Corey Kent may have been a performer for a long time – he was just 11 when he started out as the lead singer of a touring Western swing band in his home town of Buxby, Oklahoma – but it’s safe to say 2022 was his breakthrough year, culminating in 2023 with ‘Wild as Her’ providing him with his first number one hit and debut album, ‘Blacktop.’ Today (December 28th) he rounds off the year with the release of his new project ’23’ in exactly the same way, and on the same day, as he did in 2021.
The path to success hasn’t always been easy for Kent. After losing a publishing deal in Nashville in 2019, Kent moved his family to Texas and paused his career for a while due to the pandemic. He eventually found himself working for a time pouring concrete to make ends meet before finding success with his version of ‘Wild As Her’, a sleeper hit that left Nashville labels scrambling to sign him. Corey has been the supporting act for artists including Parker McCollum, Cody Johnson, Chase Rice, Eli Young, Josh Abbott, Flatland Cavalry, and Kolby Cooper. Corey also has major success writing songs for others including Kolby Cooper, Brandon Jenkins and Clark Green’s #1 hit ‘Hit You Where It Hurts.’
’23’ kicks off with ‘Southeast Oklahoma Pines,’ a nostalgic ode to hometowns, stories, and the passage of time. Corey Kent’s gravelly, Bryan Adams-adjacent voice takes centre stage in this sparse, acoustic track, creating an intimate atmosphere that lets the lyrics shine. The song captures the essence of Friday nights and homemade shine, setting the tone for the album ahead as Kent takes you on a raw, intimate journey through life, love and loss in a sparse yet melodic way.
That deep dive into southern life is echoed by a reworking of ‘Boys Growing Up.’ Originally from Kent’s 2020 debut, ‘From the West,’ ‘Boys Growing Up’ undergoes a stripped-back transformation on ’23.’ The acoustic rendition adds weight to the small-town narrative, exploring themes of breakups, cars, drinks, and male behaviours with a reflective touch. The acoustic version brings a different dimension to this familiar track. Similarly, ‘Highways’, a track that appeared on Kent’s ’21’ project in full guitar, drum glory is pared back to it’s bare bones. Propelled by strummed acoustic chords ‘Highways’ recounts tales of leaving, hard miles and the dislocation of the touring musician’s life. Kent paints a vivid picture of “goodbyes and wrong turns” in a life defined by “highways and broken hearts.” While effective as an acoustic piece I’d take the bombastic ’21’ version of this cracking song each time because I’m a big fan of ‘Hood of that Car’ style Corey Kent but it’s all good gravy!
The bombastic, electric Bryan Adams side of Corey Kent has been minimised on ’23’ in favour of a more Zach Bryan-esque songwriter approach and it suits his gravelly voice really well. ‘Love Someone Else’ is a bluesy, acoustic ballad with a powerful vocal melody reminiscent of Amy Winehouse jamming with the aforementioned Bryan. Kent skilfully explores the complexities of passion, singing about the difficulty of imagining a world without the one you love. Taking that passion a step further, ‘Start a Fire’ opens with an atmospheric, Bryan Adams-esque vibe, gradually building into a horny declaration of intent as Kent explores the dangers and passions of a physical relationship that may not be healthy for the couple involved. The track’s catchy melody and raw simplicity contribute to its emotional impact as both elements also do on ‘You Know.’ The sparse production here creates an intimate ambiance, as if Corey Kent himself is in the room with the listener. The track showcases Kent’s ability to captivate with both his storytelling and melodic prowess.
There are three tracks on ’23’ that explore that kind of post-relationship angst that is so popular in Country music. ‘Drown ‘Em’ is a simple, yet catchy, acoustic tune about the aftermath of a relationship. Kent’s gravelly vocals exude that raw quality as he advocates drowning sorrows in alcohol to numb the pain. The song’s earthy acoustic vibes and memorable melody make it one of the most commercially appealing tracks on the album whilst on ‘Don’t Tell Her I Told You,’ Kent merges classic ’80s rock elements with raw singer/songwriter and country vibes. The song delves into the struggles of moving on after a relationship, with poignant storytelling and acoustic, melodic guitars. Album closer, ‘Hits Like a Girl,’ is a clever track that plays with the title’s meaning in that post-relationship space. Kent reflects on regrets and lost opportunities, delivering poignant lyricism that resonates. ‘Hits Like a Girl’ encapsulates the album’s themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, rounding off a compelling musical journey with Corey Kent’s signature style.
’23’ weaves a tapestry of heartfelt narratives and soulful melodies that showcase Corey Kent’s versatility and raw musicality. Previous album ‘Blacktop’ found us rocking out, arena-style, but ’23’ is all about the pines, the woods, the campfires and intimacy. Overall, ’23’ emerges as a testament to Corey Kent’s musical prowess, offering listeners a nuanced and emotive experience throughout. Kent’s versatility and ability to play with and meld genres to his own style marks him out as being an artist that is worth celebrating as the music industry’s barriers and genre walls continue to crumble and artists no longer have to be just ‘one thing.’ We look forward to seeing Corey Kent supporting Ashley McBryde over here in the UK on her January 24 tour and hearing some of these intimate songs in a live setting.
Tracklist: 1. Southeast Oklahoma Pines 2. Love Someone Else 3. Drown ‘Em 4. You Know 5. Highways 6. Start a Fire 7. Don’t Tell Her I Told You 8. Boys Growing Up 9. Hits Like a Girl Record Label: Sony Music Nashville Release Date: 28th December Buy ’23’ right here
