He might be only 19 but Mississippi native Colin Stough is already making big waves on the country music scene. After finishing third on American Idol in 2022, he's racked up almost 20 million global streams and opened for artists like Chase Matthews, Kidd G and Drake White. Now he's releasing his sophomore EP ‘Lookin' For Home', the follow-up to 2023's ‘Promiseland'.
The six-track project opens with ‘Boat Somewhere', laced with laughter and chirping cicadas before easing into a swampy, bluesy melody that works well with Stough's drawling vocals as he sings about ditching work for a ‘green-eyed blonde and a Yamaha'. The stomping chorus feels like a slower, more biting version of Alan Jackson's classic ‘5 O'Clock Somewhere', practically demanding a crowd to sway along holding their beers in the air, and there's a wicked guitar riff that sets the template for much of the next 15 minutes or so.
One thing which particularly stands out to me is Stough's impressive vocals. He brings soulful touches and huge notes he brings to the bittersweet, introspective ‘Makes Two Of Us', with its wailing guitars and rocky chorus, as well as his gravelly edge on the soaring chorus of ‘Sober' – a lonesome, weighty number that captures the feeling of isolation whilst trying to get over a breakup – and rapid-fire delivery on ‘Outside Lookin' In', which contrasts a bright melody with a lyrical twist that flips the song on its head. It's clear he's got the chops to back up the big melodies and production on the EP and I think he's got one of the best voices of the new crop of young rock-influenced country artists.
For me the highlight of the record is ‘Amen'. With a haunting, echoing opening and a sparse guitar line before building into layers of rolling drums and revved-up riffs, Stough paints a picture of ‘whitewashed walls closing in' as he yearns to get back to his small town. It's a hugely powerful number full of drama that suits his voice really well and packs a considerable punch – I can already see a windswept, rainy music video for this!
The EP closes with the title track, another standout moment and probably the most country song on the project. Pairing a steady, pulsing beat with a slick fiddle line, Stough brilliantly creates a sense of loneliness and feeling out of place whilst being resigned to the nature of life on the road. The final flourishing riff is a perfect contrast to the downbeat nature of the lyrics and it leaves me intrigued to see where he might go next.
Overall Colin Stough has delivered an EP with plenty of promise that's sure to win over country-rock fans in particular and showcases his incredible vocals to perfection. If I had any criticisms, it would be that it can get a little repetitive, and I'd have liked to see him explore some different sides of himself – although perhaps that's something he might delve into on a future project. But it's definitely highlighted him as one to watch for the future, and I can imagine these songs working really well live too (maybe some UK dates in the offing soon?).
Track listing: 1. Boat Somewhere 2. Makes Two Of Us 3. Amen 4. Sober 5. Outside Lookin' In 6. Lookin' For Home Record label: 19 Recordings/This Is Hit/BBR Music Group Release date: 12th July 2023
