The same week the single "Carolina" hits the number one spot on the radio airplay chart, Parmalee is releasing their debut Country album "Feels Like Carolina."
Radio.com made Parmalee their Launch artist of the week, readers of
The Boot voted their album the most anticipated release of the month and the reviews of the record has been overwhelmingly positive. Check out excerpts of the reviews below and make sure to get your own copy by getting it on
iTunes,
Amazon or a retailer near you.
Country music doesn’t move in intense tidal waves
but in glacial shifts, and even then, the change can be painful. The last few
years have seen a surge in male-female harmony among the genre’s top acts —
Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Thompson Square, the Band Perry — but in the
last year, the duo Florida Georgia Line has almost single-handedly restored
male harmony to the country charts. It’s been yeoman’s work.
Into that moderately welcoming environment arrives
Parmalee, a long-running band only now peeking out from obscurity thanks to its
hit “Carolina,” a soothing slow burn of a love
song about leaving and sadness, from its first widely distributed album, “Feels
Like Carolina.”
On this deeply amiable album, the frontman Matt
Thomas has a strong voice but not a tough one, which makes his rowdy numbers,
like “Musta Had a Good Time,” tolerable: “All that’s left in the fire pit is
one of my lawn chairs/and a piece of siding off my barn.” (The musical muscle
is maybe not such a surprise for a band that once collaborated with Nikki Sixx
of Mötley Crüe.) In fact, much of this album is given over to wistful songs
about misbehavior — “Back in the Day,” “Move,” “I’ll Bring the Music” — that
don’t register as seedy thanks to Mr. Thomas’s comforting vocals and the
harmonies delivered by the bass player Barry Knox and the guitar player Josh
McSwain. (The band also includes Scott Thomas, Matt’s brother, on drums.)
But while Parmalee makes misbehavior sound cuddly,
it’s especially well equipped for regret. That’s what animates not only
“Carolina,” but also the album closer “Another Day Gone,” which opens with Matt
Thomas singing ruefully, “I screwed up seven summers in one afternoon gone
wrong,” and only gets more bruised from there. - Jon Caramanica
Most country acts that party this hard throw in a
little hip-hop. But these guys are a throwback to bands that fleshed out
melodies with tight harmonies and classic-rock guitar riffs. They even throw in
a little Carolina beach music for good measure. - Brian Mansfield
Parmalee's debut album, "Feels Like
Carolina" (Stoney Creek), is so good that the band is perched on the edge
of an overnight success story. ...
Thanks to the well-crafted, pop-leaning smash
"Carolina," interest in the group -- and its combination of likable,
Luke Bryan, lighthearted country and arena rock -- is running high. Matt
Thomas' distinctive vocals have that tender-but-tough quality that works in a
variety of settings, from the catchy country of "Close Your Eyes" to
the laid-back, summer-soaked sweetness of "Day Drinkin' " and even
out to the southern-fried Def Leppard-like anthem "I'll Bring the
Music." - Glenn Gamboa
People:
The massive success of their current hit song "Carolina" has elevated this country quartet to the big leagues. Their major-label debut is a solid mix of Kid Rock-esque party jams, as well as surprisingly sweet monster ballads like "Another Day Gone." 3/4 stars.
It’s been a long time coming for the release of FEELS LIKE CAROLINA, not only for the
band, but for the fans as well. Parmalee, comprised of Matt Thomas, Scott
Thomas, Josh McSwain and Barry Knox, peaked listeners curiosity with the
release of their party-rock anthem, “Musta
Had A Good Time.” Since then, the band has solidified their relationship
with country music with the release of hit single “Carolina.” A deeper connection between country fans and
Parmalee will be further established with the release of their new music.
Parmalee takes fans on a musical journey with their
debut album. From the laid back, tropical infused “Day Drinkin” to the rockin’ feel of “I’ll Bring The Music,” each song is unique and stands out on
its own. “Another Day Gone,” written
by all four band members and Bobby Pinson, is a strong track, not only vocally
but also lyrically with resonating lyrics such as, “I’m gonna see if I can’t right a couple wrongs.” “Dance” is a
fun, upbeat track that will no doubt have listeners groovin’ along, and “Close Your Eyes” is ready for
country radio as well as the country charts. “Carolina” has been a standout track since it’s release, and is
continuing to climb to the top of the charts.
