I think “Life Changes” is a great example of a sonically lazy song save by great songwriting. I honestly never gave the instrumentation on that song much attention because the lyrics were so amazing. Also, yes, please do Songs I Hate by Artists I Don’t.
Honestly, Cruise and That's My Kind of Night are very much guilty pleasures for me. They may be stupid but they're a lot of fun. I certainly prefer them over some of the other bro-country offerings of the time.
First 5 albums during marriage to first wife were full of great songs. Pretty much everything since then has sounded like the same two songs over and over, whiskey and how hot his girl is.
I think the song that always sticks out to me for Brett Young is "Don't Wanna Write This Song." The chorus is absolutely beautiful, and I think the message of "neither one of us did anything wrong but I have to live with goodbye anyway" is really poignant. I know popular media likes to depict relationships that end and one side is clearly at fault because it's more dramatic and good for viewership, but in real life I think it happens just as often that both sides can do everything right and the relationship still doesn't work out for some reason, whether it be death, both people just grow apart, or something else entirely and it's important to remember that it's still okay to be sad about it even if nobody did anything wrong.
My brother went through a breakup like that recently. Him and his girlfriend didn't have any drama and enjoyed being together. However, it was both of their first serious relationship and they started going different directions in life. They decided they needed to see other people. Maybe in a few years they will be back together or maybe they won't. Even though they ended on good terms it hurt. You are right. Relationships don't always end because one or both partners suck at relationships. Sometimes life happens.
When Luke Bryan does slower, more emotional songs, he's genuinely a great artist. Most People are Good is one of my favorite songs to come out in the last 10 years.
Tons of talent but not the best of taste. Or if you're a conspiracy theorist he's not a fan of a lot of his own music but has chosen a career path that he thinks will maximize his earning potential.
I couldn't agree more on the statement about seeing Keith Urban live to really appreciate his craft. I had always thought Keith Urban's music was just "fine". But last month I saw him live for the first time in London, England, and he was amazing live. One of the best gigs I've ever been to. Absolute showman from start to finish. Had crowd in palm of his hand.
"You'll Think of Me " live is phenomenal, and I believe there's a version floating around here on TH-cam. I fully agree on your KU assessment, though. My sister and I always saw him when he came to town until 5 ish years ago, and I purchased most of his albums through Fuse, which I believe is when we really started to see the shift. He's so dang good with modern country and has a respect for the history of the genre, notably with his work on the All for the Hall events, but the last few albums just haven't been that.
I think AA by Walker Hayes is the only hick-hop song I actually love. As an alcoholic trying to build a family, it's relatable and down-to-earth, and my wife loves the line about marrying down. That's my only defense of the genre as a whole.
I’m not crazy about Mitchell Tenpenny either but “Truth About You” is an amazing song! It’s been out since July last year and I’ve loved it ever since then.
My despise for Dustin Lynch is only masked by his song "Thinking 'Bout you" especially the Mackenzie Porter version, also can't wait for the next Canada video!
Aldean’s “Wide Open” album has some great deep cuts like “This I Gotta See”, “On My Highway”, “Fast”, and “Don’t Give Up on Me”. And “The Truth” doesn’t get talked about enough when his best singles are discussed, love that track.
Aldean in general has some really great tracks. Take out stuff like Night Train and Burning It Down (I'll keep 1994, any party song that mentions Joe Diffie is automatically amazing) and a whole lot of his work is really pretty good.
Not really a fan of Cole Swindell but his song called Dads Old Number off the All of It album is probably my favorite one. One of those songs that just makes you feel.
This is an amazing video Grady. Thanks for sharing. For Cole Swindell if you don't have tears in your eyes listening to "You Should Be Here" man you're not human. You can just feel the hurt in his voice for losing his dad and how proud his dad was of him. I agree with Aldean. I was a huge Jason fan early on. Those albums were on rotation when I worked out. I can't really say I like any of his new stuff. And lastly, yes Keith Urban is amazing live. I was not a fan until I saw him live. Great show and amazing musician.
As a Keith Urban fan the dividing line on his music is his album Fuse. Everything before that his music was produced by himself and Dan Huff. Each album starting with Fuse he began bringing in more and more producers each from other styles of music
wouldn't that also kind of coincide with him getting sober? If that is the case he may have just be trying to get into a space where he wouldn't go back to drugs. though I may be off on when that happened. In my head I would rather he be sober and experimental than sad and reliant on drugs, I prefer his older music but not that much
I think even though he was sober before Fuse, he may have just started feeling at home in his sobriety then. He suffered a lot in the years before and it is a long and winding road.
I'm shocked you didn't mention Don't let her for Walker Hayes. It's so sweet and I love the concept of him being like "I love this woman and the little things about her so much that I want her to keep being happy with someone even if it's not me so I'm going to make a song for the next guy". It's such a unique but adorable concept for a romance song.
If you want something from Mitchell tenpenny that’s not insufferable, I recommend checking out his mini album “the lowlight sessions” it’s harmless but a major step up from his horrendous previous material
I am a high school history teacher and use Jason Aldean's Amarillo Sky to teach about the problems/challenges facing farmers after the American Civil War.
