You know, when I think of Dustin Lynch, I immediately think of the character, Will Lexington from the television show, Nashville. Why? Because both men have a yearning to be something other than what their label is trying to tell them. Take a listen to Dustin Lynch’s debut single, “Cowboys and Angels”, or even album cuts such as “Hurricane”, and “Your Daddy’s Boots”. Then go listen to stuff like “She Cranks My Tractor”, and “Hell Of A Night”. Notice any differences? Although I’m not sure if this battle between traditional and contemporary has ever shown Dustin more frustrated than on “Mind Reader”.
Lyrically, “Mind Reader” is nothing new, and relies on the same checklist tropes that are almost seemingly required for a hit these days. There’s a hot girl, torn up jeans, and even a mention of a party. All of this combines to make a weak hook of a girl being a mind reader, since she already seemed to know just how to turn this strange male on. Plus, Dustin uses pretty much every hook up line imaginable in this song. The lyrics use the same road-map that so many other songs do, this one just takes a few twists and turns to get the destination.
Now for the frustrating part. Throughout the song, a steel guitar “effect” is heard that gives this more of a country feel than many other songs do. There’s no doubt that Dustin secretly prefers a more traditional sound, but in today’s climate, that just won’t do. The steel guitar effect symbolizes to me, someone who desires to break free of the shackles that he is bound to by the desire for commercial appeal. Perhaps I’m over analyzing this but so be it. The song isn’t sung in an obnoxious manner like his previous single was, and honestly this song doesn’t SOUND terrible. It’s just the lyrics that need cleaning up.
But even still, “Mind Reader” is just a middle of the road song that, while better than his last two singles, is still just a song that you can take or leave. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but you can certainly do better.
Grade: C+
Listen: “Mind Reader”
Author: Zackary Kephart
Lyrically, “Mind Reader” is nothing new, and relies on the same checklist tropes that are almost seemingly required for a hit these days. There’s a hot girl, torn up jeans, and even a mention of a party. All of this combines to make a weak hook of a girl being a mind reader, since she already seemed to know just how to turn this strange male on. Plus, Dustin uses pretty much every hook up line imaginable in this song. The lyrics use the same road-map that so many other songs do, this one just takes a few twists and turns to get the destination.
Now for the frustrating part. Throughout the song, a steel guitar “effect” is heard that gives this more of a country feel than many other songs do. There’s no doubt that Dustin secretly prefers a more traditional sound, but in today’s climate, that just won’t do. The steel guitar effect symbolizes to me, someone who desires to break free of the shackles that he is bound to by the desire for commercial appeal. Perhaps I’m over analyzing this but so be it. The song isn’t sung in an obnoxious manner like his previous single was, and honestly this song doesn’t SOUND terrible. It’s just the lyrics that need cleaning up.
But even still, “Mind Reader” is just a middle of the road song that, while better than his last two singles, is still just a song that you can take or leave. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but you can certainly do better.
Grade: C+
Listen: “Mind Reader”
Author: Zackary Kephart
