Sunday Morning Single Reviews: Current Mainstream Singles that I Don't Hate

Country radio is currently going through a ripoff R&B phase that is ten times worse than Bro Country ever was, which is horrifying. At the same time, there are more traditional sounding songs breaking through all the time, and this morning I decided to say a few words about the fact that mainstream radio is moving in the right direction.

Tim McGraw's "How I'll Always Be"

Tim McGraw hit a low point with "Looking for That Girl," but has since released one excellent single after another with "Top of the World" being the lone exception, and even that song isn't awful. Current single "How I'll Always Be" has an iconic country sound with a tried and true lyrical narrative. It's not as good as "Shotgun Rider" or "Meanwhile Back at Mama's," but it's almost guaranteed to be a hell of a lot better than the songs you'll hear on either side of it. 7/10

Brett Eldredge's "Wanna Be That Song"

Brett Eldredge has never been a major player in the erosion of country music's stylistic parameters. He is undoubtedly a pop artist, but his songwriting is phenomenal, and if his voice doesn't do anything for you, then you're missing out. "Wanna Be That Song" is the best single he's released in quite some time, and is more than worth a listen. 7/10

Miranda Lambert's "Vice"

I'm really excited about post-Blake Shelton Miranda Lambert. She's releasing double album The Weight of These Wings in the very near future, and lead single "Vice" is very solid. It has excellent lyrics and a great storyline that we can all relate to. 8/10

Blake Shelton's "A Guy With a Girl"

I didn't intentionally put these divorcees right next to each other, but here they are. "A Guy With a Girl" breaks no new ground but is probably the catchiest song on the radio right now and has an arrangement that isn't especially offensive. Blake isn't half the artist that he could be, but when he rarely does get it right, he strikes gold. "A Guy With a Girl" is a great song. 8/10

Chris Stapleton's "Parachute"

Chris Stapleton is a phenomenal vocalist, and routinely lays waste to every other artist on the radio in that regard. His current rise to stardom is completely unprecedented, and is the primary reason that radio is turning back in the right direction. While guys like Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson do a lot of the work in the background, Chris Stapleton has the exposure needed to make real change. "Parachute" is excellently sung and is just one more great song from Stapleton's Traveller. 9/10

Other Standout Singles Currently on Radio:

Michael Ray's "Think a Little Less"

Brad Paisley's "Today"

Chris Jansen's "Holdin' Her"

Josh Turner's "Hometown Girl"

Brantley Gilbert's "The Weeken.....just kidding. Fuck Brantley Gilbert

Craig Campbell's "Outskirts of Heaven"