Happy Endings shows a different side of Old Dominion's artistry. The 12 songs are as a whole deeper and more patient than those found on their debut album.
The Project is an essential album for fans who like their brand of country music black and blue. Lindsay Ell's long-time-coming debut album is genre-less a la Sheryl Crow or Bonnie Raitt.
When most bands say they're "taking a break," we all know what it means. Usually that pause becomes permanent, and if they do reunite, we can sense a loss of focus. That was not the case for Lady Antebellum.
A Thousand Horses' new Bridges album is a more mainstreamed, radio-ready project than their debut album Southernality. The sound and focus are tighter for the "Smoke" hitmakers.
Rascal Flatts call Back to Us a return to their roots, but sonically their newest studio album is quite progressive. They're not as experimental, but nothing about the songs screams early 2000s radio.