This week, Billy Strings and Margo Price link up for a country sound, while Koe Wetzel delivers a party-worthy romantic throwback and Mae Estes sings a song about the guys who give “good boys” a bad name. This week's collection of new tunes also includes songs from Anne Wilson, Parker McCollum and more.
See all this and more at Bulletin boardThe roundup of the best country songs of the week below.
Billy Strings/Margo Price, “Too Stoned to Cry”
Americana mainstay Price welcomes prolific bluegrass artist Strings on guitar and vocals to this jam-packed album, produced by Beau Bedford and written by Andrew Combs (and previously released on his 2014 album Worried Man). They sing about dealing with the stresses of touring life and long hours through various vices — or as they put it, “Walking the line between hell and high.” The world-weary voices of the two singers bring a great fidelity to this sad country track.
Anne Wilson, “Stand”
Earlier this year, Wilson did a genre-bending project with the country/contemporary Christian album Rebelspearheading songs like “Rain in the Rearview” and “Strong.” She continues in that vein with her latest, as she sings to summon strength to “stand for love when all you see is hate.” The glossy production and balanced country-pop instinct is a shining foil to her strong, heavy vocals and a message to stand firm in your convictions.
Mae Estes, “Good Ol' Boys”
Estes lends her intense color to this tale of small-town deception. He boldly sings about a “good boy” who seems impossibly kind and perfect to the rest of the community. So, Estes sings, the members of this tight-knit town would probably never believe how his personality changes in private spaces. But to those affected by his monstrous side, the concept of the “good boy” instills more wariness than trust. The authors here are Autumn McEntire, Marti Dodson and SJ McDonald.
Parker McCollum, “What Kinda Man”
Grungy guitar gives way to a wild mash-up of harmonica, bright rock and honky tonk twang on McCollum's latest. “It's harder than it looks to walk that line,” he sings, reminiscing about life on the edge, until he meets the one who makes him rethink his ways. As always, McCollum delivers an exemplary, stylish and undeniably country vocal style.
Angie K, “Stay”
El Salvador-born Angie K, known for songs like “Happily Ever After,” uses a gritty, soulful rap that's alluring on this romantic, bilingual track. Rich background vocals and plush instrumentation, accented with flashes of Latin guitar, add to the sultry flavor here. Angie K, David Borys, Tom Pino and Jason Haag are the writers behind the song. “Stay” appears on Angie K's self-titled EP, which will be released on October 25th.
Koe Wetzel, “Casamigos”
After the release of his ninth studio album 9 Lives In July, Wetzel finally releases this fan favorite. This laid-back rocker with an ample sing-along chorus is an anthem of defiance. “Mary Jane took my leave/ And Casamigos took my boyfriend,” he sings, before making it clear that while a cascade of less-than-stellar decisions may have cost him a few, there's a romance in particular. fine with losing. Wetzel brings a jumbo vibe and a show of bravado to this romantic throwback.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/country/best-new-country-songs-margo-price-mae-estes-billy-strings-1235775850/
