I'd like to bring to your attention, a recent album release from Nashville based artist, Brinley Addington. Although Brinley has been making music for a while, I have to hold my hands up and admit to only recently discovering his work. I think it was by taking a chance to watch one of the videos on YouTube and being pleasantly impressed by what I found.
Brinley, originally from Kingsport TN, he was taken to the Grand Ole Opry by his parents at the age of three, where he obviously caught the bug! He then arrived in Nashville in 2008, to attend Belmont University. It wasn't long before he was starting his baby steps in music, by performing across lower Broadway and then on an ever wider scale, at various clubs, fairs and festivals. He later supported several well known names in the world of Country, such as Chris Young, Jon Pardi, Ronnie Milsap, Marty Stuart and many more. Brinley has also written or co-written for the likes of Darius Rucker, Chris Janson and Kameron Marlowe. So we can see a rock solid base to which he can build his own solo career.
In 2014, he put out his first record, ‘Middle Of Nowhere' that included seven songs (so a short album or a long EP, who knows!) followed by the ‘Songs From A Bar' EP in 2018.
The title track of the new record, was the one I first heard and I was immediately taken in by how SOULful it sounded. With a very subtle Hammond playing in the background, the laid back style and strong vocals, tell a story of finding ‘the one'. Big headphones on and eyes closed, will bring you the best from this song. And as someone who took a long, long time to find the right lady, I can totally relate to this!
The album opens in a similar fashion, no bangs and crashes to introduce the album but another Soulful vibe to ‘Something Light' and an understated chorus that soon drops a fine melody into your ears. Brinley has been brought up on 90's Country and the influences stand strong thoughout. This is music that would sound great on any Country radio station on the planet but will be sadly ignored by far too many. The kind of Country that I am convinced would find favour in everyone that hears it, if they only knew about it.
There are a handful of tracks that do up the tempo, such as ‘Free That Day', with a galloping chorus perfect for a day when you can wind the window down in the car and turn the volume up! Or here in the UK, at least have the windows up and the heating on, while driving on another rainy day! Another one is ‘Darlene' where I'm sure you will be singing along as soon as you hear the chorus for the first time.
Then we are supplied with some classic Country sounds too, such as when Mae Estes joins in with ‘Same Ole Sins' and ‘Still Got That Radio'. These are songs that tell stories, exactly why we all love great Country music.
These days, it is so easy to sample music before having to decide whether to take the plunge and buy a copy, so in the first instance, I'd politely urge you to get onto YouTube or your streaming app and take a listen. Then, if you do find that I was telling you the truth, pay for a copy, or buy a t-shirt, or see if he will be playing near to you this year. Either way, please do then spread the word! Let your Country fans know that this is a collection of 90's style Country, with plenty to enjoy. I saw someone describe Brinley as bringing us ‘traditional twang, vivid storytelling and mountain soul'. That's a better description than I could improve on! So if you can, make Brinley Addington one of your own surprise discoveries of 2024. Oh, he's a super nice chap too!
TRACK LIST: Something Light | Goodbye Darlin' | Belle Of The Bar | Talkin' To Her Through The Jukebox | If You Don't [ feat: Sarah Allison Turner ] | Free That Day | Nobody's Favorite | Still Got That Radio | Mind Of Its Own | Darlene | Same Ole Sins [ feat: Mae Estes ] | Late To Church Release date: June 21 Record Label: Adding Tone Records Check out Brinley Addington right here