I can confirm Keith Urban’s performing chops. I was a big Keith Urban detractor until a girl I was dating drug me to one of his concerts, and I gotta say I really appreciate the effort he puts into his concerts. Dude has big rockstar energy on the stage and it made me respect his music a lot more. Cheesy songwriter? Absolutely. Helluva performer though.
Dustin has such a great voice and can hold amazing melodies....if he would actually put some effort in and had some real lyrics people would absolutely love him again like when he first popped up on the scene
I'm a huge Mitchell Tenpenny fan, and assuming you've already tried the first album, I would recommend - Truth About You: this song is bringing Mitchell back to relevant to the radio scene. Clever lyrics. - To Us It Did: Lyrically checklisty, but the melody is very strong. - Bucket List: Great lyrics and strong melody. - Can't Go To Church: Another interesting lyrics. - Horseshoe and Hand Grenade: Heavily based on the Colloquial word. Good melody again.
Great video! I don’t spend a whole lot of time and energy on country music. I just know that when I turn on the country station here in Los Angeles I often roll my eyes and switch it back to the news. So this video, with a lot of familiar names, and why they might not be your faves, and what songs of theirs you actually like, was a lot of fun. 👍👍👍
Keith Urban said after Fuse came out that he liked how cool the album name sounded and decided that every album after that was gonna have a cool sounding name. That was the downfall for me. I also wanna add that Jason Aldean has a subsection of songs that I love; they’re slower, have more emotion, and tell more of a story. Any Old Barstool, The Truth, they’re great. (Also I Don’t Drink Anymore is another one that deserves way more love, it’s such a clever play on words)
I love Keith. I definitely prefer his older stuff, but he puts on a helluva show. I agree, you definitely gotta see him perform. Also, I vote yes to all of the video ideas that you suggested at the end.
Luke bryan has some really great stuff that never gets to radio. Scarecrows, buddies, to the moon and back, I think build me a daddy is his best song period.
I completely agree with you on your Jason Aldean take. Have you heard WaterTower on the Nightrain album? It's a hidden gem. On another note, I'm triggered that you gave Luke Bryan's album a 7 and Wallen's dangerous album a 6(7?) I forget. I'm still gonna be petty about this lol. Have a good one Grady.
@@jack-heights His pop/rap/hip hop trash gives him a really tacky look. He needs to quit bowing to the Machine and makes his own damned music, cut out all the label's intervention. You Proof is a horrendous step in the wrong direction, in my opinion.
@@ComedyBros5 I think you have a point. If he continues to do what his label wants, it will water down his ability to relate to his base. I don't see an issue with Wallen or Bryan crossing genres. I just think it's the way Bryan does it irks me I guess. It honestly comes off as cringy. Like he doesn't have any respect for the genre he's in. Either way, I do agree. If not done right, country singers trying different can be super cringy.
@@jack-heights Exactly. You get what I'm saying. It's a big nitpick of mine. My big thing with these newer country singers is there's no weight to what they sing about. It's all generic and lyrics we've heard a million times. Wallen has some good songs that pack a punch with a good country sound, but what he's been doing lately sounds like his eyes are going all pinwheels at what the label's offering him.
Some of my personal favorites for some of the artists Keith Urban: Somewhere in my car Mitchell Tenpenny: Can't Go To Church(LOVE), Bucket List Cole Swindle: Middle Of A Memory(I also love this one) Dan + Shay: Love Aint Thomas Rhett: Marry Me
love ain’t is actually by eli young band! but those are all great songs! if you ever get the chance coke swindell is so good in concert, i would highly recommend seeing him!
I will admit Luke Bryan’s Drunk on You was one of my go to songs back in the day lol it’s weird to see that it was right at the beginning of (and probably helped bring in) bro-country, though I think it’s better than almost everything that followed in that trend. Do I still is one of the best songs I’ve heard from him, also I’ve always liked Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye quite a bit too. This is How We Roll is a throwback guilty pleasure 😅 Older Keith Urban rarely missed, at least single wise. It was just a string of awesome singles there for years. Stupid Boy, You’ll Think of Me, Making Memories of Us… And Why is a top tier country song. Still one of my favorites of all time. And See You When I See You is so good. And I agree with having a soft spot for Crash and Burn! That chorus always gets me. And even though I agree with Girl in a Country Song and how it portrays this song and others like it in a negative light… Get Me Some of That is a very guilty pleasure. The chorus is so good. And yes, I agree with many others!!! We need that video of songs you hate!!!
“Pasedena,” “Waiting” and… honestly “Hell of a Night” are songs by Dustin Lynch that I like. Yeah that last one is a bro country staple but it’s the one I like.
I saw Keith Urban live a few times. It was long before Fuse, so I can't speak to what his more recent performances are like. But, yeah, he's a great performer.
When talking about Keith Urban. I literally screamed yes. And those are the only two songs of his that I've ever liked and I like them a whole damn lot
For Mitchell Tenpenny, you really should check out " To us it did" and "Truth about you". I also didnt like him at first hearing, but these songs, though very different, but are actually really good. Especially the storytelling in "Truth about you" and the general vibe of " To us it did". Would love to hear you review them!
Truly thank you for all your videos! I’m relatively new to country music and while I like pop country I love hearing new and old country music that you like. Thank you for diversifying my country knowledge!
