Song Review – “All Your’n” by Tyler Childers
You will be hard pressed to find a more anticipated release in the independent country realm in 2019 than Country Squire by Kentucky’s Tyler Childers, due out August 2nd. His first record on Sony’s RCA imprint, Tyler’s traversing the same path as his fellow Kentuckian and producer Sturgill Simpson did in his unimaginable ascent, and who knows where it could land him. It landed Sturgill Grammy nominations and awards, and an amphitheater-level draw.
Releasing songs ahead of an album is always a perilous proposition for album artists—meaning performers who don’t rely on singles and radio spots, but put their expressions in full bodies of work for the public to consider cohesively. It’s especially perilous when an album is as anticipated as Country Squire. Expectations are so hard to fill, and with Childers specifically, he’s releasing nine songs that much of his core audience has already heard live, or seen on YouTube, and some for a good while now where the first version may be the one that gets imprinted on your brain as the best.
“All Your’n” has been a fan favorite live for the last many months. Similar to one of Tyler’s signature songs from his last record, “Feathered Indians,” it’s a sincere love song delivered with soul and conviction to his wife and fellow performer Senora May. “All Your’n” is rendered that much more meaningful by the details Tyler weaves into the verses—the hunting for morel mushrooms and being hindered by road construction when all you want to do is get home to your lover, making the story feel that much more real. As a written work, “All Your’n” is as fine of an offering from Tyler Childers as any you will find.
It’s the instrument selection and arrangement of the studio version of this song that makes it come across as less than ideal. Tyler and Sturgill are correct to identify “All Your’n” as just as much a soul song as a country one at its heart, but employing a production suite that is reminiscent of Motown and Muscle Shoals with multiple keys and wah-wah guitar tends to injure the rawness and authenticity Tyler performs this song with in front of his ragtag country band, The Food Stamps.
In “All Your’n,” Tyler’s voice seems to set down in the middle of it all as opposed to being out front where it belongs, and where listeners are accustomed to it being. Performing this song live, Tyler visibly strains himself at the verses, barely playing guitar, closing his eyes, and trying to put himself in the “moment” to render the inspiration behind the song as palpable to the audience. On this studio version, Tyler’s character-rich voice almost seems strangely monotone and average, with the little inflections where his tone gives out—letting you know he’s giving it his all—getting smoothed out in the mix.
This whole 70’s-style radio pop production that was all the rage in Americana a few years ago (and still is to some) has frankly become tired and overdone. Dan Auerbach knows no different when producing albums, and used this same approach from the recent albums from Dee White and Yola. It was cool and unique when artists like Anderson East first showed up a few years ago because that sound had been lost. Now it’s commonplace, and if you want to hear soul music, you’re better off going to the source. It’s the hardscrabble crackerness of Tyler Childers that makes him so engaging. He creates his own sound, born from Appalachian old time, Kentucky bluegrass, and contemporary perspective that has made Tyler not just a favorite of throwback traditionalists, but young rural dwellers and the European market from the authenticity and vitality baked into his true-to-life tunes.
This is just one song, and this qualifier can’t be bolded and underscored enough. Also, the A&R game couldn’t be worse when it comes to labels selecting early songs to release from independent artists. These companies have no clue, and neither do the artists themselves most of the time. Released in the context of a record, “All Your’n” may come across completely different to listeners. But released naked into the world, some will take it as a seismic sonic shift from Childers, when it may just be the one song on the album that finds this neo soul mood. The first song from the album, “House Fire” was much more what people anticipate from Childers, even if it’s more a song for the wide ear, and not Tyler’s best songwriting effort.
Still, these early song releases matter. The well of anticipation for Cody Jinks’ 2018 record Lifers got poisoned by putting out songs that didn’t signal Cody’s best on the album, and colored the release negative for many when overall it was a solid effort. It’s also important to put any song or album into the greater context. “All Your’n” is still a great song from the independent perspective, and certainly from the major label realm, which Childers is now a part of. It’s just a little saddled by trying to get too cute in the studio, instead of stepping back, and letting Tyler be Childers.
1 1/2 Guns Up (6.5/10)
(Rating subject to change when heard in the context of the album)
Sturgill_Jennings77
June 21, 2019 @ 11:00 am
I don’t care for it
10-GEN-NC
June 24, 2019 @ 11:22 am
Between this and the housefire song I’m not gonna get my hopes.up for remainder of album, have been a big fan of his music but this album is looking to be a letdown. Unfortunate turn of events hopefully the rest of the songs will.be better
Phil britton
June 24, 2019 @ 1:51 pm
This recording is garbage. I have been assaulted by many in Tyler’s camp for holding this opinion. I am a player and producer since 1987……so them youngins’ and their Honkey tonk Heroes van suck a fart out of my ass. JJ WATERS has appointed himself in a very tounge in cheek way to be some kind of judge in this genre. He lives in Huntington, there is NOTHING Appalachian about huntington…..nice they mr. Waters. You are. Bumbling, drunk boob. Go take care of your kid before you try to define Appalachian music under your short game.
James Hooker
June 25, 2019 @ 8:11 am
Huh?
Steve Barker
August 3, 2019 @ 12:29 pm
*breathes deeply* ok Phil. I will first start out with this. Please get back on your medication. You have friends (you know who I’m talking about) who are worried about you. That being said. Who the fuck are you to comment on anything that’s music related. The drunk guy on pills at the party who can play “Friend of the Devil” does not a producer or player make. The only record I’ve ever known of you releasing was with my band on ’02 that we had to fire you from for being a fuck up. I don’t know what vendetta you have against JJ but I can say this. He’s done 1000 times more for the music scene than you ever have. When was your last release. When was your last gig. If you truly are an Appalachian artist you know the uphill climb and obstacles we ALL have to climb to get success. We don’t need one of our own throwing rocks. You should be happy that our peers (well my peers because I still perform and record) are making it. Everytime Tyler and them boys do something great they’re lifting the rest of us up. Validating us, because far too long we’ve been told where we are from isn’t “marketable” or some other nonsense. And I say this from a credentialed stand point, sir. I’ve been in the scene longer than anyone around here, so your attempt at proving the value of your opinion is futile. And one more thing. I write this moments before I go wade fishing in the Big Coal River in Boone mother fuckin county so I’m not gonna hear about what is and what isn’t Appalachian or country from a rich kid from South Hills. Now dude. Please go to take your meds.
#tylerforever
Nikki
February 25, 2021 @ 11:55 am
I was going to take the time to educate these sheep. But you did it perfectly. He is a legend.
hoptowntiger94
June 21, 2019 @ 11:06 am
This makes me glad Charleston Girl and Shake the Frost weren’t chosen for this album!
Melissa W
June 21, 2019 @ 11:09 am
I love his voice. I like the lyrics. Nothing deep or ground breaking but I don’t need every song to be that.. However I don’t particularly care for the production.
Josh
June 21, 2019 @ 11:10 am
I’ve had a YouTube playlist of all his new music he was playing live that has been building for about a year and a half. Every single song on the new album is on this playlist. I love all the songs so much, the anticipation to get some good quality audio of them is what I expected from this album.
To be fair, House On Fire has always felt like a “let’s try to get on radio” song compared to literally everything else, but so far, in my opinion, the songs just don’t have that pure rawness that I love and expect from them. They aren’t even close to as heartfelt or soulful as the YouTube video audio. That’s kind of a disappointment, really. I guess it’s a good thing he isn’t shy about releasing acoustic albums.
matthew rutledge
June 21, 2019 @ 11:10 am
Tyler had a similar switch up in sound on the title track “Purgatory”, albeit the comparisons are entirely different. Bluegrass v soul/Motown. I like artists mixing it up a little. Just a hippie cowboys opinion.
Brandon
June 21, 2019 @ 11:11 am
Well that sucked
wonkabar23
June 21, 2019 @ 11:14 am
Sadly I agree with the review. I have not actually heard the live version of this, so nothing to compare, but this didn’t really leave any impression on me one way or another.
