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

EP Review - Kiss Me Cowboy - Tommy Atkins

 

Tommy Atkins is back with his first EP following up the success of his two single releases Cinderella’s Had A Drink and his country Cover of Freedom.  Both of these are included on the EP along with new tracks Wild in the Wind and the title track Kiss Me Cowboy

Kiss Me Cowboy is not just another cowboy love song –this time it’s about LGBT acceptance, but also just about acceptance generally.  Opening with acoustic guitar and violin, with drums giving us the rhythm, the strings really add to the mood of the song, providing almost a second vocal.

The song contains strong emotion without being overly emotional, contains a message without preaching.

As before, despite being from the North East UK, Tommy has written about classic Country themes – the setting of a country fair, reference to a truck - the imagery is all there and it is easy to picture the scenes as they play out through the song almost as though watching it on a screen.  It’s a story of a relationship that meets with disapproval, two people fighting against parents and – in this case – against prejudice.  Finding those moments, away from everyone where you feel safe to ask “Kiss me, cowboy”. Tommy voice is quieter than normal, a hush effect that helps explain the situation.

Although the ending isn’t quite fairy tale, the story isn’t quite finished and there is certainly hope in there – hope that their love will survive distance and hope for acceptance.

Tommy has won awards and nominations not just for his music but for being a positive role model in the LGBT community, and surely, he will continue to be recognised in both fields.  Tommy’s first single – Cinderella’s Had a Drink – was nominated for our own Silverball Country Awards and lost out only due to very tough competition

 

The second new track - Wild In The Wind – is a very listenable relaxing track, showcasing Tommy’s voice against a varied instrumental, with drums, guitar, strings, pedal steel, and dobro.  In a way it’s another love song, but a tribute to a lost friend, quite wistful with the emotion again supported by the violin and very subtle backing vocals from Anna Pearson. 

It’s a song about wanting to go back and experience all those firsts again with your friend, looking on the brighter side of life. The friend in every memory, forever 17 in the shot gun seat and wild in the wind. The friend you miss and would give anything to see again. 

It’s a perfect ending to this 4 track EP

  

Kiss Me Cowboy, the new EP from Tommy Atkins is available to download and stream now on all major platforms

Find and follow Tommy on Facebook, his website and on Spotify

Single Review - Howlin' At The Moon - Mitchell Kersley

 

Where to start ….

I am mesmerised by the artwork for this single; Howlin’ at the moon looks like any other bar traditionally featured on the television to represent danger and you just know something is about to kick off.  Centre stage, sat hunched over, but facing you is a wolf, but in a swanky velvet suit.  What catches your eye is the wolf isn’t trying to blend in, the face could easily be used on a wildlife documentary and that’s what has me hooked!  Hasn’t it been said that we are basically all animals, and wouldn’t we like to know what the other person is thinking and their underlying motives,  if you could go to a bar that magically revealed those intentions by representing the person as an animal, wouldn’t you?

The song kicks off with a dark chunky repeated guitar line and then an almost spoken vocal, its gritty. Talking about kicking butt and the dust creates the image of a dry desert and then as you hear about the dusty boots and broken hearts, Kersley wants you to be transported to a time of saloons, outlaws and gunslingers. I can picture an old-fashioned gunslinger who has been roaming for some time depicted by the trail of broken hearts.

Kersley scores extra points from me as he has managed so effortlessly to include religion in the song – “go to church or you’ll be saved”! The song tells us it’s the dark side of the country, where the people have sold their souls.

The style changes, the voice rises to a human equivalent of howling at the moon.  The layered harmonised vocals conjure up shadows in the darkness.  That wolf, man or beast is waiting to pounce.

The song fades out with an instrumental section that never loses its intensity with that irresistible beat that almost crosses into a different genre. Toe tapping definitely, can you resist clapping along too?

This is outlaw country at its best.  It works on so many levels, it isn’t trying to be American, it could be anywhere. It’s relaxing and upbeat at the same time.

Who would guess that Kersley is from the UK and in reality a young artist?  Inspired by some of the best: Brad Paisley, George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Garth Brooks.

Howlin’ at the Moon is the first release from the EP Dusk, I cannot wait to hear the rest.

Howlin' at the Moon, the new single from Mitchell Kersley is available to stream and download now

Find and follow Mitchell on Facebook, his website and on Spotify

 

Francesca, for Silverball Country 19 September 2020

Single review - Front Porch - Emily Lockett

 

It is more usual to see and hear Staffordshire’s  Emily Lockett performing with just her and her guitar, but with her new single Front Porch we have a fuller, more produced sound – although still with her distinctive voice.

Emily often points out that her songs are written from imagination rather than actual experience as she hasn’t yet been through all the troubles that are the staples of Country Music – and on this occasion the topic is breakups, where both sides should have fought harder to save the relationship.  They should be on the Front Porch pleading and explaining.

Despite her lack of experiences Emily always succeeds in creating the image of the story she is telling as she is a talented song writer, and with her young age she has time and talent to simply keep improving.

Despite being mostly recorded and produced in lockdown with Tim Prottey- Jones and Honey Ryder’s Matt Bishop Front Porch has a very polished sound, adding to Emily’s usual simple style with drums, electric guitar and additional vocal

The song repeatedly asks “why weren’t you standing on my front porch” but with a twist it ends with “I should be standing right on your front porch” highlighting that you need to people to make a relationship work.

Currently studying at Manchester’s BIMM, Front Porch shows that Emily is still developing her style as a musician, not afraid to push on and try new things while still holding true to her traditional song-writing style and confident delivery – as she demonstrated just about a year ago at the British Country Music Festival where she not only performed one of the first sets but also on the outdoor stage for the people of Blackpool. 

Front Porch - the new single from Emily Lockett is available to stream and download from today

Find and follow Emily on Facebook, her website, Spotify - and on the front porch!