FEELS LIKE CAROLINA is a solid album from start
to finish, and includes several singles that will make for a great fit on country
radio. Parmalee definitely set the bar when it comes to releasing a debut
album. This project leaves a permanent mark on country music, and is one
of the top debut album releases in 2013.
Taste of Country:
Parmalee do what they do best on more than
half the songs on ‘Feel Like Carolina.’ This group of reformed rockers compel
you to buy a ticket to their live show with songs like ‘I’ll Bring the Music,’
Dance’ and especially ‘Move.’
It’s not a project without emotion, however. Singer
Matt Thomas seems to grow stronger as the album progresses, with tracks like
‘Think You Oughta Know That’ standing out above other ballads like ‘Close Your
Eyes.’ To be fair to the fourth track on the album, it comes after three
uptempo party songs. It’s a difficult transition.
Dueling guitar solos and a strong vocal performance
on ‘Think You …’ introduce the final four songs on ‘Feels Like Carolina.’ Not
all four are meaty ballads, but each is full of the meaningful sentiment the
early tracks (appropriately) lack. ‘Another Day Gone’ is a lesson about
appreciating life and the people that make it special. It’s not a unique
concept or a particularly unique lyric, but the band makes the most of it.
Parmalee overachieves on this album. Newcomers often
struggle to find the best songs or secure appointments with the A-list
songwriters in Nashville, so these four men do much of the heavy lifting
themselves, turning out groovy jams like ‘Day Drinkin” (Scott Thomas’ drums
really hold this track down) and ‘Move.’ This song just cooks. It’s the
highlight of the album — a place where all four members seem to be working
entirely within their comfort zone.
‘My Montgomery’ offers variety later on. Parmalee
have already proven their versatility by taking ‘Carolina’ to No. 1 on the
Billboard charts after debuting with ‘Musta Had a Good Time’ in 2012. Credit
the project’s producers for taking a few chances, which just enough to add
spice, but rarely too much to send one looking for another flavor to cover up
the last. There are more hits to be found on ‘Feels Like Carolina,’ a country
debut to truly be proud of.
Key Tracks: ‘Day Drinkin’,’ ‘Move,’
‘Carolina,’ ‘My Montgomery’ - Billy
Dukes
Their new album opens with their breakthrough single
and Top 40 hit "Musta Had a Good Time" and it is followed by
"Day Drinkin'," which has a laid-back vibe to it.
"Move" has that infectious country-rock
edge to it, that is reminiscent of a Jake Owen tune. "Close Your
Eyes" is a well-crafted and soothing ballad.
They change the pace with the upbeat
"Dance" and the highlight track is their current single "Carolina,"
which is one of the best songs that I've heard on country radio this year.
...
Matt Thomas
nails the vocals on "Carolina" and it is safe to say that the band
members (Barry Knox, Josh McSwain and Scott Thomas) have hit a home run with
it. "Think You Oughta Know That" is refreshing and "Back in the
Day" has the potential to be a radio single in the future.
"Already
Callin' You Mine" is yet another fun, catchy track. It closes with
"Another Day Gone."
The Verdict Overall, Parmalee's
new album is solid from start to finish. It garners 4.5 out of 5 stars. In this
collection, Matt Thomas' vocals are reminiscent of the rock bands Daughtry and
Nickelback respectively, with a country flair to them.- Markos Papadatos
Country rock group Parmalee’s debut
album, Feels Like Carolina,
pounds to the blue-collar sound of a young band establishing themselves in a
continually diverse format. Hailing from Parmele, NC, the band – consisting of
brothers Matt Thomas (vocals,
guitar) and Scott Thomas
(drums), cousin Barry Knox
(bass) and lifelong friend Josh McSwain
(guitar) – plays a brand of power chord country that matches a rugged Southern
Rock swagger with a contemporary lyrical slant. Ranging from party anthems to
power ballads, Feels Like Carolina,
which hits stores on Tuesday, keeps the volume up and its messages
straightforward.
