On September 9th, platinum-selling artist, Dustin Lynch, will release his sophomore album, titled ‘Where It’s At.’ We sat down with Dustin at the end of July before his show at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den and he told us that this album is a “body of songs (that) is really where I’m at in my life,” hence the title of this new album. New England Country Music was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of Dustin’s new album and I have broken down each song below with my impression and my favorite lyric from that song.
1.) ‘Hell of a Night’ – Written by Zach Crowell, Adam Sanders, and Jaron Boyer.
Impression: Dustin starts off his record with a real rocking song that has edge and a ton of energy. I recall that he chose to open his show with this song at the Mohegan Sun. The song talks about a guy taking a girl for a crazy ride in his truck that will give her ‘one hell of a night.’ Dustin told me that this song is challenging for him to sing, so why not start the album with it!?
Favorite Lyric: All we need is a July, hot Saturday night, couple cans all cool, and the needle on full, and a countryside…
2.) ‘To the Sky’ – Written by Dustin Lynch, Ashley Gorley, and Zach Crowell.
Impression: It’s a song all about having a good time. Standing up, having a drink (or a few), and dancing. When Dustin performs this song live, he will have the crowd with their hands up in the air and having a damn good time.
Favorite Lyric: Set it off like the Fourth of July, and take it up to the sky, we’ll be flyin’ up in the clouds, like we’re never gonna come back down, like we’re runnin’ out of runway lights…
3.) ‘Halo’ – Written by Ashley Gorley, Matt Jenkins, and Jimmy Robbins.
Impression: After two high tempo songs to begin the album, Dustin slows it down with ‘Halo.’ Although a little slower, ‘Halo’ still has a ton of energy which makes it one of my favorite songs on the album. The song talks about a girl that is not as much of an angel as she makes herself out to be.
Favorite Lyric: Whoa baby what you got hidin’ under that halo That little bit of rebel nobody knows, that turn it up, burn it up all night. Want to do a little somethin’ wrong kind of right, bet you got a little sway hidin’ in those hips, little bit of salt in your sweet kiss…
4.) ‘After Party’ – Written by Steve Bogard, Jonathan Edwards, and Jason Sever.
Impression: In the song, a guy sees a girl at a party that he finds to be desirable. He’s a little nervous to talk to her in front of everyone but he wants to have an after party with her. Interpret it how you want to.
Favorite Lyric: I kept a six-pack stashed, held back for us just in case, our friends are all hooked up, laid back, passed out or long gone. Girl, watchin’ you dance in the moonlight’s makin’ my mind race…
5.) ‘Where It’s At’ – Written by Cary Barlowe, Zach Crowell, Matt Jenkins, and Jimmy Robbins.
Impression: The song has been one of the biggest songs of the summer and it took the country world by storm after it was released at the end of March. The single has already been certified GOLD by the RIAA. Not much more to say about it, it’s a hit and it will continue to be a hit for quite some time. Yep, yep!
Favorite Lyric: It ain’t in a souped-up shiny red new truck if she ain’t to my right, It ain’t in a dive bar tall can of PBR, poppin’ tops, rocking all night…
6.) ‘Mind Reader’ – Written by Rhett Akins, and Ben Hayslip.
Impression: It’s a fun mid-tempo song about a girl who keeps reading the guy’s mind and is thinking all the same things he is. If only it was that easy in real life!? The song has some great instrumentals to it, especially on the guitar.
Favorite Lyric: Girl it’s like you got a crystal ball, like you got a little gypsy side. It’s like you knew that sweet perfume, that you got on was gonna get me high…
7.) ‘Right Where We Want It’ – Written by Marv Green, and Rhett Akins.
Impression: This song is about just going out for a drive at night with a girl and having the world to themselves to do as they please. And that’s just the way they want it, and nothing could make it better.
Favorite Lyric: We got the ride yeah, all gassed up and ready, we got the coolest cooler chillin’ in the back of my Chevy, we got diamonds in the sky, silver moon shinin’ on this road, we got hands in the air, wind in our hair, a party on the radio…
8.) ‘She Wants a Cowboy’ – Written by Dustin Lynch, Tim Nichols, and Josh Leo.
Impression: This song has a classic and traditional country sound to it. The song is an homage to Dustin’s childhood hero, George Strait, and is based off of some of Dustin’s experiences in New York City. It’s an incredible song that may be one of the best on the album from lyrics to music.
Favorite Lyric: Ridin’ with him, in the wide open, Cheyenne wind no fences can hold ‘em, ropin’ her dreams Texas and smoke in his voice. She wants a cowboy…
9.) ‘Sing It to Me’ – Written by Dustin Lynch, Jimmy Robbins, and Josh Osborne.
