Colden Rainey Swindell—better known as Cole Swindell—was born on June 30, 1983, in Glennville, Georgia, and later grew up in Dawson. After majoring in marketing at Georgia Southern University, he moved to Nashville in 2007 and began his music journey by selling merchandise for Luke Bryan. Swindell broke through as a songwriter for top country stars like Thomas Rhett and Luke Bryan before launching his own recording career in 2013. He earned the ACM New Artist of the Year award in 2015 and has since released four studio albums under Warner Music Nashville, producing an impressive 13 singles—including eight that hit No. 1 on country charts .
Now gearing up for his fifth studio album ‘Spanish Moss,' scheduled for release today on June 27, 2025, Swindell explores growth and personal transformation. The record spans 21 tracks, including the heartfelt lead single ‘Forever To Me,' inspired by his relationship with his wife, Courtney, and written in celebration of their engagement and forthcoming first child. With a blend of reflective ballads and energetic anthems, ‘Spanish Moss' draws on nostalgic imagery from his Georgia upbringing—invoking the Spanish moss that lined his father’s childhood home—to convey stories of love, loss and resilience.
The album opens with ‘Kill a Prayer,' a mid-tempo anthem where Swindell thanks his stars and his faith—“I’m living proof that you can’t kill a prayer,” he sings over a tasteful blend of steady drums and slick guitars. This sets the tone for much of what follows: heartfelt sentiment delivered in Swindell’s signature radio-ready style. But while ‘Spanish Moss' is brimming with polished production and Swindell’s warm drawl, it also suffers from a little bloat, often recycling the same themes across its 21 tracks.
Among the highlights is ‘Dirty Dancing,' a moody, atmospheric recollection of a fleeting but unforgettable night. “Just a slow country song, and my old lucky boots getting dirty, dancing with you,” Swindell sings, flipping the title’s connotations on its head. This clever lyrical twist, paired with mournful fiddle and a slow-building chorus, makes it a standout—deeply emotive without veering into schmaltz. Similarly, ‘Dale JR' strikes a different but equally personal chord, drawing on Swindell’s experience of losing his father. Meeting NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr., who shares that same grief, provides a poignant moment of male vulnerability in a genre that often sidesteps it.
Unfortunately, not every song on ‘Spanish Moss' hits with that kind of emotional punch. ‘We Can Always Move On' and ‘Georgia (Ain’t on Her Mind)' fall into the trap of sounding great but saying little, bogged down by well-worn tropes and a lack of specificity. ‘Lost Heart' continues the post-breakup theme, with a gentle acoustic strum reminiscent of Extreme’s ‘More Than Words,' but its thematic repetition underlines one of the album’s biggest problems: there’s simply too much of it. Back-to-back songs about being left behind lose impact when they aren’t offering something new. These should-have-been B-sides dilute the stronger material and make a compelling case for a leaner, more focused record.
Luckily, the album’s middle section offers a welcome jolt of energy. ‘Bottom of It' roars with southern rock swagger as Swindell drowns his sorrows in a bar and ‘Left to Get Right' follows suit with a raucous, empowering breakup anthem—“We were wrong from the first Miller Lite,” he roars, before launching into a fist-pumping guitar solo. Then comes ‘Longneck List,' a fun, sing-along drinking tune that plays like a Blake Shelton or Luke Bryan hit waiting to happen. This three-song run injects much-needed momentum into an album that’s otherwise often subdued and overly safe.
Other bright spots include ‘Forever to Me,' the emotional centrepiece of the album, written about Swindell’s wife. “I might have gave her the diamond, but she gave forever to me,” he declares, and while the production remains slick and commercial, the sentiment is authentic and deeply felt. ‘Happy Hour Sad' takes a creative detour with its Mexicana influences and sultry vibe, a border-town fling that’s half flamenco, half honky-tonk: “We’re slipping out the back,” he confesses, giving the song a sexy, dangerous edge that’s hard to resist. These songs succeed because they sound like they come from real experiences or bring a little something different to the table, rather than just ticking off tropes on a songwriting checklist.
‘Someone Worth Missing' and ‘Take Me Down' offer more introspective moments, with the former reflecting on Swindell’s desire to live in a way that would make his late father proud—“I better get better at living, like someone worth missing.” Meanwhile, ‘Take Me Down' leans into moodier tones, using red dirt roads and southern roots as a metaphor for renewal and rediscovery. These songs strike an emotional balance that’s often missing in some of the more forgettable mid-album tracks like ‘One Day' or '99 Problems,' which sound fine but feel uninspired compared to some of the more impactful and personal tracks on ‘Spanish Moss.'
The album closes on a deeply personal note with ‘Heads Up Heaven,' a tribute to Swindell’s mother. With soft piano and a loving narrative, Swindell imagines her meeting Jesus, proudly noting, “She’s always wanted to meet you face to face.” It’s a gentle, heartfelt way to wrap up the sprawling record and showcases what Swindell does best when he digs into real-life emotions.
Ultimately, ‘Spanish Moss' is a mixed bag—undeniably polished and full of hit potential, but also overstuffed. Trimmed down by five or six tracks, this could have been Swindell’s most personal and potent project yet. Instead, whilst it’s a good album with some potentially monster hit songs on it, ‘Spanish Moss' too often plays it safe, although there is just enough genuine heart to keep you listening and intrigued as to where songs like ‘Happy Hour Sad, ‘Wild' and ‘Take Me Down' could go if released to radio.
Tracklist: 1. Kill a Prayer 2. Dirty Dancing 3. Dale JR 4. Spanish Moss 5. We Can Always Move On 6. Georgia (Ain't on Her Mind) 7. Lost Heart 8. Bottom Of It 9. Left to Get Right 10. Longneck List 11. Country Boy Can't Survive 12. Happy Hour Sad 13. Wild 14. One Day 15. Forever to Me 16. Someone Worth Missin' 17. First Second 18. 99 Problems 19. It Don't Hurt Anymore 20. Take Me Down 21. Heads Up Heaven Record Label: Warner Music Nashville Release Date: June 27th Buy ‘Spanish Moss' right here.
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