No Mistaking It Now, Luke Combs Is Country’s Next Massive Superstar
We are starring straight at the future of mainstream country music ladies and gentlemen, and it’s fuzzy-faced, overweight, wearing duds acquired at a Bass Pro Shop, and possibly holding a red solo cup in its right hand. That’s right, we’re talking about Luke Combs, and after the release of his latest single, there’s no mistaking it now. He is the biggest thing in all of country music at the moment, one of the biggest phenomenons to hit the genre definitely since Florida Georgia Line, and maybe even since Taylor Swift, and when all of this is said and done, we may even be comparing him to Garth Brooks in the way his career has been shot out of a country music cannon.
What all this means for country music is an important discussion to have, but first it can’t be emphasized and underscored enough just what Luke Combs is accomplishing at the moment. After all five of his first singles went #1, including two Triple-Platinum singles, one Double-Platinum single, and two Single Platinum singles that will likely be certified Double and Triple Platinum soon, Luke’s brand new single “Beer Never Broke My Heart” broke singles records this week when it received an incredible amount of adds on country radio, debuting at #15.
Where most artists are having to sit on singles for 9 to 15 months before they reach their peak, the problem for Luke Combs is trying to slow radio down as singles keep shooting up to #1 and staying there. His last single, and final single from his debut album This Ones For You was “Beautiful Crazy,” and it spent an unprecedented seven weeks at #1, which is unheard of in country radio these days. It also entered the Top 10 at country radio when his previous single “She Got The Best of Me” was still in the Top 10 because radio wasn’t ready to give up on it, which is another unheard of anomaly in the modern country radio era. In no uncertain terms, Luke Combs has been the most successful debut artist in country since the beginning of the SoundScan records in 1990, if not ever.
And speaking of his debut album This One’s For You, it is a perennial at the top of the country albums charts nearly every single week. The now 2x Platinum record is at #1 again here in mid May, even though it was released all the way back in June of 2017. How about Luke Combs’ current arena tour? It basically sold out as soon as the dates were posted, and will be going strong into December.
What Luke Combs is doing is unprecedented. What Luke Combs is doing is historic. And what Luke Combs is doing is also pretty generic. That is the reason his incredible ascension hasn’t been met with reams of think pieces about the cultural impact of his music like we saw with Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, or Chris Stapleton. Luke Combs is one of the biggest things ever in country music, yet it’s almost like nobody’s paying attention to him. He’s not a sexy story for country music like Kane Brown or Lil Nas X. He’s just an everyday Joe who happens to be killing it by connecting with audiences in ways other artists fail at. He may be generic, but he’s real, and country, and he carries the appeal of a massive superstar without the self-absorbed baggage that makes so many of country music’s superstars such polarizing characters.
Take Luke’s current single, “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” From a critics standpoint, this song doesn’t have much at all. It’s paint-by-the-numbers, safe, buzzword-laden songwriting is nothing to praise, the guitar is more akin to rock than country, and some may even want to call it a Bro-Country selection. But the important thing about “Beer Never Broke My Heart” is that it isn’t Bro. There’s no rapping. There’s no electronic drum beats. It’s pretty boring for those that know what good songwriting is about, but it’s also nothing to get your druthers up for being offensive. If it comes on the radio, you just sort of nod along, unless you really like it, which a lot of people do. Love ballads and stereotypical beer drinking songs are the bread and butter of Luke Combs, and he’s buttering a lot of bread these days.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Is Luke Combs the traditional country savior we’ve been waiting for to finally deliver the mainstream from the tyranny of Music Row? No, he’s not. Not even close. However his success is overshadowing a whole host of bad country artists who Combs is a much better alternative to. This was supposed to be the era of Kane Brown, who released his sophomore album in late 2018. Instead, Luke Combs is running laps around Kane. Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, even Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban? The success these artists are experiencing feels like an afterthought compared to Combs at the moment. Luke Combs is like Chris Stapleton in 2016 after his big breakout CMA Awards, but with radio actually playing him and the kids getting into it along with the adults. Luke Combs is country music’s mainstream cash cow. Women love him. Men love him. Young and old love him. And maybe most important and what separates him from country music’s other superstars is few really really hate him.
What this all means for country music will not be determined in the near term, aside from being a positive sign for the genre moving forward. And even though Combs won’t get any love from the “diversity” crowd as a white dude, it can’t hurt that a guy that isn’t a fashion plate is proving people will still pay attention to his music. Luke Combs will continue to release singles from his upcoming sophomore record, and they will continue to shoot straight to #1 for the foreseeable future. The press will continue to ignore this phenomenon, because there’s not juicy political tie-ins, and he doesn’t make for good click bait. Perhaps his reign will not have the same cultural impact of other past country music superstars simply because he doesn’t have a clearly-defined style, and doesn’t offer something wholly unique in the country space, and least not yet. But who knows, with the creative freedom that will come from all of this success, perhaps Combs will choose to return back to his more rootsy, twangy style from earlier in his career. He’s also not afraid to speak his mind about what is happening in country.