Impression: In the very beginning of the song, Dustin gives off a sound that blends country with some R&B, and it works. It’s very a risqué and sensual song that Dustin describes as “sexual chocolate.”
Favorite Lyric: Baby when you start you make my heart beat like an 808, like it ain’t no thing you pull my strings when you say my name, when your fingertips get to gettin’ right where they belong…
10.) ‘All Night’ – Written by Matt Ramsey, Matt Jenkins, and Trevor Rosen.
Impression: This is a great song that really exemplifies Dustin’s ability to mix contemporary lyrics and themes with traditional country music sounds. In the song, Dustin is just hanging with some friends late at night, having some drinks, and having a damn good time. One of my favorite songs on the record.
Favorite Lyric: Beer before liquor yeah you never been sicker, find yourself a girl get her number maybe kiss her…
11.) ‘Middle of Nowhere’ – Written by Dustin Lynch, Zach Crowell, and Ashley Gorley.
Impression: This song will relate to the masses. ‘Middle of Nowhere’ is a song about someone stuck in the ‘friend zone,’ and wanting it to go further but not sure if they should take that chance. There’s some great piano in this song and it could be a song that Dustin chooses to play solely on the piano in his shows in the future.
Favorite Lyric: It’s like I’m lost in a hundred acre field, no map and I’ve got no lights, wonderin’ what kind of friends you want to be, and wishin’ I could read your mind…
12.) ‘World to Me’ – Written by Matt Rogers, Ash Bowers, and Adam Craig.
Impression: This is a song about a small town that does seem so attractive to people not from that town, but to Dustin or the subject of the song, it’s the world to him. Hence the title of the song. The song has great lyrics and may be the best written song on the record.
Favorite Lyric: I know these hollers and hills and fields down to every square inch, I know every name sprayed in Dupont paint on that bridge, had my first kiss, learned to shift gears on these back roads…
13.) ‘What You Wanna Hear’ – Written by Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins, and Ashley Gorley.
Impression: ‘What You Wanna Hear’ is a song that Dustin says that he can easily relate to. “I’m definitely a down home guy. If I have a day off, I’m driving the country roads just chill in’ out or going home to turkey hunt and going fishing on the river. Lyrically I relate to that song because it’s what I do and musically it’s so catchy.” Listening to the song, it is definitely catchy.
Favorite Lyric: They say they’ll treat you right, show you the city lights, get you sippin’ on something you don’t even like, I guess they don’t know they’re on the wrong road…
14.) ‘Your Daddy’s Boots’ – Written by Dustin Lynch, Josh Leo, and Tim Nichols.
Impression: In July, Dustin told me, “It’s a song we went in with a specific purpose. To write a song that is going to have a lot of impact, a song to have some substance to it. It was just not your typical down-the-middle uptempo radio thing. We wanted to write a song that had a really good message to it; and that’s the one I am excited the most for people to hear because I think it’s going to mean a lot to a lot of people.” This song is written from the perspective of a groom watching his bride dance with her father and wondering if he will ever be able to live up to the man he is to her. The song will be a part of thousands of future weddings and will be relatable to fans. Watch out for this one to shoot up the charts.
Favorite Lyric: He’s gotta heart of gold, right hand like a vice, same man on Sunday mornin’ as Saturday night, barbwire tough and cowboy cool, I’m gonna have a helluva time, tryin’ to fill your daddy’s boots…
15.) ‘American Prayer’ – Written by Wendell Mobley, Marv Green, and Jim Collins.
Impression: First thought when listening to this song- AMERICA! It’s a very patriotic song about the faith, strength and resiliency of our country.
Favorite Lyric: Clear out to California, then back on up to Maine. Don’t matter if you’re rich or poor, a sinner or a saint. Every night everybody everywhere is praying their American prayer…
My take: There’s a reason why Dustin Lynch has been heralded as the heir to George Strait’s throne. He has the incredible and unique voice that allows him to work in both traditional and contemporary country music and it shows in this album. Dustin’s debut, self-titled album hit the top spot on the US Country album charts and this new album will undoubtedly do the same. This album has themes that people can relate to- girls, good drinks, good friends, and good memories. If this album tells us where Dustin Lynch is at in his life, as he told us it does, I can’t wait to hear his next album as his life is sure to change with the success that ‘Where It’s At,’ is destined to have.
Yep, Yep.
Can’t wait until September 9th? You can pre-order Dustin’s ‘Where It’s At‘ here on iTunes.
Make sure you follow Dustin on Twitter, Facebook, and on his website.
(Main photo credit: Justin Nolan Key)