocal work is compelling enough to keep him bookmarked in my library.
Favorite: Where Do You Go
Least Favorite: Southern Comfort
2. Rich O’Toole: Ghost
Time/Tracks 12 46
Subgenre: 1, 2
Wiley sophisticated traditional Texas country. An eye for an elevating detail brings life to stories.
Favorite: Last Laugh Samantha, Wildflower Lane, John O’Reilly
Least Favorite: That Hill Country Sound
3. Zach Jon King: Wannabe Cowboy
Time/Tracks: 6, 17
Subgenre: 3, 2, 4, 1
Manages to hit about every acceptable subgenre for a growling male artist in Nashville. Three takes on country rock, one pop country, one vaguely trad, and one stripped down "raw". The Nashville meat grinder proceeds apace. Maybe this guy will be different, but unless he gets some real social media presence behind him, this doesn't have the artistic bones to stand out of the pack.
Favorite: Wannabe Cowboy
Least Favorite: Smoke On My Jacket
4. Luke Bryan: Mind of a Country Boy
Time/Tracks: 14, 46
Subgenre: 4, 3
Bryan may be old, but aside from some slight tweaks, the music hasn't changed a bit. Well, that's not quite fair. The 2010’s excess is toned down in favor of the warmer tones that characterized his 2000s output. In spots there are acknowledgments of age, but primarily this is a veteran club running back the same roster and playbook. It works until it doesn't.
Favorite: Closing Time In California, For The Kids, Jesus ‘bout My Kids
Least Favorite: But I Got Beer In My Hand, Country On, Southern And Slow
5. Justin Moore: This Is My Dirt
Time/Tracks: 12, 38
Subgenre: 2, 1, 3
Moore has firmly entered the commercial decline part of his career. No longer a young gun, his storytelling thankfully has evolved alongside his age. Songs revolve heavily around his phase and stage. Not much sonic evolution to be found, but a comforting listen for his aging established fans.
Favorite: The Worst, Time Ticking (ft. Dierks Bentley), You Know It's Coming
Least Favorite: Beer Ain't One (ft. Blake Shelton)
6. Tigirlily Gold: Blonde
Time/Tracks: 10, 34
Subgenre: 3, 4, 1
Charming, lush family harmonies anchor an easy listening, yet feisty and reflective debut project from the up-and-coming duo. I'd prefer more softness and less focus on making a good bop, but that's a matter of personal taste. The execution of both styles is impeccable.
Favorite: I Tried A Ring On, Bleeding Love
Least Favorite: Shoot Tequila
7. Adam Wainwright: Hey Y'all
Time/Tracks: 13, 46
Subgenre: 3, 2, 4
Yes, it’s that Adam Wainwright. His ballplaying career definitely paid the bills because the production sounds great. The weak point is Wainwright himself. He wrote a good chunk of the record and it unsurprisingly is amateur in spots. His voice is fine. There are few songs that actually deserve their status as professional content. As a personal passion project, it gets high marks. The novelty factor was the main reason I gave it a listen. Jury is still out whether Wainwright or Zito will have a better post playing country music career.
Favorite: One Day They Won't, If You Would've Stayed
Least Favorite: Hey Yall, I Like Coming Back,
8. Rob Baird: Burning in the Stars
Time/Tracks: 11, 33
Subgenre: 2
Alt country husky vocals meet Tom Petty-esque country rock. A melodic, thoughtful excavation of emotion that strikes the balance between personal, real, and relatable. A personal favorite of mine.
Favorite: ah geez, it's like picking a favorite kid. Title Track is a stand out I guess.
Least Favorite: none. Maybe Hold Tight (love the song, but it is an odd sonic
9. Tierra Kennedy: Rooted
Time/Tracks: 11, 33
Subgenre: 4, 5
Sweet, but very thin vocals. As a songwriter first project, a great eye for detail and picturesque scene building. The rnb meets pop country sound is worn thin by the end of the record. It's a sound that can feel dated in spots, late ‘10s crossover attempts mined much of this soil. However it is not without the occasional twist causing creative results.
Favorite: Cry, Rooted
Least Favorite: I'd Look Good In That Truck, I Ain't A Cowgirl
10. Kelsea Ballerini: PATTERNS
Time/Tracks: 15, 46
Subgenre: 4, 5
Consistently uneven pop country output continues apace. Does nothing to lessen concerns that she's more fluff and cultural spectacle over substance. The pieces are here, but it doesn't click.
Favorite: Sorry Mom
Least Favorite: Nothing Really Matters, Wait, We Broke Up
11. Matt Lang: All Night Longer
Time/Tracks: 9, 27
Subgenre: 1, 3
Pleasant album vacillates between a boisterously traditional twist on modern country and straight down the middle modern country. Doesn't take itself too seriously. Good. Seriousness in music is often a buzzkill.
Favorite: Sweet On You, Little Miss Heartbreak
Least Favorite: Same Ol Saturday Night
12. Charles Esten: Love Ain't Pretty
Time/Tracks: 14, 49
Subgenre: 2, 1, 3
Coarse and distinct vocals add an unusual and descriptive hue to the lyricism. Songwriter flair provides flecks of detail that would typically be sanded down. Sophisticated and elevated arrangements and melodies. Results in a distinctive and satisfying listen.
Favorite: Willing To Try, Candlelight, In A Bar Somewhere, One Good Move, Somewhere In The Sunshine
Least Favorite: I Ain't
13. Connor Smith: Storyteller
Time/Tracks: 5, 17
Subgenre: 3, 1
Smith continues to surprise. Short EP demonstrates a furthering of the potential ably demonstrated on his debut from earlier this year. Some really interesting ideas bandied about here.
Favorite: The Storyteller
Least Favorite: The Garden
14. Kelsey Hart: Life With You
Time/Tracks: 15, 46
Subgenre: 2, 3, 4
If you missed bro country, don't worry. Hart proudly keeps the flame alive. Boisterous bro benefits from belting bravado. Easier said than done. Worried? Fret not, this fella familiarly fulfills the feats and foibles of the fraternal subgenre.
Favorite: Without You In It, 6-pack Gone,
Least Favorite: Burn My Summer, 4x4, Drink About Me, Like You Leaving
15. Madeline Merlo: ONE HOUSE DOWN
Time/Tracks: 6, 19
Subgenre: 4, 5
Canadian pop country act (do they produce anything else up there?) Overblown production. Sweet and powerful voice marred by grainy spots and unflattering vocal phrasing. Juvenile in outlook. Par for the course. I'm sure there's an audience for it, but my ears are fatigued from hearing this same generic style so many times this year.
Favorite: Title Track
Least Favorite: Broken Heart Thing (ft. Dustin Lynch), Middle Of The Bed
Sorry about the formatting changes. The backlog posts have gotten longer, and the excessive formating (pictures, bolding, italics etc) takes up a solid amount of the time I devote to these pieces. With year end as busy as it is, I decided to trim down some of the frills. Also, the pictures were causing some of the emails to cut off. Some of the email inbox readers may have had difficulties.
Anyhow, hope you discovered something new and interesting. I really dug a good few of these records.
For now,
Joe