Song Review – Chris Stapleton’s “Traveller”
When word finally came down about the upcoming release of Chris Stapleton’s solo album that fans of the songwriter and former SteelDriver have been waiting so restlessly for, I had already resigned in my head to expect an album that was a little more Southern rock than country, something a little more commercial than the ideal, but something you could still get behind; something mainstream that you could still root for. This is sort of what we got with his first single as a solo artist way back in 2013 called “What Are You Listening To?” (though that feels like eons ago), and what Stapleton has been doing with his songwriting for others for the past few years.
But there’s no compromising, and no half measures here. Released ahead of the album’s May 5th street date, the title track from Traveller has just about everything you could hope to hear ahead of this highly anticipated release. It’s country, it’s real, it’s steel guitar, it’s tone. And it highlights Stapleton’s voice excellently. The album itself (produced by Dave Cobb) may still take a more Southern rock/sensible approach, but this song serves up some pretty juicy red meat for the true country crowd.
When “Traveller” starts, you almost have to ease into Stapleton’s voice, but it quickly becomes the track’s marquee asset, bolstered by a female harmony. We just don’t hear these male higher register singers in mainstream country anymore. Hell, we really don’t hear great male singers anymore, period. And when you do, the song is awful. The writing of “Traveller” finds the common “Ramblin’ Man” theme and spruces it up a bit, but the whole vibe and approach to the track works very well for Stapleton. This is his sweet spot.
Being a songwriter that is in demand is one of the shortest routes to the top of mainstream country music. With the lack of revenue from mechanical sales or album cuts, labels are relying on 360 deals and other caveats with their artists to give them a piece of the artist’s publishing and recoup production costs. As crazy as it may seem, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, even Chase Rice got their foot in the door as songwriters first, and have since moved into the performance realm. With Mercury Nashville behind Stapleton and the time taken for this project to develop, you root for a similar fate to befall him, and for a track like “Traveller” to find its way onto radio.
Is it May 5th yet?
1 3/4 of 2 Guns Up.
February 19, 2015 @ 10:59 am
Sounds great. I was worried about this release given “What Are You Listening To”. Just didn’t care for it. I assume that’s his wife on BGV’s. She has a beautiful voice. Been a fan since the Steeldrivers.
February 19, 2015 @ 11:20 am
I am so happy this album is coming out and simply cannot wait for May!
I have been listening to Chris’s live performances of this song on YouTube for a while and I must say I prefer them. The album version is wonderful of course but is a little more polished and lacks the rawness and heartiness of the live performances.
But no complaints really and I’m still buying it!
February 19, 2015 @ 11:25 am
hot damn
February 19, 2015 @ 11:28 am
Steeldrivers with drums and steel guitar . And next to THAT act, THIS IS the sweet spot for C.S.as Trigger observes .
This is a voice and delivery to be reckoned with and you won’t mistake it for anyone else’s , – with the exception of Gary Nichols , who’s uncannily similar voice was the ONLY justifiable replacement for Chris in the aforementioned Steeldrivers .
” We got your ‘fresh right here ” …a FRESH , retro-country arrangement that allows every vocal and musical nuance to bask in its glow free from the fear of over -compression , free from the 3 sided attack of distorting humbuckers howling for attention and snare drums rivaling wrecking balls crashing through your cranium in the ballad -free zone known as mainstream country radio .
If the teaser “Traveller’ tells us anything about Stapleton’s upcoming collection , move over Sturgill and make some room …company’s coming and they plan on staying a spell .
February 19, 2015 @ 11:25 pm
lol NO. Stapleton doesn’t even compare to Simpson or Isbell or any of the others. No.
February 21, 2015 @ 9:02 am
I strongly disagree, particularly with any statement saying Stapleton isn’t the caliber of Sturgill. Then again, while I think Simpson is mad talented with tons of potential, I don’t think he’s nearly fully developed. He’s melodically unoriginal. I just haven’t drank that kool-aid. Stapleton has the benefit of being not just talented, but seasoned, both personally & professionally, much like Isbell, actually. That said, I still expect more diversity in his sound than Isbell. You won’t get a narrow range in tempo from this cat! Can’t wait. I’ll see ya on the bandwagon when ya climb onboard. 😉
February 21, 2015 @ 3:43 pm
So are you missing the drastically different songs that Isbell releases? I mean, there are tracks that sound more folky, more Dylan-esque. There are straight up acoustic-driven country songs. There are alt-country songs driven by electric guitar that hearken to his DBT days.
I find Jason Isbell much more varied than Chris Stapleton, but that’s just me, I guess.
Also, calling an artist melodically unoriginal means absolutely nothing. The best art isn’t completely unique. The best artists understand that they can take a known model and make it their own. Unique to them, you could say.