We don’t know where Luke Combs will eventually go. But we know where he is right now, which is country music’s next massive superstar who will likely be making waves and setting records for years to come.
Throwback Country
May 15, 2019 @ 10:42 am
Meh.
I don’t dislike Luke Combs, but I can’t say the prospect of him being country’s next big mega-star really sits well with me, either. Better him than Luke Bryan or FGL, but given everything else out there ready to be discovered, just kind of blah.
Wish you were writing this about Cody Jinks instead.
Hoss Garcia
May 15, 2019 @ 4:12 pm
Jinks blew his shot, more or less, with that very subpar last album. Next in line.
Gary Jackson
May 17, 2019 @ 4:38 am
As I was reading this article I was thinking: As much as I like Luke Combs, I like Cody Jinks that much better.
karl
May 15, 2019 @ 10:49 am
He must be doing well if he can afford duds from Bass Pro.
I liked his last cd pretty well, but it didn’t stay in my rotation very long.
Benjamin
May 15, 2019 @ 10:49 am
I have a theory that “Trigger” is actually just Grady Smith… y’all always talkin’ about the same things at the same time 😂
Grady Smith
May 15, 2019 @ 11:31 am
I would link to myself way more if this were true.
Hey Arnold
May 15, 2019 @ 11:36 am
@Grady Smith.
Hey, I love your videos!! Loved your Luke Combs analysis video too!! Please consider doing a mini series/analysis style reporting on current mainstream neo-traditionalists, like Jon Pardi, Cody Johnson, etc. They are somewhat underrated and your channel is such a great platform to put the spotlight on their contributions
North Woods Country
May 15, 2019 @ 3:01 pm
Kyle probably can’t grow that Dierks Bentley beard anyway.
(Me and) Paul
May 16, 2019 @ 10:23 am
I’m still waiting for the Trigger/Grady Smith crossover episode
CeeCeeBee
May 15, 2019 @ 11:00 am
I don’t love his music, but I don’t hate it either. I don’t really get the mass appeal but if he is taking radio spins from Aldean FGL, and their ilk, then I am grateful. I will also say it’s refreshing to see the ladies scream over someone who isn’t squished into tight jeans and shaking his ass. That right there is progress so far as I’m concerned.
Splitear
May 15, 2019 @ 11:01 am
You nailed it, he is “generic”, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’ve had a dozen people come up to me with the “you like country music, don’t you love Luke Combs?”. The answer is, “no”, I don’t love him, but I don’t mind his stuff, and even like most of it. Love it, no, none of his stuff has wowed me, but I really enjoy most of it. The songwriting is simple, but not everything has to be a masterpiece, and we all know that simple is better received than deep. Johnny Cash is known as the “Man In Black”, but the majority of Johnny Cash t-shirt wearing “super-fans” couldn’t tell you that was his song. Chances are, the only song they can name is “Folsom”, and it doesn’t get much more simple than that. It still doesn’t take away from the connection though, and Luke Combs has the connection it seems.
El Pelirrojo
May 15, 2019 @ 11:02 am
I don’t hate Combs, but I despise the hype train behind him. Seems like you can’t flip on the radio or even have a discussion about country music these days without his name coming up immediately. Hard pass.
Black Boots
May 15, 2019 @ 11:06 am
Just until FGL co-write the new Tyler album, that is.
I kid, i kid.
CeeCeeBee
May 15, 2019 @ 11:13 am
Please. Don’t even joke about such a vile thing…
Rob
May 15, 2019 @ 2:37 pm
Don’t you put that evil on me Ricky Bobby
Hey Arnold
May 15, 2019 @ 11:16 am
Luke is decent and all, but I don’t understand the mass appeal. He is not a “neo-traditionalist” in my book. His songs don’t feature heavy steel and fiddle that much… It just gets me annoyed that his ballad “Beautiful Crazy” spent 7 weeks at #1… while one of the greatest mainstream radio singles of the past 5 years, “She Ain’t In It” peaked at #21… Where’s the logic in that???
Luke has a great voice, relatable lyrics, and uses real instruments. This is all a Win for Country Music for sure. But I do feel that his singles are bland. They aren’t bad or great!! Just decent. I admit that She Got the Best of Me and Beautiful Crazy are probably my favorites from him… but Beer Never Broke my Heart doesn’t do much for me.
