Nobody in country music, scratch that, nobody in the music industry has had a bigger two year span than Chris Stapleton. About two years ago, he had released his debut album, ‘Traveller,’ and despite huge applause from his peers on music row, most of whom have performed his songs, the album undeservingly failed to gain any traction on country radio, and seemed to flounder, sticking him in a category shared by few others (Sturgill Simpson, Cody Jinks, Jason Isbell). Too country for country radio, but too talented to fail, that is, until Wednesday, November 4th, 2015. Chris was nominated for a handful of prestigious awards, and even given a prime time slot, eight minutes long, longer than some of Nashville’s biggest names. Who was this bluesy and mysterious singer, and why is he singing with Justin Timberlake of all people?
We all know what happened next, Chris and Justin dominated the stage with David Allan Coe/George Jones classic ‘Tennessee Whiskey,’ and Chris made the night his own, taking home Best New Artist, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year. In the two years that have followed, ‘Traveller‘ has sold nearly 2 million copies, becoming the first album to reenter the charts at Number One, and the first debut country album to reach Number One since 2011. Now headlining festivals and amphitheaters across the country, Chris’ long awaited follow up has finally arrived, and in a big way, ‘Volume One‘ released on May 5th, and a ‘Volume Two‘ set to release sometime later this year.
1.) ‘Broken Halos’ – Written by Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson.
Impression: A delicate sounding song begins the album- light acoustic guitar strumming, and harmonies with his wife, Morgane Stapleton, that are rivaled by none. Open to many interpretations, this is a deep song, and paired with a catchy rhythm, this is a stripped down, no glitz or glam opening sound.
Favorite Lyrics: Don’t go looking for the reasons, Don’t go asking Jesus why, We’re not meant to know the answers, They belong to the by and by…
2.) ‘Last Thing I Needed, First Thing This Morning’ – Written by Gary P. Nunn and Donna Sioux Farrar.
Impression: While ‘Traveller‘ featured two cover songs, (‘Tennesee Whiskey’ and ‘Was It 26’) this album downsized that to one, but certainly making it count. It’s not easy to make a Willie Nelson song your own, especially one that The Redheaded Stranger took to Number Two on the charts, but along with the help of harmonica player from the original in 1982, Mickey Raphael, Stapleton and Morgane harmonize in a way nobody else can, giving this another two thumbs up.
Favorite Lyrics: So excuse me for looking like my world just ended, And excuse me for looking like I just lost my best friend, And excuse me for loving, And being forgiving, So just go on if you want to be free…
3.) ‘Second One To Know’ – Written by Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson.
Impression: If you’re a southern rocker, this one is for you! A powerful guitar riff throughout that carries so much distance, and lathered in more reverb than previously imaginable, Stapleton’s powerful voice makes its first true display on the album, along with his unbelievable talent to blend a guitar solo with the right amounts of blues and glam rock.
Favorite Lyrics: First you stole my heart, That was the easy part, Don’t ever tell me that crime don’t pay…
4.) ‘Up To No Good Livin’ – Written by Chris Stapleton and Casey Beathard.
Impression: An NECM favorite of the album, this song has the trademark country music sound that was etched by George Jones, Waylon Jennings, and Merle Haggard. The crying pedal-steel guitar dominates this one, along with witty lyrics that anybody can relate to at some point or another, the chorus line will have you singing along before you finish it for even the very first listen.
Favorite Lyrics: I used to drink like a fish and run like a dog, Done a whole lotta shit not permitted by law, People called me the Picasso of painting the town…
5.) ‘Either Way’ – Written by Chris Stapleton, Tim James. and Kendall Marvel.
Impression: Perhaps the most emotional moment through the album, ‘Either Way’ is stripped down of the frill and cuffs, just Chris and his guitar, telling a sad story of lost love, devastation, and giving up. His vocal talent pierces through the soft, angelic guitar tones, and it will not surprise us the least to see this song on award show ballots in the coming year.
Favorite Lyrics: Baby, you can go or you can stay, But I won’t love you either way…
6.) ‘I Was Wrong’ – Written by Chris Stapleton and Craig Wiseman.
Impression: Originally performed by the Jompson Brothers, one of Stapleton’s projects before his solo trek, this song builds you up the whole way through, starting as a bluesy guitar riff, becoming progressively faster paced and aggressive, assisted by Stapleton’s gifted vocals and his electrifying guitar solo.
Favorite Lyrics: Girl you know that I still love you, And you know that I’m so alone, I don’t know why I told you that I didn’t need you, Can’t you see that baby I was wrong
7.) ‘Without Your Love’ – Written by Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson.
Impression: The somber bass line perfectly implies the message Chris is laying out in this one, dark, heartbroken, and hopeless, a song that music row has heard a hundred thousand times, but this one is special. Morgane’s voice echoes through the chorus in a haunting way, and you find yourself relating to every word along the way.
Favorite Lyrics: Tonight I’ll find you in my dreams, And tomorrow I’ll wake up and have to feel you fade away, That’s the way it goes it seems, Tears filled with pain and they fall like rain, Constant reminders every day…
8.) ‘Them Stems’ – Written by Chris Stapleton, Jimmy Stewart, and Shawn Camp.
Impression: Still a song following the sorrowful trend of the album, ‘Them Stems’ is a song about when everything seems to go wrong at once, and nothing can go right, and for Chris that means his woman leaving him, his dealer finding his way into lockup, and his friends having no other remedies than the stems left in the bag.
Favorite Lyrics: My dealer, he’s been out of town, And that’s really got me down, I hope he ain’t up in the pen again, ‘Cause this morning I smoked them stems…
9.) ‘Death Row’ – Written by Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson.
Impression: Just like ‘Traveller,’ and the song ‘Sometimes I Cry,’ Chris opts to end this album with his most shining vocal performance. Another low bass groove illustrates a somber time, one that Chris describes as a prisoners final thoughts before being put to death.
Favorite Lyrics: Don’t want no preacher man to come around, I don’t need him to lay my burden down, Already told Jesus everything I know…
You can purchase your copy of Chris Stapleton’s ‘From A Room: Volume 1‘ on iTunes here.