When Brett Eldredge released Sunday Drive in 2020, the release heralded a brand new sonic direction in his music, after his previous, higher energy, pop-infused country releases. Sunday Drive was a more introspective, jazz-infused and soulful record that felt like Eldredge had hit his musical sweet spot. Tomorrow, he returns with his latest offering Songs About You that follows in the footsteps of Sunday Drive – a diverse and sweeping record, yet infused with a higher, more frenetic energy, complete with some wider introspective moments. Songs About You indulges more fully in the jazz sensibilities that have always had some presence in Eldredge’s music, whilst allowing space not to be pigeon-holed by genre.

So, the record opens with the meandering, jazz-infused and high energy track ‘Can’t Keep Up.’ ‘Pour me a glass of something special / I’m in the mood to celebrate / Dance like the devil went down to Georgia / Cos we can’t keep up with the hell we raised.’ It’s a boot-stomping whirlwind of energy that brings the energy back up after Sunday Drive, this energy carried through into **‘I Feel Fine.’ Though this is a more muted track, it sizzles with a quiet intensity, in a powerful track about resilience. ‘I’ve got steam on this train / I’ve got fire in my veins / I feel fine.’ The track sears and sings, noodling along with the accompaniment of a juicy guitar solo and backing vocals – one that translates gloriously in its live iteration. This jazz leaning is brought to fruition on ‘Where Do I Sign’ – a tripping, upbeat and syncopated ode to a future lover as Eldredge pines for them. The horn part elevates the whole, pushing Eldredge’s vocal to the next level. ‘Baby you’re perfect, you don’t need fixing / You need a real man to hold you and listen / You can be, I’ll just be me / We’ll come together whenever you need / I’ll give you space, but I’ll cross your mind… If you’re looking for someone to put it all on the line, tell me baby where do I sign.’ Still, Eldredge manages to just skirt the line, bringing in these jazz and soul elements whilst sticking to his country roots. This is evident on ‘Get Out of My House’ which takes the pace up a notch – a more mature version of some of his earlier more high energy songs like ‘Somethin’ I’m Good At’. Eldredge takes the idea of a lover changing his house as the metaphor for them trying to change him. It’s a joyful, hopeful melody rather than searing with vindication as he sings for them to clear out of his life. ‘I’d rather have my piece of mind than have you stay / So get out of my house.’

Still, there are some more soulful moments on the record, starting with ‘Songs About You.’ Here, Eldredge sings about his inability to move on from an ex, in the constant reminders of them through music. ‘I thought I might be moving on til I heard ‘Brown-Eyed Girl play… Now I’m just trying to get through, these songs about you.’ This feeling is brought back on ‘What Else Ya Got’ – a pensive and sensual piano ballad. ‘There’s power in your fingertips / There’s freedom hidden in your lips / It’s poetic, everywhere you move / No telling what else you can do / So take my soul and break it down / Make my heart feel like it’s found … I’ve got a lot of time / So what else you got in mind.’ It’s a slow, lingering ballad that allows space for Eldredge’s vocal and a moment of reprieve on the record.

Sunday Drive was rife with nostalgia and that sentiment is still omnipresent on Songs About You, most obviously on ‘Want That Back,’ where Eldredge looks back on his childhood and simpler, golden times. ‘And sometimes I want the world I knew / When all it took to get me through / Was half a tank, nothing planned / Parking lots / And the smell of old wood bleachers and a word of hometown preachers / Being rich was her and a cheap six-pack.’ It’s a simplicity that he also pines for on ‘Hideaway’ – a stripped-back melody, where Eldredge muses on running away with a lover to find a secluded escape together. ‘Every now and then I get to thinking / What if I sold everything, because who really needs it… We’ll drive on for miles, find a new favourite place / Maybe out of this county, even out of this state… and hideaway.’ The track is full of an understated charm that sits outside the rush of Nashville commercial traffic.

That sense of old-school romance infuses throughout the record. So, one of the most charming songs on the record is ‘Home Sweet Love,’ where Eldredge sings to a lover about being the home and safe refuge that they had always sought out. ‘You’ve been looking for solid ground and you’re tired of wondering why / You’ve been looking for a front porch / You’ve been searching for the truth / you’ve been looking for a home sweet love and I’ve been looking for you.’ His vocals are honeyed perfection here, full of emotion and warmth that he also brings into ‘Wait Up For Me’ – a meditative, lingering piano ballad – and on ‘Holy Water.’ The first is an immensely old-school romantic track whereas the latter offers a more soulful moment. Produced by Dave Cobb, it is a stunning, quiet moment, acknowledging the hard times that he has undergone to find his saviour. ‘You are my holy water / you are my river deep / wash me away and take me higher / ‘cause something about your love just sets me free.’ Accompanied by choral voices, guitar, piano and throttled drums it is an immensely powerful and emotive moment.

