​It’s only May, and already we have two of the best country albums released into the palm of our hands. One of those albums was Chris Stapleton’s Traveller. The other is an album that I’ve been excited to talk about ever since I first heard it. Whitey Morgan and The 78’s latest effort, titled Sonic Ranch, is a journey of the truth, regrets, consequences, and essentially no redemption. The opening track amptly titled “Me and The Whiskey” is the perfect song to start off the album as it sets up a common theme of this album that looms over the entire project – the regret of certain choices which lead to bitter consequences. Upon first listen, it may seem that “Waitin’ Round To Die” is a Whitey orginial, however it is not. It is a Townes Van Zandt classic that tells of a man who was dealt a bad hand in life from the start and how it affects his choices in life. Whitey’s delivery, along with the stellar production makes it my favorite song on the album. The unique gift that Whitey has is that he is able to essentially turn any song into his own. This claim is once again evident on tracks such as “Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue” (originally recorded by Scott H. Biram) and “Goin’ Down Rocking” (originally recorded by Waylon Jennings). As awesome as the covers are, its the Whitey orginials that truly showcase his talent. For example, on the very stripped back, “Good Timin’ Man”, Whitey tells the listener how the life of the road has treated him hard and how he has to deal with it to play show after show and captivate an audience. The theme of the song is sung from the point of view of a singer, however the theme is widely relatable. All humans have masked their troubles in order to push through life. This is another honest song that has a truly great message. Now, not all of the tracks are meant to bring the listener down. Whitey is able to shed a small bit of humor on a song like “Ain’t Gonna Take It Anymore”, a tale of man who is fed up with his woman’s complaining and decides to take a trip down to the bar to forget about it. While there, the man attempts to pick up another lady, only to realize that she already has a man (who promptly tells him to head back home). Its a tale of self-deprecating humor that shows that we should never bite the hand that feeds us. The album’s closer “That’s How I Got To Memphis” is another essential highlight. This song tells of a man who travels to Memphis in order to search for a woman he loves, only to find out that she left. Whitey began with heartache and chooses to end with it as well.

Overall, the tunes on this album may be a bit maudlin for some, however I believe that Whitey is simply telling the truth in his music. The production throughout this album is flawless and Whitey’s vocals cut straight to the listener’s ear on every track. If you’re looking for a straightforward, real country album, then look no forward than Whitey Morgan’s “Sonic Ranch”. It will be well worth your time.
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Essential Tracks: “Me and The Whiskey”, “Waitin’ Round To Die”, “Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue”, “Good Timin’ Man”, “Ain’t Gonna Take It Anymore”, “That’s How I Got To Memphis”

​Hey there folks! My name is Zack. I wanted to review something that I was very passionate about for my first review and so today I’m here to talk about the newest EP from Jon Pardi, a mainstream artist who truly straddles the line between commercial appeal as well as critical acclaim.

Much like his excellent 2014 debut album, “Write You A Song”, did with “What I Can’t Put Down”, “The B-Sides” chooses to open up with a song about regret and how Pardi has to pay for it. “Fightin’ The Fool” is one of the standouts of the record, as it is ridicuolusy catchy, while at the same time sporting a well written song with some very country instrumentation. “Over My Head” continues along with a bluesy swagger accompanying the track. In this song, Pardi talks about a woman who’s hard to read, yet he knows that whatever her command, he’ll be under her spell. “Drinkin’ With Me” is the spot on the EP where Pardi lets the fun rip. Its a really fun,country song that shouldn’t be overlooked just because its not as lyrically strong as the other songs. The fun continues on “Back On The Backroads”. This is a song that some might argue is a “bro-country” song, however I’d have to disagree. The song is meant to be fun, and has plenty of fiddle and steel guitar to remind the listener that Pardi wants to be different from his male counterparts. After two songs of regret, and two songs of fun, we finally reach the last two – the sad songs. “Rainy Night Song” talks of Pardi wishing that he had his lover to enjoy the rainy night with him, as he used to protect her from the storm. Its a quieter moment on the EP that is a welcome change of pace. The final track, “Borrowed Time”, is arguably the best track of the 6. In here, Pardi talks about how we shouldn’t take life for granted and to appreciate all we have because, after all, we’re all just down here living on borrowed time. While the theme of the song itself is a highlight, the song also exhibits Pardi’s vocals very strongly, a strength that was seemingly absent from his debut.

Overall, what sets Jon Pardi apart from the rest of his peers is his use of strong country instrumentation and the fact that he knows who he is and is trying to make the music he believes in. “The B-Sides” is definitely a nice thing to have while waiting for Jon’s second album.

Standout Tracks: “Fightin’ The Fool”, “Over My Head”, “Rainy Night Song”, “Borrowed Time”