I describe Hardy like this: he doesn’t make country music, he makes rural music. Genuinely rural music, for real country people who listen to as much Slayer as they do Alan Jackson. His lyrics aren’t always this sweet but hollow southern turns of phrase, but really represent what those of us who live in the sticks actually think. As someone who grew up in rural Iowa, Hardy represents me in a significantly greater way than any traditional or pop country artist ever has. Colter Wall is close and I like his music more, but Hardy represents us better.
I just posted a comment before reading this one. You're 100% on. The "rural" music label is perfect. Sorry that I left your rural section out of my post. I've just never been there!
Agree 100%. Growing up in rural Kansas, I definitely grew up on a mix of country and hard rock music. Hardy had that mix down and it worked amazingly for him
He did an interview with Country cast saying that it’s not even about the industry that he’s throwing to middle finger at it’s himself. He hates and loves it about himself. He doesn’t wanna be making superficial music anymore but he loves it at the same time because it’s gotten to where he’s at. It’s made him money. It’s got him out of low places. It’s like if you can’t criticize yourself how can you grow? This is him growing. And personally, I’ll take bro country over boyfriend Country any day. For me, this albums is an 8/10
As a guy who listens to mostly Metal and Country music, this album is amazing. I even got some of my buddies who like metal/rock but not country asking me who it was that I was playing during our car ride yesterday, so it's definitely going to grab some people outside of the country circle!
Hardy is all of us country music fans. We listen to country music but we also listen to rock music. I am here for it and I can not wait for my vinyl to come in the mail to hold it physically while I listen. Grady great job and keep up the good work.
This album plays amazingly well in concert. I got to see hard last weekend in August and it was awesome. The rock music is way better in person when you can get the drums and guitar rifts right in front of you. Highly suggest trying to see him in a smaller concert hall!
I got to see Hardy open for Morgan Wallen in concert, and seeing Sold Out performed live made it quite possibly my favorite Hardy song. He performed it so well, and you could tell how great it was with how much energy the crowd gave back to him. Him and Morgan have some of the best stage presence and just know how to get a crowd hyped up.
Same. I saw them in St.Louis in August and was blown away. The energy of the crowd was unlike anything I've felt and I've been to more concerts than the average person so that's saying something. Morgan even mentioned how unreal the energy was. Phenomenal show, can't wait to see them again this year. Got tickets to Hardy's tour in April and Morgan in July. Pumped!!!
He is just such a surprising artist to me. He never skimps on melodies and lyrics. His craftsmanship of the song is always impeccable. It’s so funny because the content and the production is a lot more experimental and because the other stuff is so strong he isn’t afraid to play there. Honestly even the stuff that isn’t my favorite it still strong and holds up
This year was my second deer season. Hearing Hardy scream about the lifestyle of providing for oneself, not relying on others, hunting and so many other things that I’ve really began to identify myself with was really cool.
Having grown up listening to hard rock and alternative, but now mostly country, I can totally embrace this harder Country sound. How cool is it that he’s being welcomed by Rock fans and energizing both genres! Agree about similar themes for Beer, Happy and Jack, but also like those songs, along with Sold Out, Radio and the one you shouldn’t have skipped, Ain’t in the Country! Plus I like Red and look forward to hearing it on the radio and live with Morgan, who’s amazing!
I´m from Germany and if someone would have told me a year ago that I´ll be excited about a country artist one day, I would have laughed very loud. I never met someone over here who´s into country music at all. And now this Mississipi lad comes along, changes everything and has become one of my favourite new artists. I think that it has something to do with the way he´s writing songs and the way he looks. He doesn´t look like a common country singer. Maybe I can identify myself better with guys in jeans, t-shirt and a baseball cap than with lads who look like cowboys. I really like his country songs and I´ll check out his debut album for sure. Anyway, thanks a lot for this great video, Grady! I favour all content creators who keep their videos simple, without any frills and gimmicks.
There are plenty country fans over here in Germany… Kane Brown played in Munich last night and the venue was packed out. There are other artists coming here soon, too (Elvie Shane, Ingrid Andress, Morgan Evans and Mitchell Tenpenny, Kip Moore, Luke Combs and others). I think Luke Combs is even close to selling out the big arena in Hamburg… And there are some very good local artists coming through, as well. 👍🇩🇪
What's interesting about Radio Song is that HARDY's writing was a big part of the type of music he's criticizing. Plays into the 'self-rebellion' that you talked about.
I’m a metal fan born and raised came through the 00s with Linkin Park, slipknot and Nickelback burn also with my dads record collection. Got into bro country around its popularity . The cherry on the cake is I’m also a huge ADTR fan. This album is perfection to me, been jamming it front to back since release. Speaks to me and I just can’t wait to see these songs live
This album blew me away. I’ve been away from country for a few years. I had only heard Wait in the Truck so I went in blind. I hadn’t even listened to Hardy. I’ve been talking about wanting an album I could listen straight through. I thought it was just country and I was enjoying it driving around. When the “&” part hit it completely caught me off guard. I lost it. 🤣 It just continued to get better. I was all over trying to find people to talk about it with. I was thinking about making a video like this just to talk about it. I was obsessing for a couple days. I love red, screen, and happy. The whole rock side is great. Maybe not The Redneck Song. Radio Song always gets a smile out of me. I’m a fan. In one hour of time from my day Hardy made me a fan for life. I can’t wait to see what he’s doing next. It’s nice to love country again.