Jeremy
June 21, 2019 @ 2:55 pm
I will say I think his live versions are better than any of his recorded stuff.
A.K.A. City
June 21, 2019 @ 11:25 am
I am starting to really get down on the strategy of releasing multiple songs ahead of an LP release. A lot of the times I feel like there is nothing new by the time the album in full comes out, and hearing the songs out of context and order does form a pre-judgement of the album. For the content hungry world, it makes sense, but it seems to downplay the art of a full length album, which I am still a big fan of.
Sadly, I agree with this review. Hopefully the song will make more sense in context of the full release.
JB-Chicago
June 21, 2019 @ 6:46 pm
I can’t stand the new model of releasing songs long before the album’s release date. I’m old school, a “single” or 1 track 3 or 4 weeks or so prior to the album worked fine for decades now of course anything goes. Pardi released a new one yesterday as well. These albums are a long way off. Now I find myself making playlists of new songs screwing up my whole album only system. If I do that when the album comes out I’m already sick of some tunes. Tyler didn’t play this song or House Fire when he opened for John Prine here a couple of weeks ago btw.
Hammo
June 24, 2019 @ 9:15 am
Agreed. The anticipation of the whole album at once is part of the fun.
Scotty J
June 21, 2019 @ 7:50 pm
Unfortunately the album format has been so devalued that I don’t think anyway really cares about what these pre releases do.
It seems to me if you are an album, non radio artist you really shouldn’t act like you are one.
I’ve said it before but the album format is on life support at this point.
AV
June 23, 2019 @ 9:45 pm
I am 100% with you on this. It applies to all genres as well. The chainsmokers last album had 1 (!) previously unreleased song on their latest album. It’s gotten to the point where I consider not listening to new releases when I see them. I’d rather just wait for the album to come out
jeannie
June 21, 2019 @ 11:26 am
Its not all bad….Coming from a Evan Felker, Turnpike Troubadour Fan!
scott
June 21, 2019 @ 11:39 am
Meh. Not much to hold onto with this one. Funny, when I was in Ft. Worth last month, both of my nephews, who are Texas, red dirt country music loving guys, don’t like Childers. At all. Found that kinda odd…
Rooster Cruiser
June 24, 2019 @ 7:03 am
Because most Texas guys who are into “Texas Country” and “Red Dirt” like bros who sing the Texas brand of bro country, wear backwards Yeti ball caps and have concerts that look like A&M frat parties.
Childers is not that. Thank God.
scott
June 24, 2019 @ 7:12 am
Could be, don’t know. They tuned me into Turnpike, Flatland Cavalry, Cody Canada. They hate Koe Wetzel. Can’t be all bad…
JoseyWales
June 26, 2019 @ 6:33 am
TFW when you find somebody who thinks fraternities are a big deal at TAMU.
Chris Baker
June 21, 2019 @ 11:45 am
We took the live YouTube version of this and played it our wedding last year. It is one of my favorite songs he did, raw and unbelievable. This version I wouldnt even save to my spotify. This is not Tyler. I am not one to ever leave comments but this really has me fired up. I didnt care for what sturgill did to his Purgatory album either. Again not the Tyler we have been going to see for years. I really hope to get a raw version of this song one day.
Jake
June 21, 2019 @ 11:47 am
As much as everyone here despises the formulaic manufactured sound of mainstream country, ironically, many of you have come to expect a particular formula. I think it’s good and a nice change up. It still maintains a country sound and is certainly authentic. Y’all should stop getting caught up in checking the checkboxes of whatever sound you’re looking for and enjoy the art for what it is.
Trigger
June 21, 2019 @ 1:29 pm
“As much as everyone here despises the formulaic manufactured sound of mainstream country, ironically, many of you have come to expect a particular formula.”
I would agree. But I’ll also say that my concern with the production of the song is that it also uses a formula, and it’s a formula that has frankly been overused and that’s what renders it a little lifeless. I’ve been harping on the overuse of the throwback 70’s formula for years now, and brought it up specifically in recent reviews for Dee White and Yola.
That said, I don’t think this is a bad song, or that even the production is bad. I just don’t think it’s great, or appropriate for Tyler, and doesn’t accomplish what you want a lead song from an album to do, which is energize the public.
618creekrat
June 21, 2019 @ 2:53 pm
I can see what you’ve said here applying perfectly to Lifers. Folks have ragged on that album simply for failing to completely fall neatly into the Cody Jinks groove they were expecting.
In this case, though, there is such a stylistic departure that if it had been plunked into the middle of Purgatory, I doubt anyone would have made a peep about Universal Sound. For me, the production is different enough that it is distracting from the lyric, which probably isn’t what one wants from a Tyler Childers song.
Jon
June 21, 2019 @ 3:33 pm
What part of the 618 are you from, creek?
618creekrat
June 21, 2019 @ 4:00 pm
About 30 miles SE of STL.
Jon
June 21, 2019 @ 5:18 pm
Right on. I’m from about another 30 miles SE of that.
618creekrat
June 21, 2019 @ 8:02 pm
Cool. That wouldn’t be a bad place to be, although, I’d guess you have about an hour to any concert venues.
Jon
June 22, 2019 @ 2:39 pm
Well, I live in Fort Worth now, so we’ve got a couple.
618creekrat
June 22, 2019 @ 3:51 pm
Yep, down there I’d guess you’d have some nights with a couple of good acts to choose from.
Jeremy
June 22, 2019 @ 10:02 pm
Also a fellow 618’er here. I’m on the Indiana side of the state though.
Wes Barnes
June 21, 2019 @ 11:51 am
Great article. The song is a masterpiece when performed live. This is kinda like when that lady tried to restore that Jesus painting a few years back
Joe
June 21, 2019 @ 11:56 am
Sucks in my opinion. Not a fan of either release from him so far. I’m strongly anticipating that album release and I hope there is more of the old!
Drew L
June 21, 2019 @ 11:56 am
This one is a little tricky for me. If you grade it as a Childers song, the production severely hurts the grade. However, if you grade it as a groovy Motown song, it’s pretty tasty. Might have to just sit on it for a bit to give it time to fester.
Jared S.
June 21, 2019 @ 12:06 pm
I haven’t heard the song live (I’ve got tickets to see him next month) so I didn’t have any expectation. Lyrically, it seems like a great song.
But it sounds like he’s singing karaoke with a bad mix. I really hope the rest of the record is better than this.
Therealbobcephus
June 21, 2019 @ 12:23 pm
Reminds me of a song that would have wound up on a mid 70’s nitty gritty dirt band album.
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 12:49 pm
I’m a fan of Sturgill albums BEFORE Sailors guide. His attempt at R&Bish rock on that album was a total turn off to me, but hey that’s his choice. Applying a Soul / Motown / 70s vibe to Tyler just seems wrong though. You hit the nail on the head, that it’s the rawness and inflections in his vocals that made him sound good. Not sure I’m looking forward to this one anymore. Too bad. All they had to do was get his band in the studio for a few days, though some mics up, not fuck it up, and record what they sound like. Not this.
Trigger
June 21, 2019 @ 1:30 pm
No reason not to continue to look forward to this album. It’s still just one song, and it’s not bad, it’s just not the best. I personally still believe in Tyler Childers.
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 1:38 pm
Well, we are TWO songs in now and I don’t like how either of them sound.
I have tickets for an upcoming show and I’m sure it will be good. The guy is young and likely has a lot more in him. But I hate the disappointment I feel when bad production stifles an album of one of my favorite artists. And so far that’s how it’s looking to me. Hope I’m wrong…
Will
June 21, 2019 @ 12:57 pm
Way over produced. They also ruined whitehouse road on the last album by slowing it down and over producing it. I love Tyler but I think he needs to put his foot down and stick to his roots when it comes to the production of his songs. I get that Sturgill didn’t want to be a country artist but I don’t think they should screw with Tyler’s sound.
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 1:49 pm
Exactly.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
June 21, 2019 @ 2:51 pm
Sounds like you have some sort of inside track on the behind the scenes in the studio here? How do you know this is a case of Tyler fighting to keep the live version of the song as-is in the studio, and Sturgill squashing his opinion? Pretty presumptive….unless you know something the rest of us don’t…..