I will die on the sword of there not being a single bad song on Aldean’s My Kinda Party. Easily my favorite modern country album. Also - don’t forget how good I Don’t Want This Night to End is. Shake It is another modern classic of Bryan’s…it’s honestly corny as hell, but that doesn’t mean I won’t vibe with it at the bar or on the radio.
Oh and another idea. The Jason Aldean one brought back something that I tweeted you at one time and you responded liking the idea. When artists "jumped the shark." Artists that were putting out quality after quality and then made a change and now do not recapture that same quality music.
For Mitchell Tenpenny, I've always really enjoyed "Bucket List," "Truth About You," and "I Can't Love You Anymore" from his 2021 release Midtown Diaries.
Keith Urban's best song by far is "Till Summer Comes Around". It might be my favorite country radio record of the last decade actually. Haunting guitar to fit the dark story. Underrated.
I think you would like Keith Urban live. He usually usually plays a mix of his new songs and old songs. And, yes, he is a very talented singer and guitarist
Not a huge fan of Mitchell Tenpenny, but “Naughty List” is honestly an amazing original Christmas song. Give it a listen! It’s got great visual writing, details, and a great sexy story
As always, I love your themed opinion videos! Because I enjoy a good cry (and my "baby" just finished pre school) I would love a video from you about your favorite Parent-child songs.
I swing from one extreme to the other with him. He'll put out junk like "Vacation" and totally lose me but then really hit me where I live with "Marry Me" and "Remember You Young"
I’d be interested in a longer video from you on keith urban’s career past, as he’s had such an interesting life story. But I understand why you’d be disinterested because his output the past 3+ albums has been so pop and bland
@@truckercowboyed2638 Keith was the reason I I started playing guitar like 15 years ago, so naturally I’m a huge fan. Just curious, which songs are you referencing?
Mitchell’s Tenpenny : I can’t get another you (favorite) Truck I drove in high school I get the picture Bitches (love it!) I can’t love you anymore She hates me to He is incredibly talented. Song writing, guitarist, vocal ability is amazing.. how he drags a out phrases and words is so crazy. I seen him live and was blown away..
This is wild! I agree with you 100%. I don't like these artists as much as I used to. All the older songs you list are songs I used to love from these artists.
Mitchell Tenpenny: 1] The acoustic version of *"Truck I drove in High School"* is an outstandingly well written and performed song. The album version, however, is completely wrecked by the music/production. 2] "Truth About You" 3] "Broken Up" 4] The acoustic version of "Drunk Me"
Luke Bryan has a song from his very first album that my sister turned me onto called "What Country Is" and it might be a bit cliche but I REALLY like that song! It just has a feel good vibe. Also the song We Rode In Trucks is such a banger as well. Yet another song my sister turned me onto. Luke Bryan definitely has some good songs when he wants to.
One artist that I dislike (well, probably because they put him in in the country genre and he's not) is Sam Hunt. That being said, I honestly LOVE "23". It has a real nostalgic feel to it and I never tire of hearing it.
A song I love from Walker Hayes that I’ve never heard anyone talk about is “Dollar Store” It’s just such a fun song. I can’t help but sing along when he says “let’s go down to the dollar store. Buy you whatever you holler for”
For me, the only Walker Hayes songs I like are very early songs of his. Pants is hilarious, Kitchen Table is beautiful, Mama’s Hot is so silly and dumb, but in a hilarious way, Tulips and Wax Paper Cups are good songs too.
I agree with the Keith Urban critique. He was just on Opry Live a week or so ago, and what he did with just his acoustic guitar and his voice was phenomenal. Can't stand anything the last decade or so he put on radio.
Aldean's music before Night Train is FANTASTIC. Night Train and Old Boots, New Dirt were pretty good(IMO I enjoy the rock flavor even though it is pretty bro country) they were the beginning of his auto pilot, same album every year thing he has going on.
I started out not being a big fan of Maren Morris, probably because The Bones was so overplayed and she was going more pop. But I love her new album Circles Around This Town. And I love Chasing After You. She is really winning me over. I loved her tiny desk concert.
Favorite kind of video lol. I’m a musician so I constantly play songs I don’t like and songs I do like by artists I don’t. Playing music is way different than listening to it
I went to high school in Tullahoma and Dustin Lynch is obviously our flagship celebrity, and as someone who’s never heard a single one of his songs hearing Grady talk about how much he dislikes the album Tullahoma is surreal
I love Keith Urban. Me and my SO chose "Your everything" to be played at our wedding. But that was not meant to be and he died in an accident 4 years into our relationship. I played it at his funeral instead. After he was gone I listened a lot to "Tonight I wanna cry". So Keith will always be special to me.
My thoughts on some of these artists Luke Bryan - I’ll admit with no shame that I love Luke Bryan, always have. I constantly listen to him and I’m a huge stuck up country music traditionalist but I do like him a lot. He’s bro country, he can be poppy at times, but he has some undeniably great songs Michael Tenpenny - Hate his music. Y’all wanna know how pop his pop country is? His country album got labeled as pop on apple music Cole Swindell - Don’t really enjoy his music but one of my favorite songs of the last couple decades is “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” Thomas Rhett - Used to love him, no longer like his music really at all but when he puts out songs like “Country Again” he’s damn good. Also even as a wildly stuck up traditionalist, some of his poppy songs I do really like. “Marry Me” is a great song imo. “Die a Happy Man” is one of my fav songs, I enjoy “Unforgettable” as well as “Life Changes” Just my ¢2
I used to always change the station when a Luke Bryan song came on but there have been a few songs on his last 3 or 4 albums that I actually didn't change the station. (Home alone tonight/ Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset/ One Margarita, Rollercoaster)
I have never heard you say anything about Hunter Hayes. I was not a fan until my niece turned me onto a couple of songs that didn't get very much radio play like, "what you gonna do..." with Ashley Monroe or "where it all begins" with Lady A.
