Album Review: Luke Combs - Gettin' Old
His 4th studio album and follow-up to 2022's Growin' Up
Luke Combs released his 4th studio album, “Gettin’ Old” this past Friday. This release comes just 9 months after his 3rd album, “Growin’ Up,” and three weeks after the other juggernaut male country music singer, Morgan Wallen, released his latest album, “One Thing at a Time,” which has broke almost every streaming record. (My review of it can be found here.)
These two artists might be dominating country music, but their approaches to the genre are vastly different, with Wallen incorporating elements of hip-hop and pop heavily into his music, and Combs leaning hard into the sound of 90’s and early 2000’s country. I couldn’t review every song on Wallen’s album, because I didn’t want to write a novel to cover all 36 songs, but I’ll give it a go on this 18-track record. Here we go:
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Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old: This might be the most relatable song (to me) in Luke’s entire catalog. I loved it the first time I heard it. The second verse got me, because I’ve been considering my own mortality and how much faster the years are going by.
It's when you start thinkin'
How much time left you got
If there's more sand
In the bottom or the top
'Cause that hourglass we have don't last forever
I've been thinkin' 'bout it more and more these days
It's like the less you have, the faster that it goes
In the middle of growin' up and gettin' old
The song has all the hallmarks of a Luke Combs song, belting vocals, soaring guitar, and driving drums. It’s an excellent song and the perfect opener for an album filled with these themes. (9.5/10)
Hannah Ford Rd: This song reminded me a lot of Dierks Bentley’s first hit, “What Was I Thinkin’,” with just a little more nostalgia at the end to match the theme of the album. This is another up-tempo, guitar driven track that will cause your speedometer to read a bigger number if you’re not careful. (9/10)
Back 40 Back: Maybe I’m not as country as I thought I was, but I had to look up what “back 40” ment. For those that don’t know, back 40 refers to a remote and uncultivated or undeveloped piece of land of indefinite size (as on a farm). This song could be about my hometown, and the town in which I currently reside. It used to be a charming small county seat town, and is now a sprawling commuter suburbia filled with chain stores and restaurants. I’d like the back 40 back as well. (8.5/10)
You Found Yours: A song about finding your purpose in life, be it a dog, a girl, or a child. This is another example of why I enjoy Luke Combs’ songwriting so much. The song is simple, but somehow manages to evoke clear imagery in your mind. Another very relatable song for me. (8/10)
The Beer, The Band, And The Barstool: A slowed down track about the refuge that can be found at your favorite watering hole after a heartbreak. By the end, you’ll feel sad for the unnamed character. (8/10)
Still: On his album release livestream, Combs said he originally wrote this song for an unfinished bluegrass project, which I am praying sees a release in the future. It’s a banjo driven toe-tapper of a love song, and I’m here for it. (7/10)
See Me Now: I can see this song being the one that has the biggest impact on his career from this album. This is a song almost everybody can relate to; wondering what a departed grandparent would think of them if they were still here. I absolutely love the last line of the chorus, “If I could just see you, see me now.” What a simple but brilliant lyric. This is another one that will hit you in the feels. (8.5/10)
Joe: A fan favorite that has been floating around for a few years and occasionally played acoustically, this song does a complete 180 from Luke’s usual drinking songs, and considers the difficulty of an alcoholic in recovery.
So here's to good days better tomorrows
And a light at the end of the bottle
The first-person perspective really helps you consider what that might be like. It’s not my favorite, but I can see why it is so liked. (7/10)
A Song Was Born: This is probably my least favorite song on the album, and it’s certainly not bad. I just felt like he really hit on something with the song idea, but it came out under-developed. The chorus is brilliant, but the verses could have used a bit more. (6/10)
My Song Will Never Die: I heard the very first line and thought to myself, “this has Eric Church’s fingerprints all over it.” Turns out he was the lead writer on the track. After 10 or so listens, this is my favorite song on the album, which is surprising since it’s not all that relatable to me. This song BUILDS. It starts with a simple two-note guitar picking pattern, but by the end, you find yourself singing along at the top of your lungs. I love everything about this song: the instrumentation, the lyrics, the build-up, all of it. Listen to this a couple times and tell me it doesn’t become an earworm for you. I hate this word, but this song is a banger, and I pray it becomes a setlist mainstay. (10/10).