My favorite album. I’ve been listening on repeat since it dropped. I can’t get enough. I grew up in the south so country music is such a huge part of my life but I also grew up with a dad that loved Alice In Chains, Metallica, Godsmack etc. I got into metal bands like A Day To Remember & August Burns Red- went to Warped every summer in high school. So Radio Song was just an epic track on this album for me 😂 Hands down- it’s amazing & I’m so excited about what HARDY is doing ❤🤘🏼
im totally obsessed with Radio Song- reminds me of a hardcore If She Wants A Cowboy! the general consensus im seeing though, is that a lot of people don’t understand it
It’s a great album, but I feel like he released the best songs beforehand. A trend I’ve recently noticed is that album releases happen over months and by the time they are released you’ve already heard half the tracks.
I thought this was one of your most insightful and well thought out reviews. Was really looking forward to your thoughts on it and was excited to get them in full detail. Great work as always
This album is one of the best albums in the past couple of years. I got bored with country music but I found rock country and it changed everything. HARDY is gonna start an anti establishment and more country rock on the way and im here for it.
I think Screen is my favourite song, but overall I prefer the Crow half of the album. I wasn’t a fan of Sold Out initially but I think it’s fun in context. The contrast of the vocals in Radio Song hooked me immediately and it’s definitely gonna be a long-term favourite.
Radio song, I ain’t in the county no more, screen, and the mockingbird in the crow are my favorites!! Radio song got me hooked immediately , just saw him in concert and no one else was head banging besides me it seemed I was so disappointed in the crowd in that moment. But everyone was singing every word to all songs so I forgive them. He seemed genuinely touched by how much and how long everyone was singing it was awesome. Best concert I’ve ever been to
Glad you brought up the alternative perspective in ‘Drink One For Me’ Perfect response to ‘Give Heaven Some Hell’ especially after losing someone close. Might not be your favourite but I absolutely love Red
I honestly looove the song happy, there's this part of the song where he goes "Happy sits there patiently; In line behind jealousy; Waiting on a humble epiphany; That your grass might be greener; And Happy's never liked the view; Of "I ain't good enough" Avenue; 'Cause you can bet if you don't like you, you don't like Happy neither." And that is something that just resonated with me so much when I first heard it and I instantly fell in love with this song. I kinda love the way he takes everyday things and turns them into these characters of their own, same as in beer and in Jack. I really dig Hardy I think mostly for his clever style of writing, because it's what I often miss with other artists. I love when I listen to a song and there comes this clever line and you just go "oh I see what you did there".
On paper this record has amazing writing and clearly a lot of talent was behind it but to me it feels more like a songwriting experiment than a cohesive album. Like “how many cool clever wordplay songs can we possibly think of”? And just put them all together. I like hardy and this album but I feel like I will continue to revisit A ROCK and not so much this one.
He’s already a favorite after a very small sample size. I’m a Texas boy and I get down with country music, I’m more of a metal person, but I love George Strait, Randy Travis, and I’ve seen Garth Brooks live so I love country when it’s just objectively well done. When I heard “wait in the truck” I was shocked. Storytelling and lyrics, vocals, music, the video; it was all incredible. I think only Chris Stapleton has touched me this same way because of his voice in recent years
I somehow forgot this released in January after I heard the promos but after just listening to it, as a country boy and a huge metalhead the back half of this album is everything I hoped it would be, the whole message is great and I especially love that he made a loud and clear point of how pro gun he is when most country artists just mention guns briefly or not at all Country and metal compliment each other insanely well already with their independent outcast roots and it was about damn time someone put them together in a big project like this and Hardy did it masterfully
He brings so much energy and passion which you can feel, writing great songs but love what he is doing - he is so genuine! Hardy is blending country, 80/90’s rock with country., I love the way he is the disrupter of the sugar pop country that I despise cause it all sounds the same. Who knows where he ends up - rock or country, but I think rock has been dormant for a long time and someone will come along and pull it back to center from current county pop music - which I thin Sucks.😅 Whiskey Meyers, Hardy are slowly pulling rock music back through country. The establishment cannot stop it if you are filling venues and everyone is signing your songs so loud. That is what seeing Hardy is like live, the energy I have not felt since Bruce River and Born in USA tours!! I love this guy!!
I think there are definitely great songs on the country side of the album, but the rock side is by far my favorite. I feel like every rock track just slaps.
Outside of swearing more than I prefer, this record has everything. The stories behind each song and aspect and how he elaborates on them is so well done, and the production of every song is fantastically done for a dual face album like this one. I think he took his first album and took it to another level. I've had this album on repeat since it came out, and several songs are constantly stuck in my head. Easily the best album of the year so far- 9/10
Bro you're coming to London!!!! You doing any meet and greets be awesome to say thanks for being my bridge into country music (England isn't so hot on it beyond C2C festival).
So as a traditional country fan who grew up with “bro country” I do prefer the country half of this album. I don’t think I’ve gotten tired of “over written” songs yet so I still love the well done hooks in that part of the album. The rock half is just different for me but there are parts of it I like. Mockingbird and the Crow is one of the best songs we’ve gotten in years.
I really think the album, and specifically the song, Tale of Two Towns by Brandon Ratcliff, does a good job of not writing to the hook. That album was beautiful and touching as it was incomplete. I'm surprised you didn't review it.
