For the week of August 9th
Lightning in July (Prairie Fire) – Noeline Hofmann Written By Creed Miller
Noeline Hofmann had much to prove following her collaboration with Zach Bryan, but her debut solo release met all expectations. Right off the bat, “Lightning in July (Prairie Fire)” has a much different vibe than “Purple Gas.” It has a 90s country feel that’s somewhat unexpected but ultimately does the song a lot of favors. It sounds like something Faith Hill might have recorded back in the day, but Hofmann makes it entirely her own, steering clear of any karaoke undertone with her distinct vocals. Perhaps the most impressive part of this track is Hofmann’s ability to put her talent on full display and prove she is more than “the girl who has a song with Zach Bryan.” Her intimate way of bringing listeners into her lyrical world makes this song unique. Outlaw-ish energy makes this the perfect debut track to show she is here and isn’t planning on going anywhere. The Canadian singer has had a splashy start to her career, and “Lightning in July (Prairie Fire)” is an exciting look into what should be a bright future for Hofmann.
8.6
Thomas Rhett – After All The Bars Are Closed Written By Adam Delahoussaye
There’s something eerily similar about Thomas Rhett’s “After All The Bars Are Closed,” where feet-tapping soon turns into eyebrow-raising as the snaps and drums kick in and the guitar begins to arpeggiate. It’s almost as if everyone knew and loved this song already, which now sits just north of a billion streams. Now, maybe great minds think alike, or perhaps Rhett and co. are just haphazardly vying for the same commercial success his predecessors have spun their wheels toward, leaving him in the dust. The verses here are more inspired than the production, though the five writers credited didn’t have a tough task ahead of them when crafting these stanzas. Love, lust, and muddied-up trucks are just enough to set this derivative slow-dance far apart from what it’s trying to emulate; it desperately hopes it’s disparate enough not to be too noticeable. Rarely is banality this insulting to a listener’s intelligence.
4.0
Kassi Ashton – The Straw Written By Christina Bosch
Though the genre is being bent and blended with so many others at the moment, country music, at its heart, has always kept quality songwriting as a mainstay. When a simple song with gentle production is released, the theme and narrative shine. Ahead of her upcoming debut album, Kassi Ashton has finally unveiled “The Straw,” a fan-favorite song that she’s performed at select times since writing it back in 2017. Ashton wrote the true story of the straw that broke a past relationship alongside veteran hit writers Luke Laird and Lori McKenna. Her powerful and chilling delivery recollects the moments leading up to a heartwrenching ending. She has a unique voice with a controlled drawl that builds as the frustration hits a climax, relaying that final decision to walk away from someone who was all wrong in the first place. Waiting for the perfect moment to drop a song fans have been waiting for is never easy. Still, as she steps into a new career era, it shows a different side to the spunky singer-songwriter and sets the stage for a versatile debut.
9.1
Sugarland – Georgia Is Yours Written By Will Chapman
Barring 2018’s Bigger, Sugarland has been relatively dormant for over a decade. Their most recent EP, There Goes The Neighborhood, is the duo’s first release since 2018 and only their second since 2010’s The Incredible Machine. The piano-driven breakup ballad “Georgia Is Yours” is one of the standout tracks on the project. Jennifer Nettles’s iconic voice, just as powerful and evocative as it was 15 years ago, is on full display at the forefront of the track, bringing a poignant depth. Kristian Bush’s subtle harmonies complement Nettles beautifully, presenting a sense of nostalgia that elevates the track, reminding listeners of what made us fall in love with Sugarland in the first place. Written by Emily Weisband, Eric Olson, Josh Kerr, Rhett Akins, Sam Ellis, and Thomas Rhett, it features a gorgeous melody and decent lyrics. While the lyrical composition may not include any particularly masterful lines, it also avoids any missteps, maintaining a steady emotional resonance throughout. “Georgia Is Yours” relies on heartfelt simplicity rather than lyrical complexity, making it a memorable addition to Sugarland’s catalog.
7.9
Closing Time in California – Luke Bryan Written By Max Buondonno
The latest single from Luke Bryan’s upcoming studio album, Mind of a Country Boy, is a welcome change of pace from the same boring fodder we’re used to hearing from the American Idol judge. At first, “Closing Time in California” seems like yet another mainstream single, but it’s unique enough lyrically to help it stand out. Written by John Byron, Chase McGill, Hillary Lindsey, and Mark Holman, the song follows a man’s wish that his former relationship be mended after his love interest moved to California, where she routinely calls him in the middle of the night as the “sunset bars” begin to close. The song is almost poetic because the lyrics aren’t written at the surface level (like most Bryan songs), giving the track a deeper feel that forces you to listen closer. Sonically, this is a quintessential Luke Bryan song, which gives it with a generic “yet another Nashville song” feel, but fans of storytelling will find something to sink their teeth into. It may not be a game-changer in Bryan’s catalog, but it’s a refreshing track that at least gives his eighth studio album some hope.
7.0
Gettin’ Old – Callista Clark, Scotty McCreery Written By Max Buondonno
As Callista Clark continues her rise to stardom following her breakout in 2023, the young singer-songwriter is back with another single, a collaboration with former tourmate Scotty McCreery. “Gettin’ Old” picks at the heartstrings and leans into a sense of yearning and desolation to address a relationship that seems to be going nowhere fast, begging for a solution that’s always out of reach. Written by Clark, Averie Bielski, and Karen Kasowski, the song gracefully conveys heartache and soul-searching with a blend of melancholy instrumentals and solid vocal performances from Clark and McCreery. Lyrically, it plays into Clark’s poetic nature with references to the protagonists’ experiences that are vague enough to leave the listener filling in the blanks. Overall, the song does a good job highlighting an under-discussed relationship status, making it one of her better entries to her discography.
8.3
