If you don’t know it already, modern country music constantly evolves. It doesn’t take the same “wall of sound” approach it did in the 2010s to produce a hit on country radio. Since the 2020s, we’ve seen genre-blenders like Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, and Shaboozey change the meaning of the word “mainstream.” Alongside other great acts in Nashville stands Ben Chapman, who just released an album that pushes the boundaries of country music even further.
On his new LP Downbeat, Chapman fuses funk, southern rock, and soul into his own unique style of country music. Without copying or ripping anyone off, he borrows elements of the music he’s inspired by to pave his own lane. Experimenting with varying dynamics, Ben brings the energy up and down through each of the ten songs included in this project.
Upon the first listen, you’ll quickly notice that nothing on this album was written or recorded without care. From the intricacies in each groovy bass and guitar lick to the intimacy of his writing style, it’s evident that each note and line of each song was meticulously chosen to craft a perfect reflection of Chapman’s vision. The opening song, “Almost Home,” does a good job of setting the project’s tone, foreshadowing the more rock-infused songs on the album, while the song’s meaning follows a theme of coming home to a loved one after spending time touring. Using the phrase “Life ain’t nothing but the twelve-bar blues,” Chapman shows off his creativity. Anyone who can play the twelve-bar blues knows you always come back to the root, which is likely the reason for this line.
In “Star of Monterey,” Ben emphasizes his lyrical imagery, setting the scene with lines like “Got Jesus on her necklace, smokes cigarettes for breakfast.” The production of this song is smooth and laid back, allowing Chapman’s lyrics to take center stage. Each verse is carefully paced with enough space between each phrase to allow the instruments to breathe, adding texture to the track. This song captures Ben’s conflicting emotions about the heartbreaker that “rode in on the Star of Monterey,” finally deciding, “I’ll let her win, anytime she wants to play… I’ll let her in any time she wants to stay.”
The final song on the Downbeat is a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You.” It features Ben’s long-time girlfriend, Meg Mcree, on backing vocals, and the two sound excellent together. The duet fits in well with the reflective tone of original songs like “Almost Home,” while leaning into Chapman’s more somber side. Although it’s performed slower than the original, this cover was a great choice for Ben, revealing the sort of relationship he shares with Meg.
It should be noted that there are moments on this album where the music can overpower the song, such as the chorus of “If I Was You,” where the chords don’t fully support the melody of the lyrics. There is also a theme of placing an instrumental solo where a bridge would usually be. While this isn’t an inherently bad practice, it may be a missed opportunity for Chapman to fully tie his songs together while showing off his songwriting abilities.
Other standout tracks on this album include “Don’t You Dare,” “America’s Sweetheart,” and the title track, “Downbeat.” These diverse tracks are outstanding examples of how Ben Chapman can juggle funk, soul, southern rock, and country to effectively express himself through his music. The different vibes on each song seamlessly transition into the next, creating an engaging listening experience throughout the album.
After hearing Ben Chapman’s album Downbeat, listeners will almost certainly be drawn to listen again. Between the captivating sound of his funky country fusion and the complexity of his lyrics, this project articulately portrays Ben’s musicianship and emotional connection to his art. As he continues to grow his audience, Downbeat provides fans with more than enough reasons to revisit, cementing Ben Chapman as an innovative artist with his own take on country music.