It’s metal music not rock. I can see where you’re getting the idea from though. Rock and metal do share the same attitude but metal is so much more louder and more aggressive than rock
Just like the 4th song on Metallica albums is a ballad, I'm gonna guess the last song on Hardy albums will now be "Unapologetically Country" songs and I love it!
I think it's worth noting that maybe even half of "country" folks in the South (though not Nashville) between the ages of 20-40 are into hard rock to a large degree. However, their daily life experiences would reflect country lyrics. I haven't heard anyone point this out yet... that there's a huge, underserved group of people here. Hardy himself, if he had no talent, would be a posterchild for that group. Thank God he's got the talent to make this stuff for the rest of us.
Radio Song is my absolute favorite on the album. I was watering horses in a FLOOD the first time I listened thru the album, so I wasn’t paying a ton of attention. I heard the first lines and chorus and thought “this is kinda typical country, wtf” and then the screamo happened 😂 I immediately fell in love with it and have had it on repeat ever since. Also I’m sorry, I love The Redneck Song too. 😂 it’s corny and yes, hokey, but it’s so fun.
I had the exact opposite reaction to “Redneck Song”. It’s interesting how this record hits people in different ways. To me it’s a fun, irreverent “we need an album closer” track. The outro that keeps speeding up is like spinning out while driving too fast, which I think is a great way to end this project. Hardy’s probably one of my favorite writers working right now, glad the album turned out as good as it did. Was not expecting as much rock / metal crossover acceptance as it’s getting, but it seems like he can pull from any crowd.
I think you missed a really deep song in "I ain't in the country no more." My favorite line is when he says how the sirens are going off outside and he goes to look at them, and he cuts his foot on sidewalk glass. That is so deep. In the country, if you hear sirens it is must see TV. So much so that you run outside without shoes on, which is also a common thing to do in the country anyway. But he doesn't know that sirens are almost background noise in the city. He doesn't know to put your shoes on because the sidewalks are nasty and a hazard. He's completely naive to the city life. And he paints to so vividly and creatively in just 2 lines. That hits the me in my soul harder than anything in the entire album
Going on the hardy “world building” thing. I liked the line in beer where he said “brought one of me out to her old man fore you asked to put that rock on her hand”. Reminded me of A ROCK when he says “next thing you know your saving up for a rock” both referring to an engagement ring as a rock
Grady maybe I missed it, but did you forget to review I ain’t in the country no more off the album? That was a top 3 off the album for me was excited to hear your thoughts too
As someone whose top genres include death core and bluegrass I love the crow of the album. I'm from a pretty much village on the side of a river so I kinda get the mix. The first half seemed like it was wanting a few singles honestly.
I would love to see Grady and Mark from Spectrum Pulse talk to each other about this album, their perspectives are basically 180 degrees away from one another
I really like the album and many of my friends do too. because honestly if you look at a millennial farmers playlist you see a decent mix of metal and country. they go from George Strait, Merle Haggard, and Garth Brooks to Metallica, FFDP, and Disturbed. so I think this hits his target audience perfectly.
Hey Grady, .30-06 gave me major Green Day vibes as well and I realized it has almost the exact same tune as Brain Stew by Green Day. Listen to those two songs back to back and you will understand what I am saying!
I think it would be very interesting to see you branch out a maybe try some heavier rock and some metal bands. I love country, but rock and metal have always been my go to, so this album was made for me.
At the Ole Miss concert (The one MW actually showed up to), Hardy prefaces Radio Song with a story about how the industry purposely throttled Give Heaven Some Hell because they don't put heaven and hell in the same sentence. They pushed him to write a more catchy number 1 song and Radio Song was his response.
I legit have been waiting for this review. As I was listening I caught my self think about what you were gonna say about it. Interesting take on red with Morgan wallen. I think it’s a little deeper than what you described but overall I can agree with all of the other points. Love the channel!!
I feel like hardy is really taken for granted. Maybe it’s because I’m part of a different generation, but I don’t hear people giving him the respect he’s earned. All anyone wants to talk about is tiktok country music, they all listen to Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers. Everyone my age has entirely disregarded Morgan wallen and hardy was always foreign to them. And now more than ever they’re gonna ignore hardy cuz hey he’s just Morgan wallens side kick right? But he is making big moves and really revolutionizing the way we look at real country music. I can definitely appreciate him for who he is but I’m definitely a rock girl. Been listening to him and Morgan since 2019 when I first heard up down and I’m not willing to give up on either of them yet (talking more about Morgan). I won’t give up on Hardy.
I agree with a lot of this review. I feel that “kill **** till I die” is a modern version of “country boy can survive.” But I enjoyed the rock part more than the country part.
Let alone the fact that a Hard Rock singer is featured on a "Country" album is just awesome; Acknowledgement of the Rock scene that is otherwise severely missing on the Nash scene 🤷🏽♂. But in terms of what it sounds like, I'm kinda getting a Sleeping With Sirens vibe off of at least the instrumental of Kill Sh!t 👀
@@gargudon8720 Hardcore, punk rock, and the like all have very similar lyrical topics as country music. After I heard Hardy's 'Boots' I was wishing for a hardcore country sub-genre. Haven't listened to this album yet but hopefully it's what I was looking for! I loved SWS first album.
