Album Review – Eric Church’s “Heart & Soul”
Editor’s Note: This review only includes the publicly-released volumes “Heart” and “Soul” from Eric Church, not the “&” fan club exclusive.
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Mainstream country music’s Heartland rocker and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Eric Church is back with new music, and as often the case for the man behind the Ray-Bans, the effort is ambitious, and maybe even a little bit ostentatious, at least on the surface. Two full-length albums and an EP to his fan club, and Church gets credit for the rare triple record release, even if logistically he could have squeezed this onto two platters.
The music of Eric Church is all about American nostalgia and restlessness. It’s Mellencamp, with a dash of Springsteen. Don’t take this assessment as a slight. This style of rock has taken just as much of a precipitous slide in recent years as mainstream country, and needs saving all its own since its earnestness is an important part of American music. And it happens to be that Eric Church is pretty superb at it when he gets a hold of the right song and lights into it, as is evident on numerous occasions during Heart & Soul.
Eric Church is always reaching for the anthemic, and at the beginning of the first album Heart, he attains it. “Heart On Fire” is a great introduction to both albums. “Heart of the Night” evokes all of the best memories of Bruce’s “Born to Run.” “Russian Roulette” makes the most of quality writing and a moody atmosphere. And both records make use of Eric’s increasingly-famous backup singer Joanna Cotten like never before in an advantageous and welcome manner. Eric has found his Emmylou.
“Stick That In Your Country Song” is less your typical country protest song, and more a call to action. Just this exercise of course could be read as prickly, problematic, and polarizing for some. But Church never rebukes the art of his fellow mainstream country performers specifically, or criticizes anything directly. He just challenges country music to dig deeper, like he has done with his own songs such as “Kill A Word” and “Monsters,” which Church didn’t just write and record, but released to country radio, be damned what their commercial prospects may be. That’s leadership from your reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year.
Church’s methodology for these sessions was to write songs in the morning and record them later that night. It’s probably safe to say that Eric and his co-writers came in with at least some rough ideas for songs, and didn’t pick this stuff out of thin air. But the freshness of the material resulted in an enthusiasm and passion in the recordings. Capturing that live fist-pumping energy in studio sessions has always been one of Eric Church’s strengths. Adding Joanna Cotten more to the mix just enhances this.
But this approach also results in a hit or miss mixed bag across the two records. Church sure does bring a lot of passion and energy to his music. Yet when pointed in the wrong direction, the result is just a lot of noise. On the second album Soul, the disco country of “Break It Kind of Guy” may show off Eric’s falsetto, but it’s a little much for Mr. Chief, even if Kacey Musgraves might approve. I’m not exactly sure why I’m being yelled at near the end of “Where I Wanna Be,” and it turns a good song idea into a bit of a mess.
The writing also kind of gives out near the end of Soul. “Bad Mother Trucker” is not as fun as it should be, and “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones” is not as cool as it should be—just another song name checking other songs. The production also misses the mark in moments, where it hits on Heart, like the imaginative endings for the songs “Never Break Heart” and “Love Shine Down.”
Maybe Soul is the more fun record when you’re are six pack deep, but Heart is the more superior record for sure. It just says more, and with more feeling. It’s not always fair to rate two records released together against one another. But in this case, it is. And yes, as cliche and it sounds when reviewing a double (or triple) record, this project would have been better off condensed into one. But whatever, Eric Church wanted to make a big splash, which is his nature. And he probably did.
That’s what you get with Eric Church. You take the good with the bad, and the bluster with the sincerity. He’s way more rock than country, but way better than the rest of the mainstream. He’s Eric Church.
Heart – 7.5/10
Soul – 6/10
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StopPopCountry
April 26, 2021 @ 10:48 am
I mostly agree with this but I quite like “Break It Kind of Guy”. I thought I would like Soul best but I prefer Heart. Overall a net positive
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 3:38 pm
BREAK IT KIND OF GUY IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SONG ON BOTH ALBUMS I PLAY IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS LOUD AS I CAN! THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME BUT I DON’T CARE I LOVE IT!