Keith Urban is great live. I can't believe you haven't seen him live. Anything after Fuse is a bit of a turning point. I prefer Fuse and older if given the choice, but basically anything is great live by Keith.
Dustin Lynch is by no means my favorite, but he’s got some bangers in his repertoire. “World to Me”, “Love Me or Leave Me Alone”, and “Momma’s House” always get turned up. “Cowboys and Angels” is a given.
Some Mitchell Tenpenny to check out: Bucket List (Piano Version) Truth About You (Piano Version) Drunk Me (Accoustic Version) Mama Raised the Hell Out of Me Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
Was not and still am not a huge Thomas Rhett fan, but I will say, I saw him live last year and he put on an excellent show and I had a great time. Still not purchasing his albums but I understand the fandom.
I never understood why people don’t give Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean a chance, the deep cuts on their albums can be amazing songs, it’s just the singles that can be divisive, their have been songs by them that make me cry, also Rascal Flatts have some amazing songs too
I got the "Just Doin' What We Do" shirt and I am physically unable to keep the women off of me! Thanks Grady!
Just convinced me to buy the shirt.
"we rode in trucks" by LB is probably my favorite. The lyrics in that song hit deep as a rural kid in the South.
Most pre-2013 LB is pretty doggone good. He’s hit-or-miss since then.
One of my favorite songs. I remember when he sang that and country is.
Love it! We need a songs you hate by artists you love video!
I second that motion!
Agreed
First one I thought of was outta style by Aaron watson
Agreed
Absolutely!!
I think “Life Changes” is a great example of a sonically lazy song save by great songwriting. I honestly never gave the instrumentation on that song much attention because the lyrics were so amazing. Also, yes, please do Songs I Hate by Artists I Don’t.
Honestly, Cruise and That's My Kind of Night are very much guilty pleasures for me. They may be stupid but they're a lot of fun. I certainly prefer them over some of the other bro-country offerings of the time.
I gave Cruise an A- in a national magazine
That's how I feel about Simple by them. I love that song but not so much the band
@@BigScottyMcCreeryFan simple is a GREAT song!!! I agree! No shame
That’s my kind of night is my guilty pleasure.
Hard not to sing along with Cruise. Dirt by FGL is good too.
'Laughed Until We Cried' by Jason Aldean is one of my favorite songs ever.
See You When I See You gets me 😭 and Why… still one of my favorites ever
I totally forgot about that song until now!
I agree completely! Amazing nostalgia song.
“The Truth” is probably my favorite of his.
Aldean had some pretty good stuff from his earlier days, he was good in the 2000s, Amarillo Sky is probably one of my favourites from Aldean.
Cole Swindell's best song ever was You Should Be Here. He lost his father at the time, and the song and video are a tear jerker.
Keith Urban: *sings about happy times and a great life* Grady: "And I took that personally."
Man, those first few Jason Aldean albums have some GREAT songs on them.
YESSSS man I could go on and on about those first few!!
Good to go off the first album! Makes me cry
First 5 albums during marriage to first wife were full of great songs. Pretty much everything since then has sounded like the same two songs over and over, whiskey and how hot his girl is.
Aldean is and always will be my favorite music star ❤
@@bink9797 The Truth, man...greatest modern country song ever
I think the song that always sticks out to me for Brett Young is "Don't Wanna Write This Song." The chorus is absolutely beautiful, and I think the message of "neither one of us did anything wrong but I have to live with goodbye anyway" is really poignant. I know popular media likes to depict relationships that end and one side is clearly at fault because it's more dramatic and good for viewership, but in real life I think it happens just as often that both sides can do everything right and the relationship still doesn't work out for some reason, whether it be death, both people just grow apart, or something else entirely and it's important to remember that it's still okay to be sad about it even if nobody did anything wrong.
My brother went through a breakup like that recently. Him and his girlfriend didn't have any drama and enjoyed being together. However, it was both of their first serious relationship and they started going different directions in life. They decided they needed to see other people. Maybe in a few years they will be back together or maybe they won't. Even though they ended on good terms it hurt.
You are right. Relationships don't always end because one or both partners suck at relationships. Sometimes life happens.
This is a great song.❤
When Luke Bryan does slower, more emotional songs, he's genuinely a great artist. Most People are Good is one of my favorite songs to come out in the last 10 years.
I god damn love that song
Oh and his song “Drink a beer”
Tons of talent but not the best of taste. Or if you're a conspiracy theorist he's not a fan of a lot of his own music but has chosen a career path that he thinks will maximize his earning potential.
I agree 👍
Agreed! It’s an early one but I love his song Do I
"She had me at Heads Carolina" is a great retooling of a great classic! I can't play it loud enough!!!!
My #1 song. Listen to it several times each day.
Us too, we love it!
