'Starting Over' Review: Chris Stapleton's new album is a warm country embrace and will leave you charmed
Country star Chris Stapleton is kicking off a new era and returning to music after three years with a brand-new studio album. Titled 'Starting Over', the LP is releasing just around the corner on Friday, November 13 and follows 2017's platinum-certified 'From A Room: Volume 2'.
The album is written by Stapleton and Mike Henderson and recorded in Nashville's historic RCA Studio A (with additional work done at Muscle Shoals Sound and Compass Sound Studio), and receives contributions from longtime friends and new collaborators. Produced by Dave Cobb (who also helms the acoustic guitar), 'Starting Over' features his beloved wife, Morgane Stapleton (vocals, tambourine), longtime bandmates J.T. Cure (bass) and Derek Mixon (drums). Special guests include legendary musicians Mike Campbell (electric guitar), Benmont Tench (Hammond B3 organ) and Paul Franklin (pedal steel) as well as the All Voices Choir who are featured on 'Watch You Burn', written by Stapleton and Campbell.
Hitting play on just the first three tracks, 'Starting Over' immediately strikes emotive and as an earnest album iteration. Every track feels like utmost dedication has been put in to make one stand out from the other and carry its own thematic power. The album's opener and title track begins in a warm country embrace with acoustic guitaring that gives in to reverie and gentle sweeping of brush sticks on hi-hats as Stapleton sings "Well the road rolls out like a welcome mat. To a better place than the one, we're at. And ain't got no kind of plan. But I've had all of this town I can stand." Check out the official music video below.
