28-year-old Kentucky based singer/songwriter Tyler Childers follows-up his 2017 acclaimed Sturgill Simpson produced release, Purgatory, with Country Squire – a good-time country record. Country Squire was again produced by Simpson with the addition of co-producer David Ferguson (Tim O’Brien, Dan Auerbach) alongside Stuart Duncan (fiddle, mandolin, banjo), Miles Miller (drums, background vocals), and Russ Pahl (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal steel, jaw harp, baritone). The nine-track set of country songs are filled with honesty, sharp wit, and an upbeat perspective. The entire recording was accomplished in two days, which adds a carefree airiness to the songs. Childers sings about his happy marriage and his dreams of building a positive future for his family while capturing life in the Kentucky Hill Country from where he comes. Standout tracks include: the upbeat country ditty “Country Squire”; the schoolboy’s crush on “Bus Route”; the big city hesitation on “Creeker”; the tender love song “All Your’n”; the honky-tonker with a twist in “Gemini”; the country gem “House Fire”; the contemplative road song “Everlovin’ Hand”; and the heartfelt closer “Matthew.” There is not a bad track on Tyler Childers’ Country Squire. It’s a great album that easily solidifies Childers’ place among fellow contemporaries like Sturgill Simpson, Colter Wall, Chris Stapleton and the like. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Brent Cobb, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Turnpike Troubadours, Colter Wall