Chris Stapleton released “What Are You Listening to?” and co-wrote some really shitty songs. He’s not Simpson caliber. Or Isbell caliber. Is he good? Yes, but he’s more of a Jamey Johnson good, in my opinion. Acquired taste. Some dark patches on his resume. Be happy that he exists but don’t put him on the pedestal where somebody else belongs.
February 21, 2015 @ 3:47 pm
I don’t like comparing artists with each other anyway, but especially in this case, I think we owe it to Stapleton to at least release his first solo album before we stick him in any box. Yes he’s been around for a while, but what he will be as a recording artist is still very much an unknown quantity beyond this song.
February 19, 2015 @ 11:31 am
Sure does remind one of a Steeldrivers song.
Is that his wife singing in this song?
Cannot wait for this album!
February 19, 2015 @ 11:34 am
I played this for my buddy. He asked when Travis Tritt released a new album.
February 19, 2015 @ 2:48 pm
That was my first thought when Chris’ vocal kicked in! 😀 Anyway, nice track.
February 19, 2015 @ 11:48 am
LOVE THIS Trigger. Thanks for sharing. Excited for his new record. Wonder if that is his gorgeous wife Morgane singing with him? Their live performance of “Amanda” (on youtube) still knocks me to my knees.
February 19, 2015 @ 2:01 pm
This is good stuff!!!
February 19, 2015 @ 3:11 pm
Like other’s “What Are You Listening To?” left me a bit cold, it was not bad by any means, but it also was pretty forgettable lyrically and was a bit too “poppy” in terms of production.
This song is what I was hoping a “mainstream” Chris Stapleton would sound like, I have high hopes for the album.
February 19, 2015 @ 3:34 pm
This song is killer. And yet another album was added to my list of release dates to watch for that day.
February 19, 2015 @ 3:39 pm
Is it May 3 yet?
This.
But I’m not hearing any falsetto, just a great high register.
More please.
February 19, 2015 @ 4:25 pm
And if I may…
What is a 360 deal?
February 19, 2015 @ 4:36 pm
It means basically an all-encompassing deal, where a label shares in an artist’s publishing, touring, even merch. I don’t know if this is the kind of deal Chris Stapleton has, but it is what encourages labels to sign songwriters, and what encourages performers to get more songwriting credits so the label can then share in those profits.
Cliff Notes version.
February 20, 2015 @ 7:09 am
And here I was thinking the Labels were screwing the artists over before…
February 21, 2015 @ 9:14 am
I’m fairly certain he’s not on a 360 deal. He signed his publishing deal January 2014. He’s too savvy to sign 360.
February 20, 2015 @ 8:23 am
“Is it May 5th yet?”
Is it fucking warm yet?
But in all seriousness, I’m not trying to compare Stapleton to anybody but he’s very reminiscent of Travis Tritt imo
February 20, 2015 @ 8:40 am
Yes please
February 20, 2015 @ 10:21 am
Pretty Good! It has soul and steel guitar that the country radio has forgotten.
February 20, 2015 @ 1:21 pm
I was really happy to learn Cobb was producing this album.
Maybe it’s because I YouTube Stapleton all the time, but I’d love to see him do a live album. I always seem to enjoy his stripped down versions the best. Excellent songwriter.
February 20, 2015 @ 9:37 pm
The song is just alright too me. Stapleton’s voice is excellent, but the song sounds… hmm.. sloppy. The steel guitar sounds shrill / screechy at times, and combined with the acoustic in certain spots just grates on me. This song could be orders of magnitude better than what I’m hearing.
February 21, 2015 @ 9:19 am
I don’t completely disagree here. Then again, Cobb is by far not my favorite producer.
February 21, 2015 @ 1:13 pm
He should be embarrassed that Luke Bryan will be linked to him.
February 21, 2015 @ 2:24 pm
Luke Bryan , for all of the junky crap he releases as singles , actually seems to know a good song when he hears one….. although those good ones are almost always ” album tracks “. Check out a song by Erin Enderlin ” You Don’t Know Jack ” which LB recorded an album or two back . It’ll break your heart lyrically . Shoulda been a SONG OF THE YEAR nomination . BTW she also wrote MONDAY MORNING CHURCH for AJ and LAST CALL for Lee Ann Womack .
February 22, 2015 @ 6:04 am
Great song, I love that particular type of sound.
June 20, 2015 @ 1:41 pm
Chris Stapleton not as good as Jason Isbell? Spare me. I like Jason, I’ve met him, seen him live. He’s way too coffee house and raw for me. A poor mans Damien Rice. Stapleton is in a whole other league both for writing chops (across genres) and a rare and timeless voice. Chris will cross over to another whole audience with this Gregg Allman/Warren Haynes feel. Love this guy.
No one who is actually a successful writer in today’s music scene is embarrassed by who releases their material. Even if it is a Bro Country Clown.