Like a Southern fried AC/DC, the opener “Musta Had A Good Time” erupts to thick riffs
and an infectious hook while a morning-after storyline tries to recollect
exactly what happened the night before. Hey
y’all, is that my dog up on the roof?, Matt asks with an easy and amused
drawl in the album’s first line. The details might be hazy, but one thing is
for certain; Parmalee is a band in every respect. Whether it’s the rhythm and
lead guitar interplay of the nostalgic “Back In The Day,” or the steady, locked
in beat of the Luke Bryan-tinged
love song “Close Your Eyes,” the chemistry of a tight group of musicians comes
through with an electric buzz.
With songs like “I’ll Bring The Music,” which then
urges others to bring the beer,
and the retro-beach highlight “Day Drinkin’,” Feels Like Carolina makes sure the cooler is stocked. However,
working with four-man production team NV
(Thompson Square’s
Just Feels Good), the guys do
an excellent job of evening out the project with a batch of more reflective
songs as well. The current Top 5 single “Carolina” and the sentimental “Another
Day Gone” both strike personal notes. Over a descending chord progression on
the latter, the words I screwed up
seven summers in one afternoon gone wrong cut with the realization of
one’s mistakes.
Parmalee formed in the mid-’00s and their ear for
melody is extremely sharp. The urgent contemporary country tune “Already
Callin’ You Mine” doesn’t overspend its lyrics or try to pack too much into
each line. Instead, the rolling chorus fits naturally over an engaging,
radio-friendly hook. The firm “Think You Oughta Know That” and lightning-quick
“Move” both keep their distorted foundations while delivering consistently
accessible patterns. And possibly the album’s best example of Parmalee’s sound,
“My Montgomery” combines a strong rhythm section with frayed electric guitars
and notes that dive in and out. Matt’s homeward bound vocal moves easily while
the rest of the band each claims their own musical territory for some of the
record’s most compelling passages.
Displaying influences that range from Blake Shelton to
’80s hard rock acts like Mötley Crüe,
Parmalee successfully blurs the lines between country and rock. What sets
Parmalee apart, however, is that their chemistry as a band and authentic love
for both genres comes through with a powerful kick. Feels Like Carolina feels really good as Parmalee holds a torch
for a new brand of contemporary country and Southern rock.
Key Tracks – “Carolina,” “My Montgomery,” “Day
Drinkin’,” “Another Day Gone” - Daryl
Addison
It is always nice to go into listening to an album
not knowing what to expect and then be pleasantly surprised at how much you
like it. That is the case with Parmalee’s
Feels Like Carolina.
...
The album opens with “Musta Had A Good Time”
which was voted #1 on Sirius XM The Highway’s “Hot 30Live” for a month and was
a top 40 hit on mainstream country radio. Their second and current single
“Carolina” can also be found on the album. That track is a top 10 and climbing
hit.
“Day Drinkin’”
the second track, will surely brighten up the cold weather doldrums with a laid
back, chill vibe reminiscent of a Kenny
Chesney song. The song will turn your “happy hour right into two three
or four if you want.”
“Move”
and “Dance” will have you doing
both of those things as the songs successfully mix country and rock with catchy
melodies.
“Close Your
Eyes” is one of my favorite songs on the record. It has that easy to
slip into groove similar to a Florida
Georgia Line song or Cole
Swindell’s “Chillin’ It.”
“Hey baby ‘fore the night gets any older/Lean your pretty self over here a
little closer/I need to hold ya/I wanna show ya/what you don’t wanna
miss.” Definitely sounds like a radio hit.
“Think You
Oughta Know That” is a song that asks a completely relatable question:
what more can a man do to convince a woman to stay and get back what they have
been missing. He professes that even though times are difficult he “Ain’t going
nowhere” because “Through good and bad I been here/And I ain’t going
nowhere/Baby you should know that/By now you oughta know that.”
