Although Country Music’s popular appeal has not been as mainstream as it has been in previous decades to this release, it still has a strong set of fans who have an appreciation for this kind of music. To be fair, although some of the older styles of music have faded away somewhat after the dawn of the 21st century, it has motivated their respective artists to work much harder at their musical craft. Tennessee born Chris Stapleton is proof that this form of music is still not to be underestimated with its appeal in the 21st century, being one of the greatest Country musicians of this time period. He also has his own brands of Fender amplifiers and Epiphone acoustic guitars. This means that the man is already a musical legend in his own way already. This is his debut album, which he made after spending some time writing Country chart hits for others. Let’s hear it, and hope that it does indeed, sound good.

Traveller launches the album with a gorgeous mixture of electric, acoustic and slide guitars before Chris Stapleton sings beautifully here. He sounds like a Country music Eric Clapton here vocally, and this is a brilliant, radio ready sounding tune to listen to. A wonderful and soulful piece of music, complete with female backing vocals to match, this is an incredibly awesome listen. Chris Stapleton is a postmodern Country music poet, and he sings about travel and the experiences of doing so. The slide guitar present is majestic, and it sure does sound sweetly melodic. A brilliant effort by a musician who knows how to make his singing and guitar chops come alive, this does sound really great. A forward thinking effort, with a gorgeous singalong chorus, this is an upbeat and fine piece of music that is deeply rooted in Country music tradition but sounds great today. It ends after three plus minutes. Outstanding music.

Fire Away begins with some absolutely gorgeous guitar strumming and a legendary vocal from Chris Stapleton. The song gets cracking with some deep and melancholy singing, and it leads into a chorus with some of the best harmonies ever recorded in music history. That is literally how good this music is. Although this is classified as Country music, its musical appeal is far broader than that. A tremendous effort musically, this does have some reflective lyrics about love. “Fire away, take your best shot, show me what you got, honey I am not afraid” are brilliant and poetic lyrics, but miles better than anything Bob Dylan ever recorded in a Country music poetic sense of his own. A brilliant song, complete with some nice slide guitars. An excellent piece of music to listen to, from start to finish, Chris Stapleton cements his legacy as a Country music legend already. Excellent.

Tennessee Whiskey is a staple Chris Stapleton song (pun intended). It launches into a low-key, Bluesy sort of groove that sounds really excellent. A fine and fresh tune, Chris Stapleton sings wonderfully and deeply here, and he does deliver a fantastic Country music song. The lyrics are fantastic here: “You’re as smooth as Tennessee Whiskey, you’re as sweet as strawberry wine”. The lyricism and singing are matched with perfect playing and brilliant guitars throughout. This does sound quite a bit like early music from The Beatles with its clean guitars and simple musical approach, in some ways. A great tune to listen to regardless, there is a glorious peak with a fluttering falsetto vocal near the middle of the song, before returning to the chorus here. If you need a good, quick dose of postmodern Country music, this should be your first stop. There is a gorgeous Fender Telecaster styled sounding guitar solo present here as well, which sounds incredibly cool. A really wonderful listening experience, this does sound like a real winner to this day. Simple, acoustic guitar driven and memorable, this is brilliant music and must be heard by more people out there. A great song, without a doubt or question.

Parachute begins with some awesome and melancholy slide guitars and acoustic guitars. This is catchy, memorable and excellent sounding. Chris Stapleton sings from a very great and emotional place here, and he sounds like a superb craftsman of musical tunes. This is a deep, melancholy and tuneful listen that is a great romantic ideal sort of listen. The melodies on this song are unforgettable, and this tune is tinged with pain, regret and sadness. This is the new Country music that shoots arrows into hearts and captures minds. In short, Chris Stapleton is a musical legend and genius. Period. There is some banjo in the background as well. A song to give one a smile on their face of sorts, this music is a grand piece of deep and meaningful melancholy throughout. An awesome tune about saving a lover, it is powerful and sensationally beautiful from start to finish. Another excellent song.

