THE SWEET SPOT
“That nice little groove in life—and music. It’s right where we all want to end up.”
My wife thought it was over. Not our marriage of course, just fantasy football. The latter could lead to the former if I’m not careful though. We have an office league here at the station that started last season. Pride is on the line, and after all, what else do we really have? (It’s not a rhetorical question by the way. We don’t have any money; we work in radio.) So, this month begins the arduous journey to fantasy glory! May the odds be ever in your favor, and please, don’t draft a quarterback with your first pick. Enough fantasy advice, let’s talk music. Luke Combs finds the “Sweet Spot” for September. Luke wasn’t a viral sensation. He didn’t have an Internet Fan Club sharing his every post. He cut his teeth in smoky bars with a microphone that smells like beer in the tiny, mountainous, college town of Boone, North Carolina. (The very same school that Eric Church and myself attended, Appalachian State University—pronounced AppUH-latch-in. It’s a short ‘a’ sound if you are from the area. And yes, we will always politely correct you. You wouldn’t say Ill-i-NOISE instead of Illinois would you? Same thing. I just needed to clear that up, pronunciations are different regionally, now back to music). Combs voice bellows and builds, with a touch of rasp; it’s distinct in a crowded country landscape. If you like Lee Brice, Eric Church, Lynyrd Skynyrd, or Jason Aldean, you’ll enjoy Luke Combs. Modern country and Southern rock really aren’t too far apart. Combs walks that line nicely in his Billboard chart-topping debut album This One’s For You. It’s full of “accessible pedal steel”. Meaning those country elements are in the production, but they don’t necessarily dominate. It’s that steady blend of twang and rock n’ roll that made it a best seller. This is the album to listen to on a three-day weekend, a night out on the town, or when you need to cut loose and reflect with (or without) a cold one. Highlights include: “Hurricane”, which broke Combs into country radio and earned him his first number one on the airplay charts. “When It Rains It Pours”, there aren’t any more song titles with weather refer32 SEPTEMBER 2017
Luke Combs
ences, I assure you, is a fun, tonguein-cheek twist on post-relational ‘misery’. “One Number Away” has the most pop elements to any song on the album, but I like to remind people that legends like Kenny Rogers (who made the move TO country music) and Alabama also dabbled in pop. Remember Alabama and ‘N Sync’s collaboration “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You”? Pepperidge Farm remembers. My absolute favorite song on the album is “Lonely One”. Sung from the perspective of a bartender, he dishes out advice, and adult libations, to a freshly single patron. “Beer Can”, well you guessed it, a good ole fashioned country drinking song from his EP. Yes, it’s been done before but Combs nails it. It’s a fun tune, and he knows how hard his audience works! “Don’t Tempt Me” is somewhat of a coming of age tale, but keeps with the theme of living in the moment that’s throughout the entire album. This One’s For You is a solid release from an up and coming artist both musically and commercially. Of course, I’m going to root for the hometown guy, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s dudes with beards that sing country songs. Find the “Sweet Spot” next month, and listen to 97.5 WPCV Monday through Friday night 7pm-12am BY GRANT STAR Monday - Friday 7pm to Midnight 97 Country WPCV, 97.5 FM Questions: grant@wpcv.com
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