Gary Allan returns today with his long-awaited new album – Ruthless. Here, we review the record.
Stream Ruthless here.
Country star Gary Allan has today released his long-awaited new album – Ruthless – a stunning 13 track record produced by Mark Wright, Tony Brown, Greg Droman, Jay Joyce, and Allan himself. Throughout Ruthless, Allan’s songwriting shines at the centre, setting the tone for a body of work that feels engaging and fresh throughout – it is this unique storytelling that leads as a thread throughout the record, tying the project together into his most current work to date. The superb instrumentation is a stand-out of the record which adds a layer of complexity and appeal, drawing from Allan’s deep-rooted influences of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Of the record, Allan shares, “This is a montage of everything I have done since my last album… It’s what I love. I remain influenced by the ‘90s –as well as by the ‘80s. Twenty-six tracks were cut for this album.Then I went back to the studio and recorded three or four more tracks. Then I returned for two more. From each of these many sessions, I stripped out the cool stuff that I wanted on the record.” Allan’s new record fits seamlessly into the more traditional and 90s country sound that is experiencing a revival on country radio. Though the record does not possess the same gravitas as some of his earlier records – Tough All Over was heart-breakingly raw and authentic, written after his wife’s suicide – throughout, Allan does continue to exhibit the weight and experience of his years of songwriting, flawlessly delivered through his gritty vocal.
The record is kicked off by the charmingly upbeat track ‘Temptation’ before moving into ‘Waste of a Whiskey Drink’ that could have walked straight off the 90s country charts that is positioned alongside the more currently commercial ‘Til It Felt Like You’ and ‘Slide’ that feels classically rock in feel. This is all to say that there is an incredible variety and range contained within Ruthless, but they are multitudes that are artfully and shrewdly chosen – an artist who is keeping up with the times and current trends, without diminishing his own artistry or sense of self. Ruthless is a delightful surprise.