“Back in the Day” is great up tempo song about what
it was like growing up back in the day. The themes (beer, farms, and lakes)
have been done before, but this song delivers them in a nostalgic way. I can
see this one going over really well live.
“My
Montgomery” is a country rockin’ (with a hint of 80’s guitar) love song
about being on the road far from the one you love and yearning to be back with
that person “I can’t wait to touch down/‘Cause I need her touch now/She’s where
I belong/Yeah I’m going home.”
“Already
Callin’ You Mine” is about an instant connection. Even though two people
barely know one another, you know that you just want to be with that person
“Cause I’m already thinking about you and me getting’ out of here and taking a
drive/Just slide a little closer put your head on my shoulder like this ain’t
our first time/Girl don’t worry about holding on tight because I’m already
callin’ you mine.” Another radio ready single.
“I’ll Bring
The Music” is a high octane Jason Aldean style party song that will
definitely bring the good times up a notch and “kick this thing in gear.”
“Another Day
Gone” is the perfect song to close the album. It reminds us that it
takes two to make a relationship work and even though one mistake can change a
relationship, it can be fixed, even if you have to swallow your pride.
“I’m gonna see if I can’t right a couple wrongs/Before I wake up with
another day gone.”
There have been few releases lately that have been
true records, ones that you can listen to from start to finish. Add Parmalee’s
to that list. 4.5/5 Stars.
After years working on their
brand of Modern Country Rock, Parmalee are finally releasing their national
debut album Feels Like Carolina. The album, which is named after the
breakout smash hit “Carolina,” features a dozen tracks which showcase that
whole brand of Modern Country Rock that has been gaining steam as of late on
Country radio. It’s the kind of album that can be enjoyed by fans of both
modern Country music and Modern Rock.
“Musta Had A Good Time” is
the record that showcases this new sound’s archetype with the band’s playing
accented by production from NV (Jason Aldean’s backing band and RedBow artist
David Fanning). This tune broke into the Top 40 in 2012 before Parmalee
released “Carolina” and it helped to break the ice with radio presenting
Parmalee to the world. “Carolina” was the perfect break out single for Parmalee
as it showed their softer, more less-in-your-face side than “Good Time” and
that allowed more fans to enjoy the sound presented by quartet of
vocalist/guitarist Matt Thomas, drummer Scott Thomas, basset Barry Knox and
lead guitarist Josh McSwain, who all hail from the same town ( Scott and Matt
are brothers and Barry is their cousin while Josh is their long-time close
friend who joined the band when it formed in 2001).
The record the laid bad,
sing-a-long ready “Day Drinkin’,” a song that fits right in with Carolina’s mid
tempo modern country rock sound while “Move” is modern melodically country mood
to the lyrics with a chorus that feels a little bit more rock in approach that
may be a bit ‘abrasive’ to some at first but after listening a few times the
song’s sound and lyrics (written by Brandon Kinney, Ben Daniel and Arlis
Albriton) is too hard to resit and at the very least will make for a great
Concert song, if not a potential radio hit. “Close Your Eyes” and “Dance” both
come from that mid-tempo, love song, night time kind of song that has been the
stock and trade of many hits while “Think You Oughta Know That” has a pretty
melody (one of 6 writen and/or co-written by members of Parmalee) and a
sing-a-long ready power ballad chorus that screams radio hit.
Another potential big hit is
“Back In The Day,” a song written by artist Chris Janson, LoCash Cowboy Preston
Brust, Ben Stennis and Jaron Boyer that takes the nostalgia of growing up and
spins it into a likable mid-tempo yarn while “Already Callin’ You Mine” tells a
story that often happens when love is starting out, where a guy is thinking
about getting to know everything about that new girl. Craig Wiseman and Keith
Anderson give Parmalee the rockin’ sing-a-long party tune “I’ll Bring The
Music,” a song which recalls — at times — Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here”
melodically.