Same. I love it
W
I couldn't agree more on the statement about seeing Keith Urban live to really appreciate his craft. I had always thought Keith Urban's music was just "fine". But last month I saw him live for the first time in London, England, and he was amazing live. One of the best gigs I've ever been to. Absolute showman from start to finish. Had crowd in palm of his hand.
"You'll Think of Me " live is phenomenal, and I believe there's a version floating around here on TH-cam. I fully agree on your KU assessment, though. My sister and I always saw him when he came to town until 5 ish years ago, and I purchased most of his albums through Fuse, which I believe is when we really started to see the shift. He's so dang good with modern country and has a respect for the history of the genre, notably with his work on the All for the Hall events, but the last few albums just haven't been that.
I think AA by Walker Hayes is the only hick-hop song I actually love. As an alcoholic trying to build a family, it's relatable and down-to-earth, and my wife loves the line about marrying down. That's my only defense of the genre as a whole.
I LOVE that he doesn't do every song about love😮
I’m not crazy about Mitchell Tenpenny either but “Truth About You” is an amazing song! It’s been out since July last year and I’ve loved it ever since then.
And At The End of a Bar with Chris Young
I really enjoy Truth About You and Can’t Go to Church by Tenpenny
Yes. Excellent song.
Bucket List is another great one
History is his newest single I've been listening to on repeat!
My despise for Dustin Lynch is only masked by his song "Thinking 'Bout you" especially the Mackenzie Porter version, also can't wait for the next Canada video!
I hate the song thinking bout you so much, lol, I turn the station each time it comes on.
'That's where it's at' is a gigantic guilty pleasure for me, it's such trashy pop but it's so catchy. 'Thinking bout you" is also solid
His voice doesnt even sound the same since C&A
Aldean’s “Wide Open” album has some great deep cuts like “This I Gotta See”, “On My Highway”, “Fast”, and “Don’t Give Up on Me”. And “The Truth” doesn’t get talked about enough when his best singles are discussed, love that track.
I ain’t ready to quit is great
Aldean in general has some really great tracks. Take out stuff like Night Train and Burning It Down (I'll keep 1994, any party song that mentions Joe Diffie is automatically amazing) and a whole lot of his work is really pretty good.
title track is good too
This!!! It was my first concert and continues to be a drug to me!
My kinda party album was great too
Not really a fan of Cole Swindell but his song called Dads Old Number off the All of It album is probably my favorite one. One of those songs that just makes you feel.
This is an amazing video Grady. Thanks for sharing. For Cole Swindell if you don't have tears in your eyes listening to "You Should Be Here" man you're not human. You can just feel the hurt in his voice for losing his dad and how proud his dad was of him. I agree with Aldean. I was a huge Jason fan early on. Those albums were on rotation when I worked out. I can't really say I like any of his new stuff. And lastly, yes Keith Urban is amazing live. I was not a fan until I saw him live. Great show and amazing musician.
As a Keith Urban fan the dividing line on his music is his album Fuse. Everything before that his music was produced by himself and Dan Huff. Each album starting with Fuse he began bringing in more and more producers each from other styles of music
wouldn't that also kind of coincide with him getting sober? If that is the case he may have just be trying to get into a space where he wouldn't go back to drugs. though I may be off on when that happened. In my head I would rather he be sober and experimental than sad and reliant on drugs, I prefer his older music but not that much
@@tomuchcamoflauge I believe he got sober before Defying Gravity but I could be wrong
I think even though he was sober before Fuse, he may have just started feeling at home in his sobriety then. He suffered a lot in the years before and it is a long and winding road.
I'm shocked you didn't mention Don't let her for Walker Hayes. It's so sweet and I love the concept of him being like "I love this woman and the little things about her so much that I want her to keep being happy with someone even if it's not me so I'm going to make a song for the next guy". It's such a unique but adorable concept for a romance song.
I love this song.
If you want something from Mitchell tenpenny that’s not insufferable, I recommend checking out his mini album “the lowlight sessions” it’s harmless but a major step up from his horrendous previous material
I also like truck I drove in high school. Grady won't though
I am a high school history teacher and use Jason Aldean's Amarillo Sky to teach about the problems/challenges facing farmers after the American Civil War.
I can confirm Keith Urban’s performing chops. I was a big Keith Urban detractor until a girl I was dating drug me to one of his concerts, and I gotta say I really appreciate the effort he puts into his concerts. Dude has big rockstar energy on the stage and it made me respect his music a lot more. Cheesy songwriter? Absolutely. Helluva performer though.
Dustin has such a great voice and can hold amazing melodies....if he would actually put some effort in and had some real lyrics people would absolutely love him again like when he first popped up on the scene
I'm a huge Mitchell Tenpenny fan, and assuming you've already tried the first album, I would recommend
- Truth About You: this song is bringing Mitchell back to relevant to the radio scene. Clever lyrics.
- To Us It Did: Lyrically checklisty, but the melody is very strong.
- Bucket List: Great lyrics and strong melody.
- Can't Go To Church: Another interesting lyrics.
- Horseshoe and Hand Grenade: Heavily based on the Colloquial word. Good melody again.
Great video! I don’t spend a whole lot of time and energy on country music. I just know that when I turn on the country station here in Los Angeles I often roll my eyes and switch it back to the news. So this video, with a lot of familiar names, and why they might not be your faves, and what songs of theirs you actually like, was a lot of fun. 👍👍👍
I love Thomas Rhett‘s Die A Happy Man because it’s romantic and country.