@@averywebb6960 As I call it perhaps Hardy has more or less invented the Country sub-genre "Southern Hardcore". Koe Wetzel, Jelly Roll and such can perhaps on that train too 👀
I really hate all things bro Country but am a big fan of classic country, later neo traditional country and I really like a few different types of rock. I don’t love every song but Hardy is the one guy that has written some bro country songs for artist I can’t stand that I can really appreciate. When he’s not writing radio formula songs There’s an authenticity in his lyrics that is similar to the outlaw guys I love that I can really appreciate although it’s a different style. There’s a realness there and he’s comfortable with who he is and can’t be put in a box defined by genre. I’m glad to see a Mississippi guy have success and I hope he will keep being himself.
Reading these comments, how has nobody stated the obvious - this is a wanna be Kid Rock, without the depth. I gotta admire him for trying to not sound like all the bro country crap but, it just doesn’t land like it could. I think he has the talent to get there, just hasn’t found it yet.
I’d say “happy” is my favorite on the country side. It definitely feels the most personal which probably correlates to the fact that it’s the only solo-write
In terms of performance quality hardy really nails many of these tracks, even his more screamo moments. But my problem is the anti establishment narrative he tries to apply to the record feels incredibly manufactured and feels like hypocrisy. None of his industry criticisms hold any weight since hardy indulges these generic vibes so often in his own and co-writes for other artists.
@@GradySmith I’m not denying the interesting nature. Just that his criticisms like southern pride and need for steel don’t hold up at all because he never indulged steel and he’s known for being thee southern pride guy in the mainstream world
I feel like the hypocrisy was intentional. Like Hardy is well aware that he is part of the country radio conglomerate of songwriters and it seems like he somewhat resents that part of himself. Especially on radio song and the title track.
I like country but I don’t listen to it often and never liked Hardy because well he seemed like just another super country guy that was kinda meh. Then he dropped his cover of Blurry which I actually heard because it was played on a rock station, listened to it a lot. Then sold out came out and I was hooked on that, and thought to my self if this dude went rock I would listen to it for sure. Opened my Spotify one day and this album was suggested.. and I love it. Made me a Hardy fan and gonna have to give the rest of his music another shot. I love the way it transistions from one album to another almost. The mockingbird and the crow, radio song, wait in the truck and ain’t in the country anymore are all fighting to be my favorite song off of it.
@gradysmith, have you seen the collab/feature HARDY did recently with Beartooth? Find "The Better Me". Even though he didn't write the lyrics, it carries on with one of the main themes you highlight in this video. Good work, man. I think if you give that song 2-3 listens and pick up on all the words, you'll see how it's that odd-shaped jigsaw piece that fits perfectly into the big picture HARDY's painting.
For me Hardy sounds r like country concerts. Ya always stuck around till the end ,..., for the rock songs🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍!!! With Hardy, you dont have to fucking wait 👍. Great artist.
I describe Hardy like this: he doesn’t make country music, he makes rural music. Genuinely rural music, for real country people who listen to as much Slayer as they do Alan Jackson. His lyrics aren’t always this sweet but hollow southern turns of phrase, but really represent what those of us who live in the sticks actually think. As someone who grew up in rural Iowa, Hardy represents me in a significantly greater way than any traditional or pop country artist ever has. Colter Wall is close and I like his music more, but Hardy represents us better.
I just posted a comment before reading this one. You're 100% on. The "rural" music label is perfect. Sorry that I left your rural section out of my post. I've just never been there!
Agree
Agree 100%
Iowa gang lesss go
Agree 100%. Growing up in rural Kansas, I definitely grew up on a mix of country and hard rock music. Hardy had that mix down and it worked amazingly for him
He did an interview with Country cast saying that it’s not even about the industry that he’s throwing to middle finger at it’s himself. He hates and loves it about himself. He doesn’t wanna be making superficial music anymore but he loves it at the same time because it’s gotten to where he’s at. It’s made him money. It’s got him out of low places.
It’s like if you can’t criticize yourself how can you grow? This is him growing.
And personally, I’ll take bro country over boyfriend Country any day.
For me, this albums is an 8/10
As a guy who listens to mostly Metal and Country music, this album is amazing. I even got some of my buddies who like metal/rock but not country asking me who it was that I was playing during our car ride yesterday, so it's definitely going to grab some people outside of the country circle!
Hardy is all of us country music fans. We listen to country music but we also listen to rock music. I am here for it and I can not wait for my vinyl to come in the mail to hold it physically while I listen. Grady great job and keep up the good work.
This album plays amazingly well in concert. I got to see hard last weekend in August and it was awesome. The rock music is way better in person when you can get the drums and guitar rifts right in front of you. Highly suggest trying to see him in a smaller concert hall!
I got to see Hardy open for Morgan Wallen in concert, and seeing Sold Out performed live made it quite possibly my favorite Hardy song. He performed it so well, and you could tell how great it was with how much energy the crowd gave back to him. Him and Morgan have some of the best stage presence and just know how to get a crowd hyped up.
Wow that must if been an absolute amazing show. Yes that’s one of my favorite songs.
Rock the south? If so I was there and he absolutely didn’t disappoint!
Same. I saw them in St.Louis in August and was blown away. The energy of the crowd was unlike anything I've felt and I've been to more concerts than the average person so that's saying something. Morgan even mentioned how unreal the energy was. Phenomenal show, can't wait to see them again this year. Got tickets to Hardy's tour in April and Morgan in July. Pumped!!!
