Music review: Chris Stapleton – 鈥楩rom A Room: Volume 2鈥�
After years of penning great songs for other country artists, Chris Stapleton got his chance in the bright spotlight with the release of his debut album in 2015.
鈥淭raveller鈥� fittingly illustrated the no-nonsense style from a new kind of country outlaw on tracks like 鈥淧arachute,鈥� 鈥淣obody to Blame鈥� and 鈥淭ennessee Whiskey.鈥�
In May 2017, Stapleton followed the success of 鈥淭raveller鈥� with a new set of nine engaging tracks on 鈥淔rom A Room: Volume 1.鈥�
The Kentucky native鈥檚 third effort continues to highlight his trademark vocals and poignant songwriting with 鈥淔rom A Room: Volume 2.鈥� This second installment offers up another nine tracks possessing elements of Southern rock, blues and classic country.
Perhaps Stapleton could have simply waited and combined both releases to create one remarkable album, but I look at it as being treated to something so good over a long period of time as opposed to all at once and then it鈥檚 over.
On his latest release, the landscapes sculptured by the accomplished singer-songwriter鈥檚 lyrics are accentuated by the authentic tone resonating from Stapleton鈥檚 compelling voice that feeds off raw emotion and a common man mentality.
鈥淭hey say love is more precious than gold/It can鈥檛 be bought, it can鈥檛 be sold/I鈥檝e got love enough to spare/That makes me a millionaire,鈥� sings Stapleton on the opening track about experiencing the type of love that is more precious than any material gain, proving once again that love is all you need to feel truly rich.
鈥淗ard Livin'鈥� and 鈥淢idnight Train to Memphis鈥� are rousing outlaw anthems that evoke memories of Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Jerry Jeff Walker and David Allan Coe as Stapleton gets the joint jumpin鈥� with a steady dose of grinding guitars and true rebel mentality.
鈥淒runkard鈥檚 Prayer鈥� serves as a solemn confessional induced by one too many drinks during a conversation with God that leads to the promise of a change in ways from a sinner that is too ashamed to go to church because of the damage done by a life that鈥檚 gone off track as Stapleton sings, 鈥淲hen I get drunk and talk to God/I say I鈥檓 sorry for all the things I鈥檓 not/I mean every word I say/When I promise I can change.鈥�
For me, the centerpiece of the album is found on the smoldering 鈥淣obody鈥檚 Lonely Tonight.鈥� It鈥檚 haunting how much Stapleton sounds like the late Chris Cornell as he digs deep to deliver up the pain and heartache from previous relationships with closing time drawing near as he announces, 鈥淵ou be her/And I鈥檒l be him/And for a while we鈥檒l pretend/Nobody鈥檚 lonely tonight.鈥�
Stapleton closes things out in a satisfying way as he reflects on a life that he loves and proves he鈥檚 a dedicated friend as he sings, 鈥淚f you鈥檙e on the street I鈥檒l take your hand/If you鈥檙e hungry I鈥檒l give you food/If it鈥檚 money you need I got some saved/If you鈥檙e sick I鈥檒l visit you.鈥�
Just like James Taylor, you鈥檝e got a true friend in Stapleton.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.