I can't help but vibe with Life Changes...it's a total bop.
Tonight Im gonna cry is my favourite Keith Urban song along with Raining on Sunday.
Keith Urban said after Fuse came out that he liked how cool the album name sounded and decided that every album after that was gonna have a cool sounding name. That was the downfall for me.
I also wanna add that Jason Aldean has a subsection of songs that I love; they’re slower, have more emotion, and tell more of a story. Any Old Barstool, The Truth, they’re great. (Also I Don’t Drink Anymore is another one that deserves way more love, it’s such a clever play on words)
I love Keith. I definitely prefer his older stuff, but he puts on a helluva show. I agree, you definitely gotta see him perform.
Also, I vote yes to all of the video ideas that you suggested at the end.
Luke bryan has some really great stuff that never gets to radio. Scarecrows, buddies, to the moon and back, I think build me a daddy is his best song period.
Build me a daddy is an incredible song
Hooked on it is also a great song
@@srvfan25 I had to look that one up cause couldn’t remember hearing that one but yeah especially with the picking in the beginning. Good one
Do I is still a sad, romantic gem.
@@cdtnplyr yep totally agree
I haven’t like most of his music in a while but I still think “stupid boy” by Keith Urban is one of the greatest country songs of the 2000s
I completely agree with you on your Jason Aldean take. Have you heard WaterTower on the Nightrain album? It's a hidden gem. On another note, I'm triggered that you gave Luke Bryan's album a 7 and Wallen's dangerous album a 6(7?) I forget. I'm still gonna be petty about this lol. Have a good one Grady.
Wallen is quickly turning into Luke, though, so I understand it. lol
@@ComedyBros5 why do you think that?
@@jack-heights His pop/rap/hip hop trash gives him a really tacky look. He needs to quit bowing to the Machine and makes his own damned music, cut out all the label's intervention.
You Proof is a horrendous step in the wrong direction, in my opinion.
@@ComedyBros5 I think you have a point. If he continues to do what his label wants, it will water down his ability to relate to his base.
I don't see an issue with Wallen or Bryan crossing genres.
I just think it's the way Bryan does it irks me I guess. It honestly comes off as cringy. Like he doesn't have any respect for the genre he's in.
Either way, I do agree. If not done right, country singers trying different can be super cringy.
@@jack-heights Exactly. You get what I'm saying. It's a big nitpick of mine. My big thing with these newer country singers is there's no weight to what they sing about. It's all generic and lyrics we've heard a million times. Wallen has some good songs that pack a punch with a good country sound, but what he's been doing lately sounds like his eyes are going all pinwheels at what the label's offering him.
Loved this video! Early Keith, Luke, and Jason are where it’s at. 👍
Some of my personal favorites for some of the artists
Keith Urban: Somewhere in my car
Mitchell Tenpenny: Can't Go To Church(LOVE), Bucket List
Cole Swindle: Middle Of A Memory(I also love this one)
Dan + Shay: Love Aint
Thomas Rhett: Marry Me
love ain’t is actually by eli young band! but those are all great songs! if you ever get the chance coke swindell is so good in concert, i would highly recommend seeing him!
I will admit Luke Bryan’s Drunk on You was one of my go to songs back in the day lol it’s weird to see that it was right at the beginning of (and probably helped bring in) bro-country, though I think it’s better than almost everything that followed in that trend. Do I still is one of the best songs I’ve heard from him, also I’ve always liked Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye quite a bit too. This is How We Roll is a throwback guilty pleasure 😅
Older Keith Urban rarely missed, at least single wise. It was just a string of awesome singles there for years. Stupid Boy, You’ll Think of Me, Making Memories of Us…
And Why is a top tier country song. Still one of my favorites of all time. And See You When I See You is so good.
And I agree with having a soft spot for Crash and Burn! That chorus always gets me. And even though I agree with Girl in a Country Song and how it portrays this song and others like it in a negative light… Get Me Some of That is a very guilty pleasure. The chorus is so good.
And yes, I agree with many others!!! We need that video of songs you hate!!!
Best line, was about the "knitted materials" connection between Urban and Swift ... it was so true!
This channel is always great for both putting me on to great new songs and also for feeling less bad for liking others
“Pasedena,” “Waiting” and… honestly “Hell of a Night” are songs by Dustin Lynch that I like. Yeah that last one is a bro country staple but it’s the one I like.
I saw Keith Urban live a few times. It was long before Fuse, so I can't speak to what his more recent performances are like. But, yeah, he's a great performer.
When talking about Keith Urban. I literally screamed yes. And those are the only two songs of his that I've ever liked and I like them a whole damn lot
I literally SCREAMED the lyrics. Early Keith Urban goes hard.
For Mitchell Tenpenny, you really should check out " To us it did" and "Truth about you". I also didnt like him at first hearing, but these songs, though very different, but are actually really good. Especially the storytelling in "Truth about you" and the general vibe of " To us it did". Would love to hear you review them!
Truly thank you for all your videos! I’m relatively new to country music and while I like pop country I love hearing new and old country music that you like. Thank you for diversifying my country knowledge!