Matt "Mayday" Saracen
April 26, 2021 @ 10:51 am
I completely disagree with you on “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones” being “just another song name checking other songs.” The song is very much about a young man finding his identity. Yes, it is framed in a way where it is somewhat of a Skynyrd tribute song, but there is so much more behind it.
.
It’s also a shame you weren’t able to discuss the “&” album. You’re missing out.
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This for me is easily going to be in my Top 10 albums for the year.
Trigger
April 26, 2021 @ 3:41 pm
I definitely identify that there is a bigger story behind the “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones” name drops. I just personally did not find it that interesting. But that’s just my opinion, and I definitely respect yours.
At some point I may address the “&” part if it is released publicly, which I’m sure it will be at some point.
Daniel Cooper
April 26, 2021 @ 11:06 am
I know “&” is just a fan club release, but has anyone heard any rumors if all three releases will eventually be combined into a super deluxe edition made available to everyone, I guess you could call it?
Matt "Mayday" Saracen
April 26, 2021 @ 12:07 pm
I believe Eric may have said on the Bobby Bones show (*shudders at that name*) that eventually, & may be widely available, but for right now, it is his gift/thank you to his Church Choir fans.
Jeremy
April 26, 2021 @ 11:17 am
Pre 2013 Eric Church >>>
Post 2013 Eric Church – big hit or miss
Dogit
April 26, 2021 @ 1:52 pm
This is just messy. Double albums should be epic. This misses the mark and it is a bit boring. Where is heart and soul? Sinners like Me has more heart and soul…
Sir Adam the Great
April 27, 2021 @ 6:25 am
Double albums can also very quickly get bloated. GnR eventually re-released Use Your Illusion 1 & 2 as a single disc back in the day.
Eli
April 26, 2021 @ 6:52 pm
I am a long time big Eric Church fan. Saw him play Jupiter bar in Ttown. This double record, while a few good songs exist on it, is garbage. Pains me to say that.
Stringbuzz
April 26, 2021 @ 11:32 am
Being a long time Eric Church fan, I really like both albums. I don’t think if these albums came earlier in his career, they would have raised him to the level he’s obtained now, but they fit in his catalog nicely. I enjoyed my first couple listens. I would’ve rated both at the 7.5. I think they will fit in nicely with his live set (which I probably wont see because of his ticket prices now). I believe he needs to say good bye to Jay Joyce and see what someone else can offer him.
Di Harris
April 26, 2021 @ 11:35 am
“He’s way more rock than country, but way better than the rest of the mainstream. He’s Eric Church.”
He’s alright, in a regional talent kind of way.
He’s just a brand
Corncaster
April 26, 2021 @ 4:17 pm
Got it in one, Di. It’s impressive to make it even regionally, so respect so far as it goes. But he doesn’t speak to me, or for me. Like his hero Springsteen, Church is a good craftsman and puts on a good show. It’s hard to see where his heart is, really. That’s the trouble these days. Everything is a “brand.”
Sid’s hanging in there and even improving. We’re looking at another horse today, though, for contesting. There’s a fifteen-year-old we have our eyes on, God help us all.
Di Harris
April 26, 2021 @ 8:02 pm
Thank you for the update on Sid!
Rooting for all of you!
What kind of 15 year old?
Are you guys planning on showing the new horse?
Di Harris
April 27, 2021 @ 9:30 am
*was so pumped about Sid being better, overlooked the part about you contesting the new horse …
My bad.
: D
Did you get the new horse?
S Marco
April 26, 2021 @ 11:47 am
It’s all okay. I feel like he’s becoming a caricature of himself. Kind of like what happened to Jimmy Buffett–once really good and occasionally great, currently okay. Just maintaining a brand.
Jimmy
April 26, 2021 @ 3:30 pm
He’s definitely become a caricature of himself. That’s what happens when you believe your own hype and lose your way. Church was cool before he wanted to be a rock star. After that, he turned into just another swelled head who thinks he shits gold.
