Sam Hunt, Southside | Album Review 💿

More than five years after releasing his highly successful debut album, Country superstar Sam Hunt returns with his sophomore album, Southside.  

Grammy-nominated country musician Sam Hunt experienced a breakthrough in 2014 with his pop, urban-infused country debut, Montevello.  Montevello has no shortage of hits including “Take Your Time”, “Leave the Night On” and “Break Up in a Small Town”.  Between Montevello and Hunt’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Southside, there was a gap of more than five years! During that gap, Hunt would release various singles, which all end up making the album, surprisingly.  Delayed albums can be suspect, but surprisingly, Hunt delivers an enjoyable, respectable sophomore album all in all.

“2016”

“I’d take 2016 / And all the lonely nights in between / And give ‘em back to you.” Sam Hunt kicks off Southside with the reminiscent and regretful “2016.” Essentially, he describes his many mistakes and sins regarding his relationship.  On the second verse, he’s had an epiphany or sorts: “But it turns out going out and chasing / Dreams and lonely women / Ain’t freedom after all / If I could go back now / And take it back somehow.” Although it’s titled “2016,” this is a relatable record fitting for any year and anybody who has skeletons in their closet regarding love and relationships.

✓ “Hard to Forget” certainly captures one’s attention instantly given the Webb Pierce sample (“There Stands the Glass”).  Clearly, “Hard to Forget” dives back into pop and urban-infused take on country music – quite contemporary.  Still, Hunt doesn’t eschew tried and true country themes, in this case, a girl who’s totally inescapable.  Vocally, he’s on, and the chorus is among the crème de la crème of the LP.  Keeping things on an upward trajectory, single “Kinfolks” is pleasant, yielding another engaging chorus. It’s a welcome balancing act to “Hard to Forget,” coming off more traditional (we lose that sleek drum programming).  Still, “Kinfolks” doesn’t totally isolate the crossover loving crowd.

“Young Once” 

Sam Hunt seems to have a knack for reminiscence, something he exhibit once more on “Young Once.” Here, Hunt’s fusion of two seemingly different musical worlds works out successfully.  The backdrop is predominately country, while adding some modern drum programming to give it a bit of pop and crossover sensibility.  Hunt continues to sound strong in the vocal department, not missing a beat more than five years after first making his presence known.  That said, his Grammy-nominated hit, ✓ “Body Like a Back Road”, seems like it arrived ages ago.

“The way she fit in them blue jeans, she don’t need no belt
But I can turn them inside out, I don’t need no help
Got hips like honey, so thick and so sweet
It ain’t no curves like hers on them downtown streets.”

Yes, “Body Like a Back Road” is polarizing; some liked it, others panned it.  Regardless, on this innuendo-driven hit, Hunt knows his wife, really well, likening her body – specifically her curves – to a backroad. He also describes the sex in driving, road-speak as well.

“Body like a back road, drivin’ with my eyes closed
I know every curve like the back of my hand
Doin’ 15 in a 30, I ain’t in no hurry
I’ma take it slow just as fast as I can.” 

On ballad “That Ain’t Beautiful,” Hunt serves up a blend of spoken word and sung vocals. This isn’t far-fetched from some of the songs that graced his debut, Montevello.  All the while the verses are performed with this approach, things are anchored down by a beat straight out of the hip-hop/R&B production manual – okay, such a thing doesn’t exist, but you get my point.  If nothing else, Sam definitely has ample swagger on this cut.