I will die on the sword of there not being a single bad song on Aldean’s My Kinda Party. Easily my favorite modern country album. Also - don’t forget how good I Don’t Want This Night to End is. Shake It is another modern classic of Bryan’s…it’s honestly corny as hell, but that doesn’t mean I won’t vibe with it at the bar or on the radio.
Oh and another idea. The Jason Aldean one brought back something that I tweeted you at one time and you responded liking the idea. When artists "jumped the shark." Artists that were putting out quality after quality and then made a change and now do not recapture that same quality music.
I agree, you definitely need to see Keith Urban live! He puts on a great show
For Mitchell Tenpenny, I've always really enjoyed "Bucket List," "Truth About You," and "I Can't Love You Anymore" from his 2021 release Midtown Diaries.
I enjoy “can’t go to church” as well
Keith Urban's best song by far is "Till Summer Comes Around". It might be my favorite country radio record of the last decade actually. Haunting guitar to fit the dark story. Underrated.
Nah “you’ll think of me”
And we were is good. Especially the version with Eric Church
I love this too! Love the lil guitar riff. Just wanna get moody and write in my journal lol
I think you would like Keith Urban live. He usually usually plays a mix of his new songs and old songs. And, yes, he is a very talented singer and guitarist
Not a huge fan of Mitchell Tenpenny, but “Naughty List” is honestly an amazing original Christmas song. Give it a listen! It’s got great visual writing, details, and a great sexy story
Also check out "I hope it snows" duet with his fiance!
As always, I love your themed opinion videos!
Because I enjoy a good cry (and my "baby" just finished pre school) I would love a video from you about your favorite Parent-child songs.
“we’re still being threatened with part 2” 😂
Hot take: My favorite Kelsea Ballerini song is arguably her poppiest one with Halsey. I love the concept and the interplay between her and Halsey.
I liked “Hole in the Bottle” - it’s poppy but still country enough that it reminded me of the old song “Jose Cuervo” by Shelly West
I really loved this type of video Grady! Interesting to hear of songs you like from artists you aren’t the biggest fan of.
I’ve really always loved most of Thomas Rhett’s music but I can understand why some people don’t like it
I swing from one extreme to the other with him. He'll put out junk like "Vacation" and totally lose me but then really hit me where I live with "Marry Me" and "Remember You Young"
Yeah, I am also a pretty big Thomas Rhett fan.
Because he claims to make country music that's definitely not country music.
I really enjoyed the first album when it came out, couldn’t listen to the rest of them, or any of his single :(
@@Jamieee_geee beer with Jesus was awesome on that first album
I’d be interested in a longer video from you on keith urban’s career past, as he’s had such an interesting life story. But I understand why you’d be disinterested because his output the past 3+ albums has been so pop and bland
I challenge you to listen closer graffiti u had some deep songs and classic keith urban guitar playing
@@truckercowboyed2638 Keith was the reason I I started playing guitar like 15 years ago, so naturally I’m a huge fan. Just curious, which songs are you referencing?
I love the 3 songs Grady chose.
@@wyattgardner3552 yup those 3 are killer.
Mitchell’s Tenpenny :
I can’t get another you (favorite)
Truck I drove in high school
I get the picture
Bitches (love it!)
I can’t love you anymore
She hates me to
He is incredibly talented. Song writing, guitarist, vocal ability is amazing.. how he drags a out phrases and words is so crazy. I seen him live and was blown away..
This is wild! I agree with you 100%. I don't like these artists as much as I used to. All the older songs you list are songs I used to love from these artists.
Mitchell Tenpenny:
1] The acoustic version of *"Truck I drove in High School"* is an outstandingly well written and performed song. The album version, however, is completely wrecked by the music/production.
2] "Truth About You"
3] "Broken Up"
4] The acoustic version of "Drunk Me"
Luke Bryan has a song from his very first album that my sister turned me onto called "What Country Is" and it might be a bit cliche but I REALLY like that song! It just has a feel good vibe. Also the song We Rode In Trucks is such a banger as well. Yet another song my sister turned me onto. Luke Bryan definitely has some good songs when he wants to.
Since Keith married Nicole - his music has never been the same. Glad he's happy though.
One artist that I dislike (well, probably because they put him in in the country genre and he's not) is Sam Hunt. That being said, I honestly LOVE "23". It has a real nostalgic feel to it and I never tire of hearing it.
Really love “drinking too much” and “2016”too
23 is pretty good, but my favorite song from his is honestly probably Hard to Forget. I don't know why, but I love that song
That's a good song. I love break up in a small town and break up was easy in the 90s too
@@LTProductions335 I DO like him as an artist. He's very talented. It's just that calling him country is a stretch. He's very pop oriented.
@@jeanniemainzer8551 100% he's not country. Very rhythm and blues and very pop. Talented dude for sure.
My fave Urban song is “Blue Ain’t Your Color”. I also liked “making memories of us“ though I prefer Tracy Byrd’s version of that song.
I think Bucket List (Piano Version) by Mitchell Tenpenny is a good song if you’re not a fan of his poppier stuff 😊
Love this video and would be even more excited for duds from artists we love. “To us it did” by Mitchell tenpenny is so so good.
