Michael Ray’s been teasing fans for a while with his Tour Bootleg EP, which has been available exclusively at shows and on the Warner Music website for months, with naught but an acoustic video for “Kiss You in the Morning” to tide them over. However, listeners can finally stream the EP, a five-song ode to the good life.
Warner pulled out all the stops for Ray’s introduction to the country world – an all-star group of songwriters and studio musicians as well as production from Scott Hendricks (Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Blake Shelton) – and it shows. The release is good uptempo fun, and the Florida native delivers a vocally engaging and energy-filled performance. Lyrically, the EP is simple and engaging, with a tinge of the pop sensibilities currently doing well at radio, perhaps to a fault with hooks like “kiss a little more, think a little less.” “Run Away With You,” Ray’s only writing credit on the album, a co-write with John Rich, is a strong, mid-tempo effort that rounds out the release.
Ray garnered attention with his role on CW’s show The Next, and has had a busy 2014, touring with Sam Hunt, Chase Rice, and Aaron Lewis, and sharing stages with Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, and Brett Eldredge.
Track listing:
1. Livin’ It Up (Marty Dodson / Jimmy Yeary / Jason Sellers)
2. Kiss You in the Morning (Justin Wilson / Michael White)
3. Run Away With You (Michael Ray / John Rich)
4. Think A Little Less (Jon Nite / Thomas Rhett / Barry Dean / Jimmy Robbins)
5. Tonight’s the Night (Rodney Clawson / Tyler Hubbard / Brian Kelley / Chris Tompkins / Craig Wiseman)
Produced by Scott Hendricks, with instrumentation from Nir Z, Tony Lucido, Adam Shoenfeld, Troy Lancaster, Russ Pahl, Danny Rader, Charlie Judge, and Perry Coleman.