Album Review – Tenille Arts “Love, Heartbreak & Everything…”
If you’re on the hunt for battle-hardened hockey players or cool country women hitting the mainstream who actually care about a good song and happen to be named “Tenille,” then turn your gaze north of the border. Not to be confused with the Columbia Nashville-signed and Canadian-born Tenille Townes who’s doing her own shaking up of Nashville, Saskatchewan native and Reviver Records-signed Tenille Arts has just released a new record called Love, Heartbreak, & Everything In Between, and the title from this 25-year-old’s second record is anything but deceptive.
Shirking the bubblegum pop sensibilities that seem to sugar coat most of the new “country” music emanating from Music Row these days, Tenille Arts took a year full of spills in a bad breakup, and put them into the 12 songs of this surprisingly deep and smart record with Tenille herself taking a hand in co-writing every track. Originally conceived as a concept of three separate EPs covering the three phases of a relationship, the songs are slyly assembled here in a manner that takes you on the roller coaster of emotional up and downs that accompany a romantic split.
A fair word of caution, though. Don’t roll up on Tenille Arts expecting to hear her tear into a bunch of honky tonk material like the second coming of Tanya Tucker. This album still resides well within the mainstream realm, and that includes a few songs that feature that all-too-disappointing electronic drum start offs before the actual drums kick in. Even forgiving this all-too-common country music faux pas, a couple of the tracks are just going to be too slanted towards radio acceptance for traditional or Americana fans to fall for.
But all of this contrasts against a record that surprises at nearly every turn with the amount of depth in the writing, the building in of acoustic, intimate, and twangy moments, and some real bright production decisions that bring the feelings of the songs to the surface. Sure, some of this is due to setting low expectations of what we’ve grown accustomed to in country pop, but some of it is just due to sheer quality, and heartfelt efforts that execute in capturing the passion of a moment for the ears of appreciative listeners.
You might wonder if you made the right decision in giving Tenille Arts your time when you hear the pulsing entry into the opening song “Somebody Like That,” or the thumping intro to “The Butterfly Affect.” And if these things turn you off, just go ahead and skip over the next to last track of the record “Wouldn’t You Like to Know” entirely.
But if these things are the spoonfuls of sugar that entice a wider audience to ingest songs like the swaying “Slow It Down” with its excellent harmony lines, or the twangy and true “Wild Love,” we’ll take it. The simple arrangement of “Nothing To See Here,” and some really seductive exit points to songs give the voice of Tenille Arts the opportunity to shine—something that so commonly gets lost in the busy layers of most mainstream efforts.
Quality writing also comes to the forefront in songs like “Right Guy, Wrong Time,” and “Call You Names” about the re-evaluating of the contributions of your parents that comes with the wisdom of young adulthood. Where so much of radio country misses the mark by obsessing over youth and delivering canned lines full of club jargon, Tenille Arts and Love, Heartbreak, & Everything In Between find that middle ground between feeling relevant to the 20-somethings, yet mature enough for wide audiences.
We’re still talking about country pop here, so understand that going in. But if it was up to the hardened heart of this jaded gatekeeper, Canadian country artist Tenille Arts would be green carded, fast tracked to country radio, and be sent to roll down on the glitter chicks and dude bros currently on radio like an arctic front or a grizzly defenseman missing half his Chiclets cross checking the other team’s pretty boy superstar into the boards.
Color me impressed.
7/10
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January 13, 2020 @ 9:36 am
I’m really enjoying this album. There’s a lot of versatility in her voice and she has a very specific songwriting perspective that you don’t hear from a lot of other females right now. My favorites are “I Hate This,” “Nothing to See Here,” “Another Life” (which she wrote by herself) and “Call You Names.”
January 13, 2020 @ 9:56 am
I have really been digging Tenille for a couple years now. Wish more pop country sounded like this. There are some stereotypical r & b country just misses on songs that women sing now days but the songs that land have been on repeat for me. Like 90 percent of what I listen to is bluegrass red dirt or independent country but she fits the bill for what pop country should sound like on the radio now days.
For those those that dont mind listening to Drake White, David Nail, or Phil Vassar every once in a while she should be up your alley. Not as impressive of a voice as Sarah Evan’s but I see alot of similarities between the two.
Glad you reviewed this Trigger I know most of your viewers wont like this but your words do this justice. I highly suggest people listen to some of her songs off her first album as well. Cold Feet and Moment of Weakness are great songs as well. Keep up the good work Trig
January 13, 2020 @ 10:41 am
Tenille Arts released an Ep in 2016 & “Dash Light” was one of my most played tracks of the year.
Her new album is an evolution & not a revolution.
“Somebody Like That” was one of my “Guilty Pleasure” tracks a couple of month ago. Very radio-friendly. But there are better tracks on her new album like “Nothing To See Here”, “Another Life”, the atmospheric “Right Guy Wrong Time” & “Missing You”.
