It's fitting that 2018 has been an excellent year for Country music thus far. It's a year that (thus far) has seen many artists return to the spotlight after three or four years off to deliver some of their best work yet. While I wasn't a huge fan of the polish that loomed over Ashley Monroe's last album, 2015's The Blade, she was still an artist who I was excited to hear again.
Unfortunately the polish hasn't really gone away. In fact, it's even worse on her lead off single to new album, Sparrow with “Hands On You”. Honestly, the entire problem with this song is that its completely faceless. Ashley Monroe is talented, but to return with a song that's this derivative, boring, and utterly forgettable is disappointing for sure.
I don't even know what to say. I swear if I hear another slow, soulful song that's got as much energy as a college student in an 8 a.m. class, I'm going to scream. Granted, that's just my personal bias taking shape at this point. As always, we need to judge the song on its own merit.
On that note, there still isn't much to say. Lyrically it's a very basic song that speaks to having a burning desire for “companionship.” The only way you're going to make a song like this really all that memorable or fun is if it's got a little more sizzle to it, and as already established, this song gets stale quickly. It's repetitive and boring musically, and even Monroe herself sounds bored and uninterested in this song.
Overall, I'm confused at having this particular song be the leadoff single to Monroe's upcoming project, because even when you push quality aside, this is too faceless to really make much of an impact. I don't mind a more soulful direction, but if it's going to be like this, then no, thank you.
Grade: C-
Listen: “Hands On You”
Author: Zackary Kephart
Unfortunately the polish hasn't really gone away. In fact, it's even worse on her lead off single to new album, Sparrow with “Hands On You”. Honestly, the entire problem with this song is that its completely faceless. Ashley Monroe is talented, but to return with a song that's this derivative, boring, and utterly forgettable is disappointing for sure.
I don't even know what to say. I swear if I hear another slow, soulful song that's got as much energy as a college student in an 8 a.m. class, I'm going to scream. Granted, that's just my personal bias taking shape at this point. As always, we need to judge the song on its own merit.
On that note, there still isn't much to say. Lyrically it's a very basic song that speaks to having a burning desire for “companionship.” The only way you're going to make a song like this really all that memorable or fun is if it's got a little more sizzle to it, and as already established, this song gets stale quickly. It's repetitive and boring musically, and even Monroe herself sounds bored and uninterested in this song.
Overall, I'm confused at having this particular song be the leadoff single to Monroe's upcoming project, because even when you push quality aside, this is too faceless to really make much of an impact. I don't mind a more soulful direction, but if it's going to be like this, then no, thank you.
Grade: C-
Listen: “Hands On You”
Author: Zackary Kephart
