Five songs are all it takes for country music singer-songwriter, and new member of the Grand Ol Opry, Luke Combs to grab your attention with his latest EP, The Prequel.
With his husky vocals, sentimental lyrics and smooth melodies, the North Carolina artist's latest body of work not only continues to showcase his chops as an entertainer, but also demonstrates his growth in connecting with an audience always ready for more.
After the success of past EPs and his double platinum certified debut album, This One's For You, Combs' latest project reflects on the past, present and love, all within about 16 minutes. This works in his favour, because Combs is still able to get enough new material across while keeping it fresh until another batch is released.
Having co-written each song on the EP also helps Combs give it a personal touch. Though most of these songs fall under the typical country topics — beer, women and trucks — it's the way Combs really seems to put his soul into producing each and every one of them that makes them stand out. They're not necessarily crude, and even if they technically have a similar sound and subject line to what's already out there, they seem rather personal, as if he's lived through the emotions in each song.
Combs has a way to make you feel like he's genuine and passionate about his music, like each song is a unique story that can connect him and the audience together. They're stories that for the most part seem relatable at the core and the same can be said about Combs.
The outlaw-era sounding "Beer Never Broke My Heart," the first single, skyrocketed to the top of the charts. It describes incidents and situations that may "bring [him] down", but alcohol isn't one of them. "Refrigerator Door" and "Even Though I'm Leaving" explore family life, with the latter being a mandolin and strings tune painting the scene of feeling scared to be alone in a variety of situations, without a key person in your life. "Just 'cause I'm leavin', it don't mean that I won't be right by your side", Combs sings. The former talks about how life can be summed up by the pictures, dates, crafts and mementos placed on the refrigerator door.
The Prequel's final two songs look at Comb's softer love side with "Lovin' On You," a fast-paced '90s Brooks & Dunn style song, and "Moon Over Mexico," a string and soft drum ballad recalling a time when a spark happened between two people.
Overall, The Prequel is everything you'd expect from Combs and a little more, with some growth in writing and playing with a listener's emotions.
(Columbia)With his husky vocals, sentimental lyrics and smooth melodies, the North Carolina artist's latest body of work not only continues to showcase his chops as an entertainer, but also demonstrates his growth in connecting with an audience always ready for more.
After the success of past EPs and his double platinum certified debut album, This One's For You, Combs' latest project reflects on the past, present and love, all within about 16 minutes. This works in his favour, because Combs is still able to get enough new material across while keeping it fresh until another batch is released.
Having co-written each song on the EP also helps Combs give it a personal touch. Though most of these songs fall under the typical country topics — beer, women and trucks — it's the way Combs really seems to put his soul into producing each and every one of them that makes them stand out. They're not necessarily crude, and even if they technically have a similar sound and subject line to what's already out there, they seem rather personal, as if he's lived through the emotions in each song.
Combs has a way to make you feel like he's genuine and passionate about his music, like each song is a unique story that can connect him and the audience together. They're stories that for the most part seem relatable at the core and the same can be said about Combs.
The outlaw-era sounding "Beer Never Broke My Heart," the first single, skyrocketed to the top of the charts. It describes incidents and situations that may "bring [him] down", but alcohol isn't one of them. "Refrigerator Door" and "Even Though I'm Leaving" explore family life, with the latter being a mandolin and strings tune painting the scene of feeling scared to be alone in a variety of situations, without a key person in your life. "Just 'cause I'm leavin', it don't mean that I won't be right by your side", Combs sings. The former talks about how life can be summed up by the pictures, dates, crafts and mementos placed on the refrigerator door.
The Prequel's final two songs look at Comb's softer love side with "Lovin' On You," a fast-paced '90s Brooks & Dunn style song, and "Moon Over Mexico," a string and soft drum ballad recalling a time when a spark happened between two people.
Overall, The Prequel is everything you'd expect from Combs and a little more, with some growth in writing and playing with a listener's emotions.