Perhaps the most-personal
song on the album, “Another Day Gone” finds the band singing about the things
they want to do to make sure their life is right for everyone they love in it
and that there are no grudges or any strife left in their life because nothing
is guaranteed, something they learned when Scott Thomas was nearly killed right
before the band got signed to Stoney Creek Records. It is songs like this —
even if it leans more to Modern Rock than Modern Country Rock sonically — that
showcase the strong potential of Parmalee to be one of the next great bands in
Country Music.
Feels Like Carolina showcases
a tight band with a strong ear for melodies and lyrics which suit the same part
of the genre which is also home to Eric Church and Jason Aldean, among others.
- Matt Bjorke
Parmalee’s debut album has been one of the most
highly anticipated of the season and, in case you had any doubt, Feels Like Carolina feels like a
winner.
It’s about time that some new music came out where
the high quality of the songs matched the talent of the musicians and the
appeal of the lead vocalist. Parmalee is a throwback to the days when country
and rock acts had to work their way to the stage, and then to the record label,
and then to the recording studio. A band’s journey filled with hard work and
tenacity made a great album a more likely outcome than all today’s singing
reality TV shows put together. I know nothing of Parmalee’s experience thus far,
but it just sounds like they’ve put in the work that pays off. (And I know that
I’m planning on keeping track of their experience from here on…) With their
upbeat album, Feels Like Carolina,
Parmalee proves that there is something to all of that. Whatever natural
brilliance they had when they first started the path toward this album, the
trip to get here no doubt has only polished it, so that it shines even more
brightly.
I can’t remember the last time I had a “first
listen” to an album when I wished that every track were longer. The
country/rock sound that Parmalee creates is powerful in its clarity and
uncluttered honesty. When they want to create a certain emotion or put out a
specific vibe, they play the chords that get you there at the speed of sound.
They are one of those bands that make it all seem easy — the singing, the
playing, the writing… even the ability to successfully keep a band together
when it includes your brother (Parmalee guitarist and lead singer Matt Thomas
and drummer/percussionist Scott Thomas, for example). The other band members
are Barry Knox (bass guitar, background vocals) and Josh McSwain (electric
guitar, keys, background vocals).
They show off with a variety of songs and moods that
guarantee there’s something for everyone who’s looking for some great new
tunes. One of the tunes won’t be so new to anyone who’s had their radio on
lately. That’d be the song “Carolina,” the hit single that has been at the top
of just about every chart there is. The good news is that this album has
several more hits where “Carolina” came from. (I’m hoping that “Think You
Oughta Know That” gets a chance as a single at some point.) Not one of the
songs on Feels Like Carolina are
repetitive or derivative. Each one takes the listener in a slightly different
direction, emotionally and musically. It results in a twelve-song collection
that never repeats an idea, full of songs that never feel like filler. It’s a
generous act and anyone who knows that it takes this sort of artistic bravery
to keep a music genre progressing should write a “thank you” to Parmalee this
Christmas. (For a link to the band’s Facebook page, click
here).
Essential Downloads: “Day Drinkin,’” “Carolina,”
“Think You Oughta Know That,” “I’ll Bring The Music.” 3.5/4 stars. - Greg Victor
What You’ll Hear: Goes down rough like Jason
Aldean's brand of country with a smooth, southern rock finish. Four-man
collective Parmalee brings all the nostalgia and nuances of a small town to
life with electric guitar riffs and groovin' drum beats. Radio-friendly
singles, "Musta Had a Good Time" and "Carolina" have made
it on Billboard and Top 40 Country charts— other's like "Move" and
"Day Drinkin'" are soon to follow.
Favorite Track:"Already Callin' You
Mine"
Parmalee has released their much anticipated debut
album, FEELS LIKE CAROLINA. The Stoney Creek Records’ chart-topping act
consists of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, cousin Barry Knox, and longtime
friend Josh McSwain. They formed in the mid-‘00s and have finally reached their
goal of releasing an album that will keep their fans wanting more.
FEELS LIKE CAROLINA is a country-rock album with a bluegrass feel. Parmalee
makes sure that you’ll never get bored with their brand of power chord country.
