Russell Dickerson will release his sophomore album – Southern Symphony – on Friday. As we review here, the record sees Dickerson take on a new, more personal and deeper path in his music that is utterly engaging, sonically and lyrically, overlaid with Dickerson’s usual energy.
Russell Dickerson burst onto the scene with his break-out hit ‘Yours’ that has fast become a classic wedding song. This was quickly followed up by another number one for ‘Blue Tacoma’ and ‘Every Little Thing.’ The first single ‘Love You Like I Used To’ from his new record – Southern Symphony – out tomorrow on Triple Tigers, also just hit the number one spot, so it is no mistake to say that Dickerson knows how to release a hit. With his first record, Dickerson established himself as an energetic, charismatic performer whose live performances became unforgettable ‘RD Parties.’ Now, on his sophomore record, Dickerson reveals a deeper side to his music, both sonically and lyrically. His vocals are stronger, lyrics more personal and intimate and sonically, the record imbibes a lot more ‘traditional’ country sensibilities. This isn’t a departure from Yours, it just goes a layer deeper to form a cohesive Southern Symphony.
The record opens with bombastic ‘Never Get Old’ – tipped to be Dickerson’s next single. It is a signature ‘RD’ track, brimming with positivity and energy – capturing all the joy of a live show in a studio rendition and encouraging you to dance to the track around your living room. The exuberance of this track, befitting Dickerson’s larger than life persona, runs into following track ‘Home Sweet,’ that gives a narration of the last few years of Russell’s life up to ‘crying, just staring at those two pink lines.’ It’s bold and loud and ultimately incredibly human. Similarly, you can’t help but smile and sing along to later track ‘It’s About Time’ with Florida Georgia Line. The joy of this track is effervescent and perfectly blends Dickerson’s soaring pop-country sensibilities with FGL’s more RnB/Hip Hop country sounding and you can tell the close friends all had good fun creating the track together as it brims over the sound waves.
In ‘All Yours, All Night’ and on his current single ‘Love You Like I Used To,’ Dickerson’s vocal range is spotlit. Where ‘Yours’ was the wedding song, ‘Love You Like I Used To’ is built for anniversaries and taking this further ‘Forever For A Little While’ is a sweet track about finding the still moments.
However, the last four tracks on this record are possibly the strongest four songs Dickerson has recorded to this point. ‘Honey’ is one of the strongest vocals we’ve yet to hear from Dickerson, with a tone to rival Josh Turner – a truly deliciously deep and tripping bass. This is followed by the strongest lyrical moment we’ve had from RD to date. The title track on the record is simply one of Dickerson’s finest achievements to date. It is catchy yet tender, energetic yet intimate and universal yet personal – a marvel of a track that gets better with every listen. Here, Russell sings about life in the South ‘the sound of the magnolia breeze, ice cubes and sweet tea… where I come from that’s a love song.’ The track is tenderly poignant and reflective, perfectly backed by lap steel and fiddle.
‘Come to Jesus’ brings back the anthemic and catchy ‘RD’ sound, but with more layers than we’ve seen previously. ‘I’m the little devil on her shoulder and she brings heaven a little closer.’ It is a lyrically clever track about being opposites in a relationship, and it is as endearing as it is catchy. Finally, Dickerson ends the record with another of his strongest tracks to date – ‘Waiting For You.’ There is a big more electro sound at the start of this track and a big drop that may be a nod to a potential huge crossover potential. The track is a soaring and sweet track about finally finding ‘the one.’ The sound and production are bigger than we’ve heard from Dickerson to date and there seems to be huge single potential on this one – particularly, given the immense and flawless saxophone solo that sets this track aside, giving it something extraordinary.
‘Southern Symphony’ leaves off where ‘Yours’ ended and charts the growing maturity and depth of Dickerson as an artist and human, navigating his path to fatherhood and continued success. ‘Southern Symphony’ reveals Dickerson’s heart and feels like a far more personal and intimate look at the artist and the title track is, without a doubt, Dickerson’s strongest track to date. 2020 may not have been everyone’s year, but it sure is set to be Dickerson’s.
