Album of the Week: Starting Over by Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton has returned to his roots in this new album “Starting Over”. Appropriately titled, this album takes us back to Chris’ coming out party for his solo career in 2015 when he released the critically acclaimed “Traveller”. Right out of the gate you can feel the time machine taking you back to his original solo work. The title track is an acoustic masterpiece featuring the harmonies of his wife, Morgane and was performed live on this year’s CMA’s. Chris stripped it down for the performance and he and his wife sound as if they are singing to one of their many children at bedtime.

The album takes a haunting turn on its second track, “Devil always makes me think twice”, which sounds like a mixture of Mississippi Delta Blues and Outlaw Rock. Chris leveraged that sound on “Traveller” on “Outlaw State of Mind” and “Might as well Get Stoned”. He brings it back successfully on this solid rocker.

The piano intro from “Cold” takes you to a smoky lounge and leaves you feeling the chill in the air as someone leaves the door open on a winter’s night. The accompanying strings give way to a clean blues guitar solo that set up the chorus lyrics perfectly. “Oh, Why you got to be so Cold? Why you got to cut me like a knife”.

Chris kicks it up a notch with “Arkansas”; the hillbilly rocker has some classic rock and blues riffs and an upbeat tempo. This party song is a foot tapper that put me in the mood to pick up my guitar and jam along as I was “havin so much fun it’s probably a little bit against the law”.

Hillbilly Blood is secure in its roots, Chris’ early years growing up in KY and writing hits for county music’s A listers. The song takes me back to the TV show “Justified” and the battles of KY law enforcement with the bootleggers and pot growers in eastern KY.

An obvious comparison in the names between “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Whiskey Sunrise” the later does not disappoint with its deep country blues riffs. It may not find the commercial success that its predecessor enjoyed, but it will have you reaching for a bottle of your favorite dark colored liquor.

Maggie’s Song from the opening measures to the end highlights some of Chris’ early influences. I can almost hear “The Bands” song “The Weight” coming through this tune. This song of a man’s love for his dog can reach out to anyone who has ever enjoyed a beloved pet. Having lost a special dog in my early adult years (God rest your soul, Bentley) this song brought back some wonderful memories and some of the loss one feels when our friends move on from this life.

“Starting Over” closes out with a song called “Nashville, TN”. Having lived there in the late nineties (yes, I am old) I fell in love with this unique town. I married the love of my life while living there and fathered my oldest child. Then we left to be closer to home and family before my daughter was born, but the memories of our early years as a couple are rooted in Nashville. Chris somehow encompassed those feelings in this tune. From the pedal steel guitars to thoughtful lyrics, he nailed it.

“So Long, Nashville Tennessee.”

About the author: Chris Brown is a guitar player from Louisville Ky. He is currently the founder and rhythm guitar player for Unsinkable Molly Brown, an acoustic jam band playing creative covers of a variety of artists. He is also a member of Awaken Worship, playing EG1 for the River Valley campus of Southeast Christian Church.