How Do You Sleep At Night? – Cody Johnson Written By Adam Delahoussaye
As far as Texas country goes in the most modern of senses, Cody Johnson continues to be the blueprint. Rough around the edges yet tender when the right chord is struck, he has been and continues to be a defining character in the red dirt movement as it inches closer and closer to Music Row. He’s shot us straight repeatedly, his newest LP Leather and its subsequent deluxe entries being no exception. Here, we get a more bitter Johnson, weaponizing his good times with a past lover as she recreates them with a new man. Despite some of the track’s more abrupt references, it’s as standard and static as a Johnson single. Meticulously written and delicately produced, yet all of it comes together under the rugged bravado we’ve become so accustomed to from the redhead. As the sound surrounding him defines the genre, he’s revitalized in several ways. Now, he seems intent on staying the course as the Lone Star State’s poster child.
8.0
Three Car Garage – Flatland Cavalry Written By Creed Miller
In the first new release from their upcoming compilation album, Flatland Cavalry gets nostalgic with “Three Car Garage.” The five-minute tune harkens back to their earlier style, carrying a lot of similarities to their Humble Folks album through the simple, folksy production. Written solely by Flatland’s frontman, Cleto Cordero, the track reflects on the band’s humble beginnings playing in the garage. It focuses on how simple life was as they sat in the two weathered chairs with a cooler between them and solved all their problems. It seemed like nothing but was also where many significant memories were created. The premise isn’t profound, but even so, the idea of having a special place to come together is sure to hit home with a huge audience. This is a clear step up from their recent album, as the lyrics are more visual. The production is simple but exciting, thanks to Wesley Hall’s fiddle. Overall, “Three Car Garage” proves that Flatland still has it, and listeners should be excited for what’s to come for the group.
8.5
Little Town – Wyatt Flores Written By Creed Miller
A week away from his debut album, Wyatt Flores gave fans an early taste with the surprise release of “Little Town.” Penned by Flores, Jackson Lee Morgan, and Jamie McLaughlin, the song is a rare happy song by the Okie native. It looks at the benefit of staying in a small town, and his feeling of contentment is rooted in his relationship. Flores usually writes and cuts darker music, so a happier love song is a nice breath of fresh air. The folky, mid-tempo production by Beau Bedford is excellent, especially in the chorus. The tempo change works well, and the piano is subtle, but it’s a nice touch that makes that change happen smoothly. Flores’s earthy vocals remain strong as he remains one of country music’s most unique voices. “Little Town” isn’t the most thought-provoking song in the world, but it’s a “cutesy” track that gets the listener’s toes tapping. With three songs from his debut album now out, Wyatt Flores has yet to miss, only fueling the anticipation for the full record.
8.8
Time of Day – Jelly Roll & mgk Written By Ryan Lippe
When this duo appeared on Jelly Roll’s tracklist together, fans braced for something worse than their last atrocity, “Lonely Road.” Even though it’s not worse, it could certainly be a better song. mgk opens the first verse with a whiny rasp that belongs as far away from country music as possible. Jelly Roll has a dominant and commanding voice that, when used correctly, can be very impactful; still, when he starts belting in the chorus, he feels very unaware of the song’s soft piano and somber tone. The duet feels like it could be more balanced, with Jelly Roll outshining mgk throughout the entire track. Lyrically, the song lacks substance, as many of their songs do, with a central theme of feeling sorry and pitiful for oneself. Jelly Roll has been a major culprit of producing duets that don’t need to be duets, and this song is no exception. Despite mgk being the featured artist, the two trading verses and lines of the chorus add no additional value to the song. Although this may not be a worse song than “Lonely Road,” it does not help mgk’s entrance into country music.
3.4
Tree Birds – Dylan Gossett Written By Ryan Lippe
With such a small catalog, it’s truly impressive how polished each song feels and how mature Dylan Gossett is with his songwriting and production. Written and produced on his own, the track is filled with gorgeous imagery as he describes true bliss with a love interest. Lines like “Yellowstone eyes seem to lighten up my day” and “sunset so damn pretty the moon stayed out to watch” paint a pleasant image in the mind of listeners without the need for any fancy buzzwords. The upbeat production is filled with instrumental stellar moments that will satisfy original fans but are contemporary enough to draw in many new ones. The listener is blasted with an infectious harmonica that carries the remainder of the song. Balanced by piano, soft percussion, and guitar, each instrument has its own moment to shine, and nothing feels too crowded or overbearing. With Gossett singing, writing, and producing the song, it’s truly astonishing how put-together it feels considering his young age; he has a gift for piecing each element of a song together as only he can.
8.8
If I Go First – Brian Kelley Written By Max Buondonno
As we draw closer to the release of Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son, his first self-written album, Brian Kelley, has been releasing a string of singles far stronger than the regular mainstream twaddle that his previous album, Tennessee Truth, was full of. On “If I Go First,” the latest song from the album, Kelley envisions a future where he passes away before his significant other, leaving her a list of requests to follow in remembrance of him. The song’s instrumentals are a far cry from what we’ve been getting from BK as of late; rather, it leans in the sonic direction of 2021’s Sunshine State of Mind, sharing the same essence and soft-beach-rock aesthetic you’d expect from a guy nicknamed the Beach Cowboy. Lyrically, Kelley delivers a tender and heartwarming story, even though it’s mostly surface-level cliches. Regardless, the song is a step in the right direction, and it gives us hope that Kelley’s next release won’t be nearly as bad as his last.
7.3
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