James Temple
June 21, 2019 @ 1:20 pm
Very ho hum. I’m a Tyler fan but his phrasing is the same on so many of his songs. I don’t get the “overproduced accusations”. Sounds like a demo to me.
Rob
June 21, 2019 @ 1:52 pm
Overall I definitely like it, and I like Sturgill Simpson, but honestly this song could’ve benefited from better production. He needs to get rid of Sturgill.
Ralphie
June 21, 2019 @ 2:02 pm
Did you like Purgatory?
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 2:18 pm
Purgatory only partially f’d up what I like about Tyler’s live sound. The LR Baggs session on YouTube sounds way better than Purgatory to me. These first 2 songs double down on squeezing all the life out of his music. There was still some live feel on Purgatory, partially probably because it was recorded in such a short period of time, but to me, this guy sounds so great live, you have to really try hard to mess it up. Which is what seems to be happening here…
Rob
June 21, 2019 @ 3:38 pm
Yes I loved Purgatory, and I know that Sturgill had his hand in producing it, but Purgatory adhered strongly to a sound that suited Tyler Childers better. This song sounds more “Sturgillized” I guess you could say.
Overall I’ve still enjoyed the first two tracks on this album and I hold faith in Tyler Childers. But I certainly think he could benefit from a different producer. Just my two cents.
Ralphie
June 21, 2019 @ 1:57 pm
I think some people are taking a bit of a narrow view of this song. Purgatory was a one-of-a-kind album (a big raspberry to the comments above saying they dont like that album btw) that shouldn’t be the benchmark for this record. If anyone should be given a pass for a sophomore slump, it’s Tyler. But this is far from being a slump, and the song is good, whether the sound is to your liking or not.
SCM has been sour on the soul/muscle schoals vibe for a while now, but that sound works for a lot of people. We have to let these artists do their thing and go along for the ride. Appreciate the music for what it is — not what you want it to be. It’s a symptom of our generation that we think we’re entitled to what we want and others must be accommodating.
Trigger
June 21, 2019 @ 2:39 pm
I’m seeing a lot of comments, and not just here, but across social media showing concern for this song. I’m also seeing comments defending it, with the upshot of the complaints being “well it’s not Outlaw country, so you folks can’t like it.” I think this is a reduction of the concerns people are sharing. I think Tyler’s vocal performance on this song is thin. I think his vocal track is also buried in the mix. My third concern would be the old school soul production, but not just the production itself, but how it fits Tyler, and this song. It’s fair to say I’ve been down on this style for a while, but I’ve also given positive reviews to artists who’ve used it recently like Yola. Tyler Childers is the SCM reigning Artist of the Year. I want to like this song, and ultimately, I still believe it is more good than bad. But I also have some concerns with it, as do others. And I feel those concerns are fair.
AndrewEsq
July 24, 2019 @ 8:49 am
Official video just dropped. I agree entirely with Trigger’s sentiment here but, the mix maybe sounds a bit better on the official video? I can’t tell. Maybe I just thought the video was entertaining and listened on better speakers in conjunction with wishful thinking but, I liked the track a little better today (although it hasn’t yet made rotation). It doesn’t alleviate all the above concerns and I personally thought this song deserved a slightly different treatment but, for a lighthearted burnout track, its pretty good. I just think the lyrics are a particularly well-written love song so, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to me but, I understand more what they were going for now. Maybe a humorous “Turtles all the way down” vibe? Hope the album is great! And Strugill’s too for that matter.
Wild Billy
June 21, 2019 @ 1:59 pm
That production took everything great about Tyler and his music and tossed it out… It went from raw and authentic to just another overproduction. I love Tyler, but I had to give it 2 thumbs down.
Kyle N
June 21, 2019 @ 2:05 pm
Seems to me that this song is trying to capture a certain vibe rather than a certain sound. It’s like the song is trying to be the soundtrack to a psychedelic episode. Just go watch the music video, it’s just a dude tripping out in the woods. Personally I don’t mind the song but I’m just worried that this song and the cover art of the album that Tyler is trying to capture this trippy, psychedelic vibe on the whole album. He can do whatever he wants but it’ll certainly alienate a lot of his early fans who fell in love with his raw and rootsy style.
Two Stepper
June 21, 2019 @ 2:45 pm
They’re giving him a BS cartoon image (literally) as a big pothead, the white Snoop Dogg, and trying to sell him to the jamband kids — who are notorious for trading concert recordings and not buying studio albums. He needs to slam on the breaks, throw Sturgill out of the vehicle, and hit reverse out of this whole scenario.
GLLenore
June 22, 2019 @ 8:12 am
The artwork was created by an artist friend of Childers. Not privy to all the details, but it does seems like artist was selected for personal reasons and likely by Childers himself.
Cover art can reflect a lot about an album, but it is not defining. Don’t be offput by judging a book by it’s cover.
When one times the time, dedication, and sacrifice to make an album, one can put anything one wants on the cover.
Todd m Olsen
June 25, 2019 @ 8:17 pm
I agree here.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
June 21, 2019 @ 2:32 pm
I get the overall sentiment…it’s really is something new for Tyler. One problem here is that he has rolled all these songs out live and been playing them for many months, or more. So, it’s the exact opposite of when a band first does a song live for the first time and everyone complains about it being “not like the album at all”. I agree that the Motown / R&B arrangement (arrangement is the word people are looking for here…not the term “overproduction” that is being thrown out there all over facebook) is something new for Tyler and this arrangement of the song doesn’t highlight his pure vocal abilities as purely as him standing there live and doing it acoustically….not surprisingly. Not saying people should love or hate this version…but we all should keep in perspective what is driving a lot of the reactions here. Also need to remember that this is ONE song from one recording session / project, and isn’t marking some big shift in his music. I can guarantee you his same old live version of the song with the Food Stamps will be out there on tour.
Two Stepper
June 21, 2019 @ 2:33 pm
It is surprising to read that was a self-penned song that is beloved in its raw state, because within just 45 seconds, I’d say this song doesn’t fit his voice at all. I think it’s the style of production, not the amount of it. Any voice has its limits, no matter how great, and early ’70’s smooth R&B is Tyler’s limit. Sounds like a mountain goat singing “My Girl.”
Look out for major label PR trolls to show up here and try to spin this by calling you commenters “closed minded” for calling it like you hear it. They’ll say anything to get your money.
Thus far the Tyler Childers story is contained in “Bottles & Bibles” and “Red Barn Radio.” Run from Sturgill and RCA, Tyler!
Corncaster
June 21, 2019 @ 2:56 pm
Tyler is most “psychedelic” when he sings hard and old time because it’s the new quality of his writing combined with his feel for the tradition that blows your mind.
Production gimmicks are cheap. If that’s Sturgill’s influence, kick him to the curb. Tyler has a massive voice and a huge lyrical talent.
All he has to do is focus again on tapping into the spring that made is all stand up and yell.
Jeremy
June 21, 2019 @ 3:00 pm
I guess my biggest beef with this version of the song is that it doesn’t sound like a Tyler Childers song. You know when you hear it live it isn’t going to sound like this either. Tyler is one of these guys that has a huge catalogue of unreleased music floating around so all of these songs on the new album have been hear before, and we have an idea of what they should sound like in our heads. If someone is new to Childers they might have a more positive outlook on this song than those of us that have been immersing ourselves with his work for some time.
Jeremy
June 21, 2019 @ 3:02 pm
This really makes me wonder what Everloving Hand will sound like 😂
Billy Wayne Ruddick
June 21, 2019 @ 3:17 pm
Hopefully it has a nice techno beat to it.
