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Album Review: Cole Swindell, 'Cole Swindell'

3/16/2014

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Over the past couple years, we've had no shortage of new male acts burst on to the scene. And while the results haven't always been great, or even good for that matter, each of these acts have something unique about them. Brett Eldredge? Killer baritone. Tyler Farr? Textured vocals. Thomas Rhett? Endless charisma. Then you get to Cole Swindell. And before I start, let me say that I like "Chillin' It". I'm kind of burnt out on it right now, but I think it's a catchy, laid-back, solid summer tune. That said, there is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING that stands out about this album. Is it awful? No. There are only a couple real cringe-worthy moments here, but overall it is just an insanely dull and boring album. From the melodies, to the production, to the vocals, to the production, to the lyrics. It is painfully generic.

But among the sea of sound-a-likes, are two gems. Those two are second single "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight" and "A Dozen Roses and a Six-Pack". The former is a request for the narrator's girl to come over and "hang out" if she gets lonely. The latter is about a man who tries to win his girl back, but is prepared either way claiming "I got a dozen roses if she comes home, and a six-pack if she don't".

Other than those two and aforementioned "Chillin' It", there is nothing here. "Hey Y'all", though better than expected, is simply party-filler and nothing more. The title really tells you all you need to know. "Swayin" is boring and uninspired, and I really want to like "I Just Want You" more than I do, and while sincere, feels somewhat forced and cheesy. "Down Home Boys" is an attempt to honor close friends and acquaintances, but is loaded with cliches. Florida-Georgia Line did it much better with the album cut "People Back Home".

The one absolute dud is "Brought To You By Beer". That song is an absolute piece of crap, and a disaster of a novelty attempt and has no business being recorded, and is really scraping the bottom of the bro barrel.

What doesn't help matters is that there's nothing special about Swindell's voice at all. It's not bad per say, like this album, is generic. That said, he does have some charisma on a lot of these tracks, but that can only elevate them from "bad" to "tolerable".

At best Cole Swindell is a tolerable album that can be used as background noise. At worst it shows that bro-country is alive and well, and still dominant.


Top Tracks: "Chillin' It", "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight", "A Dozen Roses and a Six-Pack"


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Track-by-Track Album Review: Parmalee, 'Feels Like Carolina'

3/16/2014

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"Musta Had A Good Time" : I thought this song sucked a year and a half ago, I think it sucks now. Loud, obnoxious, and devoid of any substance. Grade: F


"Day Drinkin" : This should be the template for summer songs. Laid back, relaxed, and catchy. It's damn good. Grade: B+


"Move" : I dig the tempo changes and the banjo. Not exactly earth shattering material but solid overall. 
Grade: B


"Close Your Eyes" : Bro-country without the douchey-ness. Heartfelt vocal, likable production, catchy melody, it works. Grade: B


"Dance" : Solid upbeat tune. Couple of questionable lines here and there but enjoyable on a whole. Grade: B


"Carolina" : Now this is how you execute a country-rock song. Excellent melody, killer production, low burn rate , and Matt Thomas is a strong enough vocalist to carry it. Didn't make my Best of 2013 list for nothing. Grade: A


"Think You Oughta Know That" : For the same reason I enjoyed FGL's "Stay", I enjoy this song. Feels like it comes from somewhere real. Raw emotion. Good stuff. Grade: A-


"Back In The Day" : What carries this one is the killer imagery. It's a rather lame lyrical topic but the little detailed laced within it makes this one a good one. Grade: B


"My Montgomery" : Easily one of Thomas' best performances on the album. Rarely does a vocalist feel this emotionally connected to a song. That alone gives it a strong grade in my book. Everything else is gravy. 
Grade: A


"Already Callin' You Mine" : Charming performance and lyric, paired with a melody that's a catchy as it gets. Thumbs up. Grade: A-


"I'll Bring The Music" : There a couple clever lines here, but it's really just a more tolerable version of "Musta Had A Good Time". Rather dull. Grade: C


"Another Day Gone" : A masterpiece lyrically, vocally, melodically, and production wise. Lyrics full of regret, a performance that bleeds with emotion, and a production/melody combo that helps paint the picture. Absolutely fantastic. Grade: A+




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