Although he maintains consistency and a lovable personality, Cole Swindell delivers a pleasant third studio LP with ‘All of It’ without “moving the needle.”

After a slow, but steady promo campaign, country music’s favorite ginger is back! That would be Georgia’s own Cole Swindell. Swindell returns with his highly-anticipated third studio album, All of It. Like his previous two albums, on All of It, he sings well and remains consistent, but he’s never particularly game changing or exhibits innovative spirit.

“Love You Too Late”

“Love You Too Late” commences All of It energetically, with a moderately fast tempo.  Early on, Swindell references alcohol – shocking. That said, it’s in the context of heartbreak and understandably, the man needs a cold one. “I wish this whiskey / Would make her miss me / Like I wish she did, I wish she did.” He messed up as a boyfriend with his inaction, and now she’s gone, over him, and “Man, it ain’t pretty, no.” At the very end of the record, he truly regrets loving her too late, singing, “I can’t take back what / I never said but / If I could, damn, I would.” A lot of men and women have been in the exact same situation.  Enjoyable and respectable start to the LP.

“All of It” is a mid-tempo track, that embraces natural country music cues, including banjo. The focus for Mr. Swindell is love, and it won’t surprise you to know that ole boy wants “all of it.” On the first verse, he sings, “Still taste your kiss from this morning / Girl, you say there’s another one waiting / Hoping it’s a long one, break out the dawn one / I want every one you got.”  As he sings, he sounds beautiful, flaunting his distinct and expressive pipes like a champ.  Expectedly, the chorus is energetic, incorporating a heavier, more rhythmic sound, alongside more dynamic vocals.  Lyrically, it’s wordy, but effective nonetheless.  All in all, a successful title track.

“Somebody’s Been Drinkin’” 

“Somebody’s been drinkin’ and got to thinkin’ ‘bout us / It’s just the cherry bombs talkin’ when you’re hittin’ me up.” “Somebody’s Been Drinkin’” begins relatively mysteriously, with little rhythmic or melodic motion.  Initially, it’s very spare, quiet, and simplistic. Following the mysterious intro, Cole Swindell enters, setting things in motion.  Gradually, there is more motion and more instrumentation. Ultimately, Swindell sings about romance, even if it’s fueled by a couple of drinks. By the chorus, he lets loose, showcasing the full range of his beautiful, distinct pipes.  The centerpiece is undoubtedly the catchy, memorable chorus, excerpted above.  Follow-up “Sounded Good Last Night” is a more energetic, playful record.  Completely inoffensive, Swindell amps up the twang, sounding fully countrified. It won’t change your life, but it’s respectable without question.

“Break Up in the End”

Swindell delivered a beautiful single far in advance of All of It with “Break Up in the End”.  Acoustic guitar, bass drum thud serves as the primary accompaniment during the first verse, where Swindell sings, “I still walk in that bar a little drunk / I still ask you what you’re drinking, what’s your name / I still kiss you by the shuffleboard, last call at 2am / Even though we break up in the end.”  It doesn’t take much to figure out where he’s going. If the verses don’t do the trick, the chorus surely does.

Following “Break Up in the End,” Swindell keeps the tempo on the slower side of the metronome on “I’ll Be Your Small Town.” Expectedly, Cole keeps it southern – thinking intimately like a small town where everybody knows everybody else. Rather than focusing explicitly on the actual small town, he suggests as her man, he’ll be as warm and inviting as a small town is.  Of course, she’ll be his whole world.

“The Ones Who Got Me Here”

 “The ones that I drank all those beers with / Made it through those high school years with/ All those girls I loved who broke my heart.” Swindell gets all reminiscent on ballad “The Ones Who Got Me Here”. We’ve seen this ‘emotion on sleeves’ performance from him previously.  Naturally, Swindell sings superbly, exhibiting his clear, distinct tone of voice.   It is a voice that excels at ballads, hence the unsurprising success of “The Ones Who Got Me Here.” Albeit sound, the “The Ones Who Got Me Here” is also predictable, lacking innovative spirit.

“20 in a Chevy” breaks away from much of All of It, incorporating a few more modern pop cues.  Don’t get it twisted – this is still country music, even with its electronic touches.  The tough guitars and Swindell’s colorful vocals confirm this.  The younger country music fan might appreciate the progressiveness of this number regarding sound. 

“Reason to Drink” 

“Oh yeah / This sounds like a Friday night / Yeah.” Swindell definitely showcases his love for beer on “Reason to Drink”.  From the start, “Reason to Drink” is chocked-full of energy, with its heavy guitars and exuberant major key. He definitely lives up to the expectations, even if the topic of drinking is cliché.  On the chorus, he enthusiastically justifies various reasons for drinking, including marriage, a championship, or breaking up.

“Her”

Following “Reason to Drink” is a tall task – it’s truly among the best of All of It.  “Her” is no slouch, with Swindell continuing to sing extremely well.  While it’s good, it’s also a ‘been there, done that’ number. “Both Sides of the Mississippi” brings some fun, funky, old-school vibes to the end of the album.  Besides the syncopated rhythm guitars, piano, and organ, Swindell is able to exhibit more of his big personality, making this a terrific penultimate joint.  Swindell honors his late father on the thoughtful ballad, “Dad’s Old Number.”

Final Thoughts

Like the two albums that precede All of It, Cole Swindell remains consistent without “ruffling any feathers” or doing anything game changing.  This is a solid country album without being a dynamic, incredibly memorable one.  Throughout, Swindell sings well, but sometimes, the LP runs a tad bit too ‘middle of the road’ and cliché.  Still, there’s a clear appeal about Cole, and even if All of It is imperfect, you still can’t help but like the guy.  

Gems: “Love You Too Late,” “Somebody’s Been Drinkin’,” “Break Up in the End,” “Reason to Drink” & “Both Sides of the Mississippi”

Cole Swindell • All of It • Warner Music Nashville • Release: 8.17.18

Photo Credit: Warner Music Nashville