Québexico SCM Acolyte
June 21, 2019 @ 3:18 pm
I almost always find myself wishing artists like Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell etc, would only release raw albums with no production, just an artist, a quality recorder, and their voice. That is the depth and the soul that gets me. Like Jason Isbell on Austin City Limits singing Cover Me Up. Or Tyler Childers singing Rock Salt and Nails. Or Sturgill singing Could You Love Me One More Time…The production, the changes that come with “catching a break” are what push me to keep digging for this sound in little known artists. Although I’m happy for Tyler Childers, for Cody Jinks, because they’re shining a light for the masses.
Btw, random question for @Trigger, what do you think about Paul Cauthen’s song “Cocaine Country Dancing”? My current guilty pleasure.
Trigger
June 21, 2019 @ 4:17 pm
The new Paul Cauthen song is on my radar. I may review it at some point. Bigger fish to fry at the moment.
Bob
June 21, 2019 @ 4:49 pm
I can tell you right now that Trig won’t like the Paul Cauthen track. He’s never seemed too positive about him.
InternetHillbilly
June 21, 2019 @ 3:38 pm
I feel like sturgill simpson was like, ‘this type of track would totally work for me, just sing over it and we’ll see what ppl think’.
Adam
June 21, 2019 @ 3:44 pm
Apparently this new Tyler Childers song isn’t Tyler Childers enough for some people.
Kevin Smith
June 21, 2019 @ 3:55 pm
Oh it ain’t bad. I Kinda like that Muscle Shoals vibe. But definitely wouldn’t call it country per se. But hey, I like a lot of stuff and it’s definitely southern for sure. Cool vibe. Rock on Tyler Childers.
Does make me chuckle though, all these folks who are ready to anoint him as the great pure country music hope, I never viewed him that way, always kinda had him in the Steve Earle category, kinda gruff unrefined sound, definite outlaw vibe, but not likely gonna see radio play. My .03 cents
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 4:41 pm
Checked out some live versions of this song on YouTube and:
Sturgilized = Sterilized
Dylan Rimbaud
June 21, 2019 @ 4:48 pm
hearing a strong Little Feat/Lowell George vibe (think someone else mentioned The Nitty Gritty Dirt band as well) along with some southern rock, gospel and motown ,I could definitely dig this once the initial shock wears off
BJones
June 21, 2019 @ 5:29 pm
70s pop
Rebecca Gavin
June 21, 2019 @ 5:29 pm
I think if they were going to go with the Southern Soul sound they should have gone all in. They really just put a toe in – enough to get the reference but – no horns, for example. Horns might have given it back some of the rawness and helped it to build and release. I do still like it but the style seems to occupy some kind of – dare I say it? – Purgatory. Like Limbo where the pagan babies go, neither heaven nor hell.
hoptowntiger94
June 21, 2019 @ 6:56 pm
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! DON’T BRING UP HORNS ON THIS SITE!!!
D Ray White
June 21, 2019 @ 6:00 pm
Said it before and will say it again: Tyler needs to record albums in the studio with the Foodstamps. Sturgill and the studio musicians are killing the sound. Second album in a row that is overproduced. I dunno, maybe this is what the hipsters and scene chasers expect in their safe space?
Jeremy
June 22, 2019 @ 10:03 pm
Yep
Carw2
June 24, 2019 @ 5:13 pm
You know most of the musicians reviewed on this site are either hipsters or just plain hippies, right?
Andrew
June 21, 2019 @ 6:21 pm
Sounds good to me. Y’all sure like to look for things to complain about even with the artists you claim to like.
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 7:49 pm
What’s your point exactly? That we like to not like the sound of this song? Personally I’d like nothing more than to like it, actually.
Or is this a big “gotcha” moment for you because surely no one can possibly like an artist but also voice concerns with a production direction? Those 2 things just can’t coexist, can they?
Ralphie
June 21, 2019 @ 8:10 pm
Calm down Scott. It’s very well established that this is one of the most critical communites on the net. Your comment is more of a “gotcha” than Andrew’s.
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 8:33 pm
A gotcha to the gotcha. Yeah… that makes sense. And I disagree with your “well established” comment. Well established by who? Ever been on Twitter? YouTube? This site is relatively tame.
Ralphie
June 21, 2019 @ 8:48 pm
Yeah it does make sense. All you do on this site is go for the “gotcha” moments. Its been old for a while now. The critical nature of this community is well established by the articles and comments posted over the last 10 years. I’m not talking about wild comments. Criticism doesn’t have to be petulant like your comments and twitter and youtube tend to be. Chill out man.
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 8:59 pm
Here’s the difference between my comments and yours. As often as I can I say “IMO” or “personally” I don’t make non-sense universal statements like “is well established.”- which you still haven’t backed up. I simply asked a question of someone who, IMO, made a strange statement. I’m asking how that works exactly. Why you have a problem with that and feel the need to set me straight, is itself pretty telling. Haver a good one buddy.
Ralphie
June 21, 2019 @ 9:14 pm
Stop playing the victim, buddy. In my opinion, based on the thousands of articles and comment posted on this site, it is well established that this is a very critical community. You’re part of that, I’m part of that, and so is every one else who visits this site. Have you ever heard of self-evident truths? My backup is to suggest that you go back and read every one of the articles and comments that have been posted since 2008. That’s the only way I can think to help you out with that, since you seem to have a bit of a clouded gaze. My problem with you is that your comments are passive aggressive and petulant and a little immature.
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 9:20 pm
LOL, that’s what I thought. 👍
Seth of the Wilderness
June 21, 2019 @ 11:09 pm
@ScottG you just proved him right about the immature part.
ScottG
June 21, 2019 @ 11:20 pm
Well it’s either that or I give up and think we should try to stay on topic as Trigger says. My original comment is wondering why I can’t be a Tyler fan and have a problem with the production of this album. I’d rather talk about this album or my original comment. Any comments on the actual topic and I’m happy to reply more in depth than my last comment. Thanks for your input as always, Seth.
Seth of the Wilderness
June 22, 2019 @ 7:34 am
No worries. Good form on the last comment.
Kentucky_1875
June 21, 2019 @ 6:55 pm
Sturgill def messed this song up. IMO when Sturgill strays from country/bluegrass, he produces music on the same level as “Music Row.”
JT
June 21, 2019 @ 7:07 pm
Will somebody get this guy a real producer please…
Tex Hex
June 21, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
I like muscle shoals style r&b just fine, but Childers just doesn’t have the voice for that style in my opinion. It’s high and reedy, like any good traditional Appalachian singer. Doesn’t mesh well with this style of production, though. Sturgill got away with it for me because he’s got a deeper vocal register. This is just odd to my ears.
Not giving up on Childers by a long shot, but this does get me a little worried.
hoptowntiger94
June 21, 2019 @ 7:59 pm
Any tomfoolery will be camouflaged by the endless stream of erectile disfunction and pre-approved loan applications emails I receive daily.
Trigger
June 21, 2019 @ 8:07 pm
I got you fixed up there, tiger.
Ralphie
June 21, 2019 @ 8:18 pm
Hopefully it wasn’t visible too long…
Ralphie
June 21, 2019 @ 8:28 pm
You can thank Chrome and all those delicious cookies for all that crap in your inbox.
David Jones
June 21, 2019 @ 8:12 pm
Omg. This is total shit. I wish sturgil would just concentrate on ruinig is own music. House fire was meh
And this totally ruined one of my favorite songs by him. My wife and I are going to renew our vows after 30 years to his song. It most definitely won’t be this version
Billy Wayne Ruddick
June 21, 2019 @ 11:27 pm
Give me a break. Tyler retains full creative control over his music. Blame him as much as the Sturgill boogeyman for this not fitting into your narrow view of what the song should be. The world doesn’t exist to create the perfect vow renewal song for you and your wife (in YOUR opinion nonetheless). And, lucky for you, it sounds like you already have a preliminary version of the song that suits your selfish needs. So what’s the beef?
Todd m Olsen
June 25, 2019 @ 8:23 pm
It’s not about anyone’s narrow view of what the song should be. The songs been played for over a year now. So people know what it’s meant to sound like before production. Or overproduction in this case. I don’t know if the influence is SS, the record label, producer, A&R guy or what but there’s a totally different sound to the song as well as intonation and inflection in his voice.