With all this craze for Luke Combs and Stapleton… I really hope that the general public will pay more attention to Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Midland, and Ashley McBride. ….. Especially Pardi and Midland because they have had multiple hits on Country radio and they likely will start headlining arenas soon
King Honky Of Crackershire
May 15, 2019 @ 11:22 am
Trigger,
Maybe this is “diversity” related. Maybe the “Body-Positive”(anti fat shaming) movement is propping him up.
I’m still amazed by it. WMM is so much better, and he’s modely looking.
Something strange is happening for sure.
Trigger
May 15, 2019 @ 11:32 am
What propped Luke Combs up initially was streaming. His team understood the new paradigm better than anyone, even better than Kane Brown’s team. That also is a little concerning, because once the cooked books on streaming get exposed, which they will eventually, Luke’s name might come up. But right now the thing that’s propping him up is radio. He must test off the charts, because they would play him 4 times an hour if they could. Honestly, I think the corn fed passive country music fan sees a guy like Luke Combs and they see one of them. Even the women relate to him as a brother or son, and root for him.
Tom
May 15, 2019 @ 1:48 pm
What is this streaming books cooking you are speaking of? Perhaps it is you who are to break the story!
Trigger
May 15, 2019 @ 2:17 pm
That is a story I’m always working on. A couple of years ago I talked about the massive Red Music playlists on YouTube which are helping to drive a lot of streaming numbers, and how Luke Combs, along with Kane Brown, Brent Young, and other artists who seem to do be doing so well are regularly featured on them.
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/price-points-playlist-manipulations-how-babe-rexha-gamed-the-system-to-go-1-in-country/
King Honky Of Crackershire
May 15, 2019 @ 6:38 pm
“Honestly, I think the corn fed passive country music fan sees a guy like Luke Combs and they see one of them. Even the women relate to him as a brother or son, and root for him.”
I’d root for him too, if I liked his music enough. As a dude, his looks mean jack to me. His music just isn’t C(c)ountry enough.
Bruce Bremer
May 19, 2019 @ 7:30 pm
Midland is a proxy for Shane McAnally.
Random
November 3, 2021 @ 12:14 am
What the f*ck does his appearance matter? The dude can sing and that is all that matters.
Hey Arnold
May 15, 2019 @ 11:26 am
Luke Combs’ music and brand is literally a reboot /combination of 2005 Toby Keith and 1992 Garth Brooks.
Cool Lester Smooth
May 15, 2019 @ 12:23 pm
And I don’t mind!
Neither offered any of their classics at that juncture…but they pumped out consistently solid songs.
Jim L.
May 15, 2019 @ 11:39 am
He’s just OK. But it should be Dillon Carmichael getting this kind of attention instead.
Tex Hex
May 16, 2019 @ 9:19 am
Yeah, Dillon Carmichael is a slightly more “trad” alternative to Combs, but I’m surprised he’s sort of fallen off the map since his debut came out last year.
He did an opening gig in DC last fall, which I had tickets in-hand for but ended up missing due to a schedule conflict – but I wasn’t too worried since I was fully expecting him to come back around soon with a headlining slot. Hasn’t happened. Being in Dave Cobb’s circle, I would’ve assumed he’d at least get an opener slot on Stapleton’s next American Road Show tour or something.
Will
May 15, 2019 @ 11:47 am
This is kind of just the circle of life in music form, right? I mean the up and coming artists have to break through and push out the “oldies” eventually. Luke Bryan’s steady stream of radio success started in ~2009, Jason Aldean ~2008, FGL ~2012, Blake Shelton mid 2000’s, Keith Urban early 2000’s. So in theory it’s just time for younger talent to take over like it always has. I only wish the same could be said about the female side of the country. Carrie and Miranda are good, but deserve to be pushed out by better than Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris.
Trigger
May 15, 2019 @ 1:03 pm
Yes, there is definitely a circle of life element to this, but nobody has started in that circle with similar success to Luke Combs.
Double J
May 15, 2019 @ 11:53 am
I could see him easily being as big as Toby Keith was in the early to mid-00s (maybe it’s the gimmick/cup that instantly makes me think of Toby)
Bruce Bremer
May 19, 2019 @ 7:32 pm
I’m sure there is a massive PR machine behind his success.
Summer Jam
May 15, 2019 @ 11:55 am
Nobody hates Luke Combs. And I mean no one. I have never seen a hate comment anywhere online, and anyone I’ve talked to that’s familiar with country music never has a bad opinion towards him. Combs is one of those guys that’s not doing anything right, but hes not doing anything wrong either, hes just right there in the middle…completely neutral. I saw the guy perform an acoustic concert at the York Fair and I’m telling you his voice is incredible, his booming voice had shivers and tingles going down my spine and in my head at alot of points…if you haven’t seen him in person you wouldn’t understand. I like the guy and his music, but I dont love him and am not a massive fan. I feel as if he could make better music and i hope he does. His music is good enough to possibly wake up all these other clowns releasing pop into the genre. I hope he is the turning point for country.
