Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volumes 1 and 2 (2017) Album • Page 3

Digging the new tracks, but I can't help but feel that they are a little conservative. I would love to hear Chris's voice in a more soul/gospel vibe with some massive production

 

Definitely not getting massive production as long as he's working with Dave Cobb.

 

Still love Dave though

 

I do too. And I don't think a massive production album is what Stapleton wants to do or should do. What's special about him is how incredible his voice sounds even with none of the usual bells and whistles. I'm not opposed to him getting a little more experimental with whatever he does next, but I like the traditional approach.

Also worth noting that all of these songs were "from the vault," so to speak. He hasn't written much since Traveller, so we're not really seeing the next iteration of Chris Stapleton yet.

 

Saw him last night. He's so good live, and his voice is just one of the best things I've ever heard. But man oh man do I wish I'd gotten a chance to see him live before he became the biggest thing in country music. People screaming during the ballads, talking over the new songs, and just generally being awful. I don't think he quite paced the setlist right, so maybe that's why people were being so restless, but it was just not a good crowd.

Brent Cobb opening was clutch, though. That guy has a lot of potential.

 

Can confirm that Volume 2 rips.

 

Cool. Does it have a ripper like Second One to Know? A song as emotional as Either Way?

 

I'd say it rocks a little more, on first listen. "Midnight Train to Memphis" and "Hard Livin'" are in the vein of "Second One to Know." Nothing as devastating as "Either Way," but "A Simple Song" is pretty poignant in a different way.

 

Vol 1 didn't stick much for me, but I'm ready. Scarecrow is good

 

Oh yeah except Up To No Good Livin, that song is a jam

 

I didn't like how Vol 1 started and ended, but tracks 3-7 are all pretty cool.

 

Really? I love "Broken Halos" and "Death Row."

There seems to be more storytelling on this record, which I like.

 

Yeah, just a personal preference. I like Death Row more than Broken Halos. I feel like BH is just standard by the numbers Stapleton. It's fine, but that's all it is for me.

 

Broken Halos is great and Either Way is one of my favorite songs of the year for sure. Those are my 2 favorites off that album.

 

I feel like "Broken Halos" could have benefitted from a punched up recording. Maybe some harmonies or a guitar solo. It sounds a little like a demo.

 

Volume 1 won Album of the Year at the CMAs.

 

Meanwhile Sturgill Simpson is outside the CMA’s doing the good work.

 

Interesting. While I liked Volume 1 it didn’t really stick in my rotation. There’s definitely other country albums I like more this year, although none of them are probably mainstream enough to even be considered for the award, outside of Isbell I guess.

 

It's been pretty constantly in the rotation for me, though I don't think it's as good as Traveller, and probably not as good as Volume 2 either. But it's been a consistent seller and they obviously love him.

I'm still surprised he won, though. It's not a flashy album at all. Very workmanlike and restrained in songwriting and approach. I think the songs are great, but I figured they'd want something a little "bigger" to give AOTY to. I expected Miranda Lambert to win. Isbell would have been my pick, but that wasn't happening.

 

New record is streaming, btw.

First Listen: Chris Stapleton, 'From A Room: Volume 2'

I like this one better than Volume 1 overall. Nothing as good as "Either Way," but some really nice moments on here regardless.

 

Pretty much had same reaction to Craig..........slightly better than Vol 1 overall, nothing as good as Either Way or Broken Halos, but really good.

I find myself liking his little acoustic songs more than the full on barnburners.

 

A Simple Song and Either Way are easily my favorite "acoustic" songs of his.

 

“Scarecrow in the Garden” is my favorite track on here. I’d love more of that Isbell kind of writing from him.

Review coming later today, probably.

 

Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 2 • chorus.fm

 

I don't know how much crossover there is here, but the guitars in A Simple Song remind me a lot of Iron Fist by Coheed & Cambria.