BY LESLEY HASTINGS
Image courtesy of Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
Released last Friday via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, Brett Young’s fourth studio album “2.0” has definitely been the one to make me sit up and take notice of this ever-popular artist….apologies to those hardened fans reading this, all I can say is better late than never!
I loved the arrangements throughout this eleven track project which blend his West Coast roots/influences with the more classic country sound I lean toward, and in particular I welcomed the stunning fiddle playing of Jenee Fleenor and Jonny Fung’s atmospheric pedal steel, both of which feature large throughout.
Production credits are shared between Jimmy Robbins & Dann Huff, with Robbins also playing multiple instruments on several tracks as well as having writing credits. Brett has co-written every song, collaborating with some of Nashville’s biggest names including Ashley Gorley, Adam Ham-brick and Ross Copperman. While there are some very personal writes in the mix (not least the beautiful ballad “Full House”, inspired by the birth of his second daughter) listeners will hopefully find something they can relate to ….to quote Brett “I hope people hear pieces of their own story in these songs, the way I see mine in them.”
Brett’s loyal fanbase will already be familiar with a large percentage of the album & tracks…. four of which were released as promo singles with the official lead single “Drink With You” dropping in April alongside the album announcement. And that’s without mentioning the album closer, a new version of his most successful release to date, “In Case You Didn’t Know“, originally on his 2017 debut album. More about that later!
At the other end of the tracklisting it’s the aforementioned current single which kicks things off, one of several break up songs on the album but each written from a different perspective. “Drink With You” is a fast-paced track that immediately drew me in to this project with its fabulous instrumentation and songwriting alongside some great background vocals from co-writer Emily Weisband (a favourite of mine). Brett explains that he can’t take up his ex’s invitation to meet for a drink as they both know where that will lead “cos we don’t feel over when we’re not sober“. Yes, that’s one I can definitely relate to!
This is followed immediately by another break up song, this time a ballad in waltz time. “Kiss To Forget” is about the frustration of finding someone who on paper is ideal but still being unable to move on because “she’s just somebody who just can’t be you”.
Further down track listing is another pairing of break up songs, “Tastes Like You” and “You Still Got It” (I like these couplings I must say and I like to think they are intentional). The first of these has Brett struggling to shrug off memories of his ex in an uptempo song which I’m sure will be a crowd pleaser at his shows but it’s not one of my album favourites I must say, but it is followed by one I really love. “You Still Got It” is not about someone still having what it takes, which is what I assumed from the title, but instead is a plea for his heart to be given back ….. even tho it’s “broken, useless, stepped on, covered in bruises” he will need it for someone who actually deserves it and wasn’t just toying with his emotions and leading him on like his ex did. Such a moving write delivered with conviction.
So let’s get to some of the album’s more uplifting songs!!
There’s another of those pairings I love, this time celebrating Brett the family man. I’ve already mentioned “Full House” and immediately before that we have “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing“, another of my favourites here ……yes, possibly I’m getting a bit sentimental in my old age!! One of several collaborations on the album, this gentle track features George Birge’s beautifully rich vocals and has Brett telling his friend, a party going singleton, that those days are behind him. His priorities have shifted dramatically now he has a wife and kids, he wants to be there for them so he doesn’t miss important milestones. And one day, his friend will realise what he means. The lyrics are put to the fore thanks to the relatively stripped back arrangement, with Jenee’s fiddle cutting through perfectly. As an aside, I noticed Riley Green cowrote this one.
I’ll finish this review with a mention of the other two vocal collaborations on the album which both work perfectly and help add variety sonically. Lady A’s unmistakable soaring harmonies are absolutely beautiful on “Who I Do It For“, putting family to the fore once more but in a different way as Brett sings about juggling life as a touring musician with being a parent. And he prays that one day they will appreciate that all the time he spends away from them is “because I’m doing all I can to give them everything“.
So, as I promised , let’s have a look at the closing track, the reworking of the simply gorgeous declaration of love, “In Case You Didn’t Know“. As well as featuring vocals from Hannah McFarlane this time (my understanding was that Brett deliberately chose not to feature a more established artist) it also has an entirely new second verse which Hannah wrote and which she sings in reply to Brett’s apology for not expressing his feelings towards her. I love this idea of adding a female perspective into the mix. Hannah reassures him that his love for her was never in doubt as far as she was concerned “It was impossible to miss the forever in that kiss…Don’t need to hear it to believe it“. Their voices blend beautifully in the choruses, and there’s more new lyrics in the song’s short break .
What a stunning way to end to this album…..in case you didn’t know, it’s one I’ve really fallen for!
Stream/Download/purchase 2.0 here https://brettyoung.lnk.to/2.0_UK
Brett brings his ” Back To Basics World Tour” to the UK this Autumn….more details/ticket links below.
FULL DETAILS OF ALL UK TOUR DATES ARE ON THE COUNTRY LOWDOWN GIG GUIDE