Whiskey And You begins with some subtle acoustic guitar playing that is very Ed Sheeran-esque in its own way. Chris Stapleton begins singing about whiskey being consumed and some love being missed at the same time. It is a sad piece of music about alcoholism and dealing with one’s personal demons. Indeed, although China had the Opium Wars, triggered by that substance being abused by the Chinese people, the West has had its fair share of alcoholics over time. Indeed, alcohol can have a relaxing and temporary pain removal effect on a person, and this song evokes that sort of emotion at hand. Mentioning breaking down and crying, this is a fantastically mellow and memorable tune. Great music throughout, this is a straight up classic. Great music to listen to, time after time.

Nobody To Blame is a more upbeat tune with harmonica, slide guitar and melodic guitars galore that sound really excellent. This is a very cool song about breaking a lady’s heart and accepting the faults that one has made. A really fantastic piece of music, this sort of song further cements Chris Stapleton as a Country Rock legend. There is some neat and rhythmic guitar soloing present here, followed quickly by more verses and a joyful chorus that is really cool. “I’ve got nobody to blame but me…” muses Chris Stapleton here. A great listening experience here, this is fine and fantastic to listen to. The Fender Telecasters, acoustic guitars, harmonica and slide guitars conclude this joyous tune. All in all, great. Chris Stapleton knows how to Rock, and indeed he does extremely well here. Great tune.

More Of You begins with mellow acoustic and slide guitars. Chris Stapleton sings with a deep and memorable vocal that, again, is not too far away from Eric Clapton in its own way, as mentioned before. Still, Chris Stapleton is a Country musician, and this is a strikingly great tune at hand. This song is a romantic one, about being truly in love with a lady that is, indeed, perfection. A great piece of music that is postmodern, yet informed by the past, this is a real winner of a tune in that respect. This isn’t even the most popular tune here from this album, and it sounds purely fantastic for what it is. A refreshing and awesome listen, this is definitely a great one to play to a loved one if they are open to 21st century Country Music. It is deeply moving musically. A simple yet well produced and pristine acoustic guitar ballad, this has a sweet guitar solo, with more harmonica present in the background, before the verses resume. A very interesting, touching and gorgeous piece of music, this is certainly worth your time. Quite a tearjerker, this is worth your ears. Chris Stapleton is a fantastic musician, without question. “Everything that you do, makes me want more of you…” is a sweet and poetic lyrical line that is the centrepiece of this song. Excellent.

When The Stars Come Out begins with some interesting guitar work and piano, including more slide guitars. Although Country Music is not to everybody’s tastes, this is music to bust down genre barriers. This is about running off with a lover on an adventure through the country. A joyous, pleasant and wonderful piece of music, this will definitely make you smile upon listening. Chris Stapleton is the master of four minute long Country Rock music songs. Indeed, he is a total professional musically, and songs like these make perfect musical sense, given the title of the album itself. A great euphoric listening experience, this is enjoyable, exciting and moving music that will keep the fire in one’s heart burning with joyous passion listening to this music. A really fine and fantastic piece of music to listen to, this is really excellent music. Period. Quite possibly the best debut album released in many years, Chris Stapleton nails this tune, along with the other songs here as well. Awesome.

Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore begins with a count-in, followed by acoustic guitar that is plucked nicely, harmonica and Chris Stapleton’s captivating vocal. It is a very Country music sort of theme here. A really simple, moody and artistic tune, this is a million miles away from the sellouts of the day and retains soul and beauty that the likes of Justin Bieber and even as well, Ed Sheeran could not manage in their best songs. Chris Stapleton makes some great tunes, and he shows consistency and beauty here. An excellent and pleasant listen, there is a significant harmonica section here, instead of a guitar solo. Understandably, not everyone is Christian, so the religious appeal of this song will not fare well with all. Despite the Christianity of it all, this is a simple and fantastic listen.

Might As Well Get Stoned begin with a drum stick counted intro, and launches into a fantastic sounding electric guitar based tune that is about Chris Stapleton having some weed to enjoy with himself. This is much more typical Rock star stuff, given the lyrics and music. For anyone who has experimented with weed once or twice, all the way to the wake and bakers, this is an ideal tune for one to hear, if you love being high. A really top and excellent piece of music to enjoy, Chris Stapleton delivers an excellent and interesting tune about getting stoned when one runs out of whiskey. There is an electric guitar solo here that sounds really awesome and different from the rest of the material on this album, and Chris Stapleton makes some great music for stoners out there. Drugs and music do often go hand in hand. This one fades out with supercharged energy and emotional performances from the band. Great, even if you are sober, this is an interesting listen.