Still, the most powerful moment on the record is reserved for the final track – ‘Where the Light Meets the Sea’ – this may be the most beautiful and meaningful song that Eldredge has ever written. A sweeping piano ballad, in which Eldredge sings to a lover about moving on once he has passed away. ‘I hope you picture me floating in the breeze / In the place where the light meets the sea / We’re all looking for heaven, oh but heaven’s looking for me.’ It’s an emotional and powerful sonic masterpiece, about grief and the enduring power of love and is a stunning end to this record.

Whilst Songs About You does not have the same immediate impact of Sunday Drive, this is more a product of the fact that it is not a huge departure from his previous work in the way that the latter was. Songs About You shows an artist fully comfortable, finally, with his own sonic identity – imbibing many influences from jazz to soul to country, seamlessly, without losing any of his own charm and character. It is a joyful record, with much to delve into and many moments both of introspection and of joy and hope.

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Brett Eldredge has long stood as a fan favourite amongst UK country fans. Every trip he takes to the UK is lauded and his audiences continue to grow, most fans unable to miss another show given the energy of his live set. His performance at O2 Kentish Town did not disappoint in the slightest, running the gamut from a taster of the new music to come from his forthcoming record Songs About You to the well-worn classics, from ‘Beat of the Music’ to ‘Don’t Ya.’

As ever Eldredge has an immense ease and easy stage presence, making his performance seem easy from the rock-tinged ‘I Feel Fine’ to the stripped-back, acoustic moment on ‘The Long Way’ – hearing the latter in a way that we have never heard it before. Easy highlights were the sensational new material – the gospel-tinged ‘Holy Water’ and the whiskey-imbued ‘Songs About You.’ Eldredge throughout captivated the audience, leading them smoothly from the party tracks into the vulnerable and emotional moments. With every visit, Eldredge appears transcendent, engaging his fans with apparent ease. It was a phenomenal show, showing the return to form of live music.

Setlist

1. I Feel Fine 2. Don’t Ya 3. Gabrielle 4. Songs About You 5.Love Someone 6. Want That Back 7. Drunk on Your Love 8. The Long Way (Acoustic) 9. Good Day 10. Mean to Me 11. Magnolia 12. Holy Water 13. The Reason / I’ve Got Sunshine / My Girl 14. Lose Your Mind 15. Wanna Be That Song / Encore / 16. Sunday Drive 17. Beat of the Music

The post Brett Eldredge Holds London in the Palm of His Hand appeared first on off the record.

Hearing a familiar song can instantly take us back in time to the moments when those songs left an indelible mark on our lives. In his new single, “Songs About You,” Brett Eldredge namechecks lines from classics like Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark,” Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” as he works through the emotions of an old flame, brought back to him by the music.

“Songs About You” was written by Eldredge alongside Jessie Jo Dillion and Ben West. “There are songs that just transport you back in time to a moment with someone you love,” said Eldredge. “Even though you’ve not been with the person for a long time, these songs take a hold of you. You might be having a fine day, then you walk into a store where the song is playing, and you’re transported into the past.”

“Songs About You” is also the title track for Eldredge’s new album that will be released June 17. The album will feature 12 songs co-written by Eldredge including the previously released “Want That Back” and “Holy Water.” “I knew exactly what I wanted to say and what I wanted the album to sound like,” said Eldredge of the new album. “I wanted the album to be songs that connect us all in the human experience. These are emotions that are reflective of each of us. There are songs of solitude, joy and heartbreak, and I like that tension.

Songs About You is about the songs that instantly recall your own experiences. The songs that can make you remember exactly how you felt, or the sights around you or the smells in the air. The songs that make you remember all the happiness and the heartbreak.”

Eldredge’s growing popularity in the U.K. saw him headline C2C (Country To Country) Festival in 2019, followed by a highly successful UK tour in January/February 2020 which included a stop at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and is currently on tour throughout the UK.

The post Brett Eldredege Is Set to Release New Album Songs About You in June appeared first on off the record.

[tps_title] 10. ‘Neon Christmas’ – Mitchell Tenpenny [/tps_title]

Neon Christmas is the lead-out track on Mitchell Tenpenny’s brand-new Christmas record Naughty List out everywhere now. It infuses the best of Tenpenny’s signature charm into a humble and polished country song with a Christmas twist.

The post Our 10 Favourite Country Christmas Songs appeared first on off the record.

[tps_title] 10. Pistol Annies, Hell of a Holiday [/tps_title]

Pistol Annies have released their first ever holiday record this year that is a deliciously real Christmas record, full of all the complications associated with the holiday for so many.

