Mitchell Tenpenny has been one of the rising stars of the country scene since he released his debut major label album, ‘Telling All My Secrets', back in 2018. Since then he's released the follow-up, ‘This Is The Heavy', winning fans over with his blend of country, pop and rock influences and has also worked with artists including Chris Young, Seaforth and Morgan Evans. Tenpenny is also due to be featured on the new Brooks and Dunn ‘Reboot 2' collaboration album out in November but it is new album, ‘The 3rd' that will raise him up over the coming year and cement his place as an artist of note to go alongside his recent nomination for CMA New Artist of the Year.
Tenpenny’s latest album ‘The 3rd' is a bold and reflective journey through themes of identity, love, and loss, featuring a soundscape that blends 80s pop-rock influences with his signature country style. At its core, the album presents a deeply personal narrative, as Tenpenny opens up about family pressure, heartbreak, and the search for meaning in life. One look at the cover art for the record, with personal pictures and mementos of Tenpenny's life scattered around the central image of himself lets you know that he considers this to be a very personal journey and project.
The album’s title track sets the tone for Tenpenny’s exploration of legacy and self-worth. Here, he delves into the anxiety of living up to his family name, grappling with the weight of expectations passed down from his father and grandfather. Lines like “If I ever have a boy, do I ever have a choice?” showcase his raw vulnerability, while the pounding drums and sweeping guitars amplify the drama of his inner turmoil. This song acts as an anchor for the album’s overarching theme: the struggle of navigating one’s place in the world.
‘Set It in Stone' serves as a companion piece to ‘The 3rd' with Tenpenny pondering his own mortality and life achievements. He vows to be a good husband and work hard, combining thoughtful, relatable lyrics with soaring melodies. The album’s introspective tone, especially around family and personal growth, weaves through other tracks, reflecting a man constantly evaluating his path. Newly married with maybe a family on the way in the next few years, tracks like the title track and ‘Set it in Stone' serve as an open-ended discussion on the evolution of a person.
‘The 3rd' is also liberally laced with Tenpenny’s unique blend of country-pop and 80s rock influences, a sound that emerges as his defining characteristic. Tracks like ‘Good Thing Goin' and ‘I Won't' bring a nostalgic 80s flair, with slick production, anthemic choruses, and drama-filled vocals. ‘Good Thing Goin' explores the aftermath of a breakup, where Tenpenny takes responsibility but can’t shake the sorrow, while ‘I Won’t' captures the struggle of resisting an ex’s pull, all delivered with powerful rock energy. Nowhere is this more in evidence than on ‘Started Stoppin,' which is another delightfully melodic song with an 80s leaning production. Here you'll find an insane melody that culminates in another sing along chorus as Tenpenny finds himself adrift after the failure of a relationship.
‘Bigger Mistakes' and ‘Smoke,' meanwhile, showcase Tenpenny's ability to channel relatable emotions into infectious melodies. In the former Tenpenny dismisses a failed relationship with a defiant, “I've made bigger mistakes than you,” while the song’s driving drums and bombastic chorus make it a standout. Meanwhile, ‘Smoke' dives into the metaphor of a relationship that burns too bright before fading out, combining clever lyrics with a mid-tempo rhythm that’s designed for sing-along moments.
Throughout the album, Tenpenny taps into a range of emotions, from regret to resilience. In ‘Not Today' he captures the raw pain of a breakup with an explosive, drum-driven chorus that has the potential to become a live show classic. ‘Well Whiskey' sees him negotiating with the bottle, trying to resist contacting an ex, highlighting his knack for capturing the bittersweet reality of moving on whilst ‘Breaking My Heart' is classic Tenpenny – a song full of funky, Pop-leaning rhythms that builds steadily towards a monster of a chorus in which our titular hero pleads, “Don’t you need a break from breaking my heart?’ Desperate for some distance, this song is destined to be a live favourite and sure-fire radio hit.
Whilst there's a lot of ‘classic Tenpenny' happening all over the ‘The 3rd' the album also finds room for experimentation. ‘Make It Rain' channels the dramatic storytelling of Tenpenny's earlier work like ‘Can't Go to Church.' It depicts a western-inspired tale of rural struggle and bank robbery, set against wailing guitars and pounding drums. It’s an epic track filled with tension and a gripping narrative twist when you find out who the inside man on the job is! ‘Demon or Ghost' (featuring Underoath), meanwhile, is perhaps the most unique track on the album, blending Evanescence style Goth-Pop vibes with a haunting storyline about memories that refuse to fade. It even features some fine screamo singing from Underoath too as Tenpenny plays around in the same sand box that artists like HARDY have been experimenting in recently.
While ‘The 3rd' covers a lot of ground, its 20-track length can feel a bit overwhelming in one listen, with a few tracks like the boyband-adjacent ‘Woke Up in a Dream,' ‘Long Way to Go' and the Goo Goo Dolls cover, ‘Iris' coming across as unnecessary, or slightly indulgent, additions. However, when Tenpenny leans into his strengths—soaring, anthemic choruses, 80s pop-rock production, and heartfelt lyrics—the album truly shines.
The closing track ‘Tennessee in Me' wraps up the album on a sweet note, with Tenpenny paying tribute to his home state and the girl he loves. It brings a lighter, banjo-infused Southern sound to an otherwise intense collection, providing a fitting end to his journey of self-reflection. It also nicely bookends the album conceptually, fitting in well with the title track opener and bringing this collection of ‘classic Tenpenny' songs to a close.
‘The 3rd' encapsulates Mitchell Tenpenny’s skill for storytelling through big, sweeping anthems and relatable lyrics. Despite its length, the album is packed with high-energy bangers and tender moments, highlighting his signature style: dynamic production, pounding drums, and emotional depth. It’s a testament to Tenpenny's evolution as an artist and his commitment to exploring the complexities of life, love, and legacy. The album is jam-packed with melody, huge choruses and emotional angst – that, there, is country music done the Tenpenny way, folks.
Tracklist: 1. The 3rd 2. Good Thing Goin 3. Bigger Mistakes 4. Woke Up in a Dream 5. Iris 6. I Won't 7. Guess We'll Never Know 8. Not Today 9. Smoke 10. Set it in Stone 11. Make it Rain 12. Started Stoppin 13. Well Whiskey 14. Same Moon 15. Breaking My Heart 16. Long Way to Go 17. Head Start on a Heartbreak 18. Fall Back In It 19. Demon or Ghost 20. Tennessee in Me Record Label: Sony Music Nashville Release Date: September 20th Buy ‘The 3rd' right here
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