Oct 20, 2021

Chris Young ‘Famous Friends’ Album Review

Available everywhere today, August 6th, the much anticipated full-length album from awarding winning country superstar and power vocalist, Chris Young titled “Famous Friends”.

Twelve number one singles, including the multi-week chart-topping title track to this project, Chris Young is thrilled to finally be releasing his 8th studio album. Several of Young’s other famous friends are also featured throughout the 14 tracks including “Town Ain’t Big Enough” with Lauren Alaina and “At The End of The Bar” with Mitchell Tenpenny, plus background vocals from Sarah Buxton and Hillary Lindsey.

Although we had to wait five full years for his new full length, Young has been releasing and teasing tracks from this project for years that have now become fan favorites. Notably, “Drowning” a song written by Young with his long-time collaborators Corey Crowder and Josh Hoge about the loss of a close friend, painfully captures the reality of grief. How the waves of emotion come and go as you struggle to come to grips with your new life without your loved one. “I can’t help That all I think about is / How you were taken way too soon / It ain’t the same here without you / I gotta say, missing you comes in waves / And tonight I’m drowning”

“At The End of The Bar” which features fellow SONY recording artist, Mitchell Tenpenny, is another standout on the record. Two of the best singers coming out of Nashville, the duo sing about the relationships, friendships, important conversations, and love or heartbreak that all take place, ‘..at the end of a bar’. “You can find your future, run into your past, you can look for answers, at the bottom of a glass…” they sing. Whether it’s celebrating or sulking, so many of the big moments in life can begin or end under the neon lights. Young told us during a virtual interview that he asked Tenpenny to sing the first few lines as they were writing it back in February during a snowstorm just to hear it back and he immediately loved the way their voices blending together on the track. “I said, dude would you be opposed to making this a duet, do you want to do something liek that?…” and he answered “Dude, I’m in, I love that song.”

Reminiscent of his past hits like “Aw Naw” and “Save Water Drink Beer”, Young always makes sure to add at least one great party song on every one of his records, and “Hold My Beer Watch This” and “One Of Them Nights” certainly fit the mold. Electric guitars with a fun drum beat, both are sure to be great tunes to sing along to during his live shows.

As usual, there is no shortage of love songs for every type of relationship like “Best Seat in the House”, “Love Looks Good On You” and “Tonight We’re Dancing”. For those currently living the single life or possibly experiencing heartbreak, tracks like “When You’re Drinking” or “Town Ain’t Big Enough” will be more your cup of tea.

Famous Friends features a song for every country listener, the songs to blast at a tailgate, the songs to quietly reflect on on a long drive, or the songs to feel that familiar nostalgia of missing your hometown. Young’s undeniable signature delivery continues to prove that he can remain fresh and relevant while staying true to his country sound.

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