For those who think Fairytale of New York is the greatest Christmas track.

Read our full review here.

The post Our Top 10 Country Music Christmas Albums appeared first on off the record.

Brett Eldredge has established himself since the release of GLOW, as the definitive king of Christmas. Now, he has invested time in the creation of another Christmas record – Mr. Christmas – out everywhere now. Not an afterthought, Eldredge believes that Christmas songs capture the light in all of us, letting it shine for a few months each winter, and with Mr. Christmas he embraces a calling to help bring that light out like never before. Of the record, Eldredge says, “The Mr. Christmas album is something I’ve been working on for quite a while now… This album is so much fun and full of joy. It has the big band, the soulful side, and a lot of magic. I hope it brightens your season and I can’t wait to see all of you in the UK soon!”

Mr. Christmas is a joy-fuelled 11 track project, mixing well-worn holiday classics with lesser-known tracks and two original cuts – the embodiment of Eldredge’s holiday wonder. Co-written during the pandemic with Ross Copperman, the title track “Mr. Christmas” sums up the entire ethos of the project, brimming with effortless holiday cheer and charm from start to finish – an instant classic, something incredibly hard to do against the classics. It’s a delightfully charming instant classic that fizzes with joy. The other original on the project is “Feels Like Christmas” another soulful track, also written by Eldredge that brims with the hope and comfort of the holiday season, embodying the excitement for Christmas when it comes around and celebrating the season as a source of well-needed joy. It’s a deeply charming and elegant Christmas original that will be a sure-fire hit this season.

Elsewhere on the project, Eldredge breathes a fresh energy and take on beloved classics, including ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.’ The former is brought to life with an incredible, rounded, sonorous brass section, giving an unexpected oomph to the children’s classic and on the latter, Eldredge barely contains his excitement and anticipation for the holiday season in a gorgeously produced version of the classic, pairing his soulful vocal with the brass-tinged production. Lesser-known tracks are given another chance in the spotlight too, ‘Cool Yule’ was previously covered by everyone from Louis Armstrong to the Brian Setzer Orchestra. ‘Merry Christmas Baby’ allows Eldredge to sink his teeth into the big-band setting, in a more laid-back and groovy holiday extravaganza, and still others like ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ and ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ bring back a reminder of the true message of Christmas.

The brass instrumentation and sound infused throughout the album bring it to life, setting it apart from a mixed bag of recent Christmas releases, retaining the joy of 2016’s Glow and kicking it up a notch, with the help of the same producers – Rob Mounsey and Jay Newland. Once again, Eldredge’s soulful vocal is at centre stage, a glorious sound that is an instrument in and of itself. It’s a wonderful, joy-filled project that is the perfect soundtrack to beckon in the holiday season.

Eldredge’s growing popularity in the U.K. saw him headline C2C Festival in 2019, followed by a highly successful UK tour in January/February 2020, including at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. In May 2022, he will make his long-anticipated return to the UK – pick up tickets here.

Monday 02 May              GLASGOW O2 Academy

Thursday 05 May            LEEDS O2 Academy

Friday 06 May                  BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute

Sunday 08 May               MANCHESTER O2 Ritz

Tuesday 10 May              LONDON O2 Forum, Kentish Town

The post ALBUM REVIEW: Mr Christmas – Brett Eldredge appeared first on off the record.

50. Twinnie, ‘I Love You Now Change’ – Twinnie’s track is both vulnerable and empowering in equal measure, singing to a lover who wanted to change her. It’s remarkably raw and honest, making it the standout track on Hollywood Gypsy. 

49. Jimmie Allen, ‘Drunk & I Miss You’ (feat. Mickey Guyton) – Allen’s signature R&B/country sound is given an elevation with Guyton’s accompanying vocal on this delightful track. The duet goes into well-trodden territory, yet it is the duo’s extraordinary vocals and tasteful production that elevate this into uncharted territory.

48. Tim McGraw, ‘Hard To Stay Mad At’ – The best track from McGraw’s record ‘Here on Earth,’ sees him return with his stunning signature production, a different take on a lovesong and it’s wondrously delivered.

47. Dustin Lynch, ‘Momma’s House’ – One of Lynch’s strongest tracks to date, the track is rife with nostalgia whilst dealing with heartbreak. Another track we can’t wait to hear when live music returns.

46. Thomas Rhett, ‘What’s Your Country Song’ – Rhett’s catchiest and biggest track of recent years, ramming his love of country into one track, yet tastefully done.

45. Gone West ‘What Could’ve Been’ – Gone West bring their gorgeous Californian country sound to this track that wonders about a relationship that could have been, looking back with rose-tinted glasses.

