Granger Smith, Country Things Volume 1 review
Texas native Granger Smith long worked the independent scene in his home state before the deserved rewards came to fruition amongst a larger audience and now returns with eagerly anticipated new music. The 8 track “Country Things, Volume 1” was co-produced by Smith is available HERE that was released today (September 25th) and is the tenth offering of a career spanning over two decades which acts as the first half of a two-part album. The album is Smith’s third through Wheelhouse Records following on from his breakout release “Remington” in 2016 that included number one single “Backroad Song” and 2017’s “When the Good Guys Win” which both hit the top 5 in the country charts Stateside.
The creative process for the project began in early 2019 but music needed to take a back seat for Smith following the tragic passing of his young son River and “Country Things, Volume 1” is his first release since and had changed the way that he heard music and songs began to take on new perspectives which will be portrayed through the two-part release on a journey set to promise both highs and lows whilst offering the ability to heal through his music.
The album which features some of Nashville’s most recognisable songwriters like Chris DeStefano, Jon Nite and Jordan Schmidt along with chart-toppers Hardy and Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley & Tyler Hubbard amongst the writing credits offers almost feels of marmite but on a track by track basis rather than for the project as a whole. There are tracks that may not cater for your palate whilst may ignite the passions of others yet given the variety and creativity in the recording there definitely is something for every outlook on county music whether that be more traditional or contemporary that will entice everyone when considering the project overall.
The title track “Country Things” is a solid opener which depicts the simple things we love in life with a true sense of being warming and welcoming. Then there is real passion and depth in “I Kill Spiders” and “Heroes” which both are prime examples of the raw honest storytelling that makes people fall in love with country music due to being so real and relatable whilst pulling at those reflective and compassionate emotions.
The creative process for the project began in early 2019 but music needed to take a back seat for Smith following the tragic passing of his young son River and “Country Things, Volume 1” is his first release since and had changed the way that he heard music and songs began to take on new perspectives which will be portrayed through the two-part release on a journey set to promise both highs and lows whilst offering the ability to heal through his music.
The album which features some of Nashville’s most recognisable songwriters like Chris DeStefano, Jon Nite and Jordan Schmidt along with chart-toppers Hardy and Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley & Tyler Hubbard amongst the writing credits offers almost feels of marmite but on a track by track basis rather than for the project as a whole. There are tracks that may not cater for your palate whilst may ignite the passions of others yet given the variety and creativity in the recording there definitely is something for every outlook on county music whether that be more traditional or contemporary that will entice everyone when considering the project overall.
The title track “Country Things” is a solid opener which depicts the simple things we love in life with a true sense of being warming and welcoming. Then there is real passion and depth in “I Kill Spiders” and “Heroes” which both are prime examples of the raw honest storytelling that makes people fall in love with country music due to being so real and relatable whilst pulling at those reflective and compassionate emotions.
Lead single “That’s Why I Love Dirt Roads” is a sure fire hit and the fact it is currently gaining momentum proves that and the roaring chorus delivers powerfully in a way for people to fall in love with and be a mainstay on playlists for a long time to come. “Mexico” and “Hate You Like I Love You” also bring the contemporary feel that show the diversity in the collection by incorporating aspects from outside the quote/unquote stereotypical country genre box whilst Chevys, Hemis, Yodas & Fords feels the strongest track on the record and draws more towards the traditional side of the spectrum.
Whilst not every track in isolation will appeal to everyone that listens to it, the album really does take you on the range of human emotions, going through the reflective points and lows through to the uplifting highs. There is enough creativity to make the record good to listen to as the tracks piece together nicely whilst having plenty of variation to keep you engaged. The way that it ends with such a fun and uplifting track “Country & Ya Know It” ensures that it sets the tone for what is to come on a positive note. It features Smith’s alter-ego Earl Dibbles, Jr and samples “If You’re Happy and You Know It” a song we will all recall from pre school and children’s tea parties from our younger days which is not lyrically ground-breaking but is guaranteed to deliver that peak of the rollercoaster that will make you smile and will be guaranteed to be stuck in your head until the second volume of the release rolls around.
Whilst not every track in isolation will appeal to everyone that listens to it, the album really does take you on the range of human emotions, going through the reflective points and lows through to the uplifting highs. There is enough creativity to make the record good to listen to as the tracks piece together nicely whilst having plenty of variation to keep you engaged. The way that it ends with such a fun and uplifting track “Country & Ya Know It” ensures that it sets the tone for what is to come on a positive note. It features Smith’s alter-ego Earl Dibbles, Jr and samples “If You’re Happy and You Know It” a song we will all recall from pre school and children’s tea parties from our younger days which is not lyrically ground-breaking but is guaranteed to deliver that peak of the rollercoaster that will make you smile and will be guaranteed to be stuck in your head until the second volume of the release rolls around.
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'COUNTRY THINGS, VOL. 1' TRACK LIST:
1. Country Things (Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Ernest K. Smith, Brian Kelley, Hunter Phelps), 2. Hate You Like I Love You (Granger Smith, Justin Wilson, Kyle Fishman, Rodney Clawson), 3. I Kill Spiders (Granger Smith, Tim Owens), 4. That’s Why I Love Dirt Roads (Granger Smith, Chris DeStefano, Bradley Peter Rempel, Jon Nite), 5. Mexico (Michael Whitworth, Erik Belz, Zach Beeken, Jared Keim, Garrett Nichols), 6. Chevys, Hemis, Yodas & Fords (Granger Smith, John Marlin), 7. Heroes (Granger Smith, John Pierce, Trent Willmon), 8. Country and Ya Know It (Feat. Earl Dibbles, Jr.) (Granger Smith, Corey Crowder, Tyler Hubbard, Hunter Phelps, Joe Raposo). Keep up with Granger Smith: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter and visit his website here. |
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