Stoney Creek Records

****

This Texas-born singer has a confident, youthful, splendidly airy, superbly listenable modern neo-traditional country approach that is dynamic and driving and just about irresistible. Co-produced by the legendary Tony Brown and singer-songwriter Brandon Hood, the album is a statement-making introduction to an artist already fully formed. Possessing the voice and song-writing chops of a man twice his age, Drake co-wrote all 14 songs and knows a good song prospect when he sees one … he’s set to be one of tomorrow’s masters. There is a tangible old soul to his music blended with a youthful enthusiasm that is not only rare to find, but impossible to insert on purpose. It’s just there. That precept proves true courtesy of his musical synergy, and his ability to draw on a traditional tapestry while still maintaining a contemporary credence. Drake Milligan has everything a breakout country star needs and then some, and with any justice, this will go down as one of the best records of 2022.

Drake and his co-writers have put together a good collection of music that will appeal to a wide swathe of country fans. Though he touches on a number of familiar country topics—romantic entanglements, beer, honky-tonkin’ and dancing—clever turns of phrase (along with his smooth baritone vocals), make this album an enjoyable listen. Like in the old days of vinyl, the album is divided into two sides—the first is devoted to the big city, more polished vibe of Dallas, whilst the second spotlights the rougher Fort Worth and its stockyards and cowboy legacy. It presents a bold challenge to conventional notions of creativity, authenticity, learning, and emotion. The dynamic Sounds Like Something I’d Do, allows him to open the album on an upbeat note, while highlighting the way he uses the music to lift his spirits and embark on wild and rebellious pursuits. The dancey rhythm and relentlessly catchy melody of Kiss Goodbye All Night uniquely attests to his ability as a songwriter to take a page or two from the old books and incorporate them with fresh and playful elements to create something unexpected, contemporary, and fun. There’s a 1990s country vibe here (and on several other songs throughout the album), which I enjoyed.

The romantic She showcases his hushed vocals steeped in vulnerability delivered with a surprising and tender croon. Hearts Don’t Break Even is a classic heartache ballad with haunting steel guitar and carried by his sad-tinged vocal. The song may be haunted by loss and hurt and doubt, but he lets the music be the light. Capturing the dimmed, seductive lights of a ballroom, Dance Of A Lifetime has a sweetly soulful and yearningly romantic sound that draws on his Texas heritage. He then moves smoothly from an uptown venue to the honk-tonkin’ side of town with Over Drinkin’ Under Thinkin’ and a sawdust floor of a Fort Worth barroom. Accented by fiddle and steel and a countryish lope with evocative words that sets a scene of drowning one’s sorrows. He stays in the barrooms for the Bakersfield-styled Tippin’ Point with a nod to Buck and the Buckaroos. Spying a new opportunity, he takes to the dancefloor with Don’t Look Down, as he vividly describes falling for a new beau as they swirl around to a good ol’ jukebox. There’s more dancing to be done with the western-swing styled Goin’ Down Swingin’ straight out of Cain’s ballroom with Vince Gill joining in vocally as twin fiddles and steel carry this infectious toe-tapper.

Echoes of Dave Dudley, Red Simpson, Dick Curless and truck-drivin’ music come to mind with Long Haul, with the legendary James Burton on lead guitar, as Drake adds Presley inflections to his vocal tones. This should come as no surprise, as in an earlier life Drake worked as an Elvis impersonator and also played the rock’n’roll legend in the Sun Records CMT TV series. He travels way out west with the hauntingly evocative Cowboy Kind Of Way, an atmospheric song that revolves around and around long after the music slowly fades away into the sunset. A near-perfect way to finish this superb album of innovative neo-traditional music, the best I’ve heard in many a month.

www.drakemilligan.com

September 2022