44. Lee Brice, ‘One of Them Girls’ – Like Combs’ ‘Beautiful Crazy,’ Brice has emoted a song that many girls will read themselves into, it’s tender yet anthemic and will be a massive hit on the live circuit.

43. Kelsea Ballerini, ‘Half Of My Hometown’ – Accompanied by Chesney, Kelsea Ballerini sings about the different sides to their hometown – those that stayed and those that left. It’s poignant, tender and nostalgic, brimming with love for her hometown.

42. The Well, ‘Marcus King’ – King’s vocal is near unparalleled in its ability to emote even through heavy rip-roaring production. This track is testament to that.

41. Parker McCollum, ‘Pretty Heart’ – This is McCollum’s first number one on country radio and it’s easy to see why on this track questioning what the ending of a relationship says about him. The track is candid and real.

40. Lee Brice, ‘Memory I Don’t Mess With’ – Brice’s 2020 record was rammed with some gems, so we’ve included two on this list. Brice sings about leaving a memory of an ex, as something almost too painful to deal with, delivered with his powerful, signature vocal.

39. Brandy Clark, ‘I’ll Be The Sad Song’ – Gut-wrenching seems to be Clark’s MO with her 2020 record, this song is a glorious reminder of ‘seasons’ in life as she sings to a former lover that she will be the ‘sad song’ in the record of their life. As far as analogies go, it’s pretty flawless. 

38. Gabe Lee, ‘Imogene’ – It is hard not to draw comparisons between Gabe Lee and Bob Dylan and this track about ghost town ‘Imogene,’ is an extraordinary take on Dylan in 2020. 

37. Jason Isbell, ‘Dreamsicle’ – It’s hard to critique Isbell at any level, and ‘Dreamsicle’ from his 2020 album is another reminder of his extraordinary songwriting ability, replete with perfectly harmonies and guitar sequencing.

36. Josh Kerr, ‘Arizona’ – Kerr has an ability to emote like no other and ‘Arizona’ is a heart-wrenching pondering on past memories with an ex.

35. Danielle Bradbery, ‘Girls In My Hometown’ – Bradbery delivers a staunchly nostalgic reminder of her hometown, wondering about where all the girls in her hometown ended up and it feels like an authentic throwback to her days with ‘Heart of Dixie.’

34. Maddie & Tae ‘Water In His Wine Glass’ – The duo’s most mature track to date, a mournful take on alcoholism and its effects on those closest and the most traditional stripped back track we’ve heard from the girls in a while, letting the emotion in their vocals shine through.

33. Margo Price, ‘Letting Me Down’ – Price’s driving indictment closes the door on the past, she sings out the toxins on this searing track and it feels cathartic.

32. Secret Sisters, ‘Hold You Dear’ – An incredibly pensive and bittersweet track that showcases the duo’s soaring vocals with the delicate accompaniment of strings. 

31. Travis Denning, ‘ABBY’ – A blistering middle finger to his ex, Denning’s track is rammed with comedic wit and we can’t get enough.

30. Kameron Marlowe, ‘Leavin’ To Me’ – If you only know Marlowe for ‘Giving You Up,’ take a listen to this track to realise his full depth. This is everything a country song should be, quietly plaintive, melancholic and heart-wrenchingly authentic.

29. Eric Church, ‘Stick That In Your Country Song’ – Brimming with barely muted anger, Church’s track sears a comment on the country industry itself, it’s brave and fearless as only Church can be.

28. Yola, ‘Hold On’ (feat. The Highwomen, Sheryl Crow) – In this mesmerising, gospel-edged anthem, Yola unleashes a powerful, universal song for the ages, and more specifically for 2020. The track is transcendent.

27. Ingrid Andress, ‘The Stranger’ – It’s hard to pick just one track from Andress’ debut record, but this may just be it. A gorgeous and haunting track about a couple deciding to go back to the roots of their relationship.

26. Michael Ray, ‘Whiskey and Rain’ – Michael Ray beckoned in a new era for his music with his September release that saw a return to his 90s country influences, vocally sublime.

25. O&O, ‘Dancing on the Floor’ – O&O delivered a fresh take on their sound with the blistering blues-y guitar riffs on this track that references religion and liquor. One of their best to date.

24. Maren Morris, ‘Better Than We Found It’  – Morris can deliver a political statement more poetically than almost any other writer – just listen to ‘Dear Hate’ – and this track, released before the election will make you feel like you yourself can do better. 

23. Rae Lynn, ‘Me About Me’  – Rae Lynn never ceases to surprise and on her Baytown EP, this was one of the stand-out tracks, laying out reasons for the end of the relationship with a self-involved partner – classily done.