Jimmy Bobby
May 15, 2019 @ 4:39 pm
I hate Luke Combs.
618creekrat
May 15, 2019 @ 8:58 pm
I too would hate Luke if Ricky stole my middle name.
hoptowntiger94
May 15, 2019 @ 9:13 pm
I saw Martina McBride at the York county fair … maybe 2000.
Hey Arnold
May 15, 2019 @ 12:05 pm
Serious question/debate… Is this Luke Combs’ peak?
Soon to have six consecutive #1s on radio, Headlining sold out arenas, Grammy nominated, Double platinum album, and Male Vocalist nominations at CMAs and ACM award shows.. All this before his 30th birthday?!!
Sometimes it’s not great to achieve all this within 2 years…. How will Luke continue to top his achievements?
Even when Tim McGraw and Kenny Cheney peaked in the early 00s-2005 , they had already been seasoned performers with multiple albums and maybe like 5 years of steady touring.
The only other artist that came out swinging from the gates was probably Garth Brooks.. and he peaked so much in the 90s that he went on a hiatus for 14 years in the 2000s.
That’s what I’m worried about for Luke.
Ben Sharav
May 15, 2019 @ 5:42 pm
“The only other artist that came out swinging from the gates was Garth”?
Funny thing is, when they opened the gates, Clint Black actually left Garth in the dust. Clint’s debut album “Killin’ Time” was No. 1 for months and something like four singles from that album went to No. 1. Garth’s debut album was always #2, and only a couple of the singles off of it hit the top. Garth really started to take off with his second album, “No Fences,” and its smash lead-off single “Friends in Low Places.” But even then, Alan Jackson’s singles seemed to do as well as Garth’s.
It was Garth’s charged-up live performances that set him apart and at a higher level than everyone else.
618creekrat
May 15, 2019 @ 9:14 pm
Yeah, Garth may have flown by wire like Peter Pan, but I’d rather catch a Clint Black show any day. I’d say that Garth’s dominance could serve as evidence that there was injustice in ’90’s Country, too.
Hey Arnold
May 15, 2019 @ 9:35 pm
Chris Gaines? Haha
Clint definitely was a Star in the 90s. But he peaked there… which brings me to my Original post concerning the fate of Luke.
Chris Barnes
May 15, 2019 @ 12:08 pm
I have to admit that this guy isn’t too bad, when he sings straight ahead, but if they would just let him sing straight on those couple of lines instead of using a voice synthesizer, the song itself would’ve sounded a lot better, but the Nashville corporate machine has to autotech and auto tune every damn halfway decent singer and song that comes out of there today. They flat out ruin both both the singer and the song. No authenticity whatsoever when they make music in a machine shop!
OlaR
May 15, 2019 @ 12:08 pm
No…Rome wasn’t built in a day & we have seen more than one next massive country superstar over the years.
Luke Combs…well…not bad…for a Nashville act. The Texas Top 100 are overcrowded with great songs & artists.
The real superstar is Rodney Atkins…”Fuck.. Up In The Country” feat. the Lala Singers lost the bullet 2-3 weeks ago but is still #23. 57 weeks on Billboards US Airplay Charts & the track is a new entry on the canadian airplay charts next week!
Keith Urban released a new single (“We Were”) co-penned by Eric Church.
Trisha Yearwood will release a new single soon (early June). “Every Girl In This Town” was co-written by Caitlyn Smith.
618creekrat
May 15, 2019 @ 9:34 pm
Damn, Rodney managed to get 4 strikes in one at bat: rapping through auto-tune with a clap track and “oh-oh’s” in the bgv’s.
Marc
May 15, 2019 @ 12:21 pm
I tend to believe the good if not great country singers were performing during the Keith Whitley tributes last week….Wesley Dennis, Kevin Denney, Ken Mellons and the young and talented Jon Bowlin.
Jimmy
May 15, 2019 @ 4:40 pm
Kevin Denney’s debut is killer. Slipped through the cracks, unfortunately.
jimincincy
May 15, 2019 @ 8:05 pm
I was fortunate to attend both shows last week. Wesley is the best traditional singer around. I thought both shows were excellent. Meeting Randy Travis and David Frizzell was the cherry on top.
marc
May 15, 2019 @ 8:36 pm
100% on Wesley Dennis. The word was he was releasing an album last year but I think it was pushed to the back burner. Lucky you…
jimincincy
May 16, 2019 @ 3:54 pm
Marc , a nice video of Jon Bowlin singing a song for Randy posted on Friends of Keith Whitley Facebook. Was recorded backstage at Friday nights show.
