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Brett Young Ticket to LA

OK am going to start this review with a cheeky little confession, Brett’s last album didnt really rock my world at first. Dont get me wrong his 4 No 1 singles were incredible but the full album just didnt really do it for me, that was until I got to hear it performed live as part of a Front and Centre TV recording! Obviously his looks alone and those piercing blue eyes could easily sway anyone in the crowd and easily be put under his spell! However it was his voice alone that was enough to get me weak at the knees and completely change my mind on the whole album so much so I played it on repeat as soon as I came out of the recording! There’s something about hearing something live that gives a whole different feeling to a song or album and that’s definetly what happened with Brett’s first album!

During the recording I was amazed to find out one of Brett’s buddies was none other than Gavin Degraw, apparently he too was a little fanboy of his back in the day. He expressed his admiration for Degraw while he performed a fantastic cover of his track Not Over You. I am a massive fan of Mr Degraw himself and have been since One Tree Hill graced our screens it was the show where I discovered the ever so talented Mr Degraw and many other music artists I have grown to like so when it was announced he was going to appear on Brett’s album I was probably the most excited I have ever been for a song, dream duet! As I expected the song is a fantastic duet and I have not had it off repeat since hearing it so its the perfect song to start my review of the album with my favourite song Chapters!

Before you get to Chapters on the album any Gavin Degraw fans out there like me can definitely notice the tiny little influences of Mr Degraw throughout the whole album. Chapters, tells Brett’s story in 3 chapters written about his life and not the usual heartbreak/lovesong Brett is used to writing. Gavin comes in on the last chapter all about the music which they obviously can both relate to! It really is the perfect duet! My only other dream now would be to hear this sung live and Gavin Degraw to join him on stage! A girl can dream!

OK I shall stop boring you waffling on about my love for these two guys and lets take it back and get a ticket to the beginning of the album!

Ticket to LA, first track off the sophomore album and also happens to be the title track too really sets the tone of the whole album and you can tell from first listen of this track its a totally different concept to his previous album. The songs are from a more happier state of mind than Brett was when he wrote his debut album as we all know Brett is now happily married, what a lucky girl his wife really is!

Here tonight the first single from the album and was written with the legendary Charles Kelly of Lady A which he wrote while touring with Lady A in the summer. It definitely slides a little into the pop side with this up-tempo track and you can also tell the difference as its very unusual for a country song not to tell a full on story but it seems it was made that way for this track, its a song that he wanted the audience to completely connect with and that’s exactly what it does!

1,2,3 Mississippi is probably the most catchiest track off the album that just instantly gets you singing along! Flashing back to his childhood he recalls the story of being 16 and wanting to kiss the girl so bad! The title references everyone’s childhood memories whether they used to count in Mississippi’s if they heard thunder or in US it was a term they used in sport’s! To this day I never understood why we did that.

Next you come to the more soulful vibes of the album with tracks like Let It Be Mine , Reason To Stay and Where You Want Me. An unusual approach Brett Young fans arent used to hearing from his usual heartbreak ballad songs but its definetly a side of him we haven’t seen that totally works! Where You Want Me is one of my favourite tracks on the album and Brett has definetly got me right where he wants me with this album!

Another favourite off the album is Change Your Name, obviously written about his love Taylor whose name he did change jus a few weeks ago! His wife is central to this whole album and you can obviously tell he is in a much happier place and how much he has grown since when he wrote his first album! Although many fans will be devastated  to learn he is happily married and off the market it is great to see a completely new more flirtatious side to Brett on this album!

Ending the incredible album the same way he did with his first album with the beautiful ballad Mercy, is the heartbreaking ballad Don’t wanna write this song, the kind of track fans are used to hearing from Young. Here fans definetely can see and hear a more vulnerable vocal on this track which up until the last verse sounds like the usual breakup song but its the lyrics “Wilted flowers in a vase, I left a rose on your headstone” you actually realised the love died! It’s at that point the song takes on a whole different meaning and you tear up!

I am not going to lie when I say I have had this album on repeat since first listen! I think the fact this album has a more upbeat tempo and soulful feel to the album makes it a great listen and is definitely a far cry from what we are all used to hearing from Young! It is great to hear a completely different side to Young and that’s why I would give this album 5 stars if I had to rate it! Make sure you give it a listen and tell us your thought’s too!

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Annette Gibbons
Hi, I’m Annette, I have been a huge country music fan since the early 90s those were the days we were lucky enough to have CMT in the UK. I enjoy nothing more than listening to country music whilst having a cold beer (or a moonshine) with friends. I try to as many gigs as I can here in the UK and in the USA; I think of Nashville as my second home and I am lucky to have made some amazing friends in Tennessee. Think Country is something I am very proud of, I just want to share my love and passion of all things country music related with you all.
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