I saw them 2022 in Atlanta, really wish I could go back in time and watch them again since I did the deep dive on Hardy after 😂
As a "Metal" fan... I love this record. It's such a jump from my expectation of country music.
He missed “I AINT IN THE COUNTRY NO MORE” 😔
Yeah I guess I did! I’m sorry it was 1am and the vid was so damn long 😩
@@GradySmith what's your thoughts on it. I loved the production
@@GradySmith you gotta cover Bench Seat by Chase Rice. Phenomenal.
He also mentions living under a rock in, “screen” - a reference to his old album
Ive been waiting for this since the album came out. I’m so excited
He is just such a surprising artist to me. He never skimps on melodies and lyrics. His craftsmanship of the song is always impeccable. It’s so funny because the content and the production is a lot more experimental and because the other stuff is so strong he isn’t afraid to play there. Honestly even the stuff that isn’t my favorite it still strong and holds up
This year was my second deer season. Hearing Hardy scream about the lifestyle of providing for oneself, not relying on others, hunting and so many other things that I’ve really began to identify myself with was really cool.
This was my 2nd as well. How'd you do?
Having grown up listening to hard rock and alternative, but now mostly country, I can totally embrace this harder Country sound. How cool is it that he’s being welcomed by Rock fans and energizing both genres! Agree about similar themes for Beer, Happy and Jack, but also like those songs, along with Sold Out, Radio and the one you shouldn’t have skipped, Ain’t in the Country! Plus I like Red and look forward to hearing it on the radio and live with Morgan, who’s amazing!
Love that your posted right after Overshore. Lots of great country content today. So blessed haha love this new HARDY too!!
grady and overshore are the cutest couple
Been waiting for your video on this can’t wait to watch!!
I´m from Germany and if someone would have told me a year ago that I´ll be excited about a country artist one day, I would have laughed very loud. I never met someone over here who´s into country music at all. And now this Mississipi lad comes along, changes everything and has become one of my favourite new artists. I think that it has something to do with the way he´s writing songs and the way he looks. He doesn´t look like a common country singer. Maybe I can identify myself better with guys in jeans, t-shirt and a baseball cap than with lads who look like cowboys. I really like his country songs and I´ll check out his debut album for sure.
Anyway, thanks a lot for this great video, Grady! I favour all content creators who keep their videos simple, without any frills and gimmicks.
There are plenty country fans over here in Germany… Kane Brown played in Munich last night and the venue was packed out. There are other artists coming here soon, too (Elvie Shane, Ingrid Andress, Morgan Evans and Mitchell Tenpenny, Kip Moore, Luke Combs and others). I think Luke Combs is even close to selling out the big arena in Hamburg… And there are some very good local artists coming through, as well. 👍🇩🇪
@@rbhe8101 Interesting. But like I said, I never ever met a country fan over here.
What's interesting about Radio Song is that HARDY's writing was a big part of the type of music he's criticizing. Plays into the 'self-rebellion' that you talked about.
I’m only interested in contradictory people.
@@GradySmith Your love of Eric Church and Miranda Lambert makes a lot of sense now
@@GradySmith William Faulkner - 'The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself'
I’m a metal fan born and raised came through the 00s with Linkin Park, slipknot and Nickelback burn also with my dads record collection. Got into bro country around its popularity . The cherry on the cake is I’m also a huge ADTR fan. This album is perfection to me, been jamming it front to back since release. Speaks to me and I just can’t wait to see these songs live
This album blew me away. I’ve been away from country for a few years.
I had only heard Wait in the Truck so I went in blind.
I hadn’t even listened to Hardy.
I’ve been talking about wanting an album I could listen straight through.
I thought it was just country and I was enjoying it driving around.
When the “&” part hit it completely caught me off guard.
I lost it. 🤣
It just continued to get better.
I was all over trying to find people to talk about it with.
I was thinking about making a video like this just to talk about it. I was obsessing for a couple days.
I love red, screen, and happy.
The whole rock side is great. Maybe not The Redneck Song.
Radio Song always gets a smile out of me.
I’m a fan. In one hour of time from my day Hardy made me a fan for life.
I can’t wait to see what he’s doing next.
It’s nice to love country again.
I love Hardy, he is so good at writing lyrics that we take it for granted
Hardy’s face on the Pixar lamp lmfao great!
I wonder if “red” is truly the “RADIO SONG” he’s talking about
Radio song made me think of literally any song on Dustin Lynch’s tullahoma album
I also heard the “This is How We Roll” melody
Radio song reminded me of Sam hunt’s leave the night on
@@bcon184 I totally see that now wow.
My favorite album. I’ve been listening on repeat since it dropped. I can’t get enough. I grew up in the south so country music is such a huge part of my life but I also grew up with a dad that loved Alice In Chains, Metallica, Godsmack etc. I got into metal bands like A Day To Remember & August Burns Red- went to Warped every summer in high school. So Radio Song was just an epic track on this album for me 😂
Hands down- it’s amazing & I’m so excited about what HARDY is doing ❤🤘🏼
Can’t wait to see him in Australia in March!!
im totally obsessed with Radio Song- reminds me of a hardcore If She Wants A Cowboy! the general consensus im seeing though, is that a lot of people don’t understand it
you should listen to "a day to remember" then
@@domforte2966 ADTR was one of my favorite bands growing up!
It’s a great album, but I feel like he released the best songs beforehand. A trend I’ve recently noticed is that album releases happen over months and by the time they are released you’ve already heard half the tracks.