22. Emma & Jolie, ‘I Don’t Need A Man’ – The stunning and empowering debut from new UK duo, Emma & Jolie, written with Emily Hackett. If this doesn’t make you want to dance and be single, we don’t know what will.

21. Brothers Osborne, ‘All Night’ – Brothers Osborne can deliver a spicy guitar solo like no other. The track brims with vitality and the raw energy that the duo bring to their live set.

20. Kip Moore, ‘South’ – This is a track built for a road trip, a zinging guitar riffing track that drives through from start to finish.

19. The Chicks, ‘Sleep at Night’ – If the rest of the album doesn’t break you, then this plaintive track surely will, quietly infused with anger at how someone could treat the singer like this – desperately asking the question most of us are too afraid to ask, for answers and closure.

18. HARDY, ‘A ROCK’ – Hardy can turn a lyric like no other and this track is cleverly and wittily crafted, with twists and turns that take your breath away.

17. Matt Stell, ‘Sadie’ – An almost U2-infused country anthemic track, a love letter to ‘Sadie,’ artfully told and masterfully delivered.

16. Tenille Townes, ‘The Most Beautiful Things’ – Townes has an extraordinary signature vocal that paints a picture of everything we should be grateful for in this heartwarming track. Stunning.

15. Caylee Hammack, ‘Forged In The Fire’ – A stand-out track from Hammack’s debut record, this track showcases her vocal like no other.

 14. Lainey Wilson, ‘WWDD’ – A rip-roaring, hell-raising and empowering track, an ode to Dolly Parton and to country music, Wilson’s Southern twang is pivotal to make this track anthemic.

13. Cam, ‘Forgetting You’ – A stunning and poignant heartbreak of a track, about moving on from a lover, at all times except when alone. Cam’s vocal has a vulnerability like no other and it is this that brings the magic to this track.

12. Russell Dickerson, ‘Southern Symphony’ – Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is Dickerson’s best track yet, a stunning love song to country music and to America generally.

11. Ruston Kelly, ‘Brave’ – Kelly’s vocal has always been immensely evocative and this story is a stunning depiction of just what it means to be ‘brave,’ questioning his own existence and how he will be remembered. 

10. Carly Pearce, ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’

Pearce’s 2019 duet with Lee Brice has been one of the most-played tracks of the year, yet this deeper cut from Pearce’s sophomore and self-titled record sums up every emotion that we needed this year, through Pearce’s stunning, emotive vocal.

9. Morgan Wallen, ‘More Than My Hometown’

Morgan Wallen is definitely one to watch out for in 2021, having won the CMA for New Artist of the Year, he is set to release his masterpiece, lengthy record in January that is bound to be a great success. ‘More Than My Hometown’ captures everything about why Wallen is a star ascendent, engaging and catchy vocals with an extraordinary tone couched in traditional country lyrics with a twist.

8. Brett Eldredge, ‘Sunday Drive’

Eldredge found the title track for his 2020 record Sunday Drive whilst interning and saved it up for his fourth studio record. The track is a poignant and bittersweet look at a Sunday drive with one’s parents as they age – peaceful yet subtly melancholic and Eldredge’s stunning vocal captures all that complexity of emotion.

7. Sam Hunt, ‘2016’

Hunt gets shockingly vulnerable and candid on ‘2016’ from his long-anticipated sophomore record Southside and nowhere more so than on track ‘2016,’ owning up to his mistakes that made the news.

6. Luke Combs, ‘Six Feet Apart’

A little cliched? Yes, but Combs has a way in this track of expressing everything we wanted to and distilling it into a few minutes – perfectly poignant and delicately done – a legacy track.

5. Ashley McBryde ‘Voodoo Doll’

A rip-roaring, explosive dynamite of a track from McBryde that headed into uncharted, heavily rock-tinged territory. The track sears with vitriolic energy that literally fizzes down the airwaves.

4. Amanda Shires, ‘The Problem’ (feat. Jason Isbell)

An extraordinary track, laying out a conversation between Isbell and Shires on abortion rights – it’s thoughtful, considered, evocative and unlike anything we have ever heard.

3. Jordan Davis, ‘Church in a Chevy’

 The stand-out track from Davis’ 2020 EP ‘Detours,’ ‘Church in a Chevy’ is a raw and authentic look at his perspective on religion and his own spirituality, in an incredibly artful form – this is the core of country music’s power, offering a fresh perspective on the world.

2. Chris Stapleton, ‘Cold’

Stapleton consistently breaks her hearts over and over again, like no one else can. In ‘Cold’ from his fourth studio album Starting Over, Stapleton questions being left by a partner – it’s evocative and authentic and a reminder of just how emotive songwriting can be in just a few lines.