Kross
May 15, 2019 @ 12:28 pm
I’m ok with LC. Seems like the kind of guy I would watch college football, and crush a few miller lights with. I can’t say that about FGL, Kane Brown or Sam Hunt. I wouldn’t use the word genetic tho. I feel like he’s bringing something newish to the table. The songs are too catchy yet heartfelt to dismiss as simply generic. Maybe obliquely unique? Best I can come up with.
A.K.A. City
May 15, 2019 @ 12:33 pm
I really don’t understand the hype around this guy. Everytime I’ve seen him perform on tv, my response is “Meh” and “What’s up with the red solo cup?” However, this guy is doing arena tours and is relatively new. My 20 year old stepdaughter and her friends love him. Considering she was in love with Brantley Gilbert three years ago, I guess it is an improvement. He has managed to capture “average guy” and market it to the stratosphere. If anything, I think this is a study on his management team to get him to where he is while he is marginal at just about everything.
AT
May 15, 2019 @ 12:58 pm
Does anyone else think that guitar part in Luke’s “Beer Never Broke My Heart” sounds so similar to Randy Houser’s “Whistlin Dixie” that was released in 2009? That’s the only thing I don’t care for with “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”
Stu Basham
May 15, 2019 @ 1:07 pm
This is a great commentary. Your critique, I think, is fair and realistic. Luke is a great artist and songwriter and am so glad he’s become such a big part of the country music scene. He deserves it.
Grant
May 15, 2019 @ 1:23 pm
Listen I saw Luke Coombs 3 times before he was big in little shows across Georgia. He had a strong natural fanbase that grew organically and actually bought EP’s and tickets to shows. He is a likable guy. He reminds me of my redneck neighbors from back home. Just a good ole boy who made it big. He is relatable and approachable. He feels like he’s one of us and we, in turn, feel like we participated in his success. He’s not my favorite artist but he does lean more traditional and he can actually sing! I wish him all the more success.
kiwicountry
May 15, 2019 @ 1:46 pm
I think he’s a lot better than the generic bro country artists out there but why is he getting number 1’s and support from radio and someone as talented as Ashley McBryde isn’t? Girl Goin’ Nowhere is an incredible song but radio isn’t supporting her or the song like it is all these generic ones that have no real substance or meaning to them.
Is that what music has become, generic noise and lyrics that mean nothing – use to be a song moved you, made you stop and think, healed your broken heart, brought you out of the darkness and into the light. Use to be that instruments had just as big a role to play in the song as the lyrics – opening to Hotel California, guitar breaks in 60s, 70s & 80s rock music. One of my favorite lines from a movie is from Eddie and the Cruiser where Eddie says to Frank ‘Words and Music’ with his fingers crossed to show they go together.
I recently played Ashley’s performance of that song at the Grand Ole Opry for my parents (who aren’t even into country) and they both cried, they were just so moved by it. I just listened to Reba’s new album and Cactus in a Coffee Can had me in tears.
It seems the only music being played on the radio nowadays is shallow and hollow much like the society we are becoming. It’s a shame really, music use to mean something, now it’s just another vehicle for which the greedy can make money from whilst exploiting anything they can with no respect to the actual artistic expression it’s supposed to be.
TK
May 15, 2019 @ 1:52 pm
I am going to need him to release a song about how country he is before I can gauge whether or not he is country. I mean what makes him country? Was he raised on country? Is he the somebody that’s gotta be country? Is he caught up in the country? So many unanswered questions.
wayne
May 15, 2019 @ 1:54 pm
Everyone ‘s comments reflect mine as well. It seems that the opinion is he is better than a lot of the alternatives. Not the best criteria but I will say that he is tolerable and there would be worse choices to carry the torch.
And the fact that he is not a GQ model makes it even better. It seems that the female acts could benefit from this but it is a harder road for them for sure. Reference Ashley McBride. The only rub with the girls of country is when a new act comes along they mostly fall into the mode of “model-show-me-some-leg” syndrome. Maybe they think they have to. I don’t know.