As a big ADTR fan and pretty casual country fan, I'm really loving Radio Song. Never really listened to Hardy but the album is really growing on me.
I thought this was one of your most insightful and well thought out reviews. Was really looking forward to your thoughts on it and was excited to get them in full detail. Great work as always
This album is one of the best albums in the past couple of years. I got bored with country music but I found rock country and it changed everything. HARDY is gonna start an anti establishment and more country rock on the way and im here for it.
It’s only called country rock not rock country
I think Screen is my favourite song, but overall I prefer the Crow half of the album. I wasn’t a fan of Sold Out initially but I think it’s fun in context. The contrast of the vocals in Radio Song hooked me immediately and it’s definitely gonna be a long-term favourite.
I'm pleasantly surprised Grady Iikes this album. It's a 10/10 for me. It's been on repeat in my ears since it came out.
I'm ao glad I'm not the only on who thought Screens sounded like Heaven some Hell!! Great catch!!
Radio song, I ain’t in the county no more, screen, and the mockingbird in the crow are my favorites!! Radio song got me hooked immediately , just saw him in concert and no one else was head banging besides me it seemed I was so disappointed in the crowd in that moment. But everyone was singing every word to all songs so I forgive them. He seemed genuinely touched by how much and how long everyone was singing it was awesome. Best concert I’ve ever been to
I find myself put Screen on everytime I get in my car. Love that song.
Glad you brought up the alternative perspective in ‘Drink One For Me’ Perfect response to ‘Give Heaven Some Hell’ especially after losing someone close.
Might not be your favourite but I absolutely love Red
Well that's because MW is on it
10 of of 10 for me. Hardy has something to say and I’m hear for it. My favorite album since Chief.
I honestly looove the song happy, there's this part of the song where he goes "Happy sits there patiently; In line behind jealousy; Waiting on a humble epiphany; That your grass might be greener; And Happy's never liked the view; Of "I ain't good enough" Avenue; 'Cause you can bet if you don't like you, you don't like Happy neither." And that is something that just resonated with me so much when I first heard it and I instantly fell in love with this song. I kinda love the way he takes everyday things and turns them into these characters of their own, same as in beer and in Jack. I really dig Hardy I think mostly for his clever style of writing, because it's what I often miss with other artists. I love when I listen to a song and there comes this clever line and you just go "oh I see what you did there".
On paper this record has amazing writing and clearly a lot of talent was behind it but to me it feels more like a songwriting experiment than a cohesive album. Like “how many cool clever wordplay songs can we possibly think of”? And just put them all together. I like hardy and this album but I feel like I will continue to revisit A ROCK and not so much this one.
The songwriting cleverness reminds me of most people's opinions on Lin Manuel Miranda.
I’ll visit them both equally. To be honest Hardy don’t miss. There are probably like 4 songs Ill skip out of every song he’s sang.
He’s already a favorite after a very small sample size. I’m a Texas boy and I get down with country music, I’m more of a metal person, but I love George Strait, Randy Travis, and I’ve seen Garth Brooks live so I love country when it’s just objectively well done. When I heard “wait in the truck” I was shocked. Storytelling and lyrics, vocals, music, the video; it was all incredible. I think only Chris Stapleton has touched me this same way because of his voice in recent years
Been waiting for this video! Love it ♥️
I aint in the country no more by far my favorite
I somehow forgot this released in January after I heard the promos but after just listening to it, as a country boy and a huge metalhead the back half of this album is everything I hoped it would be, the whole message is great and I especially love that he made a loud and clear point of how pro gun he is when most country artists just mention guns briefly or not at all
Country and metal compliment each other insanely well already with their independent outcast roots and it was about damn time someone put them together in a big project like this and Hardy did it masterfully
He brings so much energy and passion which you can feel, writing great songs but love what he is doing - he is so genuine! Hardy is blending country, 80/90’s rock with country., I love the way he is the disrupter of the sugar pop country that I despise cause it all sounds the same. Who knows where he ends up - rock or country, but I think rock has been dormant for a long time and someone will come along and pull it back to center from current county pop music - which I thin Sucks.😅 Whiskey Meyers, Hardy are slowly pulling rock music back through country. The establishment cannot stop it if you are filling venues and everyone is signing your songs so loud. That is what seeing Hardy is like live, the energy I have not felt since Bruce River and Born in USA tours!! I love this guy!!
Great Review Grady!
I think there are definitely great songs on the country side of the album, but the rock side is by far my favorite. I feel like every rock track just slaps.
Keep up the great videos Grady!
Outside of swearing more than I prefer, this record has everything. The stories behind each song and aspect and how he elaborates on them is so well done, and the production of every song is fantastically done for a dual face album like this one. I think he took his first album and took it to another level. I've had this album on repeat since it came out, and several songs are constantly stuck in my head. Easily the best album of the year so far- 9/10
Bro you're coming to London!!!! You doing any meet and greets be awesome to say thanks for being my bridge into country music (England isn't so hot on it beyond C2C festival).
Listening to this album it occurs to me that Hardy, for better or worse, is what exists a few decades of Kid Rock is successful.
My jaw dropped and I had permeant smile for the rest of radio song
So as a traditional country fan who grew up with “bro country” I do prefer the country half of this album. I don’t think I’ve gotten tired of “over written” songs yet so I still love the well done hooks in that part of the album. The rock half is just different for me but there are parts of it I like. Mockingbird and the Crow is one of the best songs we’ve gotten in years.
