REVIEWS
Chris Stapleton Chris Stapleton’s new record is aptly titled, both for the times we are going through and his desire to push himself artistically. Recorded just before the pandemic hit in March, every song on this record is chock full of passionate performances and unexpected sounds. The album was recorded with his longtime bandmates, bassist J.T. Cure and drummer Derek Mixon, and producer Dave Cobb on acoustic guitar, with an array of special guests including Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fame. The record opens with the title track, and the lyric sets a mood of restlessness and anticipation. Driven by acoustic guitars, shakers, and Stapleton’s distinctive voice with its shadow — his wife Morgane, right there beside him — sets the stage for the journey to come. Over the course of 14 songs, Stapleton demonstrates an ever-increasing stylistic range, and sounds totally comfortable in every setting. “Cold” is a riveting R&B ballad complete with a wonderful string arrangement by Kris Wilkinson, Cobb and Stapleton, that brings to mind Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield. Somehow, it effortlessly segues into “When I’m With You” which is straight up Waylon Jennings-style country, immediately followed by the big dirty guitars of Stapleton and Campbell on “Arkansas” that up the ante with slide and bluesy riffs and show off the great rhythm section of Cure and Mixon, who navigate the wide range of styles effortlessly. The sweet ballad “Joy of My Life,” written by John Fogerty, is followed by “Hillbilly Blood,” with a dark, swampy groove and a no-holds-barred lyric that pulls no punches. Stapleton sings and plays every instrument on this powerful track except the rhythm section and Cobb’s acoustic guitar. “Maggie’s Song” is a well-deserved tribute to a dearly loved one, and the bittersweet lyric will resonate with anyone who has been through that journey. “Whisky Sunrise” rises and falls dynamically and leads perfectly into the first of two Guy Clark cover songs in a row, “Worry B Gone,” which features a wild guitar solo by Stapleton — who plays a lot of excellent electric guitar throughout the record. This boogie groove is followed by “Old Friends.” This classic Clark tune‘s spoken verses show a 22 THE NASHVILLE MUSICIAN
Starting Over Mercury Nashville
gentler side of Stapleton’s considerable vocal prowess. Cure’s melodic bass, producer Cobb and Stapleton’s acoustic guitars, and Mixon’s tastefully understated drums underpin the deeply personal lyric. Not many artists would dare to cover such an iconic tune, but Stapleton pulls it off. “Watch You Burn,” written with Mike Campbell, addresses the Las Vegas shooting of several years ago head on, with the kind of gritty sincerity that few could pull off, but he does so magnificently. The All Voices Choir lend an otherworldly quality to the huge crescendo that closes the track. “You Should Probably Leave” is a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ story with a sweetly sincere vocal. The album closes with “Nashville,” a heartbreakingly perfect bookend to the opening track, with Paul Franklin playing beautiful pedal steel. This is a great record that bears repeated listening and will definitely stand the test of time. – Roy Montana