Hear it for yourself. https://youtu.be/gt1TF5NelLo
63Guild
June 21, 2019 @ 8:13 pm
As soon as I played this, I could immediately tell it had Sturgill’s touch to it. I can see Tyler being Sturgill’s protege since they have a lot in common, but Tyler doesn’t neccesarily need to follow the same formula or mold
AndrewEsq
June 21, 2019 @ 8:28 pm
I’ve loved this song since I first heard it in an amazing live show in a dive bar delivered by a visibly hungover Tyler. I’ve had various live versions of this song on my playlist for several months. I was waiting on a “studio” version of this song just to play louder but, I begrudgingly agree with the assessment in the above article.
I’m still a huge Tyler fan and have very high hopes for his upcoming work (notwithstanding having maybe heard it all already). Hell, I’m still a Sturgill fan too, if for nothing more than the merit of Sunday Valley and Hightop Mountain, (and to a slightly lesser degree for me personally, Metamodern Sounds) but, I do admit my hopes aren’t nearly as high for his upcoming work (prove me wrong Sturgill!) Frankly, as for the purpose of this site, Tyler filled the void Sturgill left behind as the leader of the handful of artists actually qualified to “save” real “country music” in my book (although I admit there may be a geographical cultural bias at play to some degree). Im also a fan of most of the guys spoken in the same breath as “Tyler” and “Sturgill” but, in my humble opinion, the aforementioned guys were where I could actually see the salvation possibly occurring.
That said, before any single artist, I’m a fan of a very specific thing that is authentic “country music” which I’d define much more carefully than the masses and much more similarly to some of the folks on (and running) this site. While I remain a Sturgill fan (as a person more appreciative of what he gave me “back then” than salty about what I may feel he hasn’t as of late), I do find myself wondering if he’s even a part of “my country music” anymore much more frequently than I find myself wondering if he’ll “save it” these days. He’d certainly be welcomed home with open arms if he chooses to return but, it seems his choice to bail on what I love and that’s his choice to make. I still want him to be a successful musician and he’s not done anything to rub me so wrong as to not pull out my wallet to support him and his family yet notwithstanding the arguments against that sentiment (regardless of my personal beliefs ((which tend to be that Dolly’s politics are perfect for an artist)) I feel politics, a very non artistic mess, are a poor reason to dislike the art of an artist).
All of that said, I Am Tired Of Hearing Sturgill’s Influence In Tyler’s Records!
Sturgill has always been a quirky guy and I’ll begrudgingly support him if he chooses to sink his own ship (not that leaving country music is necessarily sinking his ship in anyone’s mind but mine, I just feel he was pretty great at this in his prime and his leaving was a real loss to what I love). He’s never been very shy about hinting he may burn it all to the ground for the hell of it one day and, love it or hate it (as I do), it’s authentic for Sturgill and I guess I respect it.
Tyler, on the other hand, has always flown a much more traditional and less combative flag. From being a talented high school kid with Bottles and Bibles and early red barn, to the sentiment behind “Americana ain’t no part of nuthin,” to negotiating creative control in signing to a major, he’s always whole heartedly fought the good fight. He CURRENTLY belongs in frequent discussions on a site called “Saving Country Music” and, as much as I love Sturgill, his influence on Tyler’s records (Purgatory included) is about the only thing I haven’t loved about those records. I support Sturgill bucking the system in every conceivable way, as that is clearly authentic Sturgill, the one exception is through influencing an artist whose authentic doesn’t include burning the “country establishment” to the ground in protest.
What I’d really like to see is a friendly parting of ways so each can pursue their own authentic music and identity. Tyler is rightfully deferential to Sturgill as a younger guy who’s clearly a big fan but, it didn’t suit him on Purgatory (albeit a good album in spite of that influence, not because of it) and it’s not suiting him now. There’s a reason the Foodstamp’s bootleg concert versions of songs are the versions we all listen too and I’d say it’s a safe bet it’s not because we hate the sound of steel guitars as a rule.
I’ll always feel very fortunate if Sturgill plays guitar as a guest at a Tyler show i am attending but, I don’t think its a stretch to say that Tyler has always very clearly aspired to be something Sturgill seems to oppose on a fundamental level. I’ll probably continue to love and support them both for what they’ve done, regardless of what they do, but I’ll love them even more if they shake hands and part ways, at least in regards to Tyler’s studio time and creative process (and to those above whom may question whether I have some behind the scenes knowledge as to their inner workings, I admittedly do not but, I do trust my ears are not lying to me when I’m hearing what is clearly Sturgill’s influence and I felt compelled to voice my opinion). Either artist could be correct. Maybe “country music” is too corrupt to be saved and needs to be destroyed, as Sturgill seems to believe, or maybe it can be saved and the masses just need an artist to transcend the bull shit and remind them what country music is actually about. All I know is I’ll begrudgingly support Sturgill in his efforts to destroy it but only if he finds a way to not cause his influence to ruin Tyler’s efforts to fix it. That, in my opinion, is what’s authentic for each of them and authenticity is, in my opinion, is what matters most.
Or, if you don’t feel like reading all the nonsense above, we can keep it far more simple;
Tyler gets nothing but 2 mics and an acoustic guitar for recording albums now on and Sturgill ain’t allowed to play nothing unless it’s with Laur or Sunday Valley! If you don’t like that, you probably like finger snaps and raps about papaw’s farm anyways! Sorry for the long post. Boredom and passion don’t mix in articles allowing comments.
Sparky Griswold
June 21, 2019 @ 8:46 pm
You sir, have nailed my thoughts exactly! I appreciate the long sermon too. That’s what I love about this site. People that are passionate about country music like I am. I feel like we all could sit at a bar and talk about our music for hours on end. Love Tyler, love this song live, but…this over produced studio version can’t hold a candle to the live version of Tyler and the Food Stamps. So disappointing to me cause I really wanted this album cut to be just like the live version so I could blast it to my neighbors and in the car. Keep up the great work Trigger!
Billy Wayne Ruddick
June 21, 2019 @ 11:37 pm
The last paragraph sums it up (as you intended). You really want Tyler to be “2 mics and an acoustic”. That’s fine, but that obviously isn’t what he has wanted Purgatory or this studio album to be. This nonsense implying that Sturgill is holding a gun to his head in any of this is laughable. Not to mention a slap in the face to Tyler….to imply he is nothing but Sturgill’s puppet and you know what other path is better or more authentic for Tyler to follow. Really pathetic.
AndrewEsq
June 22, 2019 @ 8:56 pm
Thanks for taking the time to read it Sparky. You clearly have exquisite taste in music.
You do too Billy but, I think you’re taking opinions that do not mirror your own a bit personally. The last paragraph was pretty clearly a joke intentionally oversimplifying the very nuanced opinion stated above it. Did you read the sincere part of the comment before you declared my opinion to be “pathetic?” Insulting people who support what you and what you’re all about huh? How very Sturgill Simpson of you. (Sincerely just another light-hearted joke from your “pathetic” pal). I do however, find it a little hard to believe anyone who actually read my words would interpret my statements as declaring Sturgill is “holding a gun to [Tyler’s] head” or that I’m somehow insinuating Tyler is scared of Sturgill Simpson. I am clearly a nerd level fan of both these guys and in fact, made clear that isn’t the case. Id like to point out it’s really unfortunate how hostile we react to our own community given how small we are. I’d encourage you to engage in constructive debates, rather than personal attacks, regarding this thing WE define as country music in the future. I guess we are a brand of elitist cork sniffers in a way and this is still the internet but, I don’t think it’s easy to take anything away from what I actually wrote other than we both love both of these guys.
Unfortunately for us, there’s not 30 or realistically even 3 other guys we can count on to make great music like these guys are capable of when they’re at their best so, I do put an admittedly unfair amount of pressure on them to do their thing perfectly. Unfortunately, I no longer believe they are able to do so working together. I don’t think anyone would disagree that, notwithstanding being the best of the best of the guys currently carrying the torch, they have very different visions, perspectives, approaches, sounds, drugs of choice, relationships with their mothers, and everything else.