I really think the album, and specifically the song, Tale of Two Towns by Brandon Ratcliff, does a good job of not writing to the hook. That album was beautiful and touching as it was incomplete. I'm surprised you didn't review it.
Listended to the whole thing about 5 times now and i absolutely love it
Hardy playing the mocking bird and the crow live is sick with that transition from country to rock
It’s metal music not rock. I can see where you’re getting the idea from though. Rock and metal do share the same attitude but metal is so much more louder and more aggressive than rock
Just like the 4th song on Metallica albums is a ballad, I'm gonna guess the last song on Hardy albums will now be "Unapologetically Country" songs and I love it!
I think it's worth noting that maybe even half of "country" folks in the South (though not Nashville) between the ages of 20-40 are into hard rock to a large degree. However, their daily life experiences would reflect country lyrics. I haven't heard anyone point this out yet... that there's a huge, underserved group of people here. Hardy himself, if he had no talent, would be a posterchild for that group. Thank God he's got the talent to make this stuff for the rest of us.
Radio Song is my absolute favorite on the album. I was watering horses in a FLOOD the first time I listened thru the album, so I wasn’t paying a ton of attention. I heard the first lines and chorus and thought “this is kinda typical country, wtf” and then the screamo happened 😂 I immediately fell in love with it and have had it on repeat ever since.
Also I’m sorry, I love The Redneck Song too. 😂 it’s corny and yes, hokey, but it’s so fun.
I had the exact opposite reaction to “Redneck Song”. It’s interesting how this record hits people in different ways. To me it’s a fun, irreverent “we need an album closer” track. The outro that keeps speeding up is like spinning out while driving too fast, which I think is a great way to end this project.
Hardy’s probably one of my favorite writers working right now, glad the album turned out as good as it did. Was not expecting as much rock / metal crossover acceptance as it’s getting, but it seems like he can pull from any crowd.
I think you missed a really deep song in "I ain't in the country no more."
My favorite line is when he says how the sirens are going off outside and he goes to look at them, and he cuts his foot on sidewalk glass.
That is so deep. In the country, if you hear sirens it is must see TV. So much so that you run outside without shoes on, which is also a common thing to do in the country anyway. But he doesn't know that sirens are almost background noise in the city. He doesn't know to put your shoes on because the sidewalks are nasty and a hazard. He's completely naive to the city life. And he paints to so vividly and creatively in just 2 lines. That hits the me in my soul harder than anything in the entire album
one word on the album......Awesome
people in country music and the industry are going to be talking about hardy for a long time. He has really trailblazed in country music
I just need a Hardy & ADTR tour.
Wonderful analysis 👌
Great review!
Going on the hardy “world building” thing. I liked the line in beer where he said “brought one of me out to her old man fore you asked to put that rock on her hand”. Reminded me of A ROCK when he says “next thing you know your saving up for a rock” both referring to an engagement ring as a rock
Grady maybe I missed it, but did you forget to review I ain’t in the country no more off the album? That was a top 3 off the album for me was excited to hear your thoughts too
As someone whose top genres include death core and bluegrass I love the crow of the album. I'm from a pretty much village on the side of a river so I kinda get the mix. The first half seemed like it was wanting a few singles honestly.
Great video breakdown of MB&C×
Lol. So much for “Oh,Grady! Someone I can listen to at work…”.
Never heard of the artist, & thankful for it.
I would love to see Grady and Mark from Spectrum Pulse talk to each other about this album, their perspectives are basically 180 degrees away from one another
I really like the album and many of my friends do too. because honestly if you look at a millennial farmers playlist you see a decent mix of metal and country. they go from George Strait, Merle Haggard, and Garth Brooks to Metallica, FFDP, and Disturbed. so I think this hits his target audience perfectly.
the guy with the sleep token shirt listening to radio song sums up metal fans listening to hardy
Grady Smith referencing Les Mis just made me so happy
Hey Grady, .30-06 gave me major Green Day vibes as well and I realized it has almost the exact same tune as Brain Stew by Green Day. Listen to those two songs back to back and you will understand what I am saying!
You should check out Barry Ward, Bruce anfinson, and Mike Cross!
As a fan of both country and rock music, I don’t think he does either very well. I still respect him trying to do something different
I think it would be very interesting to see you branch out a maybe try some heavier rock and some metal bands. I love country, but rock and metal have always been my go to, so this album was made for me.
Oh, so you mean just the American sound but leave out all the metal bands that are from Europe and where metal is big at? Yeah no.
As far as world building you should check out NF. Totally different genre - but incredibly clever and facilitating the more you dig into his albums.
This was the video I’ve been waiting for.
At the Ole Miss concert (The one MW actually showed up to), Hardy prefaces Radio Song with a story about how the industry purposely throttled Give Heaven Some Hell because they don't put heaven and hell in the same sentence. They pushed him to write a more catchy number 1 song and Radio Song was his response.
I legit have been waiting for this review. As I was listening I caught my self think about what you were gonna say about it. Interesting take on red with Morgan wallen. I think it’s a little deeper than what you described but overall I can agree with all of the other points. Love the channel!!
