Chayce Beckham Bad For Me Review
Today brings about the long awaited and eagerly anticipated debut album “Bad For Me” from Chayce Beckham. The former fork-lift driver from southern California rose to fame by winning the nineteenth season of American Idol in 2021 which not only alerted the world to Beckham as a talented performer and vocalist but also allowed him to display his craft as a songwriter by performing “23” and “Mama” during the live shows, which would go on to become two of the three songs on this debut album that he wrote by himself.
“23” is the track which most people will know Beckham for which depicts his battle with alcohol addiction, that would go on to not only be certified platinum but just this week reached the summit of the country radio charts and earn him his first number one. There are two things about the song regarding the way it fits into the album, firstly it is the only track which was not produced by Bart Butler as it was Ross Copperman sat in the chair for this recording and secondly but very interestingly, it is track thirteen of thirteen. This is his breakout hit which is what will likely draw people to check out the record but closes the album out, where typically a song with the popularity and attention sits much earlier in the track listing, particularly on a debut album. Whilst this is not common to come across, it is actually very smart and mirrors a live show where you save your best or biggest hit until last but in an album context it allows the new and previously unreleased songs to shine and build the anticipation to the grand finale.
“23” is the track which most people will know Beckham for which depicts his battle with alcohol addiction, that would go on to not only be certified platinum but just this week reached the summit of the country radio charts and earn him his first number one. There are two things about the song regarding the way it fits into the album, firstly it is the only track which was not produced by Bart Butler as it was Ross Copperman sat in the chair for this recording and secondly but very interestingly, it is track thirteen of thirteen. This is his breakout hit which is what will likely draw people to check out the record but closes the album out, where typically a song with the popularity and attention sits much earlier in the track listing, particularly on a debut album. Whilst this is not common to come across, it is actually very smart and mirrors a live show where you save your best or biggest hit until last but in an album context it allows the new and previously unreleased songs to shine and build the anticipation to the grand finale.
This first extended offering collectively is a very open account that explores further themes that are deemed to be darker and clearly the result of soul-searching and using songwriting as a form of therapy to share the inner struggles of yearning for more that in effect portrays more motivation and gratitude with the desire to keep going.
“Once I finished recording this album and had time to live with it, I felt the title Bad For Me fit perfectly. It sums up a lot of my own faults,” says Beckham. “I like a lot of stuff that’s bad for me, even though it ends up being kryptonite but that’s all a part of being human. I am so proud of this record. I just hope there’s a song on this album that makes somebody feel something.”
The reference to Superman’s Achilles heel shows the reflection of a rebellious and untamed spirit having some consequences but also the ability to look for growth and change which comes through in a mix of western soul, blues, sun-kissed Californian influence, traditional country sounds and southern rock energy delivered by powerful and husky vocals.
This vocal prowess really shines brightest in the title track that is a beautiful piano ballad which is perfectly combined with soft drums and fiddle to really symbolise the whole aesthetic of the project. This is followed up by one of the albums most upbeat and rocky songs, where “Drink You Off My Mind” is one of the three songs that Beckham wrote by himself, whilst “Smokin’ Weed and Drinkin’ Whiskey” is another of the nine tracks that he had as imprint on with a writing credit that also has a strong up-tempo feel but this time with a more traditional country style.
With deep and powerful songwriting brought to life by a wonderful vocal and excellent use of instrumental elements and musical styles, “Bad For Me” really is a triumphant introduction to Chayce Beckham that really justifies his pure class even further.
“Once I finished recording this album and had time to live with it, I felt the title Bad For Me fit perfectly. It sums up a lot of my own faults,” says Beckham. “I like a lot of stuff that’s bad for me, even though it ends up being kryptonite but that’s all a part of being human. I am so proud of this record. I just hope there’s a song on this album that makes somebody feel something.”
The reference to Superman’s Achilles heel shows the reflection of a rebellious and untamed spirit having some consequences but also the ability to look for growth and change which comes through in a mix of western soul, blues, sun-kissed Californian influence, traditional country sounds and southern rock energy delivered by powerful and husky vocals.
This vocal prowess really shines brightest in the title track that is a beautiful piano ballad which is perfectly combined with soft drums and fiddle to really symbolise the whole aesthetic of the project. This is followed up by one of the albums most upbeat and rocky songs, where “Drink You Off My Mind” is one of the three songs that Beckham wrote by himself, whilst “Smokin’ Weed and Drinkin’ Whiskey” is another of the nine tracks that he had as imprint on with a writing credit that also has a strong up-tempo feel but this time with a more traditional country style.
With deep and powerful songwriting brought to life by a wonderful vocal and excellent use of instrumental elements and musical styles, “Bad For Me” really is a triumphant introduction to Chayce Beckham that really justifies his pure class even further.
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Bad For Me Tracklisting:
1. Devil I’ve Been (Chayce Beckham, John Pierce, Lindsay Rimes) 2. Addicted And Clean (Beckham, Emily Landis, Justin Morgan) 3. Waylon In ‘75 (Jon Randall, Brett James, Parker McCollum, Lee Thomas Miller) 4. Bad For Me (Joe Fox, Randy Montana, Tyler Chambers) 5. Drink You Off My Mind (Beckham) 6. Everything I Need (Beckham, Pierce & Rimes) 7. Whiskey Country (Beckham, Pierce & Rimes) 8. Glitter (Joey Hendricks, Mark Trussell & Natalie Hemby) 9. Smokin' Weed and Drinkin' Whiskey (Beckham, Trussell & Andy Albert) 10. Something Worth Holding On To (Pierce, Brandon Kinney & Micah Wilshire) 11. Mama (Beckham) 12. If I Had A Week (Beckham & Scooter Carusoe) 13. 23 (Beckham |