1. Mickey Guyton, ‘What Are You Gonna Tell Her’ / ‘Black Like Me’

We couldn’t truthfully decide between these two powerful and immensely important tracks on Guyton’s EP ‘Bridges’ so we’re including them both in the top spot. Guyton’s vocal rises supreme in flawless and thoughtful songwriting that questions your own place in the world and just what legacy you’d like to leave behind. Don’t just listen, listen.

The post The 50 Best Country and Americana Tracks of 2020 appeared first on off the record.

20. Cam – The Otherside

This year, Cam made her long-awaited and majestic return to the scene with The Otherside. A pop-tinged country record with a weighty agenda, with masterfully crafted songwriting including cuts from Sam Smith and Harry Styles.

Stand-out Tracks: ‘Forgetting You When I’m Alone’ / ‘Like A Movie’

19. Maddie & Tae – The Way It Feels

One of the surprisingly highest contenders on our list of most-listened to albums of the year. Frankly, in a year of mundanity and low spirits, Maddie & Tae brought a deliciously, frothy country-pop album filled with some really mature and thoughtful songwriting.

Stand-out Tracks: ‘Drunk or Lonely’ / ‘Water In His Wineglass’

18. HARDY – A Rock

This record has surely elevated HARDY’s career to another level. Infusing heavy-hitting rock sounds and a Southern country twang, HARDY’s debut record is a stellar pointer of things to come that embraces his more personal stories.

Stand-out Tracks: ‘A ROCK’ / ‘BOYFRIEND’

17. The Secret Sisters – Saturn Returns

The Secret Sisters collaborated with Brandi Carlile on their record Saturn Returns that offers a majestic, celestial-tinged sound and thoughtfully-crafted songwriting.

Stand-out Tracks: ‘Silver’

16. Brandy Clark – Your Life is a Record

Throughout Brandy Clark’s career she has always placed strong and thoughtful songwriting at the centre of her craft. On Your Life is a Record, she takes this a step further on her deeply introspective record that looks at the entirety of a relationship – the highs and lows and heartbreak, with a poignant and gritty analysis.

Stand-out Tracks: ‘Your Life is a Record’ / ‘I’ll Be The Sad Song’

15. Hailey Whitters – The Dream

Hailey Whitters made a huge impression with her debut record The Dream that featured whimsical, intensely thoughtful songwriting with an unusual, stunning vocal tone.This is record to stand the test of time.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘All The Cool Girls’ / ‘Red, Wine & Blue’

14. Russell Dickerson – Southern Symphony

Russell Dickerson’s sophomore record offers a layer of maturity, delving a layer deeper than his debut record. The record also reveals yet more layers to his astonishing vocal – just listen to ‘Honey’ for proof.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘Southern Symphony’

13. The Chicks – Gaslighter

The Chicks returned this year with their first record in over a decade and it was worth the wait. This is perhaps the most painfully intimate and personal record we have ever heard, the harmonies as tight as ever and the songwriting transcendent.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘Tights On My Boat’ / ‘Hope It’s Something Good’

12. Brothers Osborne – Skeletons

In a year without live music, Brothers Osborne released the most bombastic and energetic record, who’s energy leaps off the vinyl grooves. It’s simply built for a live performance, showing the duo pivot and build yet again on their previous material.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘Dead Man’s Curve’ / ‘All Night’

11. Gabe Lee – Honky Tonk Hell

A quietly understated record, Lee’s album meanders with quiet conviction, filled with songwriting that paints a vivid and compelling picture and story. Lee’s vocal is gritty and bold, with stunning instrumentation and he’ll sure as hell be one to watch in the coming years.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘Imogene’

10. Carly Pearce – Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce’s self-titled record showcases her range to full effect from the more heavily pop-overlaid ‘Call Me’ to the heavy vocals on country track ‘Dashboard Jesus’ – the scope of Pearce is laid out here and it’s immense.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ / ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’

9. Tenille Townes – The Lemonade Stand

Tenille Townes debut record brims with a quiet confidence and understated intensity, passion and extraordinarily slick production – this is a flawless project from start to finish. Townes is only just getting started and this record is a powerful opener.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘The Most Beautiful Things’

8. Ruthie Collins –  Cold Comfort

Ignore Ruthie Collins at your detriment – Cold Comfort is one of the most stunning, layered and complex albums we have heard in a while. Exquisite songwriting that paints a vivid and nostalgic picture, it’s phenomenally poised. 