Was It 26 begins with some treated electric guitars, melodies that are deep and Chris Stapleton gets singing about hard times of the past. A deep, moving and reflective piece with more singing about music and whiskey, Chris Stapleton sings about struggling to make it in a tough world. Great musings of the past with lyrics about past events and drinking lots, Chris Stapleton deserves to be heard more so by others. A very interesting and pseudo-Psychedelic listening experience musically, this music is designed to be played for Country music fans to be played with their friends or loved ones in their pickup truck on long road trips. Even if you hate most Country music, this is irresistibly good on its own. A pretty and somewhat druggy ballad, this is worth the listen. Chris Stapleton is a musical genius and legend. Period. This ends with guitars galore and image evoking sounds. Excellent work.

The Devil Named Music is an extended piece of music over six minutes long. It begins with clean Fender Telecaster styled guitars, harmonica and a slowish chord progression. Chris Stapleton cracks into singing very well here, delivering a simply gorgeous acoustic driven ballad here. Indeed, in most religions, including Christianity, music is often described as sinful. Chris Stapleton, therefore, takes sides with the devil that is music, and he gives us his all. A fantastic and interesting listen, this is music that one can have on repeat listens for many occasions. There is a gentle and interesting construction of sound present. “Sometimes I am drunk, and sometimes I am stoned, and yes I get tired, of being alone. I miss my son, I miss my wife, but the devil named music has taken over my life,” sings Chris Stapleton here. He insists that music is the most important thing for him in his life, as it is for many musicians out there. At least Chris Stapleton is being upfront and honest lyrically here. There is a neck pickup Fender Telecaster guitar solo here, which sounds epic and awesome, before leading back into the chorus with a shift in instrumentation and suspense. An excellent and powerful piece of emotional music, this no doubt will be a fan favourite for fans of Chris Stapleton. Great from start to finish, Country music is not dead, not even in the 21st century. Excellent.

Outlaw State Of Mind begins with a quick drum roll, electric guitar riffs that are deep and bluesy and a great deal of exciting suspense here. This is cowboy music for those who live in the south of the USA, who love the tradition of their country, guns and all. This is a great and awesome listen. Very catchy and gorgeous, Chris Stapleton is one of the postmodern musical legends who should inspire a new generation of musicians out there. In any case, this awesome tune is moving. It also has an incredibly cool harmonica solo present as well. A real joy to listen to, Chris Stapleton shows the music world what he has got. The second half goes back to the instrumental section at the beginning, followed by a woman-tone Eric Clapton styled guitar led instrumental section. A really amazing sounding piece of music, Chris Stapleton shows that no time was wasted on making this album. A brilliant and wild sound tune that is epic, the instrumental jam goes on very nicely, right through to the end of this song, with some pounding drum rolls and gorgeous sounds abound to conclude. Great, just top-notch.

Sometimes I Cry is the final song here at four minutes long. It’s a straightforward tune that is a very honest admission. It’s not depressing or melancholy per se, but it does reveal a personal revelation about crying, in a world where men aren’t supposed to cry, or at least by many other prejudiced people out there. Chris Stapleton says he does, and although crying isn’t a good thing, it cannot be prevented at times. A great and dramatic piece of music that holds up well. Some of Chris Stapleton’s best singing is on this song, and he delivers a really deep and meaningful tune articulated perfectly here. There is a bluesy guitar solo that is very wonderfully played before Chris Stapleton screams his heart out here. A fantastic listen, the song finishes off with cheering and applause from an audience we didn’t expect to be listening to this final song. Brilliant.

Chris Stapleton cemented his musical legacy with this album release. A very near perfect album of tunes that work well on all levels, Chris Stapleton proves that Country music using guitars is far from dead. An amazing and really great listening experience, and surely one of the greatest debut album releases of all time. That’s how great this album is. Receiving almost universal praise upon its release and winning numerous music awards, Chris Stapleton is here to stay in the music scene. A classic album.

Purely fantastic.

9/10