I admire and would be deferential to Sturgill Simpson myself if I blew up so, I understood Tyler’s statements to that effect when HE made them in HIS press leading up to Purgatory. I don’t claim to be inside his head anymore than what he himself has invited me to understand but, I do have ears for this music. If you knew me well enough to actually label me “pathetic” you’d know I labeled both of these guys special very early to a sea of doubters whom have since had to admit they were very wrong.
You clearly still believe in Sturgill’s vision and were a fan of Purgatory as it was. Great! I love the song writing on Purgatory (and even think the session musicians, including Sturgill, on that record are incredibly talented). I love the song writing in “all your’n” and think it should’ve been held in the same reverence as the Foodstamps version of “feathered Indians” (but, now it never will). I also sincerely hope Sturgill starts making music I love again consistently and I’m sincerely pulling for him to do so (but not so much that I’m in denial that he currently is not).
Actually, I absolutely love pedal steel guitars, fiddles and Teles (and I’d really, REALLY, love to hear them on the next Sturgill record). I am in fact a tele player exclusively and am a big fan of the professor, James, and the rest of the Foodstamp’s execution of that very sound.
Jokes aside, I actually believe people whom truly argue Tyler should stick to a single acoustic guitar are off the mark. The best incarnation of Tyler Childers is without question the (incredibly loud) live version with the guys he’s played with for years, his actual band, the Foodstamps. In my opinion, Tyler would be well served to exercise that creative control in ensuring it’s the Foodstamps playing on his records as soon as he feels confident he can make that stand without jeopardizing the livelihood of his family (I’m not sure if they are playing on the upcoming album or not but, I do know they didn’t play on Purgatory and it sure as hell don’t sound like how I’ve heard em play “all your’n either).
I take no joy whatsoever in my observation that the songs, as they have landed on both Purgatory and what we’ve heard from the upcoming album so far, are significantly different from how they sound when played live with Tyler’s self-proclaimed “guys.” I recall vividly an interviewer asking about the musicians on Purgatory and Tyler responding that they were “studio guys” but thereafter proudly exclaiming “but my guys are from West Virginia!” The point is, I’m not defining “authentic Tyler Childers” without being supported by clear and convincing factual evidence in addition to my own humble opinion.
Having personally seen enough Tyler shows to know what he’s about, I simply believe his songs are more effectively presented and more representative of his intended artistic message when played with the Foodstamps (whom HE proclaims are his “guys”) than they are on the album versions (whom he proclaims are “studio guys” and where nobody denies, including Tyler, that Sturgill is a substantial creative force). The songs are, in my very humble opinion (and the opinion of the overwhelming majority of serious Tyler Childers fans if you haven’t noticed) both better and more consistent with his long time sound and self-proclaimed artistic message in the live format that excludes Sturgill (of whom I am also still a fan).
Being a musician myself, I can tell you definitively that the live performances (that are touched up night after night in the grind of touring as much as these boys tour), especially when the live band is the artist’s “real” band, are far more authentic representations of that artist than tracks cut by “session guys” in a couple hours and after audio engineers, producers, etc. have their way with the tracks in the business environment of a costly studio (although I’m a fan of Dave too). But, I finally digress.
All of that aside, can you not just hear it? I blatantly hear Sturgill’s influence in Tyler’s studio records, both his good and bad, and even without the juxtaposition of the live performances. Tyler himself has stated he chose Sturgill to help him “capture that mountain sound” that Tyler was “chasing.” Unfortunately, it has become my humble opinion that Tyler doesn’t need to “chase that mountain sound” because he naturally and authentically exudes it (a determination I am quite qualified to make). Sturgill is also qualified but, he’s openly denounced it these days. Sturgill very openly and vocally moved himself away from that sound in exactly the manner in which I hear Tyler’s music slowly drifting (on wax).
I’m sincerely glad that you are hesitant to turn your back on Sturgill Simpson. I simply won’t do it because he’s given me some truly great music I still play daily. I’m well aware he may not love what I’m saying but, I fear he may not love me for plenty of other reasons anyways. Im confident that one day he’ll figure out its people like me, who support him to spite his abrasive nature, that permits him to survive on the merit of his art notwithstanding being so unnecessarily abrasive. I’m okay with it.
Remember, the goal of this site (and by the large preponderance of the evidence, the apparent goal of Tyler Childers) is to “save” OUR “country music.” While both men are qualified for the job, I now believe Tyler has a better chance than Sturgill due largely to the decisions made by Sturgill. As I said above, sturgill may be indicating he’s coming home and, in my book, he’s always welcome back with open arms but, right now, in this moment, my ears tell me Tyler’s where we need to place our hopes. If that opinion makes me “pathetic” in your eyes, disregard the above as we actually may not be the same.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
June 22, 2019 @ 10:57 pm
Goddamn. I hate the TLDR thing, but yeah….
I have also seen both Sturgill and Tyler live a combined 10+ times. Nobody will fault you for the opinion on how Tyler is best presented in the long run. In fact, I don’t think many (including myself) would disagree. But, why not support him in his decision to do this one project at this one point in his young career? This album is going to be diverse and it’s going to be killer. The kid is catching lightening in a bottle here with Sturg. He fully gets that. And lucky for us, we will have decades of Tyler and an acoustic ahead of us. Let the kid spread his creative wings and grab the opportunities immediately in front of him by the balls! My “pathetic” accusation was referencing your idea that Tyler would ever lay down and let Sturgill write arrangements for him he disagreed with. Sorry if I offended you.
TTC is showing himself to have many more sides to him than just a skinny ginger with an acoustic, raspy voice and an ability to tell a story. I get that is hard for some to accept, but it’s reality. I for one, as a true fan, find it exciting to witness….and necessary, if he is going to have a long and sustainable career that actually let’s him do as he pleases vs the reductive ginger with an acoustic bs I outline above that it seems many of his closed minded “true fans” want.
AndrewEsq
June 23, 2019 @ 8:13 pm
Not sure what TLDR stands for and not sure I have much more energy for writing these but, we can certainly find some common ground here. Pardon the hastiness in which I anticipate this one will be written.
First, I absolutely do and will continue to support Tyler Childers and I’m glad you do as well. I will be going out of my way to ensure he’s receiving more than ad revenue from me too. You’ve seen him 10x so, thanks for recognizing the importance (and rewarding nature) of doing more than just streaming for our artists. I’m still firmly in support of Sturgill also for the record and of the friendship/alliance between Strugill and Tyler. I’m certainly not advocating Tyler go stabbing his mentor in the back. While I have reached a point where I believe the benefit of continuing the relationship in its current configuration IN THE STUDIO may have run its course, I also happily concede that Sturgill Simpson was the perfect mentor for Tyler Childers (and remains the perfect mentor, I’d just like to stop hearing his influence in the studio albums when I don’t hear it anywhere else).
I can see how it could easily get lost in my admittedly critical opinion of the album versions of these songs, no matter how constructive, that the reality is I still have incredibly high hopes for this album. I still believe in Tyler Childers and, while I frankly don’t know that it would be a good thing in the long run, I’d love to see Tyler reach his full potential which, in my opinion, may well include transcending the “Americana/neotraditional/outlaw/real/whatever we decide to call it” niche in which he (and we) currently reside. I think that, if he does transcend and truly “save country music,” he probably does so by remaining very true to this (for lack of a better term) “neotraditional/traditional” sound and simply being too good to continue to be ignored by the superficial country music masses but, I do think he could potential to possibly change the landscape of popular country music if he continues writing to his current level, hones his presentation, and most importantly gets very lucky in somehow catching the masses in a moment they’re ready to digest something with substance. I don’t think its likely but, certainly possible.
Notwithstanding whether he actually “saves country music” on a popular level, he’s going to be the number one artist I get excited enough to, well, write long ass comments on the internet about for the foreseeable future unless Sturgill REALLY surprises me (which I also actively hope for). He’s the best of even the amazing artists covered on a meritorious site like this (in my humble opinion) and he hasn’t slipped much yet. I’m just getting a little bit nervous for him at the moment.
