Cole Swindell – Cole Swindell Album Review
By Paul Nicholson
Carlsberg don’t do Country Music – but if they did…it would probably sound exactly like Cole Swindell’s self-titled debut album.
On its release in the States, it reached number 2 on the Billboard Country Chart, and number 3 on the Billboard Top 200. At first it appears that Cole was an overnight success, but in reality, he has had to work damned hard for it.
Having previously written a whole host of songs that fans of our great genre of music would instantly recognise, ha has been happy to let others take the credit for his talent. Songs like Luke Bryan’s ‘Beer In The Headlights’ and ‘Roller Coaster’; Chris Young’s ‘Nothin’ But The Cooler Left’; Thomas Rhett’s ‘Get Me Some Of That’; and Scotty McCreery’s ‘Carolina Eyes’ were all from the tip of Swindell’s pen, among many others.
The second track on his album ‘Chillin’ It’ was released independently by Cole in 2013. It was picked up and pushed by satellite radio across America, resulting in his record deal with Warner Music.
So it is now time for Cole Swindell to step out from the shadows, and stride forward to centre stage.
The album is a pleasant surprise from its first listen.
The similarities between his songs, and those of the stars he has written for are there for all to hear, but with a Cole Swindell slant to them.
It is typical modern day country, with all of the typical song topics, namely: whiskey, beer and chicks.
It starts off with the instantly catchy ‘Hey Y’all’ – I dare you not to sing along with it before it ends – and is followed by the aforementioned, and equally likeable ‘Chillin’ It’.
The next couple of tracks slow down the tempo with ‘Swayin’, a fantastic ballad, and ‘Hope You Get Lonely Tonight’, which was released as a single in 2014.
Two more singles from the album follow with ‘Let Me See Ya Girl’, his current single, and ‘Ain’t Worth The Whiskey’, an authentic getting-over-you country track, and my personal favourite song.
After a cluster of more great tunes, any of which could be released, and become a hit in its own right, the pace slows down for the final track ‘The Back Roads & The Back Row’, a poignant song, which actually leaves you with an equally poignant feeling that the album is over. Luckily, we can just stick the playlist on repeat, and start it all over again.
All in all, a great album, packed with great songs, from a future great in the country music industry.
Cole Swindell will be a name you’ll be hearing for a long time to come – make no mistake about that!
Track Listing:
- Hey Y’all
- Chillin’ It
- Swayin’
- Hope You Get Lonely Tonight
- Let Me See Ya Girl
- Ain’t Worth The Whiskey
- Brought To You By Beer
- I Just Want You
- Get Up
- Dozen Roses & A Six-Pack
- Down Home Boys
- The Back Roads & The Back Row
