New Album Review: Lainey Wilson- Bell Bottom Country

Lainey Wilson- Bell Bottom Country

Label: BBR

Producer: Jay Joyce

Over the course of the last eighteen months, Lainey Wilson has quickly risen to the status of a mainstream Nashville darling, providing the country world with a much-needed female breakthrough and one of the more refreshing and authentic success stories that the genre has had to its credit over the past decade. Her sophomore album proves to be a sturdy distillation of the qualities that have allowed Wilson to charm so many listeners and industry gate-keepers: a gorgeous and genuine Southern rasp, a palpable and infectious personality, and an undeniable knack for the kind of clean and uncluttered music that relies on zero of the unnecessary bells and whistles that sinks so much Music City product these days. As her album title and key track “Hillbilly Hippie” implies, Wilson has an affinity for a 70s-minded blend of country and rock in both sound and POV. It suits her voice naturally well, a quality that is only further complemented by the producer selection of Jay Joyce, who boasts a well-established resume of records that illustrate his ability to creatively tinker with rock-leaning edges while keep the proceedings decidedly country to the core. That sweet spot allows Wilson and Bell Bottom Country to sound cohesive and seamless, whether it be on classic Telecaster-driven moments like “Hippie” and “Roadrunner”, the muddy Southern Rock of “Hold My Halo”, the mountain bluegrass tinge of “Wildflowers and Wild Horses”, or even more-funk leaning adventures like “Grease” and the curious but impressively effective country reinvention of 4 Non Blondes’ 1993 alternative touchstone, “What’s Going On”. Through it all however, it’s those tender and straight-forward country ballads and mid-tempos where Wilson’s ultimate magic lies, among them “Weak-End”, “Those Boots (Deddy’s Song)”, and hit single “Heart Like A Truck”.

Track Listing:

1. “Smell Like Smoke” (Lainey Wilson, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Lynn Hutton)
2. “Hillbilly Hippie” (Wilson, Terri Jo Box, Jeremy Bussey)
3. “Road Runner” (Wilson, Dallas Wilson, Trannie Anderson)
4. “Watermelon Moonshine” (Wilson, Josh Kear, Jordan Schmidt)
5. “Grease” (Wilson, Jessi Alexander, Andrew Petroff)
6. “Weak-End” (Wilson, Nicolette Hayford, Faren Rachels)
7. “Me, You, and Jesus” (Wilson, D. Wilson, Emily Weisband)
8. “Hold My Halo” (Wilson, Criswell, George, Hutton)
9. “Heart Like A Truck” (Wilson, D. Wilson, Anderson)
10. “Atta Girl” (Wilson, D. Wilson, Brett Tyler)
11. “This One’s Gonna Cost Me” (Wilson, Hayford, Rachels)
12. “Those Boots (Deddy’s Song)” (Wilson, Box, Trent Tomlinson)
13. “Live Off” (Wilson, Box, Anderson, Adam Doleac)
14. “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” (Wilson, Anderson, Paul Sikes)
15. “What’s Up (What’s Going On)” (Linda Perry)
16. “New Friends” (Wilson, Park Chisholm, Mark Irwin)