His second LP reworks and revamps the now-quaint Nineties country styles of Brooks & Dunn (who appear on the clever drinking anthem “1, 2 Many”) and Alan Jackson, and is littered not just with crushed beer cans but also resolute life lessons. It is I think better than his first album. Luke Combs says his new album will feature an as yet-to-be-revealed special guest. Even Though I’m Leaving 4. “There are parts of me that are still like, ‘Man, I’m gonna get drunk as hell tonight,’ but I also want to be able to say, ‘Hey, I stayed at home tonight and watched TV and it’s Saturday night’ and that’s OK too. I don’t know anything about him, but I like him.’ That’s a super powerful thing and definitely not something that should be taken lightly.”. Preview, buy, and download songs from the album What You See Is What You Get, including "Beer Never Broke My Heart," "Refrigerator Door," "Even Though I'm Leaving," and many more. Brooks & Dunn) 7. Because they definitely don’t agree on politics or religion or much of anything, but if you hear a Post Malone song and you like him, and you hear another person listening to it, you’re like, ‘Alright, I like that guy. And though the 29-year-old says he “won’t be singing songs about having kids” anytime soon, he’s eager to use his music and his platform to bring more people together. But as a general commentary on the space that Combs — still a relative newcomer — has been able to carve out for himself at the genre’s center, it’s spot-on. “, Unlike Eric Church, his closest contemporary (, Steve Perry: ‘My Heart Bleeds Daily to Be in Front of People And to Sing for Them’, Tekashi 6ix9ine Transforms Into a ‘Supervillain’ in New Teaser for Showtime, ‘Rolling Stone’ Doc, How to Watch UFC 254 Online: Live Stream Khabib vs. Gaethje on ESPN+, The Best Home Speakers for Room-Filling Sound, Jay-Z Details New Cannabis Brand ‘Monogram’, Stephanie Lambring Wrestles With Daddy Issues on an Alt-Country Gem, John Darnielle Keeps His Songwriting Roll Going on the Mountain Goats’ ‘Getting into Knives’. We want to hear from you! Luke Combs' anticipated new deluxe album, What You See Ain't Always What You Get, is out today on River House Artists/Columbia Nashville. I just want to grow up a little bit.”. Moffatt handled most of the background vocals and production, which Combs says will hark back to a “Nineties country thing.” “It’s definitely not an experimental album by any stretch of the imagination,” he jokes. As a supposedly spontaneous moment, it sounds a little comically forced. His well-crafted, down-the-center power balladry arrived at a transitional moment for the genre, when artists like Chris Stapleton and Sam Hunt were providing two (very different) models of country that helped it evolve past the beach bonfire party sounds that defined Nashville country earlier in the decade. 1, 2 Many (feat. Every Little Bit Helps 11. Angels Workin’ Overtime 15. As a an old-fashioned Nashville formalist, Combs focuses his attention, instead, on the much-harder-than-it-looks process of creating instantly recognizable hooks (see his phrasing on the slurred chorus of “Beer Never Broke My Heart”). Since releasing his debut single “Hurricane” in 2015, the burly North Carolina singer Luke Combs has ascended to the very top of commercial country music. New Every Day 9. Want more Rolling Stone? Luke Combs almost seems to be shrugging with the title What You See Is What You Get, a suspicion underscored by the album's perfunctory cover art.Neither suggest that Combs harbors any grand ambitions, an impression that isn't strictly true. Combs says, “it’s more of the same,” but “in the best way possible.”, “I didn’t want to go too crazy and do something weird and have people go, ‘What is this thing? Over that time, he amassed more than 40 songs, which he had to whittle down for the new album. Combs’ second full-length, then, sounds less like an album and more like a collection of singles that will be crowding country radio for the next two years. © Copyright 2020 Rolling Stone, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. 'Midnight in Paris' Review: A Prom Night Doc to Remember, Since releasing his debut single “Hurricane” in 2015, the burly North Carolina singer, Over 17 songs (five of which were released this summer on, , Combs doubles down on the Miller-chugging bona fides he’s sculpted in the process of becoming country’s most relatable everyman. Beer Never Broke My Heart 2. Luke Combs’ new album may be titled What You See Is What You Get, but the singer-songwriter says he’s got a few surprises up his sleeve when the album drops later this fall. Refrigerator Door 3. “Music to me feels like one of the only things people can agree on. This will be Combs’ first full-length release since his debut album, This One’s for You, came out in 2017. There are a few unexpected influences sprinkled throughout: “Angels