Ultimately, I was arguing exactly what you are right now throughout the backlash of Purgatory simply because I wanted so badly for it to be a perfect presentation of those amazing songs and I certainly didn’t want to acknowledge that Sturgill’s influence might have been the problem. Hell, I’m still trying very hard to believe Sturgill Simpson will give us another album of the caliber he once did to this day. The opry and “The dead don’t die” weren’t quite “Water in a Well” but, I certainly enjoyed them and really want him to prove my hunch we will not wrong. I’ll buy his next album even if he continues to stumble because I am a fan, whether or not he sticks to the genre I love.
In actuality, the final paragraph of my first post (about acoustic guitars) was sort of mocking the type of fan you seem to dislike so, accepting that initial misunderstanding was indeed a misunderstanding, we really aren’t very far apart. I do believe you have jumped to an unsupported conclusion that I was somehow insinuating Tyler was “laying down and letting Sturgill write arrangements he disagreed with.” I still don’t think there’s anything I’ve written that can fairly be interpreted as making that suggestion but, regardless, that certeinly is NOT my belief and I’m happy to clarify. I have no doubt that, if Tyler believed Sturgill was doing him a disservice he’d promptly take action.
Unfortunately, while I believe both have nothing but the purest of intentions, I do think we actually disagree in regards to whether Sturgill’s involvement in the capturing of these songs is adding merit to their presentation at this stage of the game. I am willing to concede I may be wrong but, I would again point out that you appear to be in the minority of folks who believe Purgatory and these couple new songs rival the live performances and presentations that, coincidentally or not, exclude Sturgill from the creative process. That i no way is meant to detract from him being the perfect mentor for Tyler Childers but, is more an observation that most appear to dislike hearing Strugill’s influence in Tyler’s music.
I’d caution against pigeon holing the majority of Tyler Childers fans as being somehow too ignorant to appreciate diverse records because, frankly, that’s not what I typically see. Instead, I think most fans that raise the “single acoustic guitar” argument (or are otherwise critical of Tyler’s albums) are actually just having trouble putting their finger on exactly why they love Tyler’s solo performances and the Foodstamp’s performances so much but, think that Purgatory and these newer tracks aren’t quite on the same level. Instead of being curmudgeons demanding absurdly traditional music and patently rejecting any diversity, I think most just truly believe the album versions of songs like “I’m your’n” or even a more lighthearted song like “Whitehouse road” aren’t done justice on the albums when compared to the non-album performances by Tyler (with or without the Foodstamps). I think this concerns his fans whom are aware that most new listeners will not venture outside of the album version if it does not capture what is so special about Tyler’s music. I’d also note that the same group of people whom advocate for Tyler releasing an acoustic album also almost universally hope that Strugill picks up a Tele again.
Ultimately, I think that people like the other versions of “I’m Your’n” better than this version, not because of this version’s soulful, almost Motown, leanings but, because the Foodstamp’s version is just better. I certainly think Trigger is onto something substantial with the mix but, my intention was to introduce another, less enjoyable, realization, which is that people, myself included, are starting to hear what they don’t like about Strugill’s recent efforts in Tyler’s music. I’m actually a big fan of the soulful harmonies in the chorus for the record but, I agree with Trigger’s assessment and then some.
In any event, the stakes are just high for us all here. Everyone just wants the best for Tyler and, at least on this site, for country music. I just think that declaring most Tyler fans are just too dumb and close-minded to get it because its not crazy traditional country is far from accurate for the majority of us. One need only look at the love for Sunday Valley, by most accounts a jam rock band that happened to have a southern frontman, to realize folks really are judging this stuff on its merit. Sturgill’s newer stuff is much in the same vein but, heavily disfavored and Sunday Valley is overwhelming evidence it ain’t because they despise all things rock and roll. This site loves some Whiskey Myers whom are most definitely a southern rock band (whom occasionally plays freaking accordions for goodness sake). I truly don’t think these folks are just closed minded people whom only like music composed with acoustic guitars, or even just the traditional bluegrass instruments. Sure, they’re fans of country music and finger snaps and 808s might be a bit much for some of us but, as I said in the first post, these folks probably aren’t automatically mad when they hear steel guitars.
In any event, without all of us, guys like Tyler and Sturgill might not be able to make a good living so, at the end of the day, I’m just glad you recognize how great this music is. You’re more forgiving and I’m currently more critical but, that’s probably coming from the same place of just wanting these guys thrive. We can certainly agree they are under appreciated and far more talented than the clowns making millions for their Xanax riddled mumble rap. Thanks for supporting good music.
Excitedsouthnr
June 21, 2019 @ 8:30 pm
Trig you can put into words exactly what I’m thinking. I was so excited to hear the studio version of this song but it’s a complete let down for me compared to live versions I’ve heard. The tempo is too slow and I hear no steel guitar. It sounds like he turned it into a Ray LaMotagne song with the background vocals and all that crap..it really sounds like his voice is straining so hard and I don’t know if they did a different key or what. Not saying it’s awful but not what I expected.
Chris Barnes
June 22, 2019 @ 12:22 am
I’ve never listened to Tyler Childers before now, but I’ve heard people on this site and other sites say good things about him, so I gave him a listen, and I’m sorry, he may have other songs that are good, but I really wasn’t crazy about this one. If this song is any indication of his overall sound, then I’m not all that impressed.
Trigger
June 22, 2019 @ 7:56 am
Generally speaking, it’s not. Listen to his album “Purgatory.”
Todd m Olsen
June 25, 2019 @ 8:12 pm
Listen to the red barn radio sessions.
Klute
June 22, 2019 @ 12:23 am
I’ve given a few tries now and its just stinks imo. The 70’s Shoals vibe has had an important time and place but within the context of this song it falls flat on me. His vocal inflections are diluted and or squashed and while the backing musicians are good, I’d much rather hear his badass touring band standing beside these songs that they’ve honed for some time now.
Perhaps, I’m just a bit of a purist in some regards and want to hear the song in a well captured live recording rather than a studio interpretation I’m not into. A letdown to my ears at this time in the least and I’d doubtful the production differs from the rest of the album. Great song otherwise!
tclarman2005
June 22, 2019 @ 2:36 am
He needs to bring in the Food Stamps next time he records. The live renditions of all of his songs blow the album cuts away IMO. I’ll reach for my YT playlist before I stream the album these days.
Sean Jessiman
June 22, 2019 @ 5:34 am
G’day probably get shot down for this here is my 2 cents worth My wife is a casual listener of music loves most of stuff I bring to her, however everytime I put Tyler on she would say you can tell its Tyler has the same guitar phrasing style most songs(sorry to muso’s if not correct way to say it) not a criticism just an observation so when we listened to new song she said cool thats something different now I think you sell Tyler Childers short if you think he is in the studio with Sturgill and they have not discussed the different ways they hear each song I think Tyler would definitely be strong enough to say nah don’t like that I want it this way it is my art. Peace and Love from the Aussie Posse (Trigger you are the King Thank you for this Site)
David Griffin
June 22, 2019 @ 6:14 am
What the hell was that . I like Sturgill , but that sucks like a cheap whore on dollar night . That doesn’t even sound like Tyler . Mainstream pop dare I say country has ruined another great singer song writer by destroying the thing there fans love . The raw soul in there voice . It’s sad I really love his music but this just flat out sucks .
Cameron
June 22, 2019 @ 6:32 am
This song is fine. I swear this site sometimes people on this site have ridiculous standards. Tyler is a quirky dude and likes all kinds of music. This song is a really good song. I see y’all pimping average shit daily but bitch like because you don’t like the production and sturgill is ruining Tyler OMG NOZZZZ. Also the rating is hot dogshit considering how some incredibly average albums get 8s. This song is 100 times better than that Taylor Alexander borefest I downloaded the other day.