“Let it Down” 

Both “Body Like a Backroad” and “That Ain’t Beautiful” kept things relatively brief.  The same can be said of “Let it Down,” the third consecutive cut the clocks in at less than three minutes in duration.  This is a perfect example of polarizing Sam Hunt, where listeners get this quirky clash of traditional country cues and ultra-contemporary, nu-country.  Perhaps the hardest thing to wrap one’s ears around is the drum programming…

“Everywhere I go looks like the place to be / I see people that I know, and I feel like there’s no one here but me.” ✓ “Downtown’s Dead” marked Hunt’s third, post-Montevallo single. “Downtown’s Dead” resides contemporary country vein, incorporating an expanded palette of sounds and styles.  Still, it’s relatively tame in experimentation.  Thematically, the big picture is that Hunt is lost without ‘her.’  On the chorus, he asserts “Friday night it might as well be just another / Tuesday night without you.”  That occurs after he sings the titular lyric, attaching identity to it: “Downtown’s dead without you.” Cleverly, the lyrics reference things associated with nightlight, city life, and illustrating the desire for a more personal as opposed to generic connection. It’s another respectable, enjoyable record all in all.

“Nothing Lasts Forever” 

From “Downtown’s Dead,” Hunt moves on to “Nothing Lasts Forever,” another ballad where his voice sounds quite stunning. No, he doesn’t deliver otherworldly runs or gospel histrionics, but his tone is quite striking, particularly on the chorus. The blend of country and R&B works out unobjectionably in my humble opinion.   

“Your body was baptized, so disenfranchised / I was your favorite confession.” Ballad ✓ “Sinning with You” marks as one of the best moments from Southside, possessing its fair share of positives.  First and foremost, vocally, Sam Hunt sounds terrific.  His vocals are quite expressive, nuanced, and incredibly masculine given his full-bodied sound and tone. Even with his ‘masculine sound,’ Hunt’s dedication to the wifey is incredibly romantic, sensitive, thoughtful, and sensual. Besides being sensual, the record also makes liberal use of spiritual references.  In addition to baptism and confession, Hunt mentions Yeshua (verse one), forgiveness (verse two), and The Holy Spirit (bridge).  The chorus is the prime example of the sinfulness, in all it’s glory:

“I never felt like I was sinning with you
Always felt like I could talk to God in the morning
I knew that I would end up with you
Always felt like I could talk to God in the morning
If it’s so wrong, why did it feel so right?
If it’s so wrong, why’d it never feel like sinning with you,
Sinning with you.”

“Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s”

✓ “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s” appears as the penultimate cut on Southside, following and preceding advance singles from the album.  Ultimately, it ranks among the crème de la crème of the LP. Sam Hunt is true to self, blending spoken word and sung vocals on the verses. Sure, his spoken word vocals are a bit tongue-n-cheek, but that’s part of the charm he brings to the table. As always, he ‘brings it on home’ on the chorus.  Specifically, “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s” features one of the best choruses of the album.  Hunt could’ve easily closed with this gem. 

Closer “Drinkin’ Too Much”, which was released as a single at the beginning of 2017 (!) is moody from the start. It commences with an intro, that sets the tone for what’s to come. Following the intro, Hunt embraces being a countrified Drake of sorts – partially sung, partially spoken, and consistently introspective.  Furthermore, the production uses urban cues. It’s a bit odd but proves to be captivating with successive listens. Lyrically, Hunt is honest to his once ex-, now fiancé Hannah.  His dedication is showcased to the nth degree on catchy, sung chorus:

“Drinkin’ too much, drinkin’ too much
Since you been gone, I can’t get gone enough
I’m on top of the world, I’m going down
I’m gonna drink it all ‘til you’re not around…”

Back in 2017, “Drinkin’ Too Much” certainly wasn’t your typical country radio single. Now, north of three years later, the ‘urban country’ record, sounds a bit dated and less trendy.

Final Thoughts 

All in all, Southside actually ends up being a stronger album than anticipated from Sam Hunt.  After releasing singles here and there with no album, I had my doubts about what product the country artist might end up releasing.  No, Southside isn’t the second coming, but, it’s an enjoyable and respectable album that, again, exceeds expectations.

✓ Gems: “Hard to Forget,” “Kinfolks,” “Body Like a Back Road,” “Sinning with You,” & “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s”

Sam Hunt • Southside • UMG Recordings, Inc. • Release: 4.3.20

Photo Credit: UMG Recordings, Inc.