New Stuff:
Derani – Drive South – Album (10 Tracks) – Released (11/22)
New female australian country artist. The title track is becoming a hit on the australian country charts (new entry on #18).
The best…Derani keeps it country…country of the mid 80’s to the mid 90’s. A piece of Holly Dunn, a little bit of the early Suzy Bogguss & Forester Sisters.
The album contains a couple of cover versions like “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her”, “Out Of Your Shoes” & “Sleepin’ Single”.
Curtis Grimes – “River Road Dream” – Track – Released
Back to the 90’s for Curtis Grimes. “River…” is an Alan Jackson styled uptempo track & should be the next big hit for Curtis Grimes on the Texas charts. An earworm.
Jeff Hodge – “So Did He” – Track – Released
Unknown artists with a 90’s country radio-friendly track. Great uptemp track. Should be on radio & not Sam Hunt shit. Earworm.
January 13, 2020 @ 11:27 am
I listened to the record on Friday when it came out and didn’t get too excited about it. It needs several more listens, though. However, I am a fan of Tenille Townes (besides their radio play version of “somebody’s daughter” – it was way better in her acoustic track)
January 13, 2020 @ 11:58 am
Anyone who appreciates traditional country music should really check out some more of the Canadian country artists. So many good ones out there; Dean Brody, Tenille Townes, James Barker Band, Meghan Patrick, Jess Moskaluke, Gord Bamford. Not to mention Brett Kissel; he does the odd song that’s more pop-country, but he mostly sticks to his roots – recently released a new album as well to Canada and the US. I’d love to see some more reviews of Canadian country artists’ music on this site here.
January 13, 2020 @ 1:11 pm
some good ones here, maplecountry , but many who are just too ” American mainstream radio ‘ for me to call country….too kelsea ballerini /maren morris ‘country ‘ .
gord is the king of keeping it kountry here in canada , of course …..the rest mentioned have their moments but overall seem ‘uncommitted’ and chase radio on radio’s terms . great singers all , though …..you didn’t mention a bad one .
January 16, 2020 @ 9:33 am
Never heard of Gord Bamford but one must wonder if he will take over superstardom from another Canadian Gord—-Lightfoot that is.
January 16, 2020 @ 10:15 am
NOT EVEN IN THE SAME LEAGUE , BRIAN ….AND FEW ARE .
January 16, 2020 @ 9:30 am
There have been many fine Canadian country artists through the years. Anne Murray was billed as country for a long time although she was a little bit of everything. We also had the likes of Shania Twain, Terri Clark, Hank Snow and Ray Griff.
January 13, 2020 @ 1:05 pm
”Where so much of radio country misses the mark by obsessing over youth and delivering canned lines full of club jargon,……”
exellent observation on the state of pretty-much ALL pop , trigger
tenille arts has flow under my radar but i don’t know why . couple of real nice tracks here ….great COUNTRY vocals and treatments …really like what’s posted .
generally speaking , Canadian ‘Country” mainstream acts are borderline unlistenable for the pop quotient ….even dreadfully generic . teniile arts is one who actually ‘gets it ‘ and delivers accordingly . lets hope she maintains HER vision …..our other tenille seems to have ‘caved ‘ a little in that regard ……not uncommon of course but so disappointing and sad when it was all there BEFORE the label and producer had their say.
January 13, 2020 @ 2:22 pm
I’m definitely a fan and was frustrated that neither “I Hate This” nor “Call You Names” got a real shot at radio, especially since the former proved it could connect based on her Bachelor performance.
It looks like Somebody Like That will at least get a CHANCE based on today’s solid add count … but it’s far less interesting than those other two songs.
January 13, 2020 @ 2:27 pm
Meghan Patrick started with a fine album, a good follow-up & her current EP is ok. Not bad…but i think she is capable to release better music.
Her new single is a duet version with Teddy Robb “Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You”.
The song was released as the debut single by Teddy Robb in the USA a couple of month ago & was one or two weeks on the airplay charts so far.
January 13, 2020 @ 8:24 pm
Liked the 2 songs posted here, so went to play the album, and… fake drums and electronic pop/r&b… first song… right out of the gate…
Trig did warn us, but after hearing a little of what she’s capable of, it’s still disappointing to hear the blatant sellout radio pandering. I’m just not going to wade through that stuff to pick out the real music.
I do want to emphasize that I see why Trig highlighted this artist. She is a talent, offering something real and interesting, for those willing to traverse the “mainstream” potholes along the way.
January 14, 2020 @ 1:57 am
Is it me or is that cover art quite 80s? I can’t really describe it another way.
January 16, 2020 @ 7:43 am
80’s styling is in