Anni Seven
October 9, 2021 @ 10:07 am
I was really excited about this double cd, but I wasn’t impressed by it at all. His music is not as good as it once was (*inserting some Toby Keith there, LOL.). Ended up giving both cd’s to my local thrift store because they were so dang boring.
Southland_sounds
April 26, 2021 @ 11:58 am
Man what a good time listening to These record. I really do think it should be noted the way he treated these album drops like an event instead of just shitting them out. He cares about these albums and really wants people to like them. I’ve seen him do more interviews for this one than anything else he’s put out. Very surprised no mention of crazyland. Hands down one of the finest things he’s ever recorded. Eric has always been one of my favorite artist and will continue to be. As long. As his projects show ambition I’ll always support that. Could you imagine a world where he just released Chief part 4 and coming this summer an EP of beach drinking songs. That’s horrible to think of. His flair for the bombast and dramatic and ability to mix that with more low key personal tunes Are what keep me coming back
Trigger
April 26, 2021 @ 3:44 pm
Definitely don’t blame Eric Church for wanting to make an “event” out of this release, and I think he accomplished this to some extent. Releasing new albums can get to feeling like a formality these days. Church has always worked to establish himself as an “album” artist, not a singles artist.
Blake
April 27, 2021 @ 2:40 pm
Exactly. The art of the Album has always been Eric’s passion and I, for one, am here for it.
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 3:41 pm
I 100% agree with you. I will say that there are no other artists out there that have recorded 28 songs in 28 days. They couldn’t do it. But Eric Church did it. And well not every song is my favorite in fact total there’s probably only six songs that I love love love but my God give the guy a break for trying something different! I will always be a loyal Eric Church fan!
CountryKnight
April 26, 2021 @ 12:04 pm
“Love Shine Down” is extraordinary. So is “Crazyland.”
“Sinners Like Me” remains his best sound and album.
Dogit
April 26, 2021 @ 1:53 pm
Totally agree with Chief in second
CountryKnight
April 26, 2021 @ 1:57 pm
Yeah, “Chief” slides comfortably into second. “Carolina” is close but “Chief” was consistently solid with more energy. His Caldwell County EP is far better than “Soul” which mostly left me cold.
Rankings go: SLE, Chief, Carolina, Outsiders (its best songs are some of his finest work while the worst songs are just weird), MM, Caldwell County, Desperate Man, Heart & Soul.
Blake
April 27, 2021 @ 2:45 pm
Been a Church Choir member since the inception. And I agree. Sinners Like Me remains an all-timer. Maybe it’s just recency bias but Heart ranks up there with the best. My album rankings are:
Sinners
Chief
Heart
Mr Misunderstood
Carolina
The Outsiders
Soul
Desperate Man
thebugman10
May 1, 2021 @ 10:47 am
I’d go:
Mr. Misunderstood
Sinners Like Me
The Outsiders
Carolina
Heart
Chief
&
Desperate Man
Soul
Derek Sullivan
April 27, 2021 @ 5:01 am
You all need to listen to Mr. Misunderstood. Six years later and I can still listen to any of those songs and enjoy them. It’s a perfect album.
CountryKnight
April 30, 2021 @ 10:15 am
Yes, I, the poster who ranked every Church album even his little known EP, need to listen to Mr. Misunderstood.
Obviously, I must not have heard that album since I didn’t rank it according to your tastes. Guess what, Derek? I listened to it hundreds of times. “Knives of New Orleans” is my top 10 EC song list. I just didn’t view it as his best work.
Blake
May 4, 2021 @ 8:51 am
I love the Caldwell County EP, but to me I lump that in with Carolina as most all of those songs were featured as bonus tracks on Carolina for a limited time, which I had. The only one not on there was Chevy Van, which didn’t move the needle much for me, personally.
