The five-time Grammy, ten-time CMA, and seven-time ACM winner singer/songwriter Chris Stapleton’s (The SteelDrivers) follows-up his acclaimed double album From A Room with his fourth solo album Starting Over – another tight set of classic country, rock, and soul. Stapleton (vocals, guitar) again taps ace producer Dave Cobb and the same cast of backing musicians: Stapleton’s wife Morgane (harmony vocals), J.T. Cure (bass), Derek Mixon (drums), alongside high profile guests like legendary Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and Nashville pedal steel master Paul Franklin (George Strait, Willie Nelson). Stapleton wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 14 songs on the LP and as always, his soulful bourbon-soaked vocals take center stage over a set of spirited ballads, lonesome country tunes, southern rockers and soulful R&B gems. Notable tracks include: the opening title-track; the rousing Southern-rocker “Arkansas”; the Staples singers-tinged gospel tune about a rescue dog “Maggie’s Song”; the stunning piano tune “Cold”; the slow-burning ballad “You Should Probably Leave”; the touching rendition of Clark’s “Old Friends”; the hard-driving funky rocker “Watch You Burn”; the heart-rendering lament “Whiskey River”; the Creedence-esque swamp rocker “Devil Always Made Me Think Twice”; a cover of the John Fogerty song “Joy of My Life”; the tremolo, power-chord driven “Hillbilly Blood”; the stormy rocker “Watch You Burn”; the shuffling take on Guy Clark’s “Worry B Gone”; and lastly, the farewell closing ballad “Nashville, TN.” Starting Over is one of Stapleton’s best album yet – he just keeps getting better with each release and is one of the most satisfying listens of the year. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Tyler Childers, Brent Cobb, Whitey Morgan and the 78’s, Sturgill Simpsons, The Steeldriver