Albums: Lainey Wilson Whirlwind

Lainey Wilson Whirlwind

Keep Up With Jones; Country's Cool Again; Good Horses (ft. Miranda Lambert); Broken Hearts Still Beat; Whirlwind; Call A Cowboy; Hang Tight Honey; Bar In Baton Rouge; Counting Chickens; 4x4xU; Ring Finger; Middle Of It; Devil Don't Go There; Whiskey Colored Crayon
Label: BBR

32-year-old Lainey Wilson is proof that success is not born overnight. Having ventured into the realm of country music in the 2010s, the timing was off for the then-aspiring singer/songwriter. The country music soundscape was dominated by Bro Country, and there was little interest in the wealth of upcoming female talent that was trying to break into the field. While a few names made it through, Wilson enjoyed very modest success with her 2016 sophomore album, Tougher. However, having signed a deal with BBR, she released her third studio album, Sayin' What I'm Thinkin', in 2021, and suddenly success was no longer a stranger.

Although she was no longer a stranger to success, with the album being met with positive reviews and a #3 charting on the US Heatseekers Chart, it would be 2022's Bell Bottom Country that would see her enter the big league. With a Top 10 position on the US Country Charts, she suddenly became Grammy-winning CMA Entertainer of the Year. As a result, her new album is entitled Whirlwind. But can it live up to the acclaim of the runaway success that came before?

Many artists in Wilson's privileged position would have rush-released an album to capitalise on the commercial success they would inevitably achieve. Wilson has not done so. While she has not waited a long time, she has allowed two years to pass since Bell Bottom Country, and she has ensured that the 14 songs on the album are premium quality.

Opener, Keep Up With Jones clearly lays her cards on the table. She could have easily played the game and kept up with the Jones', but she chooses to stay true to the distinctive artistry that has set her apart from her contemporaries and allowed her to become the leader of the pack.

Whirlwind boasts the same trad country vibes of her earlier work but is not shy of the more commercial-leaning contemporary country sound, often marrying them together faultlessly to great aplomb.

Although the album boasts a strong collaboration with Miranda Lambert of Good Horses, this is a record that sees Wilson shine on her own terms. The gorgeous ballad Broken Hearts Still Beat will give you tingles, while the powerful drive of Hang Tight Honey will have you two-stepping in an instant.

Over 14 songs, there are many twists and turns, but with each new direction, there is a new insight. Whirlwind will whirl firmly into your heart and head, as the title implies.