Working Overtime,” one of the more effective Nineties tributes, playfully evokes “Achy Breaky Heart,” while “All Over Again” sounds, less convincingly, like a Jason Aldean outtake. Luke Combs’ new album may be titled What You See Is What You Get, but the singer-songwriter says he’s got a few surprises up his sleeve when the album drops later this fall. Two of the songs he performed in L.A. — the introspective note-to-self, “Dear Today,” and a still-untitled track he wrote about his parents — are expected to be included on the new album. Stream it … What You See Is What You Get CD Track List: 1. Blue Collar Boys 8. Songs start at $1.29. Some weaker moments but no need to skip over anything. Luke Combs photographed for Rolling Stone in Fresno, California, by Ian Bates on October 25th, 2019. We liked you because of that thing,'” he explains. “This futon I crashed on in college, well, it ain’t our bed/but at least it don’t smell like you,” he sings with keen attention to detail. “I think there’s a great opportunity, especially right now with people being so divided about everything, for all different walks of life to have this tailgate together,” he says. There’s a moment of studio chatter at the end of “1, 2 Many,” where Combs shouts out, “Come on, that’s a country song right there!” as the band wraps up. Moon Over Mexico 6. This album will be a hit. What You See Is What You Get 13. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. At 29, Combs effectively plays the role of knowledgeable elder and clear-voiced truth-teller, packing his early-middle-aged wisdoms into kitchen-magnet truisms on songs like the rowdy title track, “New Every Day,” and “Every Little Bit Helps,” a tale of the small things he does in vain to try to forget an ex. Want more Rolling Stone? “I’ve got artists where I’m like, ‘OK, man, go listen to your first record please. Lovin’ On You 5. What You See comes out November 8th, and while Brooks & Dunn are featured on the song “1, 2 Many,” Combs isn’t revealing any other collaborators for now. He released an EP, The Prequel in June, which shot to the top of the charts. Reasons 10. It is music for today. This North Carolina singer recalls Nashville’s Nineties glory days. © Copyright 2020 Rolling Stone, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. The two sent each other ideas and work tapes from their iPhones, then laid down the vocals at Moffatt’s house outside of Nashville, “in a sub-floor attic,” Combs says. On his new album What You See Is What You Get, Combs continues the genre’s evolution but also keeps one foot firmly planted in its Nineties glory days. It is an entertaining country album from start to finish. Luke Combs Is a Mainstream Country Everyman on ‘What You See Is What You Get’ This North Carolina singer recalls Nashville’s Nineties glory days Over 17 songs (five of which were released this summer on The Prequel EP), Combs doubles down on the Miller-chugging bona fides he’s sculpted in the process of becoming country’s most relatable everyman. Dear Today 12. Unlike Eric Church, his closest contemporary (who cameos on the tender mid-tempo ballad “Does to Me”), Combs is entirely uninterested in tying together his LPs with a high concept framework. “I’m really excited about the album,” he told Rolling Stone at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s All for the Hall fundraiser in Los Angeles recently. Sign up for our newsletter. Musically, Combs teamed up once again with producer Scott Moffatt for What You See Is What You Get. What you see is what you get! Buy the album for $11.99. His second LP reworks and revamps the now-quaint Nineties country styles of Brooks & Dunn (who appear on the clever drinking anthem, At 29, Combs effectively plays the role of knowledgeable elder and clear-voiced truth-teller, packing his early-middle-aged wisdoms into kitchen-magnet truisms on songs like the rowdy title track, “New Every Day,” and “Every Little Bit Helps,” a tale of the small things he does in vain to try to forget an ex. Combs says he’s been effectively working on his sophomore full-length for three years now (This One’s for You was recorded in February and March of 2016). Combs, whose songwriting ability earned kudos from Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow at the All for the Hall event, says he’d like to tackle more personal subject matter in his songs, though he’s “just kind of dipping my toes in the water of that stuff” for now. As for what to expect? Does To Me (feat. “I’m almost 30 years old now and I’m not going to be out at the bar every night,” he says. We want to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter. Can you at least do something that’s similar to what that was?’”, Still, Combs says his life has changed considerably over the past few years, so the new album will address slightly different themes besides alcohol and partying.