NYCS First Impression Dustin Lynch ‘Tullahoma’

Platinum-selling, singer-songwriter, Dustin Lynch released his fourth studio album, Tullahoma, today (Jan 17). Named after his hometown in Tennessee, the record contains eleven tracks, including the three off his Ridin’ Roads EP and his 2018 number one single “Good Girl.” Lynch co-wrote six of the songs, the most he has ever contributed to one of his albums. Old Dominion frontman, Matt Ramsey, Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley, the late busbee, and many more talented songwriters also contributed to this record.

“Tullahoma is the town that made me the man I am,” Lynch writes in the album biography. “So, as a songwriter now, I can’t help but go back and jump in my boots as a kid or a teenager in high school and write from that frame of mind.”

Being that this project is a homage to his hometown, it’s ironic that he’d sing about burning it to the ground in the first track, “Momma’s House.” Released on December 6th, Lynch sings about how an ex-girlfriend ruined the town he grew up in and how he’d “burn this whole town down if it wasn’t for my momma’s house.” Throughout the song, he recalls memories and specific spots in the town that now haunt him because of this breakup. Already getting radio airplay, we can expect this to be Lynch’s next single.

In the next track, “Dirt Road,” he paints a more positive picture of his hometown and growing up. He starts out by comparing it to Nashville, as the buildings are taller, the lights are brighter and the town is always buzzing. He admits he doesn’t always fit into that kind of life. “Yeah I’m just out here chasing these stars / Sometimes I swear I’m living on Mars / but I grew up on a dirt road.”

Lauren Alaina is becoming the go-to female singer to feature on male country artists’ songs nowadays. Alaina, already recording songs with Kane Brown, Rascal Flatts, Chris Young, Jon Pardi, and HARDY, joins Lynch on this third track, “Thinking Bout You.” She plays the role of an ex-girlfriend (probably not the same one in “Mommas House”) that calls him up one day. Coincidently, he’s been thinking about her a lot lately.

“Ridin’ Roads,” Lynch’s current single, hit number one the first week of the New Year, making it his seventh chart-topper. Co-written with songwriting geniuses Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell, the song had a slow and steady climb to the top, as it was originally released back in March of 2019. Lynch presents his cool, laid back attitude in this track as he takes a ride with his girl down a windy back road in the country.

“Old Country Song” begins with a hip-hop beat, but as it progresses, the traditional country sound comes into play with instruments like the banjo and fiddle. He shows off his knowledge of old-school country with references to legends, such as George Jones and Johnny Cash. This is definitely the most traditional-sounding track on the album. “Ima love you like George Jones loved to drink, like Johnny loved some June.”

Lynch has some fun with word-play in songs like “Country Star” and “Workin’ On You.” In “Country Stars,” Lynch leaves the bar with a girl to go stargazing. “I’ll get you falling like a country star” he sings, cleverly relating to both the stars is the sky and the way fans fall for artists. “Workin’ On You” has a more upbeat, rock-n-roll sound as the lyrics depict a day that was spent working in the field, and once that work is done, the singer spends time with his girl.

The record closes with three previously released songs in “Little Town Living,” “Red Dirt, Blue Eyes” and “Good Girl.” “Little Town Living” is reminiscent of Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” as Lynch raps the verses.

“There wasn’t an intention to write an album inspired by my hometown,” he says of Tullahoma, “but there was an idea to aim at the character of who that small town boy is, and to write an album that that guy would like, that he would want to play in his truck and try to impress his girl with. Every single song had to check all those boxes or we just tossed it out. It was a very small bull’s-eye, but it was fun.”

Lynch will hit the road to headline his Stay Country Tour with special guest Travis Denning starting in Detroit on January 30th. A portion of each sale will benefit the Cowboys and Angels Fund supporting various philanthropic causes, including an intentional focus on children’s charities. For tickets, head to his website.

NYCountry Swag Picks:
1. Momma’s House
2. Thinking ‘Bout You
3. Old Country Song

To keep up with Dustin Lynch, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Tullahoma is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

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