It’s the last day of January 2024. Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the first month of the year, the end of Veganuary for some and dry January for some others. It’s been a great month for Country music – if this is indicative of the year ahead, 2024 is going to be a great year for the genre. To celebrate we thought we would share with you our 10 favourtie songs released as singles or as part of bigger projects this month.
Tigirlily Gold – I Tried a Ring On
‘Shoot Tequila’ was a great way for the Slaubaugh sisters to introduce themselves to the wider world of Country music last year after building a strong and loyal regional fan base but ‘I Tried a Ring On’ is next level and destined for the top of the charts, we think.
Elvie Shane – What Do I Know
In someone like Eric Church’s hands this is a sure-fire radio number one. Full of blue-collar grit and street wisdom, a little religious imagery and sentiment doesn’t hurt either, ‘What Do I Know’ is Elvie Shane at his best.
Catie Offerman – Sound of Missing You
Catie continues to build her portfolio in melodic and meaningful ways. This ear-worm of a song grabs hold of you from the off and never lets go. Texan Country music at its best, if this is the start of of what we can expect from her this year, bring on an album is what we say!
Scotty McCreery – Can’t Pass the Bar
What a banger from Scotty this one is! 90s vibes and some sharp, clever lyrics , ‘Can’t Pass the Bar’ is one of those songs that just makes you want to drink and dance all night. Putting the fun back into Country music, we applaud you Mr McCreery – the 90s sound good on you.
Niko Moon – Better Days
The title track to Moon’s new album released this month, ‘Better Days’ retains that ‘no sad songs’ ethos that he has but adds a little wisdom and maturity into the mix that really suits him. Release this one to radio and it will become a real legacy song for Niko Moon, we’re sure.
Robyn Ottolini – Heartless
What a song this one. 3 minutes plus of pure drama, helmed beautifully by Ottolini’s strong, impassioned vocals and her knack of emoting relatable angst. There’s an obvious Taylor Swft edge to the lyrics in this song but Ottolini is no imitator as she weaves her spells of raw honesty and self reflection.
Randall King – Right Things Right
Plucked from King’s newly released ‘Into the Neon’ it was this track or the title track going head to head for inclusion on this list but we settled for ‘Right Things Right’ with it’s catchy, singalong chorus. One of those ‘wisdom’ songs, there’s maturity to those lyrics and a message that pulls at the heartstrings every time you listen to it.
Brittney Spencer – First Car Feeling
Coming hard out of the blocks like a prime Keith Urban banger, this nostalgic and evocative song is one of the best on Spencer’s new album, ‘My Stupid Life.’ Think arm-out-of-the-window, being seventeen again vibes that turn the clock back to the days of freedom and the naivety of youth. Priceless.
Tebey – Hold Your Horses
An absolute club banger out of the Canadian left field, ‘Hold Your Horses’ is Tebey’s strongest release for a while. It’s a lively, tongue-in-cheek anthem about drinking the bar dry and refusing to go home. It’s virtually impossible not to listen to this song and not smile.
Josh Ross – Single Again
Similar to Tebey’s ‘Hold Your Horses’, there’s some umph and uptempo balls behind this song. A Morgan Wallen-esque cadence gives way to an anthemic chorus with snappy melodies and clever lyrics that makes you want to throw your hands in the air and sing along.
We couldn’t keep to our advertised 10 songs so here’s a bonus 11th song! What a great month January was for new Country music releases.
Corey Kent – This Heart
Sneaking in right at the end of the month, those people lucky enough to see Kent out on the road with Ashley McBryde here in the UK this month were treated to a live version of this song that really heightened anticipation for its release. There’s some meat to this song and a rock sensibility that compliments the over-riding Country vibes nicely, like a lot of Corey Kent’s songs. This one has legs, folks. Mark our words.
