Kountry Mike is going back to basics with raw storytelling, lush acoustic textures, and a voice that sounds like it has lived every word in an era of shiny pop and overproduced beats. His recent release, “Another Day Closer,” is a quietly powerful ballad that is both timeless and timely. It’s another bright spot off his latest album, “Country Music,” which was released under JCB Records on March 7.
“Another Day Closer” naturally settles into the folk-country-acoustic continuum, embodying the kind of soul-deep simplicity that is so central to the power of the form. Through gentle guitar picking and honest, earnest lyrics, Kountry Mike taps into the ticking away of time, the heaviness of life’s journey, and the sliver of hope on the horizon.
The song’s power really comes from Mike’s delivery. There’s grit to his voice, but a warmth that lets you in. You can hear the years of musical evolution in every note, from his days in a band with no less than Kenny Chesney’s drummer, to the move from heavy metal to the very country music he used to scoff at. The music-filled circle journey continues to resonate on “Another Day Closer,” lending the slice of pop a maturity that’s tough to fake.
The production is low-key in the best sense. The acoustic guitar is out front and in charge, with only the smallest accompaniment to help tell the story through Mike’s vocals. It’s the sort of song you’d like to hear blaring from a front porch at sunset or along an endless highway when the sky goes orange.
“Another Day Closer” proves that Kountry Mike is here to make people laugh, but also remind folks of the legacy he intends to leave. And if the big producers are correct, Billboard might simply be getting “Another Day Closer” to adding his name to their charts. Unadorned, honest, and incredibly human, Kountry Mike’s latest release amounts to country music done the right way.
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