Album: If It Wasn't For Trucks EP
Artist: Riley Green
Release Date: September 11, 2020
Genre: Country
Length: 0:16:57
Label: Big Machine Label Group
Producer: Dann Huff/Jimmy Harnen
Time to go square dancing...
Shortly after earning the American Country Awards New Male Artist of the Year, Riley Green releases a short EP that teases his album coming out in 2021.
With themes of boots, beer, girls, and yes, you guessed it ... trucks, Riley Green's lyrics are the typical country style that has become popular in recent decades. While the lyrics are meaningful to him and the audience he's writing for, the lyrics just seem to be cheesy.
The first song "Jesus and Wranglers" features the typical guitar sound that has become so popular in country music but shockingly doesn't feature a vocal performance of the same type. While Green does have a distinct country sound, the authenticity in his voice is easy to hear and makes the song listenable. The song also includes some interesting features that make the song more exciting such as the slight audience sound in the background clapping and cheering along.
The song "If I Didn't Wear Boots", at its surface is a cheesy country song, but deep within the lyrics, there is a meaningful message of love. The phrasing within this song and the rest of the EP, keeps the audience's attention, as the lyrics are long-winded lines, but the way he sings them gives them a great flow.
The title track "It It Wasn't For Trucks" is the pinnacle of the album and the way it's written, arranged and played gives the feel that it will be an arena anthem that the audience won't soon forget. The beginning starts off with the guitar playing an eloquent riff, along with the cryptic fiddle, and the consistent ride cymbal hits slowly building into the release of the chorus all to go back down to the slower feel that was in the beginning, easily gives this song the feel of performing at a sold out Rose Bowl.
The ability to make five tracks all sound like giant stadium jams all while being written, recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic, makes me excited to see how Riley Green's career pans out. I think I've been very open with my feelings towards country music in other blogs. I definitely don't dislike the genre, but I think a lot of the messages, lyrics and sounds are cheesy. This album is no different, but there is something redeeming about Riley Green. I look forward to listening and reviewing the full release album in 2021. He's on track for greatness after winning the Best New Male Artist in 2020 so I hope he can create decent country music in a genre where a lot of the artists sound similar...
Favorite Songs: "If It Wasn't For Trucks", "Better Than Me"
Least Favorite Songs: "Behind The Times" (Not bad, just the least exciting)
Production Quality:
Mix = 7.5/10
Innovation = 2/10 (nothing new to further the genre)
Songwriting Quality:
Arrangement = 8.5/10
Lyricism = 7/10 (typical R&B lyrics made right)
Instrumentation Quality:
Vocal Timbre = 7.5/10
Instrumental Timbre = 8.5/10
Group Chemistry = 7.5/10
Overall Likability:
My Personal Rating = 7/10
Overall Rating: 7/10
Any confusion on how the rating is weighted/calculated, please look at my "About" page.
Remember this is all my opinion! Let me know if you agree, disagree or have any comments!
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