63Guild
May 15, 2019 @ 2:08 pm
If Luke Combs looked like Luke Bryan or Sam Hunt he would be everywhere and we would be tired of him because the mainstream couldnt stop fawning over him. So here’s to him being an overweight white dude that I have a guilty pleasure of listening too from another overweight white dude
JB-Chicago
May 15, 2019 @ 2:31 pm
I think everyone on here knows I’ve been on team Combs since the get go. First saw him open for Gilbert & Tucker Beathard blew em both away in a 40 minute set(not hard to do)
I saw him tear up a club to 400 of us and then turn to his band as people thought he was done for the night and say to each one of them “outlaw” over the crowd noise…… as they launched into the anthem most fans still haven’t heard or know about (that wasn’t on the setlist). Watched him play our Smokeout 2 summers ago when Hurricane just got popular but it still wasn’t packed for him yet for his 4p slot but still proving to everyone he’s a “Fest force” as well. The crown jewel was him playing acoustic only @ our Joe’s Live Christmas party sold out 1800. Everyone sang and knew every word. A goosebump event. I am really happy to see all of this success and probably still a little shocked. Now with the new tune there’s a part of me thinking “is it all a little too much too soon?” The radio might burn him out? People start to get ………dare I say it……sick of hearing him all the time. I know you gotta strike while the iron is hot but I see no break coming in the theoretical album cycle if it even exists anymore? The new song is “safe” but if there were ever a time to hammer the message home and release Can I Get An Outlaw the peak of right now would sure be it.
Tena
May 15, 2019 @ 2:34 pm
Despite what everybody is saying, I actually love Luke Combs. He is an old fashioned country boy. I love everything about him all of his music, the way he sings his videos everything. He is one of my favorites. I hope he makes it big. Or should I say bigger. Beer never broke my heart is going to be #1 on the charts. Be happy for him He worked his ass off to get where he is so go Luke Combs!!!! Love ya!!!!
Thass
May 15, 2019 @ 2:41 pm
I don’t give a rats ass how he looks.
But goddammit do I hate how over produced all of his studio/radio stuff is. Compare the acoustic “Beautiful Crazy” to the radio version. Compare the EP of “She Got the Best of Me” to the Deluxe album version. Compare the acoustic “Beer never broke my heart” to the radio single.
Country music isn’t meant to be perfect, the “rawness” is one of the most important aspects. To quote the man himself, “it’s the words and what they mean.” Well, it seems like his albums don’t mean the words he’s singing.
Rob
May 15, 2019 @ 2:47 pm
Consider me a Luke Combs fan. He’s not groundbreaking and I typically veer away from most things mainstream, but he’s a really likeable guy and a ton of people relate to him because he couldn’t double as a model.
Sure I wish this kind of success was coming from Cody Jinks or Tyler Childers, but Luke Combs is not the problem, and if anything he is having a positive impact on modern country music.
albert
May 15, 2019 @ 3:46 pm
”What Luke Combs is doing is unprecedented. What Luke Combs is doing is historic. And what Luke Combs is doing is also pretty generic. That is the reason his incredible ascension hasn’t been met with reams of think pieces about the cultural impact of his music like we saw with Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, or Chris Stapleton. Luke Combs is one of the biggest things ever in country music, yet it’s almost like nobody’s paying attention to him. ”
this is finger-on-the-pulse perfect as an observation , trigger ,and so is the rest of your commentary . i might suggest that his success is because bro HAS run its course and suddenly everything old is ‘new’ again . i might suggest that his non-superstar personna ( the anti-McGraw/Urban/FGL/Brown /Brooks by-the-book – ‘country’ star image ) is standing him in good favour with nearly everybody who feels a kinship with his lack of airs .
generic…? yup..he’s the definition of the word……. absolutely
lackluster material ? you’d better believe it …nothing to hear here, people…move along..
fresh-sounding ? absolutely …if you’re under 22 years old and only know mainstream ‘country’ radio …..yup …he’s a different sound .
and as long as what he’s singing is selling he won’t be looking for better material from ANY source CUZ IF IT AIN’T BROKE ….
BUT …..if he gets tired of tired, leaning-to-the-trite material , he just may be the guy to deliver the goods when the goods are what he WANTS to deliver .
I’m probably willing to wait cuz,c’mon …..what are the mainstream options ..?….
Thane
May 15, 2019 @ 6:19 pm
“…Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban”.
I vote that we always include that sham title when referring to Keith Urban.
jbear123
May 15, 2019 @ 7:16 pm
Why, I don’t get all the hate against Keith Urban, how is what he’s doing any different to Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton or Brad Paisley? He’s worked his butt of performing since the 90’s just like they have. Nobody got their panties in bind when Garth Brooks whose won EOTY numerous times won EOTY at the 2016 CMA’s when Carrie Underwood should have won. Not only did she accomplish more than any other entertainer that year including a massive American tour, successful shows in Europe and Australasia and launching a fashion brand, she did it all whilst raising her infant son, something any new parent will know is not easy. And her husband was still playing hockey at the time, so she was having to single parent it up most of the time. I will never forget the look on Brad Paisley’s face when the winner was read out, he showed what I felt, utter disappointment. I’m not saying Garth isn’t a great performer, I’m saying he didn’t deserve to win that year.