Where the Wild Things Are: This song will make you feel something. It’s about two brothers, separated by miles, who reconnect for a time before meeting a tragic end. It reminded me of a very similar relationship in my own family. This song also builds throughout, and I just love how this song sounds. It is definitely one of my favorites on the album. (10/10)
Love You Anyway: The love song ballad of the album. I can see this being used as a wedding song for any couples who are fans of his. Every country album needs a song like this to feel complete. Luke just happens to deliver them better than most anybody else. (8/10)
Take You With Me: A perfect song about the father and son relationship. I know there was nothing better than my father agreeing to take me with him somewhere when I was younger, and that pretty much continues for me today, even on the plus-side of 40. This is the obvious influence of fatherhood on his songwriting. It’s autobiographical, but relatable to many. (9/10)
Fast Car: Yup, that Fast Car. The Tracy Chapman song that got robbed at the Grammys, and is still beloved the world over. Covering this song was a risk, and it more than paid off. I don’t think you can improve on the original, but Combs proved you can just about match it. It doesn’t stray from the original musically, but Combs’ voice gives the words new life and perspective. It’s beautifully done, and will be demanded at live shows for the rest of his career. (10/10)
Tattoo on a Sunburn: I’ve read a lot of people don’t care for this song, but I can easily see this being the song of the Summer for 2023. It’s a lot like the thousands of other songs about a Summer love, but the imagery of relating the pain of its demise to the pain of getting a tattoo on sunburned skin offers a new perspective. I quite like it, and expect to hear it a lot in the coming months. (8/10)
5 Leaf Clover: Written after finding an actual 5 leaf clover, Combs continues to write about how fortunate he feels to live the life he does, and I can’t blame him. It’s a list song, but the chorus makes up for it. This is another fan favorite that many have been waiting to appear on an album. (7.5/10)
Fox In The Henhouse: This might be the only song that feels somewhat out-of-place on the record. Combs said he got the idea for the song after losing some of his chickens to a fox, but you can clearly hear the double-meaning. Not a bad song, but I feel like it could have fit better on another project or as a bonus track. (6.5/10)
The Part: This was an excellent choice to close the album. It’s a reflection of what life on the road as a touring musician and the family left at home. While I certainly can’t relate directly, a deeper look into the song can make it relatable to anybody who doesn’t have the luxury of working a usual 9 to 5 with weekends and holidays off. I’m sure life has changed dramatically for Luke since getting married and having a son (and another on the way) in just the past 3 years. Those things will certainly change your perspective, and the closer puts a bow on the package that is filled with those themes. (9/10)
OVERALL GRADE: 83/100
Long albums are becoming the norm in the industry, and while I’m always happy to get more music from my favorite artists, it can be difficult to compile a long album without some duds and skips. At 18 songs, Gettin’ Old accomplishes being long, without feeling long. It’s just over an hour long, and honestly, there’s not a skip on it. I enjoyed every single track. This album sounds a lot different than his previous releases as well. Combs has clearly matured in both lyrical content and sound. This album is country! It’s not Alan Jackson or George Strait country, but it shouldn’t be. Combs is known for his high-energy music and concerts, but this album adds more banjo and steel guitar to that energy. This release will bring people who have strayed from radio country back into the fold, and appease those who never left. If this album was condensed to the 10 best songs, I have no doubt it would be remembered as one of the genre’s best ever. As released, it will be one of the best of 2023, and the best of Comb’s career so far. Being a fan of his, it makes me excited to see his music evolve further. Now, he can shake off the stigma of every song sounding the same, because it no longer does. I’m already anticipating what he’ll do next. I know one thing, I’ll be singing along with 80,000 other people at his Philadelphia show in July.
Let me know in the comments what you thought of the album. Which songs are your favorites? Which ones would you skip?
Thanks for reading!
-Trav