The opening track is their breakthrough single and Top 40 hit “Musta Had a Good
Time,” which is the party song that kicks starts with that feel good vibe.
“Move” and “Dance” are just a couple more tracks that will keep you on your
feet and moving to the beat with its infectious country-rock edge. While their
current single “Carolina” and the sentimental “Another Day Gone” both strike
personal notes. There’s even a soothing ballad with “Close Your Eyes.”
Throughout the album, Parmalee does not disappoint. Their album is solid from
start to finish. Ranging from party anthems to power ballads, FEELS LIKE
CAROLINA, takes you on a journey that you’ll find yourself putting on repeat. -
BobbySue Fenske
...Feels Like Carolina has a lot of great moments
and early on it is the swaying soft-rock of ‘Close Your Eyes for This’ and the pure fun of ‘Dance’ that lift up the record.
The album finishes spectacularly strong with a trio
of potential hits. ‘Already Callin’
You Mine’ will get stuck in your head after only the first pass of the
chorus, and ‘I’ll Bring the Music’
brings the ’80s party rock and my favorite lines: “we got a right to do no wrong / you bring a case of whatever makes you
move it / and I’ll bring the music.” And to make sure they convince you
of what they are capable of, ‘Another
Day Gone’ shines with an impressive vocal performance, accomplished
songwriting, and a snugly fitting arrangement.
Feels Like Carolina shows
Parmalee is more than just another rock band trying country. This is a pretty
impressive Nashville debut and another reminder to not judge a band by its
radio singles! - Liv Carter
With strong lead vocals mixed with lots of harmony,
heavy in guitar riffs and dueling guitars, this contemporary country album with
a strong rock influence is sure to please a large audience. My favorites
off the album are the mid-tempo songs: “Close
Your Eyes”, “Carolina”, “Back In The Day”, “Dance” and the
uptempo, optimistic “Already Callin’
You Mine”. I think
they shine the best when they go for the more scaled back production that is
found in these songs without so much of the heavy rock influence that can be
found in a few of the other tracks. There is just a touch of rock
influence on these aforementioned songs, and it’s perfection to my ears.
***
If what I’m hearing from the many songs I did
enjoy on this release is any indication, I don’t think “Carolina” will be the ONLY #1 hit off this album.
Definitely an album that I would recommend to those who enjoy contemporary
country music along the lines of
Florida Georgia Line and Jason
Aldean, who are both on a hot streak right now and connecting with wide
audiences everywhere. 4/5 Stars - Patrice
After years working on their brand of Modern Country
Rock, Parmalee are finally releasing their national debut album Feels Like
Carolina. The album, which is named after the breakout smash hit “Carolina,”
features a dozen tracks which showcase that whole brand of Modern Country Rock
that has been gaining steam as of late on Country radio. It’s the kind of album
that can be enjoyed by fans of both modern Country music and Modern Rock.
“Musta Had A Good Time” is the record that showcases
this new sound’s archetype with the band’s playing accented by production from
NV (Jason Aldean’s backing band and RedBow artist David Fanning). This tune
broke into the Top 40 in 2012 before Parmalee released “Carolina” and it helped
to break the ice with radio presenting Parmalee to the world. “Carolina” was
the perfect break out single for Parmalee as it showed their softer, more
less-in-your-face side than “Good Time” and that allowed more fans to enjoy the
sound presented by quartet of vocalist/guitarist Matt Thomas, drummer Scott
Thomas, basset Barry Knox and lead guitarist Josh McSwain, who all hail from
the same town ( Scott and Matt are brothers and Barry is their cousin while
Josh is their long-time close friend who joined the band when it formed in
2001).