Cool Lester Smooth
May 16, 2019 @ 8:00 am
“What he’s doing” isn’t “any different to Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton or Brad Paisley.”
…hence all the hate he gets here.
Jack Williams
May 16, 2019 @ 9:42 am
I’d say what he’s doing is much worse than Paisley and worse than what Shelton is doing now. And maybe there’s a feeling that he knows better. He seems to have sold out but HARD. I’m not up on everything he’s done, but I’ve heard some decent pop country from him. Now, it seems like staying relevant is the top priority, no matter where it takes him. And then, he’ll defend his actions by name dropping Waylon and Willie.
jbear123
May 19, 2019 @ 2:09 pm
At least Keith Urban shows up to the Grand Ole Opry to perform unlike Blake Shelton whose too busy on the Voice to take his membership seriously. And what he’s doing isn’t any different, none of those guys make traditional country music anymore. It’s all steeped in pop, rock and other genre’s with hints of country, especially with the likes of Bryan and Shelton. They are just as into making radio friendly hits as any other mainstream country artist nowadays. But Keith is always the one that cops it, I have a feeling it’s more to do with him being an Aussie than anything else, he’s not from Nashville so he gets hated on. Never mind that most Nashville artist on the charts are sell outs making the same generic bro country rubbish that has nothing to do with traditional country music in which they all drop names & use symbols of country life in order to seem relevant to the genre.
Janice Rivers
May 15, 2019 @ 7:35 pm
Luke Combs, is freaking awesome! Its no need tryn to compare him, he’s got his own style n sound, everything he sings and writes is outstanding! People get on my nerve, trying to put other new artist down, and comparing everybody, jus enjoy the talent. He’s a talented, young man, and if stop talking bout other peoples appearance, look in the mirror folks, at yourselves befire you talk bout other peoples appearances, I think hiw a man treats women and others says the most about his outward appearance as is inner ! Luke Combs is the greatest thing in a long long while, I love Lukes music n attitude as I do Jasin Aldean!! My two favorites!
Montanaman
May 16, 2019 @ 6:28 am
Do you write for the Onion? That was amazing satire!. You nailed it!
puke combs
May 15, 2019 @ 8:41 pm
this guy is like the nickelback of country. has a chance to put out a song with substance and writes ‘muh longneck beer’ he had more of an edge when he first started, he appeared in a ryan upchurch video with the rebel flag, then later sued to get his name taken off the song… if you dont like it dont be in the video… what a fat pussy
Hey Arnold
May 15, 2019 @ 9:47 pm
Your username alone indicates how you feel about Mr. Combs. No need to comment . Thank u next
Jack Williams
May 16, 2019 @ 4:42 am
Nickelback? That’s Florida Georgia Line. I’d say Hootie and the Blowfish.
Justin
May 15, 2019 @ 11:04 pm
I think Luke Combs is a decent artist. I don’t love the song’s production (his new single) but its more country than most we see today.
Someone you all should look up and root for is Riley Green. He’s like a Sam Hunt who is actually country. He has a Neo-traditional vibe to him. His first single hit number one on Mediabase (There Was This Girl).
Here is his new single- this is the guy we should be rooting for to save country music.
Justin
May 15, 2019 @ 11:04 pm
Oops, forgot to post the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CDj42njZrs
Justin
May 15, 2019 @ 11:06 pm
His new single- I forgot to post the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CDj42njZrs
albert
May 15, 2019 @ 11:59 pm
I wanted to like this song hearing the music intro but four lines into it I realized…. ”I’VE HEARD THIS LYRIC A THOUSAND F***** TIMES ” and I had to shut it off .
This is ‘ radio lyric 101’ . Sorry ….1001 ain’t gonna sound better …
The Original WTF Guy
May 16, 2019 @ 2:35 am
I almost made it through two songs. It’s awful. It’s no different than the crap most people here rail against.
Try Kolby Cooper. It’s a bit more on the Blackberry Smoke side of Luke whatever his name is so the “real” country fans might not like it, but it’s not awful. Try “Blame October.”
Guitars, Cadillacs...
May 16, 2019 @ 5:03 am
I’ve been listening to Luke and following his career for a while now and trying hard to like his music…but he just does nothing for me. Yes, his songwriting and musical arrangements are “real” in the sense that they aren’t put together in a sausage factory room in a Nashville high rise or on a laptop. But in all honesty, he’s just a slight step above bro-country. Its still formulaic. Its still cliche. Its still “safe”. I want to be pragmatic and I wish him well because he seems to be genuine. But my general feeling about his sudden rise is that I take a look around the mainstream and say “is this where we are in country now?” I won’t bash the guy because the alternative is way worse. And the “I’d rather listen to Cody Jinks” crowd that seems to poo-poo any decent country effort that doesn’t sound like Waylon circa 1977 ususally does more harm than good when it comes to a pragmatic approach to slowly improving mainstream country (disclaimer: I love Cody Jinks). But if the best we can say about a meteoric rise of a guy like Luke is “it could be worse”, where are we really headed?
