Never mind what Radio 4 had on the other night—if you want to talk about country taking over, look no further than Luke Combs.
The first artist to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, Combs is the living embodiment of “crossover.”
With a new album in the works, he reckons these songs were ready now—and his army of millions of fans certainly are too.
“My Kinda Saturday Night” manages to simultaneously sound exactly like you’d expect (and want) a Luke Combs track with that name to sound—and it’s brilliant. A honky-tonk homage to payday fun, it captures Combs’ appeal perfectly. Arguably the biggest country star around, he knows exactly what he’s doing here.
But you don’t reach Combs’ level without taking chances, and the other two tracks on “The Prequel” are different.
“15 Minutes” might begin as an idyllic story of a son phoning his mother, until you realise he’s calling from a life sentence. Meanwhile, the acoustic beauty of “Days Like These,” a gorgeous reflection on life’s smaller moments, feels almost perfect.
It’s a celebration of the little things—a prime example of what makes not just Combs, but country as a whole, so special.
Three songs. Twelve minutes. Utter class. If this is “The Prequel,” then the main body of work will be worth waiting for.
Rating: 8.5/10
