Over the last few years, no one has done Texas country music like Cody Johnson. He held to that honky tonk sound on his last album, Leather, thanks to songs like “Work Boots,” which was heavy on traditional instruments like the steel guitar. Now, nearly exactly a year from Leather, Cody Johnson is back with 13 new songs on the deluxe version.
With 13 brand-new songs, it felt like it could’ve (and should’ve) been a completely new album separate from Leather. While it carries similar themes, the deluxe version feels different enough sonically and thematically to have an identity of its own. These 13 songs will forever be grouped with Leather but deserve more recognition. Not to mention that the deluxe version has more new songs than the original, which should be a telling sign to put them on an album of their own.
Right off the bat, Cody sticks with what he knows best: classic country music. “Overdue” is the opening track of the 13 new ones, and it immediately tells the story of a heartbroken girl who is ‘overdue’ for a good night. Much like the rest of the album, it relies heavily on steel guitar and fiddle. This song’s imagery is impressive, as it’s super easy to imagine the protagonist sitting in a dimly lit bar just looking to catch a break.
RELATED: Cody Johnson, “Leather,” – Album Review
“The Fall” is another stand-out track. Written by Bobby Pinson, Jeremey Stover, and Ray Fulcher, the track reflects the journey of life. While lyrically, it’s one of the most compelling songs on the album, his vocals are what carry the song. He remains tame through the early progressions of the track up until the last chorus when he finally lets loose. The slow build-up finally explodes as Johnson’s raspy voice snarls through the back half of the chorus. He unleashes the emotion listeners have been waiting to hear throughout the song. It’s like a weight lifts off his shoulders when he finally flips the switch and shifts into that high-energy drive. Cody Johnson thrives when he shows off his range, making “The Fall” stand out. The sudden burst of energy will have the listener fired up and ready to run through the wall.
Despite Johnson’s range being one of his best attributes, he doesn’t highlight it much throughout the record. Rather, he stays calm, ultimately making it seem like he is holding back. “The Fall” is one of just a few moments where Johnson belts out and breaks out of whatever is holding him back. With those moments so few and far between, the record builds a lingering sense of anticipation, leaving listeners waiting for that surge of energy that just doesn’t come.
Of the 13 songs, Cody Johnson cut 10 of them from outside writers. Writing your songs usually tends to have a more personal aspect to the music, but it doesn’t mean taking outside cuts is always bad. Johnson has always had a knack for picking the right songs to cut so that he can make his own. He takes cuts from various writers, including Troy Cartwright, Aby Gutierrez, Benjy Davis, and many others, who can capture emotional depth and provide different perspectives to each song. This diversity keeps the album dynamic, avoiding fatigue or repetitive storytelling.
While the Texas native didn’t write most of the album, he was credited with three co-writes. He contributed to “Georgia Peaches,” “Country Boy Singin’ The Blues,” and the album’s closing track, “The Mustang.” All three songs carry distinct vibes from one another. “Georgia Peaches” has a bluegrass sound, making it one of the more unique songs on the record. “The Mustang” was an excellent way to close out the project. The track is calming, with a light fiddle, steel guitar, and electric guitar to accent the lyrics. It’s not the best or most memorable, but it feels like it encapsulates Johnson’s music from last year. It’s all about being free and finding a sense of contentment.
‘Content’ is a perfect word to describe Johnson’s last year and a half. He found his sound and hasn’t taken any risks to leave his comfort zone. Apart from a few hits like ‘Dirt Cheap’ or “C’mon Cowgirl,” a highlight on the deluxe, most tracks blend into the background without demanding much attention. The production of most songs is so similar, making them bleed into each other. There aren’t a ton of stand-out lyrics or memorable instrumentals to make them stand out like he has had in the past. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, though, as he has established himself as one of the best artists in country music. But it would be nice to hear him take some of the risks he did back on Human or Cowboy Like Me.
Now that he has found success that’s working, it’s easy to fall into the trap of sticking to it and not trying anything new. He has proven that he’s a man of many talents in the past with classic cowboy music like “Never Go Home Again” and nice love songs like “Nothin’ On You.”
It’s not like there is no versatility on the album, but he doesn’t commit to a style as hard as he has in the past, rendering many of the songs forgettable. As a result, the back half of Leather Deluxe ends up being a bit of a snooze-fest and doesn’t have the songs people gravitate towards. Songs like “Over Missin’ You” just fill out the rest of the album. They have relatively basic production and seem only there to accent the stand-out tracks. They all sound pretty similar, except for a few.
All that said, Johnson still proves to be a stand-out artist in country music. While it seems like he’s becoming content with his style, it has proven successful over the last few years. He sticks to his classic Texas country sound, giving listeners exactly what they expected from this deluxe album. Some areas lack, but it is yet another quality album from CoJo.