Jack Williams
May 16, 2019 @ 5:22 am
Makes me think of a time when I would land on the country station and hear music that I couldn’t say wasn’t country, but that had the edges sanded off and just wasn’t my kind of country. But better him than the bros, metro-bros and r&b lite dudes.
wayne
May 16, 2019 @ 5:36 am
We are now in an era of settling on the cream of the crap instead of the cream of the crop. At least this “crap” doesn’t smell as bad as the pile of #!@t that is being passed for country music on most stations.
I mean, really, we are now agreeing that if a song has real drums and no clap machine it is real country.
Oh how far we have fallen.
Dawg Fan
May 16, 2019 @ 7:07 am
Generic by the dots country music. Background unobtrusive music in Mom’s minivan taking the kids to soccer practice. But like white bread, no nutritional value at all.
Cool Lester Smooth
May 16, 2019 @ 8:04 am
I mean, his stuff is the musical equivalent of toasted Wonderbread with a butter substitute…but there are much worse things to listen to, and I’m more than happy for this to be the baseline of pop country, relative to crap like FGL or Maren Morris.
Blockman
May 16, 2019 @ 8:10 am
This song is garbage by any standards. What the hell?
Atomic Zombie Redneck
May 16, 2019 @ 8:57 am
I have no problem with Combs being the biggest artist in country right now. He has a great voice, good songs, and his style is way closer to traditional country than anything we’ve heard from the Brown’s, Ballareini’s, Urban’s, Rhett’s, and Bro’s who’ve been flooding the airwaves lately.
Combs is good and he’s real, and that’s what mainstream country needs right now.
Tex Hex
May 16, 2019 @ 9:27 am
Great analysis, Trigger. The fact that he isn’t being covered too much by the media, despite his strong fan support is telling. Fans gravitate to stuff that makes them happy, media be damned. That’s an absolute plus, in my opinion. The fact that he’s making music that people identify with and enjoy, without leaning on some contrived “story” (Musgraves, Lil Nas X, even Simpson at one point) is great.
Eric
May 16, 2019 @ 9:47 am
Everyone is sick of what Nashville has become. I saw him as a warm up act for an opener an immediately knew he was the real deal! No 808s rapping and no crap bubblegum country of today. Just pure talent. A man, his voice and a guitar. He is genuine. He is what country music needs right now to wash the taste of FGL and Kane Brown and the rest of the rainbow coalition off of our pallettes.
Charlotte
May 16, 2019 @ 4:23 pm
The couple new Aaron Lewis songs I listened to make Luke Combs sound like hip hop. Combs is alright but really just pop country which I don’t mind. Haven’t heard any classics out of him. I like Kane Brown more…more of an edge. I understand everyone here hates him, just being honest.
JB-Chicago
May 16, 2019 @ 8:15 pm
I like Aaron more than most on here but if you like Kane Brown MORE than Luke???
Put the pipe down and walk away s l o w l y. BTW Aaron doesn’t even come close to making Luke sound like Hip hop but he certainly makes your boy Kane sound like it. I’ve seen all 3 live too. Guess which one I walked out on to a crowd of 100 on a Sunday night.
Charlotte
May 17, 2019 @ 1:47 am
Well, I don’t smoke a pipe of any kind. Kane is not “my boy”. Luke Combs is okay by me but bland. I don’t think he is very much of a change. And Aaron Lewis is way better than either of them. There, I said all that without personally insulting anyone.
DG
May 17, 2019 @ 2:23 pm
I just listened to all five of Combs’s number ones and the new “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” They all sound the same, are all pop country, and all blah. I don’t understand the appeal. Country music as I know it is gone. I had free tickets to Chris Janson/Chris Young last night, and if Janson and those who sound like him are the future of country music, the game’s over.
MidwestPatriot
May 25, 2019 @ 10:18 pm
Luke Combs music doesn’t sound much better to me than any of stuff Luke Bryan and the boys are putting out these days.
Ashley
June 13, 2019 @ 1:18 pm
Apparently Luke is a snob to fans in person though. I’m hearing multiple accounts from friends personal to me that say he treated them like gutter trash and acted very self important/dismissive when they paid big $ to meet him. I hope all this sudden fame hasn’t equally blown up his ego like I’m hearing. Love his voice…