With impressive harmonies, beautiful instrumentation, and relatable lyricism, it is no surprise that the release of Green River Ordinance’s album Fifteen hit career-high levels on the iTunes charts—landing #2 in country and #17 overall. With hints of rock, pop, and folk, Fifteen gives listeners a variety of tunes to dance to and sing along with.
The album kicks off with “Keep Your Cool,” in which the singer considers his recent, uncharacteristic actions and how they are affecting his outlook on himself. However, he uses these experiences as reminders to live life to the fullest, even in tough moments. “Life’s too short to let it hold you down…gotta break before you know how to bend.”
Fifteen offers a series of upbeat tunes that fans are sure to enjoy. “Always Love Her,” for example, is a sweet song, declaring that the love he feels for his significant other will last a lifetime and that everyone can see they are meant to be together. The album takes a tropical turn with “Life In The Wind,” a beach-y tune that emphasizes the importance of taking chances in life. “Simple Life,” “Tallahassee,” and hit single “Red Fire Night” add a folk element to the album, bringing the group back to their bluegrass-style roots.
While the album has a fun, up-tempo feel, the artists show their ability to pull on your heartstrings with “Endlessly,” “You, Me, & The Sea,” “Only God Knows,” and “Keep My Heart Open.” The former, “Endlessly,” expresses a love that continues to grow and that has no end in sight. The song was originally found on GRO’s 2009 album Out of My Hands and was re-recorded to give it another life on this album. If you’re looking for a peaceful love song, “You, Me, & The Sea” is a beautiful choice—one that exhibits the importance of taking the time to enjoy the person you’re with and the times you share with them. “Only God Knows” is a more daring choice to include on the album, given today’s politically correct world. Although it may be more fit for Christian radio than country, this song is a brave testimony of one’s faith in God and what it means to be saved. In the latter, “Keep My Heart Open,” the lyricism makes the song stand out from the others as a showcase of the artists’ songwriting talent. “The world is full of cynical stones/ and my doubts keep growing/ won’t you keep my hear open?” The lyrics are honest, vulnerable, and refreshingly relatable.
In comparison to their previous album, Chasing Down The Wind, GRO seems to have slightly adjusted their sound to more closely resemble today’s country radio—think new Zac Brown Band style of music. The album definitely has its own folksy flair, but leans away from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band influence and towards a more modern influence, such as instrumentation in “Maybe It’s Time (Gravity)” resembling that of Maroon 5’s “Stutter.” With that said, in true GRO fashion, there are a number of songs on the album in which the instruments dissipate, and listeners are left with the pure voices and soulful harmonies the group is known for. This simple aspect makes these songs feel concert-ready and invites fans to sing along.
Overall, GRO does a delightful job of relaying their musical visions with the release of Fifteen; the album showcases their songwriting abilities and musicality in a way that can resonate with their listeners. You can now buy Fifteen on iTunes. For more information on GRO’s music and upcoming tour dates, visit greenriverordinance.com.