Tyler Hubbard may still be best known to many country fans as half of superstar duo Florida Georgia Line, but in recent years he’s been carving out a new direction for himself as a solo artist. He released his debut self-titled solo album last year, which featured chart-topping singles ‘5 Foot 9’ and ‘Dancin’ In The Country’, and has been winning over fans with his live shows both on his own and supporting the likes of Kane Brown. Now he’s back with the follow-up, ‘Strong’, which is released today.
The 13-track project opens with ‘Wish You Would’, which Hubbard recently released as a single. It’s a shimmering, 80s-influenced number with touches of country twang, which sees him in a playful mood as he flirts with a will-they-won’t-they vibe between him and a potential love interest. Hubbard’s trademark drawl is in full effect and there’s plenty of energy throughout the song before the slowed-down bridge kicks in. To me it feels like a perfect song for summer nights or driving with the town down and it’lll definitely have you dancing along.
That very much sets the tempo for the next 40 minutes, in a record laced with uptempo songs that feel like they’re practically begging for a crowd singing along with their hands in the air as the sun goes down. Hubbard has said that this project was very much influenced by his time on tour in recent months and you can absolutely feel that coming through on songs like the cheeky ‘Park’, which sees him almost rapping in parts over the pulsing rhythm, the singalong chorus of ‘A Lot With A Little’ and ‘Night Like That’ with its revving guitar riffs and punchy drums.
However, there’s still plenty of more surprising moments on the album too. ‘Back Then Right Now’ shows the soulfulness in Hubbard’s vocals with its nostalgic look back at simpler joys, whilst the bittersweet ‘Summer Talkin’’ features a 70s rock-influenced intro that echoes Fleetwood Mac’s classic ‘Dreams’, and ‘American Mellencamp’ echoes the legendary songwriter with namechecks for ‘Little Pink Houses’ and ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’ against a rattling guitar line. It isn’t all big anthems either, with Hubbard showing his softer side (and some decent vocal runs) on the romantic ballad ‘Vegas’ and the mellow homage to small town life and love ‘Turn’, which features a really strong narrative thread and harks back to FGL’s hit ‘Dirt’ without feeling overly derivative.
For me the strongest track on the album is Hubbard’s only solo write, ’73 Beetle’. A loving tribute to his late father which sees him reflecting on his own experiences of fatherhood, it’s a laidback yet bright song with vocals full of warmth and richness. The simplicity of the song really lets the story shine through and it’s an incredibly moving, heartfelt moment. I also really liked the breakup-song-with-a-twist ‘Take Me Back’, which highlights Hubbard’s skills as a songwriter and puts a different spin on a classic country trope, as well as the sunny, poppier ‘BNA’ (yes that is a reference to the Nashville airport code) with its sharp drum beats, wailing guitar riffs and quick delivery from Hubbard.
The album closes with the title track, which to me feels like the encapsulation of the whole project with its lively, uptempo melody, focus on the simple yet enduring things like life – from a 100-year-old oak tree to gold in a wedding ring – and huge chorus. There’s a real sincerity and likeableness about how Hubbard delivers the song, which makes it very easy to warm to, and I liked hearing the growl in his voice over the bluesy guitar riffs too.
Overall ‘Strong’ very much feels like a progression from Hubbard as he continues to emerge from the shadow of FGL. Whilst there’s plenty here for fans of the duo to like, his willingness to experiment with different sounds and abilities as a songwriter have grown considerably since his last project, and it very much feels like he’s found his lane whilst still feeling able to stretch himself artistically. I’m very excited to see where he’s going to go from here, and really hope it might not be too long before we get to hear some of these songs live on this side of the pond!
Track listing: 1. Wish You Would 2. Park 3. A Lot With A Little 4. Night Like That 5. Take Me Back 6. Back Then Right Now 7. Vegas 8. Turn 9. American Mellencamp 10. BNA 11. Summer Talkin’ 12. ’73 Beetle 13. Strong Record label: Hubbard House Records/UMG Recordings Release date: 11th April 2024