I feel like hardy is really taken for granted. Maybe it’s because I’m part of a different generation, but I don’t hear people giving him the respect he’s earned. All anyone wants to talk about is tiktok country music, they all listen to Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers. Everyone my age has entirely disregarded Morgan wallen and hardy was always foreign to them. And now more than ever they’re gonna ignore hardy cuz hey he’s just Morgan wallens side kick right? But he is making big moves and really revolutionizing the way we look at real country music. I can definitely appreciate him for who he is but I’m definitely a rock girl. Been listening to him and Morgan since 2019 when I first heard up down and I’m not willing to give up on either of them yet (talking more about Morgan). I won’t give up on Hardy.
You should do a video on the most influential country artists from the 90’s!
It’s interesting to see how different you and a Overshore feel about this album
The rock half of the album is so different it’s amazing
I agree with a lot of this review. I feel that “kill **** till I die” is a modern version of “country boy can survive.” But I enjoyed the rock part more than the country part.
I was seriously thinking his rock side sounded a lot like ADTR and then you said the lead singer was in it! Haha that's awesome
Let alone the fact that a Hard Rock singer is featured on a "Country" album is just awesome; Acknowledgement of the Rock scene that is otherwise severely missing on the Nash scene 🤷🏽♂. But in terms of what it sounds like, I'm kinda getting a Sleeping With Sirens vibe off of at least the instrumental of Kill Sh!t 👀
@@gargudon8720 Hardcore, punk rock, and the like all have very similar lyrical topics as country music. After I heard Hardy's 'Boots' I was wishing for a hardcore country sub-genre. Haven't listened to this album yet but hopefully it's what I was looking for! I loved SWS first album.
@@averywebb6960 As I call it perhaps Hardy has more or less invented the Country sub-genre "Southern Hardcore". Koe Wetzel, Jelly Roll and such can perhaps on that train too 👀
I really appreciated the Les Mis reference
BROOOOOOOOOOOOO I usually agree with you but "Red" is a great song. Come on man!
I really hate all things bro Country but am a big fan of classic country, later neo traditional country and I really like a few different types of rock.
I don’t love every song but Hardy is the one guy that has written some bro country songs for artist I can’t stand that I can really appreciate.
When he’s not writing radio formula songs There’s an authenticity in his lyrics that is similar to the outlaw guys I love that I can really appreciate although it’s a different style. There’s a realness there and he’s comfortable with who he is and can’t be put in a box defined by genre.
I’m glad to see a Mississippi guy have success and I hope he will keep being himself.
Grady
Love you bro
You just dropped "Molly Tuttle". in a Hardy review 😲
Dang🤪👍🤣🤘🏼🤘🏻
Well done
Grady
You ever seen Molly Tuttle And the Golden Highway Live
Drop dead Amazing
Her whole band is stellar
Love me some Bronwyn on the Fiddle
Reading these comments, how has nobody stated the obvious - this is a wanna be Kid Rock, without the depth. I gotta admire him for trying to not sound like all the bro country crap but, it just doesn’t land like it could. I think he has the talent to get there, just hasn’t found it yet.
I propose to call this new subgenre that Hardy has created be deemed Hard Country.
Obvious it is a combo of hard rock and country.
I’d say “happy” is my favorite on the country side. It definitely feels the most personal which probably correlates to the fact that it’s the only solo-write
Glad you heard Give Heaven some Hell in Screens as well. As soon as I heard the song I text my buddies that they sounded the same
In terms of performance quality hardy really nails many of these tracks, even his more screamo moments. But my problem is the anti establishment narrative he tries to apply to the record feels incredibly manufactured and feels like hypocrisy. None of his industry criticisms hold any weight since hardy indulges these generic vibes so often in his own and co-writes for other artists.
That’s what he owns in the songs tho. And I’d argue, why they’re so interesting.
@@GradySmith I’m not denying the interesting nature. Just that his criticisms like southern pride and need for steel don’t hold up at all because he never indulged steel and he’s known for being thee southern pride guy in the mainstream world
I'm with you. You can't have Joey Moi all over the album and then say it is anti-industry. This is like OJ saying he is going to find the killer.
I feel like the hypocrisy was intentional. Like Hardy is well aware that he is part of the country radio conglomerate of songwriters and it seems like he somewhat resents that part of himself. Especially on radio song and the title track.
Totally agree
I like country but I don’t listen to it often and never liked Hardy because well he seemed like just another super country guy that was kinda meh. Then he dropped his cover of Blurry which I actually heard because it was played on a rock station, listened to it a lot. Then sold out came out and I was hooked on that, and thought to my self if this dude went rock I would listen to it for sure. Opened my Spotify one day and this album was suggested.. and I love it. Made me a Hardy fan and gonna have to give the rest of his music another shot. I love the way it transistions from one album to another almost. The mockingbird and the crow, radio song, wait in the truck and ain’t in the country anymore are all fighting to be my favorite song off of it.
@gradysmith, have you seen the collab/feature HARDY did recently with Beartooth? Find "The Better Me". Even though he didn't write the lyrics, it carries on with one of the main themes you highlight in this video. Good work, man. I think if you give that song 2-3 listens and pick up on all the words, you'll see how it's that odd-shaped jigsaw piece that fits perfectly into the big picture HARDY's painting.
For me Hardy sounds r like country concerts. Ya always stuck around till the end ,..., for the rock songs🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍!!! With Hardy, you dont have to fucking wait 👍. Great artist.
Check out Hardy screaming on the Bilmuri song Cornfed Yetis