Single Reviews – Week of 01/12/2023
QUIT!! – HARDY Written By Creed Miller
Coming off a successful 2023 thanks to the mockingbird & THE CROW, the bar was set high for HARDY. However, whatever those expectations were, it’s pretty safe to say that HARDY whiffed with this one. Penned by HARDY and Jacob Durrett, this single is focused around a pivotal moment in HARDY’s early days when someone wrote ‘quit’ on a napkin and left it in the tip jar. The concept for this come-up story is cool and inspirational on paper, but the execution is just not up to snuff for an artist of his caliber. He continues to bellow about being an outsider in Nashville; when the industry goes right he goes left. However, we’ve already heard HARDY shouting this same battle cry several times over. This was the theme he covered on “THE CROW” side of his last album. It seemed bold and original then, but now he’s just driving the same point into the ground. Rock and country have some similarities that go nicely together, but no one was looking for him to follow in Machine Gun Kelly’s tainted footsteps. HARDY has emerged as one of country music’s top artists, but “QUIT!!” just simply doesn’t bode well for the next artistic venture.
3.0
Right Now – Chris Young Written By Brandon Iozzo
Revisiting earlier sounds with his signature baritone vocals, Chris Young’s “Right Now” takes listeners back to the singer’s earlier records, but lacks that special spark to make this track stand out in any way. Written by Young along with his returning collaborators Chris DeStefano and Josh Hoge, the song revisits the same old concept of two lovers who break up, only to find reasons why they should be together. Though Chris’s vocals are immediately recognizable on the mid-tempo track, it lacks any wow-factor effect for us to press replay; no big hook, no slick production twists, or anything. Listening even more closely, “Right Now” sounds like a cheap rewrite of 2015’s “I’m Comin’ Over.” With his latest singles lacking attention and impact on radio, this track won’t create the anticipation and momentum for his next project that he may have enjoyed circa 2014.
5.3
Can’t Pass The Bar – Scotty McCreery Written By Brandon Iozzo
Following up his solid single “Cab In A Solo,” Scotty McCreery continues to forge a new musical path with “Can’t Pass The Bar,” a kick drum-stomping, honkytonk track that gives McCreery and his bar buddies every reason to turn up a Friday night at their local watering hole. Written by Brett Anderson, Cale Dodds, long-time producer Frank Rogers, and Scotty himself, the uptempo 90s-inspired single is quite the about-face from McCreery’s Same Truck and really has no counterparts in his catalog. The track not-so-originally creates a double wordplay with Scotty and his pals being unable to intellectually pass the bar exam, and they also can’t physically pass by a bar outside of work. “Can’t Pass The Bar” draws similar musical concepts to Tim McGraw’s “Down On The Farm,” but does its due diligence to usher McCreery’s inspired new era of music.
8.6
Brian Kelley – Trucks, Ducks, Bucks, and Beer Written By Max Buondonno
Marking the fourth single release from his forthcoming album, Brian Kelley’s “Trucks, Ducks, Bucks, and Beer” is about as exciting to listen to as its title indicates. Written by Kelley, Matt McGinn, Michael Tyler, and Rian Ball, the song doesn’t take an unexpected turn or use a double entendre to describe the artist’s love for the country lifestyle. Instead, the track namechecks various aspects of living down south without challenging itself in the slightest; it’s the sort of single we’ve heard not just from Kelley, but from Florida Georgia Line and the rest of the bro-country crowd for years. Granted, his vocal performance is solid enough, and the smooth, modern production will make it a good track for summertime barbecues. Still, if you were hoping Kelley would bring any untapped substance to the topic of trucks, ducks, bucks, and beers, you’ve been severely misled (after all, “you know what [he’s] talkin’ ‘bout”).
5.7
Walker County – Double-Wide World Written By Christina Bosch
Sisters Ivy and Sophie are gifted songwriters and performers, and they just released their first independent song after leaving their record label. “Double-Wide World” sonically harkens back to Kacey Musgraves or Miranda Lambert’s early days, Walker County brings sass and grit to absolutely own this new phase of their career. With gossipy stories about small-town living, the listeners are pulled into the “crazy” that makes this hypothetical yet all-too-real depiction of such a community tick. Written by both girls with their producer Paul Sikes, fancy fiddle work and a driving electric guitar steal the show instrumentally. A proper reintroduction to the versatility of these women, they are primed to connect with fans and fill the need for a brand of country music that’s been absent for some time.
7.9
Aaron Lewis – Let’s Go Fishing Written By Ryan Lippe
After a storied ten-plus years putting out rich, thought-provoking music with an impactful baritone voice, gruff, unpolished Aaron Lewis falls a bit short with some equally unpolished lyrics. At face value, it may seem like Lewis is just trying to get a reaction out of people, which may be true in a sense, but looking back on his catalog, this tactless authenticity is what launched his career in country music post-Staind. Albeit rather cringeworthy at first listen, this track was definitely released with a specific audience in mind, and at this point in his career, Lewis has no issue sticking his nose up at those who may not appreciate the sentiment. Despite the clumsy lyrics, the production and delivery are still decidedly very country with some quality steel and acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, the production can’t carry the weight of the whole song, and its corny references stick out like a sore thumb each go-around. This song will please some folks and get others all riled up which likely was the unapologetic intent of Lewis and his team.
6.3
Nowhere Fast – Evan Honer Written By Creed Miller
Evan Honer has had an impressive start to his career and he continues the momentum with “Nowhere Fast.” Honer saw a lot of success on TikTok propelling the Arizona native to quick stardom. Co-written with Vincent Mason and Jack Hummel, the song shares an inside look at the fast-paced struggles that accompany his dreams. It highlights the criticism he’s faced from friends in family in the past. By the end, Honer drowns everything out, takes control of his destiny, and embraces the grind. Much like his previous music, there is some heavy folk influence; the acoustic guitar takes charge and accents Honer’s voice beautifully. Honer is starting to make a name for himself as one of the most clever new names on the scene and looks to have an exciting 2024 ahead of him with another commendable single.
8.8
Over You By Now – Troy Cartwright Written By Cam Greene
Troy Cartwright’s new single “Over You By Now” is a basic cut in its writing, but it makes up for it where it counts the most: the vocals and instrumentals. Weirdly, it has that West Coast country sound that blends well with its story to give you a beautiful summer-sounding vibe. As previously mentioned, the tune is nothing new in the grand scheme of musical storytelling. Although that is certainly a knock on “Over You By Now,” it doesn’t altogether hurt the song’s potency; in the music, you can feel Troy’s sadness as he’s looking over the ocean on a West Coast evening and thinking about this girl he’s struggling to get over. In that sense, a basic tune is transformed into a delightful heartbreak ballad, giving this song a little longevity. It has that potential as a sad summer song, much like a modern Sam Hunt track.
7.8
Meanwhile In Carolina – Conner Smith Written By Cam Greene
One of the most beautiful and honest tracks to break into the new year, Conner Smith shares his love story with his fiancee in a heart-warmingly witty fashion. It’s a true love song at its very core, and the specificity of the storytelling makes it feel like a timelessly memorable hit already. The song walks you through Conner and his fiancee’s respective lives growing up, ultimately tying them together in the final chorus’s fairy tale ending. Smith is no stranger to these honest, slice-of-life stories, and has always had a knack for taking you inside his world as a young guy experiencing life. Bolstered by some melodic steel guitar and soft steel brushes, the song doesn’t miss in any department and already sounds like the marquee song of the “Smoky Mountains” era.
9.0
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