The record the laid bad, sing-a-long ready “Day
Drinkin’,” a song that fits right in with Carolina’s mid tempo modern country
rock sound while “Move” is modern melodically country mood to the lyrics with a
chorus that feels a little bit more rock in approach that may be a bit
‘abrasive’ to some at first but after listening a few times the song’s sound
and lyrics (written by Brandon Kinney, Ben Daniel and Arlis Albriton) is too
hard to resit and at the very least will make for a great Concert song, if not
a potential radio hit. “Close Your Eyes” and “Dance” both come from that
mid-tempo, love song, night time kind of song that has been the stock and trade
of many hits while “Think You Oughta Know That” has a pretty melody (one of 6
writen and/or co-written by members of Parmalee) and a sing-a-long ready power
ballad chorus that screams radio hit.
Another potential big hit is “Back In The Day,” a
song written by artist Chris Janson, LoCash Cowboy Preston Brust, Ben Stennis
and Jaron Boyer that takes the nostalgia of growing up and spins it into a
likable mid-tempo yarn while “Already Callin’ You Mine” tells a story that
often happens when love is starting out, where a guy is thinking about getting
to know everything about that new girl. Craig Wiseman and Keith Anderson give
Parmalee the rockin’ sing-a-long party tune “I’ll Bring The Music,” a song
which recalls — at times — Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here” melodically.
Perhaps the most-personal song on the album,
“Another Day Gone” finds the band singing about the things they want to do to
make sure their life is right for everyone they love in it and that there are
no grudges or any strife left in their life because nothing is guaranteed,
something they learned when Scott Thomas was nearly killed right before the
band got signed to Stoney Creek Records. It is songs like this — even if it
leans more to Modern Rock than Modern Country Rock sonically — that showcase
the strong potential of Parmalee to be one of the next great bands in Country
Music. Feels Like Carolinashowcases a tight band with a strong ear for melodies
and lyrics which suit the same part of the genre which is also home to Eric
Church and Jason Aldean, among others.
Country
Weekly:
While the album draws liberally from the country
pool of shopworn images…the guys…have a knack for making them their own.
In fact, it's the songs they've had a hand in writing that are the best of the
bunch. Among them, the boozy good-time "Day Drinkin'," the
introspective "Another Day Gone," and, of course, the travelogue
"Carolina."
PlaybackStL:
“Musta Had a Good Time” | I love when country
acts mix in some rock rhythms. The lyrics are catchy and the vocals are fun to
hear. Score: 9
“Day Drinkin’” | No doubt about it, this is a
sweet song. The music is lovely, but the lyrics come off a bit too boring.
Score: 6
“Move” | The first half of this song got back to
rocking, which I like. But the second half of the song loses steam—and my
interest. Score: 5
“Close Your Eyes” | A solid love song. Nice
lyrics, mellow melodies, and those vocals that I like make this song a
standout. Score: 9
“Dance” | I suppose they put this one on to
appeal to the younger girls. I mean, is there anyone out there who doesn’t know
a ’tween enrolled in a dance studio? Unfortunately for me, this comes off as
filler. Score: 5
“Carolina” | This has radio hit written all over
it. Fantastic lyrics and another stellar vocal performance. My favorite song of
the album so far. Score: 10
“Think You Oughta Know That” | A very enjoyable
song. I got lost in the vocals and the music is dreamy, but the ending left me
a bit annoyed. Score: 8
“Back in the Day” | Another radio hit. But for
real, boys, are you singing about things back in the day? Aren’t you all a bit
too young to have a back in the day? Despite that, I did really like this
upbeat song—and you will, too. Score: 9
“My Montgomery” | Nothing wrong with this
song—well, except the very end. Why not just a fade out? I love songs about
hometown pride and this one is very well done. Score: 9
“Already Callin’ You Mine” | I did not care for
the lyrics; they creeped me out. Personally, if some guy was singing this to me
I would be all like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” But the music is catchy and my butt
was shaking for the duration of the song. Score: 5
“I’ll Bring the Music” | This is what I am
talking about. This song rocks and it rolls. I am dying to see this one live in
concert. Score: 10
“Another Day Gone” | A beautiful song to end the
album. Another song I was able to get lost in due to the beautiful music.
Score: 10
Average Track Score: 7.9 Would I recommend this
to my friends? Hell, yes. This album is full of hits and memorable vocals. | Jim
Ryan