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 3:43 pm
I love the Mr misunderstood album! What I don’t love is the choices of songs that get released to radio because the great songs are the ones that don’t get released to radio and I think that’s Eric Church’s intent. But I wish for just once he would release songs that aren’t meant for radio!
North Woods Country
April 26, 2021 @ 12:49 pm
The only album of his that Heart & Soul outshines is The Outsiders, and that’s not exactly a compliment.
Derek Sullivan
April 26, 2021 @ 1:31 pm
I almost think we need to look at Church in two eras – Eric Church and The Eric Church Band. Ever since the Outsiders, EC has really asked more and more of his band and not just Cotton. Eric is really just a piece of these projects.
Also, I’m a big EC fan and even I feel like Soul is a b-sides record. I’ve heard people say that Hell of a View would fit better on Heart and I agree, but without Hell of a View on Soul, I’m not sure any run of the mill music fans would buy it.
I also agree with some who said Church did a horrible job promoting the album. He should have just released an album last fall and another one this fall ahead of his tour. Releasing a song at a time did take away the excitement of the release.
And thank you Trigger for adding Russian Roulette to the page – that’s a great song.
CountryKnight
April 26, 2021 @ 2:02 pm
That is an unique perspective with ample validation. And judging by that, I vastly prefer the solo Eric Church.
Soul has some decent tunes. “Break It Kind Of Guy” is a fun romp and avoids the overhanded braggart persona that sometimes plagues Eric. “Bad Mother Trucker” tries too hard but I still enjoy it. “Rock & Roll Found Me” was better as Mister Misunderstood. “Jenny” was competent enough.
But like you said, it is a B-side album at best.
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 3:44 pm
Why is nobody talking about when rock and roll found me and look good and you know it and break it kind of guy those three songs in a row make my day! What the hell is wrong with me?
Hank Charles
April 26, 2021 @ 2:05 pm
Would agree..
Unfortunately, that also divides the eras of “enjoying EC albums” and “enjoying EC songs” for me.
A double (or worse, triple) album with this level of material is pretty concerning.
Hey Arnold
April 26, 2021 @ 1:57 pm
I found the “&” exquisite
Ryan
April 27, 2021 @ 6:51 pm
Would you say it is worth the 13$ ?
Hey Arnold
May 1, 2021 @ 5:40 pm
Nah
Hey Arnold
April 26, 2021 @ 2:02 pm
Was hoping for Eric to step into the world of 1950s Doo-Wop a bit on “Soul”.
I find this album similar to the Billy Joel album from the early 80s, where all 10 songs featured were of a different genre & inspired Billy into the artist that he is.
The name of that Joel album was ” An Innocent Man” (1993)
I guess Eric Church is a Desperate Man after all (pun intended)
Hey Arnold
April 26, 2021 @ 2:04 pm
* 1983
Seak
April 26, 2021 @ 2:31 pm
As someone who both lives in Baltimore and is a public school teacher, I find stick that in your country song deeply problematic. It is essentially the same thing as someone from an urban area, doing a pass through of the country, noting only the problems, portraying the problems as “urban”, and then selling it to their urban audience, with zero investment or authenticity in the country areas.
As to the rest Eric church is a decent rocker, he’s not really country. Some of his stuff can be good, but a lot of it feels like someone trying to play cool, rather then someone who is cool. That said I appreciate his ambition, rather then mailing it in.
Trigger
April 26, 2021 @ 3:47 pm
I think Eric Church was trying to call attention to the problems in some urban areas, not wag his finger at them in judgement. He’s saying “take a look at these dying communities. Do something more than singing songs about trucks and beer.”
Travis
April 26, 2021 @ 3:56 pm
There’s an article by one of the writers of that song, apparently not Church; and the writer actually talks about being a teacher that had it easy at a private school and writing this, thinking about a friend, another teacher at in an inner-city school who had things a little rougher.
