There is so much good country music, especially lately, that it is hard to listen to it all. Of course, the most popular songs land on country radio and are played 'til your ears bleed. Luke Bryan's sweet baritone and Brantley Gilbert's raspy, smoker like voice flow like a river of southern drawl out of your speakers day and night, but who else really shines? I am here to show you some great songs, all from the past few years or current, that you may have missed:
1. Florida Georgia Line — Girl on the Radio
Everyone has heard FGL's album "Anything Goes."This album boasted hits like Dirt, Sippin' on Fire, Confession, and the title track "Anything Goes."For some reason, however, the country duo has had an exclusive deal with Target for the release of their first two mainstream albums. This has led them to produce 5 songs that have never hit radio, iTunes, Spotify or any other outlet. All of them are great, and another will be mentioned later in the list but this one could have been a hit no doubt.
It's all rock and roll, and solid gold,
Flashing lights and rolling smoke,
Stuck in their head, but they don't know,
I know, you know, you're the girl on the radio...
2. Jon Pardi — Trash a Hotel Room
Jon Pardi was a newcomer on the country scene in 2014. He released his first album, "Write You A Song,"and instantly got the country world's attention with "Up All Night"and "Missin' You Crazy."Among all of the tracks of this album, one rears it's head and gives us an Elvis-like bad boy attitude with the sounds and styles of a traditional country ballad. Side note: Check out his new album "California Sunrise." You won't regret it.
Let's trash a hotel room,
Mess up those sheets,
Break a bottle or three,
Over a night or two...
3. Sam Hunt — Bottle It Up
I'm a sucker for Sam Hunt. Whether or not they want to admit it, he's got all the aspects that any country guy wants to have. He played college football at UAB and was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs before he started making music. He's got the down-home roots but isn't afraid to delve into urban style, even doing a shoot for GQ. His biggest hit is "Take Your Time," and other songs from the album "Montevallo."Before he made his first album, he made and acoustic mixtape with his buddies called "Between The Pines."For a mix tape, it has exploded and been pure gold to say the least. Keith Urban made a smash hit out of "Cop Car"and Billy Currington did the same with "We Are Tonight."Even Kenny Chesney picked up one of the tracks from the album and recorded "Come Over." One song that has not gotten the publicity it deserves is "Bottle It Up."A nifty groove similar to a Jason Mraz song pairs up with a solemn ode to old memories and boom! A song was born. I would bet that it could also be a hit for whoever wants to try their hand at recording it.
I'd keep a "life's good,
Sweet bliss does it ever really get
Better than this?" kinda buzz
If I could bottle it up...
4. Jon Langston — Runnin' On Sunshine feat. Jordan Rager
Jon Langston is still yet to truly break into the limelight, but he's still putting out solid music, especially for country boys to jam to. His biggest song recently has made its way onto the list of some country stations but is still fairly unknown, "Rollin' In and Rockin' Out." He's got a deep, raspy voice that is exactly what I would imagine if you combined Chase Rice and Brantley Gilbert. Back in 2013 he paired up with another newbie, Jordan Rager (who recently paired up with Jason Aldean) and made this cool summer track. Check it out.
Yeah let the anchor down,
C’mon y'all that’s where we’re hanging out,
Yeah that’s my kinda good time,
Come on now, just runnin’ on sunshine...
5. Kane Brown — Closer
Who else embodies the modern country movement better than Kane Brown. He looks like what would happen if Steph Curry hit the farm for a while, and is shaking up country. The opener for Florida Georgia Line's current tour put out his new album just a few months ago and has gotten raving feedback on "Used To Love You Sober."This song, however, is from his first EP and holds the name of it as well. "Closer"is a sexy song that you would expect from the likes of Chris Young with a hip-hop flair that you would get from Sam Hunt. Next time date night rolls around, hit up Kane Brown to set the mood.
Blowin' these country roads,
Tearin' off each other's clothes,
Heads back, curl up them toes,
And get a little closer, a little closer...
6. Old Dominion — Beer Can in a Truck Bed
What would a good country list be if it didn't mention beer or trucks? In all seriousness, Old Dominion is doing something right with their newest release Meat and Candy. They do not have the rough and tough country bravado that most country artists do; they just make great music.Let's keep it simple: "Beer Can in a Truck Bed" is a fun, new spin on countless other country songs. It has a Beach Boys vibe and even has a very familiar clap from this show you may have heard of called Friends. Break some Old Dominion out next time you're relaxing with your girl.
Let the night do what it does best,
Shake me up and baby turn me loose,
I just wanna roll around with you,
Like a beer can in a truck bed...
7. Dan + Shay — Lipstick
Once again we come back to the new guys of country. Dan + Shay brought a boy band type feeling to country music just a few short years ago and just put out their new album "Obsessed."Most of their songs are sweet love songs or cool beats to throw on on a Sunday drive. One song stuck out to me from "Obsessed," however. The song "Lipstick" is an open ended story of a girl suffering from losing a loved one in some way. The reason it seems so appealing to me is that I believe almost any girl could relate to it. Whether it is a broken relationship, a relative passing away, or some other tragedy this song portrays a picture of coping and battling through the pain.
Of the tears that she cried, no solid goodbye,
Tonight it ain't gonna show,
And even though she knows that it ain't gonna fix it,
She's putting on her lipstick...
8. Florida Georgia Line — What Are You Drinkin' About?
To finish off this short list, I had to come back to these relatively hidden FGL songs. Back in their younger days and before the superstardom they have reached now, THubb and BK made this heartbreak song called "What Are You Drinkin' About?" For the sake of the country music fans out there, I'm not going to even attempt analyzing this song. All I will do is plead you to go listen to this and buy it. It's worth it.
What are you drinkin' about tonight?
Are you shootin' down some old love?
Baby, that makes two of us in the same bar, in the same boat,
A little bit of mistake, whiskey and a little bit of coke and a whole lot of lonely too,
What are you drinkin' 'bout?
'Cause baby I'm drinkin' 'bout you....
This list is most definitely not the end. There are so many I could have listed that it would have taken days to put it together. I urge you to explore artists a little more and see their entire body of work. It will break you out of the doldrums of listening to the same 4 songs all the time.