Mackenzie Porter is a tour de force, storming into the country universe with breakout single ‘These Days’ and followed up with the huge track ‘Seein’ Other People.’ Combining stunning vocals with catchy country-pop production, the result is something effervescently joyous – a great collection of songs to get you through this second lockdown.
Let’s face it, we all need a little distraction right now from the world. Joyously optimistic and catchy tunes may just be the way to go and Mackenzie Porter may just be the girl to deliver just that. Today, Mackenzie delivers her collection of ‘Drinkin’ Songs’ that fizz with joy and energy in every note.
The project opens with her hit track ‘These Days’ released last year that has already made a big impact on country radio, a song about looking back on the old days. ‘Do you think about those days, these days, ‘cos I do?’ The track is remixed on the final track on the collection that gives it a bigger, more electro-pop feel that is a fizzy, summery anthem.
Porter serves up a straight up heartbreak anthem on ‘Drinkin’ Songs.’ Written by Lucas Nord and Griffen Palmer and produced by Joey Moi, the track narrates the moment of hearing the soundtrack of an old relationship after the breakup and ‘now it’s just another one of my drinkin’ songs.’ There is a real sass and attitude to the track that is carried through on later track – ‘Drive Thru.’ This is the most powerful moment on the collection, a real and anthemic girl-power track, ‘boy I ain’t your drive’ thru so keep on drivin’ thru.’
Continuing that theme of inverted love songs and heartbreak anthems, Porter sings next on ‘About You’ about writing a song for someone that isn’t a ‘love song’ but a breakup anthem. ‘It’s about words that hurt, the verses burn / The worst mistakes and lessons learned / And gettin’ what you deserve / Instead of gettin’ back what you had to lose / Yeah boy, this one’s about you’ and it’s immensely catchy and appealing.
The most heart-aching track on the record is ‘The One’ – all about being ‘the one’ before someone met ‘the one’ they married. ‘I was right before right timing / the pearl before the diamond… She’s the honeymoon to the Cayman islands / I made a mess and she made sense.’ Porter’s vocal is showcased in the raw emotion of the track that strikes a raw and real note – a raw and more brutally honest version of Jana Kramer’s ‘I Got The Boy.’ Written by Porter with Tom Douglas, Claire Douglas and Madison Kozak, “The One” is a really clever lyrical, bittersweet ballad, replete with a gorgeous lilting melody. Different in tone, but no less heart aching is penultimate track ‘Seeing Other People.’ Another clever moment, here Porter sings about wanting to ‘see other people’ before seeing her ex-lover with someone else. It’s a track that you can easily listen to on repeat.
Mackenzie Porter has delivered and more on this delightful collection of songs, diving into heart aching themes, the project is light and buzzing with energy, yet there are still immensely moving moments. Her engaging and clever lyrics make this project so appealing, shrewd song choices and strong production – the collection is poised and polished. We can’t wait to see what Porter does next.
