You’ve gotta keep crediting the power of TikTok – it can even make a journeyman country singer in his 40s one of the genre’s biggest names and crossover smashes. Walker Hayes has attracted quite a lot of jokes and general derision for his biggest hit “Fancy Like,” a song that would be a lot more … Continue reading Walker Hayes – Country Stuff The Album
Country
Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Now having firmly established herself as an artist that you have to look out for at the Grammys every time she releases, Brandi Carlile continues to push on as one of the most celebrated working songwriters of the moment. Taking a break after her critically acclaimed last solo album to join the country supergroup The … Continue reading Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed
Three-and-a-half years removed from taking home the coveted Album of the Year gramophone for her outstanding Golden Hour, country-pop icon and massive crossover success Kacey Musgraves continues to drift further from her country roots with fourth studio album star-crossed. Coming off a near-universally beloved, critically acclaimed trio of projects, especially given the state of Musgraves’ … Continue reading Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed
Dan + Shay – Good Things
Country-pop duo Dan + Shay have been making forays into the world of mainstream radio for quite a few years now, their crisp harmonies, periodically show-stopping vocal talent and cheesy, feel-good aura often universally appealing in the right mood. Nabbing Justin Bieber two years ago for the track “10,000 Hours,” which actually belongs to this … Continue reading Dan + Shay – Good Things
Morgan Wallen – Dangerous: The Double Album
One of the most unexpected musical developments as of late has to be the steady rise of country music on streaming services, so much so that tracks by Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen have shattered records, rivaled the popularity of hip-hop and forced their way into Billboard Top 10 debuts. A former contestant on The … Continue reading Morgan Wallen – Dangerous: The Double Album
Chris Stapleton – Starting Over
Ever since dropping his 2015 debut, Traveller, Chris Stapleton has been regarded as one of the greatest vocalists in his genre, if not the music industry at large. Three years removed from his From A Room double album, he returns with a blank slate of an album cover – but don’t be fooled into thinking … Continue reading Chris Stapleton – Starting Over
The Chicks – Gaslighter
Back with a new name and one of the best producers in the business, The Chicks storm back onto the musical scene. Their first album since winning the 2007 Album of the Year Grammy with Taking The Long Way, a somber and reflective look at a world that had recently sent them a firestorm of … Continue reading The Chicks – Gaslighter
Rapid Fire Reviews (2 Chainz, Maren Morris, Juice WRLD)
2 Chainz - Rap Or Go To The League Usually one of the most cartoonish and comedic faces in rap, 2 Chainz’s fifth studio album Rap Or Go To The League – apparently executive produced by basketball star LeBron James – sees him dial the punchline bars back and address some more serious issues, all … Continue reading Rapid Fire Reviews (2 Chainz, Maren Morris, Juice WRLD)
Rapid Fire Reviews (The Weeknd, Kacey Musgraves, Hayley Kiyoko)
The Weeknd - My Dear Melancholy, Canadian pop/R&B superstar The Weeknd releases a 6-song EP a year and a half after the successes of Starboy that sees him return to a sound that many fans have been missing. My Dear Melancholy, is much darker than we’ve heard him get in a while. While it’s difficult … Continue reading Rapid Fire Reviews (The Weeknd, Kacey Musgraves, Hayley Kiyoko)
First Aid Kit – Ruins
Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit’s fourth studio album continues to display the sisters’ airtight harmonies and excellent storytelling while settling into a satisfying and consistent niche throughout its 10 tracks. While the album isn’t particularly abundant in musical risks, this is the sound of a band in full control of what works well for … Continue reading First Aid Kit – Ruins
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 