Since 2018, Riley Green has been on a steady rise to superstardom. While he might not have enjoyed the same overnight success as some of his peers, he has managed to amass one of the most loyal fanbases in country music. Riley Green’s third studio album, Don’t Mind If I Do, features 18 tracks that tackle a wide span of topics, including homelessness, heartbreak, sex, love, and rural life.
With production led by Dann Huff and executive production by Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harnen, the album features a less traditional sound than we have heard from Green in the past. In 2019, we saw Green giving a defiant grin on stage while he sang, “I wish country music still got played on country radio” during the second verse of “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.” In 2024, we see him experimenting with more modern sounds on tracks like “Change My Mind.” The album feels like a mid-2000s country record drawing as much inspiration from John Mayer as it does Chris Knight or Brad Paisley.
It draws attention to the songwriter Riley Green, in a way we haven’t seen before. In a world where the number of writers per song continues to creep higher and higher, sometimes into the double digits, most of the songs from Don’t Mind If I Do were penned by two or three writers. The record also boasts an impressive four solo writes. “Jesus Saves,” “Good Morning From Mexico,” “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and “Worst Way” were all penned by Green alone. There are some great lyrical moments on the record, but with eighteen tracks, it seems that Green and his team took a quantity-over-quality approach. There is an outstanding ten to twelve-song album buried in these eighteen tracks. That said, the good in “Jesus Saves” outweighs the bad in “Alcohall Of Fame.”
Don’t Mind If I Do comes at the height of Riley Green’s commercial success. As a record, it is full of highs and lows. Some songs will stop you dead in your tracks; others will make you roll your eyes in embarrassment. Under Dann Huff’s production, Green’s third album ventures beyond his usual territory, embracing new love, struggles, and self-reflection themes. While its breadth reflects Green’s personal growth, the record’s ambitious 18-track list ultimately feels overextended, as several songs could have been left off to craft a more cohesive body of work.
The tracks written solely by Green highlight his strengths as a solo songwriter, providing a refreshing contrast in a genre often packed with co-writers. However, the album suffers from a quality-control issue, with some tracks standing out for their depth and authenticity while others feel less impactful and somewhat filler. Despite its unevenness, Don’t Mind If I Do shines brightest when Green leans into personal storytelling, proving that his enduring appeal lies in his ability to continue to build and connect with his fan base.
