It is fantastic seeing J.R. Carroll’s music finally rise and rise in popularity with each release. Being in Zach Bryan’s band, the focus is obviously going to be on ZB, but J.R. finally finding his place in the current scene on his own and being damn good at it too really speaks volumes on the talent he has. His brand new single, Hometown Hero, dropped on November 8th, with him also announcing mid-October that he will be releasing his debut full length album, Dark Cloud, on December 6th. This is a big moment for J.R. Carroll, and we are pumped to see what he has in store.
Hometown Hero is a look at heartache that blends well-written lyrics with a very emotionally driven song. The storytelling here is fantastic, along with his delivery and ability to convey what he’s feeling. The acoustic and electric blend masterfully creates that traditional, laid-back aesthetic. The steady, driving rhythm and very melodic guitar work is a great foundation, with emotional crescendos really hitting the introspective message home. Production is fantastic, being clean and letting the stripped-down element shine through. The space within the song almost feels intimate, yet expansive at the same time.
J.R. Carroll is 100% next up in the current alternative country scene. If you want to talk about a songwriter who deserves to be on a rocket ship to the top, it’s him. Make sure you check out his previous work, his newest single, Hometown Hero, and also keep an eye out for his debut record, Dark Cloud, which will be out on December 6th.