Greylan James’ self-titled debut was worth the wait
Review by Lauren Page | @LiveWithLP
Of all the debut albums I’ve been counting down to, Greylan James’ was the one I wanted to get my hands on. If you’ve ever had a wee cry to Jordan Davis’ Next Thing You Know or had Cole Swindell’s Forever To Me on repeat, you’ve already heard what he can do with a pen. I wanted to hear what he’d do with 14 tracks and his own name on the cover.
I’d been following Greylan for a while, but Water At A Wedding was the song that made me think there had to be an album coming. There was too much story there for one track.
Let me tell you, the day we get the full tea behind that song? I’ll be listening.
The debut is called GREYLAN JAMES, which should make it easy enough to read out when it wins Album of the Year at next year’s CMAs. If Parker McCollum can go self-titled, why shouldn’t Greylan? Yes, I’m manifesting, yes, that probably gives away where this review is going.
Who Broke Up With You, Water At A Wedding and Ain’t Thinkin’ Bout You give longtime listeners a few familiar favourites, while Cole Swindell turns up on track two, Things That I Can’t Change. Having heard Swindell sing a song James helped write, there’s something lovely about hearing him come over to James’ record for this one.
Sunrise and Night In Shining Armor were among the songs we got to hear ahead of release, and the latter went straight into my likes. It’s upbeat, it’s catchy and it still has the storytelling I come to James for. I’d have loved to see it get a proper single push. Truck Stop is a quieter moment and probably the one I remembered least by the time the album finished.
Good Run, though? That one snuck up on me. It starts off slower before picking up pace, and suddenly I’m ten tracks in wondering where the album’s gone.
Then come the final four songs, which are where the record really got me. Give Me A Second (the before) brings us back to James at his most tender, before Gabriella Rose gets her say on Water At A Wedding (her side).
Giving her a version of the song changes how you hear the original, and following it with Hold It Down (the after demo) lets the aftermath sit for a minute.
Tell me how I’m single and still managed to come away from this album feeling horrendously heartbroken. Damn, James. You’re good...
I’d seen I Will Always Love You (goodbye) on the tracklist and somehow only clocked what it was when it started playing. Yes, Dolly’s I Will Always Love You. I’d never imagined hearing that song as the goodbye to the story James has been telling across this record.
Then he adds a few spoken words at the end, and that’s the bit that got me. It’s devastatingly beautiful.
I’m lucky enough to hear some country albums before they come out, and this might be the first one I’ve been itching to have released just so I could talk about it with somebody. The way those final four tracks fit together is why I’m glad he took his time.
Oh and WHEN his name comes up when awards season rolls around next year, you know where I stand.
Before that, I’m already looking forward to hearing these songs live at C2C 2027. Greylan James on this side of the pond? ABOUT TIME.
GREYLAN JAMES is out now.