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘Wish You Were Here’

7. Gone West – Canyons

2020 was very on brand when Gone West announced that their debut album was also going to be their only record. We were so excited about this whimsical, light-touched and joyful debut and wanted more of this California country sound.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘I’m Never Getting Over You’

6. Kip Moore – Wild World

Kip Moore’s signature gritty sound was imbued throughout this record that delved a layer deeper and darker into Moore’s psyche, revealing his fears, regrets and deepest desires in a profoundly more mature record.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘South’ 

5. Ingrid Andress – Lady Like

Andress has had an extraordinary year, with Grammy and CMA nominations under her belt, alongside a huge spotlight on her debut record Lady Like. Rightly so, having earned her stripes with huge pop cuts, Andress’ pop-country sound or as she deems it ’emo country’ puts into words the deepest parts of the human psyche and their attitude to love and loss.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘More Hearts Than Mine’ / ‘Anything But Love’

4. Brett Eldredge – Sunday Drive

Do not let 2020 slip you by without hearing Brett Eldredge’s Sunday Drive that probes into the meaning of love and life and everything in between. It’s deeply soulful and offers a signpost of where Eldredge’s new sound may go – into newly powerful and profound territory

Stand-Out Track: ‘Sunday Drive’

3. Caylee Hammack – If It Wasn’t For You

Hammack is a tour de force and her debut record showcases her extraordinary, powerful vocal that brims with personality. She lays her life and her relationship history bare on this record that is both incredibly personal and universal. This is a special piece of work.

Stand-Out Track: ‘Forged In The Fire’ / ‘Small Town Hypocrite’

2. Ashley McBryde – Never Will

McBryde had big shoes to follow following her debut record Girl Going Nowhere that was a sensation. Never Will does just that, layering her delightfully vulnerable vocal with laces of rock production. It’s clever and shrewd, creating stories upon stories, artfully weaving the entire project together seamlessly.

Stand-Out Track: ‘Voodoo Doll’

1. Chris Stapleton – Starting Over

Included on Obama’s favourite music of the year – the man has taste. Stapleton releases a flawless record once again, intricate songwriting and his signature vocal – a combination that will never get old.

Stand-Out Tracks: ‘You Should Probably Leave’

The post The 20 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2020 appeared first on off the record.

10. Chris Young – It Must Be Christmas

The magic in this record is in its simplicity – there are no gimmicks, no faults of over production, Young’s voice is given centre stage in all its richly indulgent perfection. Original track ‘Under the Weather’ is simply stunning and is definitely the high point of this record, elevating the album as an entire project.

9. The Hello Darlins, Heart in the Snow – EP

If you’re not familiar yet with The Hello Darlins this is a delightful introduction, setting exactly the right sentimental and bitter-sweet note.

8. Martina McBride, White Christmas

An icon. A Christmas icon. Martina I think it’s time we’ve been ‘nice’ enough to merit another Christmas record?

7. Faith Hill, Joy To The World

Faith – like Carrie – can’t set a note wrong and this record is no exception. This will be a classic for years to come.

6. Maddie & Tae, We Need Christmas – EP

Maddie & Tae’s vocals seem born for a country Christmas record. ‘Merry Married Christmas’ and ‘We Need Christmas’ are so deliciously joyful, brimming with the kind of happiness that is so befitting the Christmas season and we can’t stay away.

5. Carrie Underwood – My Gift

It’s about time that Carrie made a country record, and it was worth the wait. Her vocals are angelic and duet with John Legend is transcendent in its luxurious festive-ness. As always, Carrie doesn’t set a note wrong and we can’t stay away from this record.

4. Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas

It’s official. Dolly Parton saved 2020. She made a sizeable donation to the coronavirus vaccine and has had time to deliver us a stellar Christmas album. With some weighty collaborations with Miley Cyrus, Willie Nelson and Michael Buble, this album is rammed with Christmas joy and brings something new to the familiar tracks and delivers stellar contributions to the Christmas catalogue with her originals – ‘Christmas on the Square’ is our guilty pleasure.

3. Lady A – On This Winter’s Night

Were Hillary Scott’s vocals made for a Christmas album? We think so. You know we love any record that includes a stellar original Christmas track and ‘Christmas Through Your Eyes’ and ‘That Spirit of Christmas’ are phenomenal. With a light country touch that isn’t overdone, the record allows the vocals and well-trodden lyrics to be the central focus.

2. Kacey Musgraves – The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show

Even with some interestingly corny dialogue that we manage to somehow drown out, the original Christmas tracks are what really elevate this record – ‘Glittery’ is quite simply sublime as is ‘Christmas Makes Me Cry.’ ‘Present Without a Bow’ is another original that is fast becoming a classic (for us) and even manages to sub a duet with Lana Del Rey into the backdrop of the record.

1. Brett Eldredge, Glow

Simply put, Brett Eldredge is the king of Christmas. This record is like a Christmassy warm hug – decadently rich vocals that elevate every track. Eldredge’s ‘Glow’ was a phenomenal surprise in 2016, combining the charisma and vocals of Sinatra and Crosby into a neat ‘country’ package – the record is one of the best country Christmas records of recent times, negating any commercial cliches.