Seak
April 26, 2021 @ 7:13 pm
Yeah that doesn’t surprise me at all A) when teachers get together they bitch 😂. B) teaching in private vs public schools is very different, but truth is most of us we wouldn’t switch to the other one. There are plusses and minuses to both. C) this is sort of my point, everyone involved was writing from outside of the communities they’re writing about, and it creates a very stereotypical 2d picture
Seak
April 26, 2021 @ 3:58 pm
I don’t think he’s wagging a finger, but I think he’s a fly bye visitor. And the communities aren’t dying, and the problems aren’t uniquely urban…which is my point. It’s an outsider coming in, seeing only the negative, and taking that back to where they’re from as the story of those places. (Meanwhile ignoring that those same problems also are currently happening in their community).
CountryKnight
April 26, 2021 @ 4:17 pm
” lives in Baltimore and is a public school teacher”
Well, that explains the tiresome martyrdom act and the usage of problematic which has become the dumbest label in modern society.
Eric nailed it about cities. Baltimore especially is a burned out mess.
Trigger
April 26, 2021 @ 4:44 pm
I think Seak is being a little too sensitive here, but let’s not dog someone for being an intercity school teacher. I appreciate her service to the community.
Seak
April 26, 2021 @ 7:25 pm
CK proves my point about why I have a problem with this song, Church is playing into existing stereotypes, even if he’s trying to use it as a call to action. What I’m trying to get you to do is to see it from a different perspective. Think about what your reaction would be if this situation was flipped, and all the negative stereotypes were about the country, from someone who’d never lived there, to an audience that already saw the country, or your hometown, as a negative.
CountryKnight
April 30, 2021 @ 10:12 am
I would dismiss that idea because those negative stereotypes are absolute falsehoods and lies. And guess what? That is how country living is presented everyday by the coastal elites in the media. I have learned to live with it.
But dare criticize the cities for their factual flaws and teachers for always acting like their profession is so exemplary and so hard to do and the tears start flowing.
dalemusic
April 26, 2021 @ 3:30 pm
This review is pretty spot on.. except that I think Break It Kind Of Guy is s big winner and will be fun at concerts. I would actually rate both records at 8/10. Especially considering they wrote AND recorded a song per day.
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 3:47 pm
Finally Dale music! Somebody agrees with me thank you sweet Jesus!! I cannot get enough of that song it is badass it’s funky it’s groovy it’s a in your face song and it is Eric Church all day long that’s why I love it and I can’t believe you Eric Church fans don’t get that!
dalemusic
April 30, 2021 @ 4:54 pm
Yep. Loving big on BIKOG. I am with you Pamela … song definitely has EC groove and soul.
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 5:06 pm
So glad at least one person is with me on this! I feel it is one of his best songs that represent him as an artist who doesn’t want to be boxed into the mainstream country music radio. So he is coming to Pittsburgh on my birthday on October 8th and I get to buy tickets on May 4th and I can’t wait to hear that song live!
dalemusic
April 30, 2021 @ 5:14 pm
hope you shake it. If you look around and only 1 other person is up shouting *I tell me eagle where to fly* ….it probably me. badass songwriting, rhythm, melody and 1000% EC….because he is definitely a break it kinda guy.
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 6:11 pm
I am just so shocked that more people don’t love this song like we do! And something I want to say about Eric Church.. he won entertainer of the Year last year because more people went to his concerts in 2019 than any other country artist. He grossed more money on concert tickets than any other country artists that year. What does that say about him because he doesn’t release a lot of songs to country radio like Luke Bryan does Kenny Chesney Jason Aldean but yet he had more people go to his concerts than any of those guys. And I’m not putting those guys down they’re all good but the reviews on here just upset me about Eric Church thinking outside of the box giving us something different and not caring really how we feel about it it’s his work of art and it’s all subjective but let’s all be Eric Church fans forever!
MH
April 26, 2021 @ 3:58 pm
Would rather listen to Huey Lewis and the News’ “Heart and Soul.”
R2D2 with a bolo
April 27, 2021 @ 1:59 pm
Hell ya!
