“Brett is an artist with a clear point of view,” said Kelly Archer last month at the celebration for her, Justin Ebach, and Brett Young’s number one song, “Sleep Without You.” On his debut album, Young displays just that – a clear perspective from an artist with a strong sense of identity, voice, and heart.
Brett Young, released through Big Machine Label Group, accomplishes and more what any strong debut should: introducing the artist to the world. The album kicks off with the undeniably catchy “Sleep Without You,” which topped charts late last year. “I never thought I would be like this, just wide awake, waiting on a goodnight kiss,” Young sings. The song is sweet and romantic – he wants his girl to do her own thing, but can’t sleep until she comes back home to him. With most artists, Archer remarked repeatedly that night, her job in the co-write is to be the voice saying, “Hey, a girl doesn’t want to hear that.” This was never the case with Young – the California native’s internal monologue is, it seems, inherently romantic and respectful. It’s a theme that leads both the chart-topping single and drives the tone of the album.
Romance is key for Young. “[Young] is a classic romantic… as the kids say, he gives you all the feels,” Young’s publisher shared at the event. On standout “Like I Loved You,” Young cuts to the quick with a concept that’s emotionally complex and straightforward in execution: “Don’t tell me we could still be friends, hang out on the weekends / You’re gonna be okay if I start seeing somebody new / You hope that I do / It won’t be long till I forget to call every time that I’m drinking, and you ain’t the love song I can’t keep from singing / I gotta be honest, if you really believe that’s the truth / You never loved me like I loved you.” The writing is both poignant and conversational – “you hope that I do,” for instance, follows as an afterthought, much as it would in such a conversation, as an impulsive display of goodwill.
Young is a writer on 11 of the 12 tracks on the album, and the undercurrent shows. Each of the tracks on Brett Young are similarly constructed – melodically interesting, vocally compelling, thematically deep, and lyrically precise. Young has a knack for choosing lyrics that match effortlessly – “In Case You Didn’t Know,” a co-write with Tyler Reeve, Kyle Schlienger, and Trent Tomlinson that serves as the artist’s current single, is a sonic love letter that hits dead center.
It’s hard to choose standouts on Young’s debut, which is cohesive not just in theme but also in quality. That said, “Olivia Mae” is one that demands the loop button, with verses that recall James Taylor and a chorus that asks permission to care – “maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m right, but I just had to try / Olivia, may I?”
Another that strikes emotional gold is closer “Mercy,” which Young wrote with Sean McConnell. A piano ballad, the song begins with an emotion-laden Young, “Why you gotta show up looking so good just to hurt me / Why you wanna stop this whole damn world from turning?” The chorus yields to gorgeous vocal harmonies and the plea, “if you’re gonna break my heart, just break it.”
Though Young shines in moments of heartache and vulnerability, he’s got an uptempo side – “Makin’ Me Say,” has a sunny and laid back groove; the catchiness of “Sleep Without You” knows no bounds. “You got me saying good lord, god bless, amen,” Young sings on the bridge of the former, a lyrical prayer hands emoji that’s as melodically catchy as it is sure to become an well-worn Instagram caption. “Beautiful Believer,” inspired by a moment Young experienced at a #1 party for David Nail, has a similar groove to the “Whatever She’s Got” singer, showcasing his distinct vocals on a warm groove.
Though “Sleep Without You” may have catapulted the Californian into the spotlight, it’s been a long journey – “a 14-year overnight success,” Young joked last month. After Tommy John surgery prevented Young from continuing his career path to Major League Baseball, he took a plunge and moved to Los Angeles for music, then again more recently to Nashville. To lean on the adage of diamonds being forged in fire, Young’s journey to this album has indeed yielded a gemstone, one that impresses at first glimpse and will stand the test of time.
Grab the album on iTunes.