The post The Top 10 Best Country Christmas Albums To Get You Feeling Festive appeared first on off the record.

It has been 3 years since Brett Eldredge’s last studio album – his 2017 self-titled record that was jam-packed with hits, including ‘Love Someone’ and ‘The Long Way.’ Now, he returns with majestic, sophisticated Sunday Drive that is a flawless, poised display of how far he’s come in his artistry and songwriting craft.

It is not exactly a secret that Eldredge decided to go ‘off grid’ for the making of this record and the proof is here, for this record dives a layer deeper into his psyche, for a record full of wonder at the world, yearning and ultimate peace within himself. Indeed, Eldredge partnered up with Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk (the geniuses behind Golden Hour) for the project that shifts the sound of his music toward a more soft, crooning creation that feels like the record he was always destined to create.

The album opens with softly spoken ‘Where The Heart Is’ that was released alongside ‘Crowd My Mind’ and ‘Gabrielle’ when Eldredge announced the record back in April. Brett croons about losing self and wanting to find connection as he sings ‘Where’d you lose your sense of wonder / That firework going off in your head?’ The track is more stripped back at the start, allowing Eldredge’s honeyed vocal to cut through the production, before glorious layers of strings and piano are added to make the track resonate.

‘The One You Need’ is another early standout moment from the record, with Eldredge sings to a lover about being their anchor and safe place. ‘Rest your head here / Pull me closer, I’ll hold you tight while you let girl / I could love you, if you’ll just let me be the one you need.’ Again, Tashian and Fitchuk have allowed Eldredge’s voice to be the central focus of the record, with the production enhancing rather than detracting from it. The track is full of yearning and comfort. So later track, ‘Crowd My Mind’ is a similarly stripped back, stunning moment, with Eldredge singing about not being able to shake a former lover from his thoughts. ‘Been eight months since November, but you’re all I can remember… Empty streets and whistling pines, but not a day goes by that you don’t crowd my mind.’ Glimmering piano and guitar frosts the track that is rammed with emotion. The result is something utterly special and glorious.

‘Magnolia’ amps up the tempo of the record and is rife with nostalgia, with Eldredge singing of his childhood ‘We danced beneath that magnolia,’ using the central analogy of a long-standing magnolia and his memories associated with it to sum up his memories. The track is more upbeat, swinging through with an ease and looseness that feels liberating and a step away from the bigger, measured production of ‘Love Someone’ toward a more jazz-inspired sound. Later track ‘Good Day’ that Eldredge sung on his UK tour is similarly free, infused with more ‘country’-sounding pedal steel elements, as he sings of hope ‘I got a feeling it’s gonna be a good day.’ 

‘Sunday Drive’ is the central jewel of the entire record. Found whilst he was an intern in the back catalogues at UMP, Eldredge kept hold of the track for this record. The track is utterly stunning, a narration of viewing the world from the backseat through watching his parents. ‘That’s where I learned it all from them / To fight, to love, to laugh again.’ Completely poised and sophisticated, this track marks the fruition of the journey Eldredge has clearly undergone in the making of this record, rooting the record in his childhood roots and moving toward a sound that can not be defined by genre but that instead puts his voice and ideas at the fore.

More standout moments are provided in ‘Gabrielle,’ a track about mistiming with a lover. ‘Was it your heart or mine? / Was it just the wrong time, Gabrielle?’ This is one of the ‘bigger’ moments on the record and was formidable in its live translation at Shepherd’s Bush, and sees Eldredge again re-examining his life and past, but not despondently rather peacefully.

The closing trio of tracks seem to cement Eldredge’s crooner status, and potentially opening the way for ‘big band’ performances. So, in ‘Fix a Heart,’ where Eldredge sings that ‘it takes a good woman to fix a heart,’ the production is infused with a sultry trumpet-infused sound and final track ‘Paris, Illinois’ brings the record full circle back to his hometown. Full of nostalgia, the track, again infused with elements of brass, would fit in a 1920s playlist, full of class, crooning and a stunning end to this project.

When an artist goes away to reassess their life and dig deep, quite often the result is not really heard in the record, however, here in Brett Eldredge’s Sunday Drive this quest is ever present. Sonically, this is his best creation, but lyrically he has dived deeper, in his yearning for his home town, his memories of his childhood and his peace with relationships that were not meant to be. Brett Eldredge has always released good albums, but this album is sublime and demarcates a new era in his music and career.

Editor’s Picks

The One You Need

Sunday Drive

Gabrielle

The post Sunday Drive Is The Best Record Brett Eldredge Has Ever Recorded appeared first on off the record.