Single Review - I Only Cry When I'm Drinking - Mitchell Kersley

The eagerly awaited (certainly by us here at Silverball Country) 2^nd single from Mitchell Kersley opens with a guitar picking; giving nothing away about what the track might offer. There’s a pause and then Kersley’s deep voice almost speaks the words that describe the man that suppressing his feeling.

The chorus “I Only Cry When I’m Drinking” brings in the singing full of emotion.  The song tells us that as he drinks, he thinks about all the things that get him down and then his emotions hit him.  Many of us have that one drink that gives that extra push and releases our emotions, it appears for Kersley’s its whiskey that releases his tears! 

The metaphor of the damaged vessel sinking just highlights the slippery slope that we are on.

A strong drumbeat, adds a Celtic twist to our outlaw country in the 2^nd verse, providing a positive upbeat as the lyrics aim to tell our singer he has to step up, he’s a man not a boy he can cope, he just had one to many and the whiskey is talking. Tomorrow will be a better day.

It ends on a simple guitar stroke.

A very simple track, describing a common event but very impactful!

This is a charity single raising money for Mind, the mental health charity. The pandemic is having a huge impact on our mental help and many of us have lost our musical outlet.  Listen to a great track and support a good cause, for that will we forgive Kersley’s artwork and the excessive use of ice in the whiskey glass – it’s enough to make any whiskey lover cry.

I Only Cry When I'm Drinking, the new single from Mitchell Kersley is released on Friday 30 October on all major platforms

Find and follow Mitchell on Facebook  his website  and Spotify

Mind for better mental health

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single Review - Solo - Laura Evans

Laura Evans has a new single out this week – and for this release she has shifted her style more towards country

Solo has a thumping drum, dark guitar riffs and a foot stomping rhythm to the vocals.  This welsh songstress has turned more rocky, more outlaw country since her last blues inspired single, and it really works!  This is an “almost there” Welsh lilt in her voice, but overwhelmingly it is the voice of a powerful, strong woman.

This strong woman is singing about being under the thumb of a man she loves but who she has come to realise is too controlling of her, and she needs to, intends to go solo.  She’s not planning to dump the guy, but she is redefining the terms of their relationship

“When I listen to my heart it says I’ve got to be free”

Written with Stace James the song was initially pitched to other artists, but Laura decided to take it back and record it herself – much like the message of the lyrics!

The song, the words and the performance all portray that independent edge, albeit with a gentle verse showing that she still has that love, reassuring him that they need some time, and the switch to acoustic guitar underlines the message, as she lets him know they need time apart

The final word on this (of course) goes to Laura herself

"I think the main message of this song is empowerment and independence! I've always felt more powerful flyin’ Solo" 

Solo, the new single from Laura Evans is available to stream and download from all major platforms

Find and follow Laura on Facebook, her website and on Spotify  

Single Review - The Little Things In Life - Sam Turner

 

Won’t it be great when we can write a review again without mention “Covid” or “troubled times”?  Well, when Sam Turner, along with Scottish co-writer Rosie Bans were tasked with writing a song about experiences with the C word they chose to look forward and put a positive spin on 2020 with their uplifting song The Little Things In Life which is Sam’s debut single. It is also a twist on the stereotype of a Country Song, in that it is looking at what we might have rather than reflecting on what we have lost.  That positivity is highlighted by the repetition of “when” while looking forward rather than “if” as many of us keep saying.

Sam and Rosie came up with the song on a song writing camp – a reward for Sam after being noticed for his 3000,000 YouTube views and the result is very much a Nashville inspired tune with its chorus and higher notes, albeit with a certain UK country/folk influence evident. Sam’s voice is slightly pop country but has an optimistic feel to it although he demonstrates that he also possesses a rockier edge, especially in the chorus.  The instrumentation is just right – guitar, brushed drums and light keyboards with excellent production and mixing.

Listening to The Little Things In Life may well help you to smile, despite everything, and maybe help you to look forward and to appreciate those little things…

 

The Little Things In Life, the debut single from Sam Turner is available now.

Find and follow Sam on Facebook,  Insta,and Spotify

Single Review - Love Me That Way - Jessica Lynn

 

Jessica Lynn and her band should have toured the UK this year – but is has been a year of “should haves”.  Not one to let the small matter of a global pandemic get her down, Jessica has channelled her boundless energies into livestreams and also writing and releasing music with the aim of an album release before hitting the UK and Europe next year.

Jessica has a new single out as a result of all this hard work, and whilst she isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of genres the opening instrumentals – guitar and steel – announce Love Me That Way as a country song.  When Jessica starts singing there is no doubt that it is a country song! There is the addition of piano to punctate lines with an emotional quality. The pace of this song is driven by the drums taking us into the repeated toe tapping chorus, with the actual tempo varying throughout, taking us up and down with the emotions of the song.

The song is about fire and passion – and keeping that passion thorough all stages of a relationship – whether good times or bad, whatever is happening “love me that way”. Forget self-pity, this girl wants to set things on fire! They might not know what they are doing, but cant stop the forward motion, they are riding the runaway train.

Ironically the song about passion and keeping everything strong was written while squashed in the front seat of a rental car on a radio tour – and finished in the car park of a home depot.  If anything demonstrates that love and passion can be found anywhere, this is it!

Love Me That Way, the new song from Jessica Lynn is available to download and stream now from all major platforms

Find and follow Jessica on Facebook, website and Spotify