NattyBumpo
April 26, 2021 @ 3:59 pm
Just finished listening. Overall it really is not that bad but I feel like every song sounds like something I’ve heard before. It’s like they take his voice and some instruments and feed that into an algorithm and create these songs. And what’s up with all the name dropping? Weird.
Bryan
April 26, 2021 @ 6:47 pm
I generally like Eric Church but I can’t stand “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones”. There’s too much name-dropping-for-street-cred in country music these days, and Church is no stranger to doing it. This song is loaded with it. And the last line made me literally roll my eyes the first time I heard it. The whole song just seems pretentious.
Peter
April 26, 2021 @ 9:09 pm
Isn’t he shooting himself in the foot with making it three separate albums instead of one in terms of chart listings? I thought each song stream counts as one more in its favor, leading artists to make longer and longer albums with more songs. So – not just for this reason, – the 30+ Dangerous double album weighing in at an hour and a half of mumbling about beer and hometowns went huge. But three albums with 9,9, and 6 songs seems like they will disappear without a trace so much faster than one album with 24 songs on it. If I were to compare the two projects, I’d say they both have at least 12 good songs, but the remainder of the Wallen songs sound like the same song played over and over again in slightly different variations, whereas the Church leftovers are each quite unique sounding. I suspect the latter will stay in my playlist a lot longer. Spot on review.
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 3:51 pm
Oh Peter you didn’t just go there with Morgan wallen’s album that spent 11 weeks at number one! This is the honest to God’s truth since January 8th I have listened to Morgan wallen’s dangerous albums nothing else until I got the Eric Church albums and now on flip-flopping between the two. There are two songs on Morgan wallen’s 30 songs album that I don’t like at all. And a handful of songs on Eric Church’s albums that I don’t like at all. But I can say this after the Morgan Wallen b******* I will not listen to country radio I will not watch any award shows I will not stand for the hypocrisy in the music industry I will support that kid till the end and I’m almost 60 years old.
Scott S.
April 27, 2021 @ 7:08 am
Church has always been hit or miss for me. I usually find a few songs on each of his albums that I like and don’t care for the rest. Unfortunately, on this double album release, I am not finding anything here I particularly find interesting at all. While Eric Church used to be something a bit different from the rest of the crap on Country radio, there is enough alternate country music out there currently to make him not worth the bother for me. Don’t think I’m going to waste my time with another try to find a decent song here.
Big G
April 27, 2021 @ 8:24 am
Eric Church = Garbage
The Original WTF Guy
April 29, 2021 @ 11:27 am
@ Big G – Interesting take. I’ve really never heard much in Church’s music that reminded me of Garbage, even though Garbage attempted to make music that borrowed from, and crossed over to, a number of different genres. But I never heard anything in what they did that sounded country, nor I have I heard anything from Church that was like them.
I will say, though, that I could almost hear Church doing “Stupid Girl” given the his willingness to take on difficult topics at time.
Big G
April 29, 2021 @ 11:29 am
How about pure trash. Eric Church is the typical wanna be outlaw. He is an absolute joke.
Daniele Marini
April 27, 2021 @ 9:48 am
maybe it’s just me but EC is, at best, a pale imitation of Springsteen and Mellencamp. These two names keep on poppin’ up in every review i read but those two were (and still are) much better writers and singers than Eric.
Sorry but he comes out a little too manufactured for me.
NattyBumpo
April 27, 2021 @ 11:45 am
He comes across now as someone who wanted to be a rock star but was too hickish for that so he ended up stuck doing country. Now I didn’t think about him like that in the beginning of his career but my take has evolved in time just like his music. So us country fans will be stuck forever with his pandering to hollywood and the mainstream media as he will always attempt to say or do things for him to be perceived as anything but country even though he won’t ever escape from it.
Just as I refer to Chris as “Product Stapleton” Eric is just a product “Church”.