A song I love from Walker Hayes that I’ve never heard anyone talk about is “Dollar Store”
It’s just such a fun song. I can’t help but sing along when he says “let’s go down to the dollar store. Buy you whatever you holler for”
For me, the only Walker Hayes songs I like are very early songs of his. Pants is hilarious, Kitchen Table is beautiful, Mama’s Hot is so silly and dumb, but in a hilarious way, Tulips and Wax Paper Cups are good songs too.
For Mitchell Tenpenny:
“Walk Like Him”
Maybe if you can get over “poppier” sound try “Bucket List” or “Can’t Go to Church”
Keeping Score by Dan & Shay is AMAZING. One of their bests.
I agree with the Keith Urban critique. He was just on Opry Live a week or so ago, and what he did with just his acoustic guitar and his voice was phenomenal. Can't stand anything the last decade or so he put on radio.
Aldean's music before Night Train is FANTASTIC. Night Train and Old Boots, New Dirt were pretty good(IMO I enjoy the rock flavor even though it is pretty bro country) they were the beginning of his auto pilot, same album every year thing he has going on.
I actually really like the 2021 Dan + Shay album, Good Things. All the melodies and harmonies are incredible.
“if the boot fits”- cover by mitchell tenpenney
For Mitchell Tenpenny, listen to The Truth About You. I kinda had him in a corner too (and still do) but that one song is pretty good
I started out not being a big fan of Maren Morris, probably because The Bones was so overplayed and she was going more pop. But I love her new album Circles Around This Town. And I love Chasing After You. She is really winning me over. I loved her tiny desk concert.
PLEASE do songs you hate by artists you love, and a follow up to this would be awesome too
This was a great video, Grady! I love the idea of doing the reverse as well (songs you hate by artists you love.)
Mitchell Tempenny - Truth about you is a banger!
Long Hot Summer by Keith Urban is such a great song and don't think I dislike anything Dan and Shay puts out. Thomas Rhett has some great bops too
We need “Song I hate by artists I love” ASAP
Favorite kind of video lol. I’m a musician so I constantly play songs I don’t like and songs I do like by artists I don’t. Playing music is way different than listening to it
I thought for sure Lee Brice would make this list. You’re always critical of him (for good reason. You have solid points :))
I went to high school in Tullahoma and Dustin Lynch is obviously our flagship celebrity, and as someone who’s never heard a single one of his songs hearing Grady talk about how much he dislikes the album Tullahoma is surreal
I love Keith Urban. Me and my SO chose "Your everything" to be played at our wedding. But that was not meant to be and he died in an accident 4 years into our relationship. I played it at his funeral instead. After he was gone I listened a lot to "Tonight I wanna cry". So Keith will always be special to me.
My thoughts on some of these artists
Luke Bryan - I’ll admit with no shame that I love Luke Bryan, always have. I constantly listen to him and I’m a huge stuck up country music traditionalist but I do like him a lot. He’s bro country, he can be poppy at times, but he has some undeniably great songs
Michael Tenpenny - Hate his music. Y’all wanna know how pop his pop country is? His country album got labeled as pop on apple music
Cole Swindell - Don’t really enjoy his music but one of my favorite songs of the last couple decades is “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey”
Thomas Rhett - Used to love him, no longer like his music really at all but when he puts out songs like “Country Again” he’s damn good. Also even as a wildly stuck up traditionalist, some of his poppy songs I do really like. “Marry Me” is a great song imo. “Die a Happy Man” is one of my fav songs, I enjoy “Unforgettable” as well as “Life Changes”
Just my ¢2
Not a huge fan of Maren but I really enjoy circles around this town
I used to always change the station when a Luke Bryan song came on but there have been a few songs on his last 3 or 4 albums that I actually didn't change the station. (Home alone tonight/ Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset/ One Margarita, Rollercoaster)
I have never heard you say anything about Hunter Hayes. I was not a fan until my niece turned me onto a couple of songs that didn't get very much radio play like, "what you gonna do..." with Ashley Monroe or "where it all begins" with Lady A.
great video Grady thanks for listening to us and PLEASE do the reverse I'm super curious to see whats on that one
Keith Urban is great live. I can't believe you haven't seen him live. Anything after Fuse is a bit of a turning point. I prefer Fuse and older if given the choice, but basically anything is great live by Keith.
Dustin Lynch is by no means my favorite, but he’s got some bangers in his repertoire. “World to Me”, “Love Me or Leave Me Alone”, and “Momma’s House” always get turned up. “Cowboys and Angels” is a given.
Some Mitchell Tenpenny to check out:
Bucket List (Piano Version)
Truth About You (Piano Version)
Drunk Me (Accoustic Version)
Mama Raised the Hell Out of Me
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
Keith Urban’s first album the Ranch is fire 🔥
Desiree is my favorite Keith song. Love that album.
Was not and still am not a huge Thomas Rhett fan, but I will say, I saw him live last year and he put on an excellent show and I had a great time. Still not purchasing his albums but I understand the fandom.
A good Mitchell Tenpenny is ‘Truth About You;!
"The guy's got weird hair, but I like the song" -Best quote of the video.
Something you already knew: Lauren Alaina did Thinking 'Bout You better, and it's not even a question
I never understood why people don’t give Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean a chance, the deep cuts on their albums can be amazing songs, it’s just the singles that can be divisive, their have been songs by them that make me cry, also Rascal Flatts have some amazing songs too