Tanner Usrey - These Days

There’s a tightrope of heartbreak and hell raising that Tanner Usrey has always walked. That big voice out front. That big heart on his sleeve. A rocking band of southern rock acolytes behind him. On his major label debut, Usrey brings all that to the table and more.

Usrey didn’t clean up his act for the suits by any means, in fact m he doubled down on the raw stuff that got him there in the first place.

Usrey’s voice has always been front and center of what makes him special. He’s always been one of those artists that makes you feel like he’s singing directly to you. Able to make a personal connection no matter the circumstance.

That voice even garnered national praise last week when esteemed music blogger Bob Lefsetz gave it a shoutout in his newsletter.

Usrey and company’s music always translated live, but not always on the records. There have been many great recorded moments, but for a guy and band that make their bones one show and fan at a time, that energy hasn’t always been captured on tape.

On this record, that intimacy is harnessed and sharpened. The songs are bigger to be sure. The sonics are polished in just the right places. But the soul is still pure.

For a major label debut, These Days feels remarkably grounded. No frills. Country. Rock n’ roll. Texas independent streak throughout. Honest songwriting backed by a voice that sounds like it’s been through some rough stuff and arrived on the other side with a pen and guitar.

It’s easy to imagine some label folks possibly wanting to sand down the edges. But thank God they didn’t. Those edges are what make Tanner Usrey, and this album, special.