This Friday, The Shires will release their fifth studio album – 10 Year Plan – through BMG Records. The album signifies a new move for the duo following the pandemic. Pre-order/pre-save the record here.
This Friday, The Shires will release their fifth studio album 10 Year Plan that marks a new, fresh sound for the duo and a new era. On 10 Year Plan, Ben and Crissie seem to be digging back into their roots, yet experimenting with the boundaries of their sound. In conversation with us last month, the duo described that the album had felt like ‘starting again.’ So, the record feels incredibly humble in tone, digging into their country roots yet bringing in a melting pot of sonic influences – it’s The Shires through and through, but with a twist. The Shires have always been the ultimate pioneers of the UK country scene, and this record pushes the genre forward into exciting new directions. More than anything, there is a sense of understated joy infused into the project in connecting once more to music itself.
So, the project kicks off with ‘Cut Me Loose’ – a riotously joyful track in its delivery, as the vocal trade harmonies with Crissie’s vocal soaring in a track about wishing a lover would make a choice to let them go. ‘You got me chasing you, love me, let me go, just choose.’ As always, Rhodes vocal is staggering in its power in this euphoric track. This and later tracks, show the ease with which the duo are able to translate their music to some of the biggest stages. So, ’I See Stars’ is an arena-ready sound. Written with frequent collaborator Jeff Cohen, it’s a bold introduction that was the lead out track from the project, crowd-pleasing, euphoric and built for a massive stage. That sentiment is carried across in the rousing and uplifting later track ‘Sky Dive,’ where they sing about being high on love – though quieter in tone, it’s easy to see how easily it would translate. Indeed, the duo have always been known for their sing-a-long tracks – take ‘A Thousand Hallelujahs’ and ‘Nashville Grey Skies’ – and ’Baby We’re Rich’ may be one of those from 10 Year Plan, where the duo trade moments at the fore to sing about being rich in love.
Throughout the record though there are many moments that showcase the duo’s status as pioneers of the UK country scene. Early stand-outs include, ’Sparks Fly’ which sees Earle’s vocal leads the charge in this harmonious track about the magic in disagreements in a relationship. ‘I love seeing that passion, burning in your eyes / We don’t need to meet in the middle, we need a friction sometimes / If we want to keep that fire alive.’ It’s a topic that feels incredibly pertinent right now and is a delight, witnessing the duo’s lush harmonies layered over each other. However, many of the stand-out moments on the record, come with newer voices and influences, or where Earle has taken charge of the production reins. ‘Plot Twist,’ written with pop artist – Beth McCarthy – is one of those moments. It’s a moodier moment, where McCarthy leads out, before joining the duo, musing on waiting for the other shoe to drop in a relationship. ‘I know it’s real when you hold me like this / Why do I feel like I’m waiting for the plot twist?’ It’s a more muted, edgier tone than we have come to expect from the country duo, but it fits seamlessly in the context of the record and is a gorgeous stand-out. Other surprising moments come on ‘Wild Hearts’ and ‘Forever Tonight.’ The former sees the duo experiment with their production, with ease. It’s a free-flowing and euphoric melody about the wild side of love. The latter, meanwhile, allows the duo to indulge in a groovier side than we have come to expect. It’s these moments that showcase a more relaxed side to the duo – a joyful love of music coming through in this experimentation. This is perhaps showcased best on ‘Peggy I’m Sorry,’ a moodier, pensive track led out by Earle, musing on mistakes and regrets.
The Shires though will always be at their most confident and comfortable in their country roots. So, ’10 Year Plan’ backed by banjo, is the sound we have come to expect from the duo – fittingly, for the title track – where they sing about wishing to never forget their luck. ‘Never forgetting how lucky I am, is right at the top of my ten year plan.’ It’s a catchy and intimate track that is compelling in its simplicity and humble country roots. Similarly, ’Side By Side’ is an enchanting track, led out by Rhodes – a quieter and simpler piano-led ballad that showcases her ability to effortlessly instil raw emotion into a song,’When I realised that every heart was a star in the sky / What are the chances you and I, will be side by side?’ It’s that emotion that she provides on the final track on the album – ‘When It Hurts’ – that again shows The Shires at their best. Here, both Rhodes and Earle are allowed moments for their vocals to shine, yet also showcasing their lush and melodious harmonies, as they sing about promising to love their partner even in the hard times. ‘I’ll love you when it hurts.’
There is a huge amount for The Shires traditional fans to enjoy on 10 Year Plan, yet it is these more experimental moments, with newer voices that are their freshest tracks. Leading the charge of the UK country scene, The Shires are laying out a potential future direction for the future of the genre in these moments.
