September saw quite a few powerful albums drop but also was witness to one of the most controversial songs in music so far.
After releasing a few singles in August, Charles Wesley Godwin followed up his sampler with what could be the album of the year. His first release after signing with Big Loud Records, Family Ties was his third full-length release and his first on a major label. This album included some instant classics like “Another Leaf”, “Miner Imperfections”, and a long-awaited release of Godwin’s cover of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” originally by John Denver. This album brought Godwin out of the shadows of Zach Bryan after touring together last summer and cementing his role as one of the strongest out of the Appalachian region of country music right now.
This month also saw the return of Tyler Childers nearly a year after his experimental album, “Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?”. This seven-track LP “Rustin’ In The Rain” saw the return of Childers to his natural register as he leaned into a softer avenue that fans loved him for. The leading single, “In Your Love” was a comfortable love song that many have quickly become attached to. Despite the short tracklist, the release was still appreciated by fans as many are still skeptical if he’ll ever return to his level of fame before Covid.
Zach Bryan also graced his fans with a surprise EP release, Boys of Faith. After years of not having any features on his projects, Bryan teams up with Noah Kahan and Bon Iver to deliver songs to one of the broadest fan bases in all of music. Since his album American Heartbreak, Bryan has been leaning away from the stricter country side of music and into a folk and Americana-based sound. Officially releasing “Deep Satin” to all streaming platforms, longtime fans can rejoice after no longer needing to trek to YouTube or Soundcloud to hear their favorite track.
Despite the album-heavy month, there were plenty of other projects announced with singles to accompany the rollout. Riley Green and Cody Johnson each announced projects and their respective singles. Luke Grimes and Flatland Cavalry also have projects coming out in October with their singles being well received by many. Thomas Rhett released a compilation of his past #1 song but among that was a new song featuring Morgan Wallen. “Mamaw’s House, albeit simple, was a collaboration of two of the biggest acts in country music of all time.
Country music also saw the departure of Maren Morris from the genre as she announced she’d be focusing her energy on pop and adult alternative-style music. In a YouTube video this month, Morris said she’s “getting the hell out” and “leaving” the genre. This announcement was followed by the release of “The Tree” which was initially met with positive response from critics but then was associated with a distaste for the country music community by Morris.
Even though some heavy hitters put out powerful releases, this month also saw releases and announcements from Wyatt Flores and Sam Barber. Barber and Flores continue to develop a modern-day outlaw brand of country music as they combine social media and unique songwriting as they continue to develop their brands.
