Easton Corbin Returns to Form on "Are You With Me"

Few singles have been as disappointing in recent years as Easton Corbin's "Baby Be My Love Song." It was awkward, clumsy, and devoid of anything that resembled a melody. It also signified the presence of label pressure in Corbin's career. There were earlier signs, such as failed single "Clockwork," but fans were not prepared for a song so contrary to everything else that he has released in his career.

Unfortunately, "Baby By My Love Song" was a sign of worse things to come. Corbin's most recent album--About to Get Real--is more bad than good, and second single "Yup" was truly awful. Thankfully, it went nowhere on radio. Not that us classic country fans wish misfortune on Easton Corbin, but we know he can make it on country radio playing music that leans in a more traditional direction. Vocal comparisons to George Strait notwithstanding, he has other things working in his favor. His first two albums were traditional country gold as far as modern country is concerned, and did just fine with singles and album sales. Thankfully, his most recent single from About to Get Real leans in a more serious direction. 

"Are You With Me" builds slowly through half of the first verse with light production backing tender vocals, before percussion kicks in and the verse transitions into a beautiful chorus. Corbin sings "We can chase the wild dreams/live like crazy, love me baby/Come on, come on, come on/Just throw your arms around me/We can run like we won't run out of time/Are you with me," asking his partner to just jump in and see where things go from there. 

Production wise, the song isn't as country as some of Corbin's earlier releases like "A Little More Country Than That" or "Lovin' You is Fun," but it reminds me of the darkest single of his career--"I Can't Love You Back." Thematically, the two songs are similar, even if "Are You With Me" doesn't involve such drastic implications. In both songs, the outcome is never clarified, leaving the listener with an unsettled feeling that persists and forces them to revisit the song over and over again. 

It's that kind of lasting effect that separated Easton Corbin's music from that of his peers early in his career, and hopefully "Are You With Me" is the first sign that he'll have more creative control, moving forward. 7/10

Up next: Sinner by Aaron Lewis