Trigger
June 22, 2019 @ 7:59 am
As someone who had a decent amount of critical things to say about this song in an otherwise positive review, I agree. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime here, and lumping it all around Sturgill’s shoulders is presumptuous.
That said, the reason you release songs ahead of albums is to drum up positive sentiment. And not just here, but on social media, I’m seeing a lot of negative. Releasing this song was a miscalculation in my opinion. In the body of an album, it may come across as a welcome change of pace. Naked, it’s stirred the rednecks into a tizzy, which make up a large portion of your fan base.
matthew rutledge
June 24, 2019 @ 11:51 am
Stirring up the “rednecks” is a good thing. IMO, at this point in time the most championed country musician is Cody Jinks, and we all know his affection for hippies. Country music has evolved and if its going in a different direction than country pop to country blues/soul…I am all for it!! Any good music is soul music!
Blockman
June 22, 2019 @ 8:45 am
I’ve said it before and will say again for posterity’s sake : who the hell told Sturgill he is a producer?
Colter
June 22, 2019 @ 12:31 pm
His Grammy award.
Blockman
June 23, 2019 @ 12:11 am
Ah silly me. I forgot the Grammy’s are the gold standard for music. My bad.
JK
June 22, 2019 @ 9:02 am
Well, it’s not a travesty. I agree about the prevalence of the production style – most of the time, it seems to me a cheap ditch attempt to make a really boring collection of songs sound interesting, but here the song is good enough that I can stand it. I suppose I do wonder why though, after his comments about Americana, both Housefire and this one seem to be inching ever closer in that direction.
Of course, he’s free to present his songs howsoever he wishes, though on purely selfish grounds it’d be a shame to lose the elements that made the best songs from Purgatory sound so good. Still very much looking forward to the album, though!
Mark
June 22, 2019 @ 9:36 am
This song has no melody.
Same three notes sung for three minutes.
utterly boring tune.
Black Boots
June 23, 2019 @ 4:14 am
lmao the first verse has 6 notes, not 3
Keep horns out of country music
June 22, 2019 @ 11:25 am
Kind of ironic that we are talking about trying to keep the previous, “savior of real country music” from wrecking the sound of the current “savior of country music”.
The closest thing I’ve had to a religious experience in music is seeing Tyler perform this song at the Ryman night one opening for Margo. The song itself and the 5 minute standing ovation that followed, only the second song in nearly brought tears to my eyes. This mix on the album has no shot of doing that. Why eliminate all evidence of the sweet acoustic medley?
North Woods Country
June 22, 2019 @ 12:00 pm
His lyrical style doesn’t work within this melody. Period. Good song anyway, but it’s not up to par.
Moses Mendoza
June 22, 2019 @ 12:26 pm
Well shit, I love it. The production maybe feels a bit canned, but I overall like the sound, and the vocal performance is great. But bigger picture, it’s just a beautiful song.
Colter
June 22, 2019 @ 12:34 pm
Do y’all think that Tyler recorded this live and sturgill went and fucked it up behind his back without him knowing and then released it? It wouldn’t have been released if it’s not what Tyler wanted. Don’t blame sturgill without blaming him.
Randy
June 22, 2019 @ 2:59 pm
I really love the song. I understand peoples aversion to the production, especially since it does seem to step on Tylers incredible vocal delivery a little bit, but I still thoroughly enjoy it and him. He’s my favorite musician out right now. If you think its too overproduced, its 2019 and I counted at least 5 live recordings on youtube of this song where its just him and a guitar that people can listen too instead, that are great. I think this is a case where a guy is starting to blow up and people are doing that weird thing we all do where the local/underground musician starts to get big and all of a sudden we don’t like them anymore. Childers puts enough content online, live solo performances and the like, out that if you don’t enjoy the “overproduced” album versions you can always find the live solo performances that we all love from him as well. Great song. Looking forward to the album.
Thanks for all the reviews Trigger
Andrew
June 22, 2019 @ 4:48 pm
The song is great. Y’all take yourselves too seriously.
Scooter
June 22, 2019 @ 5:15 pm
I dig it. You gotta give it time. This one’s a grower, not a shower.
The Dot
June 22, 2019 @ 8:39 pm
If I was trying to explain Childers to a friend, this wouldn’t be the song I’d choose. He’s fighting the mix and losing. It’s generic, and that’s not him. Sad.
Kind of reminds me of what happened to Ashley Monroe when Cobb went too heavy on the strings for “Sparrow”.
Some artists don’t need to be buried by the mix.
raymondo
June 22, 2019 @ 9:24 pm
Really dont get the love this guy gets
Also the song needs more cowbell
Red Cloud
June 24, 2019 @ 6:34 pm
He’s got a whole stack of kickass tunes under his belt, and he’s got a hell of a voice. He deserves all the love he gets and then some.
Stringbuzz
June 22, 2019 @ 9:50 pm
Had similar thoughts as most about this song version but heard it loud in a packed bar tonight and it just went over well… growing on me
Black Boots
June 23, 2019 @ 4:08 am
I dunno, i really like it. The vocals are mixed a tad low, but it’s awesome.
Benny Lee
June 23, 2019 @ 11:59 am
Having experienced TC live, I feel that any studio-recorded work is going to pale in comparison. Tyler’s live show is a spiritual event, and I don’t know how you’d replicate it.
And I agree that the “Sturgill influence”, whatever that may or may not be, does work against this song as a stand-alone release.
But I think it’ll be fine sandwiched between other songs on a kick-ass TC album.
But I’m also one of those who likes Purgatory and Red Barn about equally, despite acknowledging how different they are.
Also agree with Trigger that this was a bad choice to set expectations for the new album.
Kingpete
June 24, 2019 @ 7:29 am
“Dan Auerbach knows no different when producing albums…”
Subtle, but spot on Trigger
A.K.A. City
June 24, 2019 @ 8:27 am
As an offshoot of this post, I am not as down on this version of the song as some other folks. My concern is for the album as a whole- I am afraid that Tyler may fall into Chris Stapleton syndrome. Tyler has a massive back catalog, and most of these songs have been around for years. As someone called it, it seems like Purgatory: The Outtakes. If Childers keeps reaching into his back catalog as opposed to penning new tunes, will he still feel relevant? Neither of the From A Room albums by Stapleton felt fresh because they were all old material. They didn’t have the same electricity has Traveller. I can see subsequent Childers releases going this way as well. However, I do want to point out that an album of five year old Stapleton and Childers material is still better than 99% of music out there.
PopCountryPoop
June 24, 2019 @ 9:33 am
The production took a great song and made it just pretty good. I’m going to have to give it a little time to marinate, though. I had listened to the live version so many times that this version is a shock to the system. I love Tyler Childers and I’m sure this version will grow on me, in time.
Carw2
June 24, 2019 @ 5:00 pm
I guess I’m in the minority here, but I love it, I think it’s a beautiful song. I love the red barn sessions too, but there’s nothing wrong with something a little more interesting.
Todd m Olsen
June 25, 2019 @ 8:16 pm
I agree with you whole heartedly Trigger but I must point out one thing.
Universal Sound was a “single” of Purgatory and without a doubt sounded nothing like the rest of the record. So hopefully “All Your’n” is just a one off like Universal Sound.
That being said I’m a little disappointed to see you suggesting people listen to Purgatory! It’s one of my all time favorite albums ever but if you want someone to really get a grip for who Tyler Childers is I would have to say they must listen to the seed Barn radio sessions. “A Song While You’re Away” which didn’t make it on that record might be one of Tyler’s best.
Brian
June 26, 2019 @ 7:06 am
I like it a lot, but wtf is a “your’n”?
CountryMusicJesus
June 26, 2019 @ 8:04 am
Wow Trigg, your country music savior is turning into Thomas Rhett with this garbage.
David
October 5, 2019 @ 9:58 am
I like the version.
Sherri
March 21, 2023 @ 6:33 am
Well I’ve read most of these reviews and in my opinion they suck. I don’t make records I don’t sing (for people to hear) but this song really grabbed my attention so I really don’t give a flying f*** what you nay sayers think.