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Single Thoughts

The intro’s mellow shuffle drum and gorgeous toned guitar create a seductive and sultry atmosphere, like a warm fire on a cold evening in a forest cabin in America.

“I Put That Record On / Girl, You Know What Song / And I Let It Play Again And Again” draws you into a trance. The vocals, with their crisp and sweet dynamics, are powerful and commanding.

The driving bassline and the way it keeps a note travelling through for a few bars before palm muting it helps the chords swing and surround the lead guitar, with the crisp note playing over the top.

By the time the chorus arrives, his vocal grit intensifies significantly. He expertly uses his nasal passage to access his higher register without resorting to his head voice, crafting a beautiful blend of tones. This is particularly evident in the pre-chorus line “Yeah, Tonight I’m Wondering”. 

Harmonies! Chris’s music is full of sweet harmonies that will likely become a trend in his future work. This is the first time you’ve heard the powerhouse duo of him and his future wife singing the chorus together, their harmonies truly a blessing.

This chorus is such an earworm. In my opinion, it’s what all good choruses should be: melodically different from the verse but still short and sweet. You can’t help but want to learn and sing the lyrics. As the band gradually increased the dynamics of their playing, they subtly added accents by placing the crash between sentences to enhance the power of the next line. Alternatively, they’d switch to the ride before asking “Or Is It A Love Song” to create a sweet, love song-like effect. 

Throughout the song, there’s a palpable sense that Chris is building towards a significant conclusion, this being the bridge. The entire song transforms with the introduction of a low-end drum pattern, heavily featuring toms that compel you to tap your foot. The bridge’s punchy melodies and question-driven lyrics create a feeling of sending a voice message to a long-lost lover, wondering about their whereabouts.

The song then slowly returns to the opening guitar riff, with a hand shaker layered over the elongated bassline. This helps bring your energy back down for the final run through the chorus and the complete circle finish. He then sings the opening lines “I Put That Record On / Girl, You Know What Song / And I Let It Play Again And Again” one more time, solidifying the song’s conclusion.

This incredible opening single from a rising country star of our decade offers a glimpse into the profound songwriting that would follow.