It’s rare for an artist to see as much success as Wyatt Flores has this early in their career. With just two EPs under his belt, he already carries himself with the presence of a seasoned country artist, even without having released a full-length album. As a result, expectations have never been higher for the Okie native’s debut album, Welcome To The Plains.
With the bases loaded in the ninth inning, Flores stepped up to bat and delivered. He doesn’t try to do too much for the bright lights. Flores remains true to his strengths while introducing some refreshing new elements. He even surprises listeners with a few happy tracks, which I had begun to think might be beyond his reach. Seven of the 14 new tracks are lighter, and the other half reflect Wyatt’s signature poignant, melancholy music style.
Flores comes out swinging with the record’s title track, immediately setting a tone. “Welcome To The Plains” has a lot going on with the fiddle, guitar, drums, and Wyatt’s vocals all competing for the spotlight, but it works so well as a title track. It’s like the chaotic opening scene of the movie that gives you a look ahead in the film only to settle down, preparing you for the rest of the album. Wyatt deftly encapsulates how hectic and unpredictable life can get in “the plains,” providing a solid snapshot of the album’s overall themes.
Four of the 14 tracks were pre-released, which did detract from the album when listening to it front to back. Every song tells its own story to contribute to the overall theme; the fact that nearly a third of the record was released made those tracks feel less connected than the others, detracting from the overall listening experience. It’s hard to get in a natural rhythm while listening before a song you’ve heard multiple times already comes on.
With the Turnpike Troubadours being one of Flores’s biggest influences, it’s no surprise that the record is some of his more red dirt music to date. Except for a few songs, they all have the classic small-town Oklahoma Turnpike influence. It’s all a relatively simple production centered primarily around the guitar and the fiddle. Kenzie Miracle typically handles the fiddle, but on this record, she contributes only background vocals, leaving Matt Combs to take the lead on the instrument. Despite a new player, the fiddle remains the best instrument in nearly every song.
“Forget Your Voice” is one of Flores’s most unique songs and a clear standout. Before its release, Flores said, “That song is the catchiest thing I have; it’s ear-wormy as hell.” The track was inspired by his grandparents, who battled dementia, and the premise is not wanting to forget the voice of loved ones who have passed. While it’s a sad song, it’s still upbeat, keeping the listener engaged and tapping their foot along the beat. “Forget Your Voice” is one of the few exceptions to the red dirt sound, as the shaker and catchy guitar patterns give the track its sound. The melody will loop in listeners’ minds, as it’s the most recognizable sound on the record.
“Oh, Susannah” is also one of the more emotional tracks on Welcome To the Plains. It was released a couple of weeks before the album, and it deserves a moment of attention of its own. The song is a call back to the mental health break that Flores took earlier this year. He sings about how he thought he could help others, but that was not the case. “Why did I believe I can you, darlin’, without killing me?” It is one of the more bone-chilling lines in the song. It’s another example of Flores expressing his vulnerability to listeners, turning his mental health struggle into song.
A large portion of the album is based on Flores’s personal experience. His writing carries personal meaning, whether it has been from his mental health scare, his childhood, family, future, etc. That makes the record feel much more accurate because the 23-year-old is passionate about what he’s singing about. It circles back to him being vulnerable through his writing. His ability to wear his heart on his sleeve helps take songwriting to another level, and it is ultimately what has made him one of the best writers in country music right now.
Something also needs to be said about the cover art. Wyatt Flores consistently has stunning cover art for all his music, and the cover for Welcome To The Plains holds to that statement. It tells a story before the first note plays, drawing listeners in and inviting them to dive into the project. It captures the chaos of the plains, giving an idea of what to expect before listening. It also is a nice nod to Flores’s roots, a common theme of the record.
With expectations higher than they have ever been for the young Oklahoman, he stepped up to the plate and knocked them out of the park. From the writing and production to the raw vocals, Wyatt Flores shows a lot of maturity, making it hard to believe this is his debut album. Real thought and time were put into the project, and it showed. With no skips on the record, he surpasses expectations and proves he can hang with some of the best names in country music.
