Thomas Rhett shines on country-pop single “Craving You,” the promo single from his third album, Life Changes. He’s assisted by Maren Morris.

Thomas Rhett hit it big in 2015. His sophomore album Tangled Up ended up going platinum.  That’s a huge feat in an age where singles dominate.  Speaking of singles, Rhett scored a couple of gold and platinum singles, led by multiplatinum, Grammy-nominated single, “Die A Happy Man.” After dropping the deluxe edition of album no. 2, T.R. gets ready to drop his third studio album, Life Changes (September 8, 2017).  “Craving You,” featuring Grammy-winner Maren Morris, serves as the promo single for Life Changes.

Essentially, “Craving You” picks up where Rhett left off with Tangled Up.  The sound still has pop cues in play, making it appeal to a wider audience beyond the country base.  That said, “Craving You” doesn’t feel as dramatic as some of the most pop-centric moments of Tangled Up, hence, potentially have more appeal to the country fan base.  Hey, there’s guitars at least – that’s gotta count for something. Still, this won’t win over traditionalists – sorry.

In addition to its role as the promo single, “Craving You” is also album opener. That’s a smart choice, giving the high-flying energy from the jump.  Vocally, Rhett sounds polished, singing with ease on his verses. Morris joins him on the chorus, playing a bigger role towards the end of the song.  While there’s an argument for more Morris, the balance is optimal because it allows Rhett to shine and not be overshadowed.  Not that he would be – he’s a boss himself.  MM gets her moments with tasteful ad-libs and a powerful lead-in transitioning from the bridge to the final chorus.

Final Thoughts

While we didn’t spend much time discussing the lyrics, the theme of the song is simple and ultimately, self-explanatory.  No need for deep analysis.  It’s relatable, but not transcendent.  Even if it doesn’t take a scholar to decode “Craving You,” this is a solid country-pop joint.  The chemistry between Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris is great, with Rhett remaining the star on his single. This serves as a promising start for Life Changes.

Thomas Rhett • Life Changes • Big Machine • Release: 9.8.17 

Photo Credit: Big Machine