Blake
April 27, 2021 @ 3:13 pm
See, I disagree. I see your overall perspective but he has said from very early on, back in the Carolina days, that he wanted to “move the flag of country music” and I believe that’s still his mindset. Not trying to be something he isn’t. Just wants to advance the music. Definitely a rock country artist don’t get me wrong. But country is his place.
luiz
April 27, 2021 @ 5:21 pm
haha I love Break It Kind Of Guy and Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones.
Pamela Humphrey
April 30, 2021 @ 3:55 pm
I love you for loving that song break it kind of guy! And Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones is really a very interesting song.
WuK
April 28, 2021 @ 10:02 am
I am enjoying both albums a lot but Heart is my favourite. It took a few listens for Soul to grow on me. Both are quality albums but I would have liked more than 9 tracks on each. Both well worth a listen.
albert
April 28, 2021 @ 2:16 pm
for me eric church’s stuff always sounds ”jammy” . call me spoiled by all of the clean , pristine -sounding and beautifully mixed COUNTRY music out there still . i do appreciate him as a writer -particularly with the mainstream options we’ve been given of late – but can’t get past the ”jammy ” rough- around- the -edges nature of his stuff …particularly recently . too often it does sound like they wrote it in the morning and recorded it in the afternoon . and that may work for some listeners . but to my ear they end up sounding like unpolished demos . obviously that’s the sound they are after . but give me an alan jackson , george strait , lainey wilson , paul bogart , or tristan marez record …GREAT songs , GREAT arrangements ,great vocals and recorded with care .
finally , full disclosure : I have not listened to this entire release and i’ve voiced this before but show me a GREAT double/triple album set and i’ll show you an aberration . I think that whole approach borders on arrogance .
Adam
April 30, 2021 @ 3:51 am
Okay Country peeps, what NEW music is out today, 4-30-21? I know Alan Jackson had a new song drop from his new album because it was in my itunes this morning and it is a great song with all the right instruments! But what else comes out today? Any new albums?
BTW, I listened to “Heart” and could not get into it at all. It is not pop country but it is not a true underground real country sound either, it is in the middle but I do not like it. I need some new Whitey Morgan or new Paul Cauthen, maybe if one of them to sing the San Francisco phone book I would have enough new music from them to last a lifetime lol. I like Eric Church and think he is a good and cool guy, it seems but not digging this music.
What NEW music is out today, 4-30-21?
Trigger
April 30, 2021 @ 8:30 am
Hey Adam,
If you or anyone else would like to keep up on the releases coming out each week, the best place to do that is the “Most Anticipated” articles I post about 3 to 4 times a year that have everything in one place. Just navigate down to the appropriate date, and you’ll find what you’re looking for.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/release-radar-most-anticipated-country-roots-albums-for-2021/
thebugman10
May 1, 2021 @ 10:42 am
Agree with this review. I really like Heart a lot. Soul is probably my least favorite Church album to date. I know “&” wasn’t reviewed but it is better than Soul as well.
Jimmy
May 3, 2021 @ 2:21 pm
Finally took the time to listen to both Heart/Soul today. As others have said, there was no need for this to be a double release. I might be able to make a Spotify version of one solid 10-11 track collection.
I haven’t heard &, but I’m sure Church will find a way to repackage it in some way to boost his streams and sales and make more money at some point. The entire two disc thing was just a gimmick for publicity purposes. At least 8 songs should have stayed in the vault.
While Church lost me after his first three albums, when he decided he wanted to be a rock star, I do think both discs contain some of his best songs. I wouldn’t class much, if any country, but he’s definitely making his rock star dreams a reality and (co) writing well.
I remember seeing Eric on the Sinners Like Me tour, early on not long after the album was released. That’s the Church I enjoyed the best. Then his head swelled so big it barely fit into the arenas he played. Might have to switch to stadiums soon to accommodate that giant melon.
Joe
July 8, 2021 @ 7:32 pm
IMO soul is the better album. Style is awesome and fresh. Songs are fun and meaningful. Heart is alright but for more Soul takes the cake.