Luke Grimes has officially released his first full-length debut album, marking a significant milestone in his musical career. This album‘s journey has taken a somewhat unconventional path, a trend increasingly observed with streaming releases, with most of the songs featured on the album have been gradually unveiled over the past few years as singles.

Notably, seven of these tracks were initially released under the Pain Pills or Pew EP. With the addition of six new songs, Luke Grimes effectively continues the musical narrative established in Pain Pills or Pew. I’m treating this review as if it were Part 2 of Pain Pills or Pews, and will be including excerpts from original review which can be found here: Album Review: Luke Grimes’ ‘Pain Pills or Pews’ EP – RootsnRevelry.

New Songs and Lyrics

The album unmistakably maintains the sonic and thematic essence of Pain Pills or Pew, solidifying Grimes’ standing in the realm of country and roots music. In my previous review of Pain Pills or Pew, I sang praises applauding Grimes for his unexpected talent as a singer-songwriter. However, I must express that these six new songs, while commendable additions to Luke Grimes, do not necessarily enhance the already great body of work presented in Pain Pills or Pew.

The new tracks featured on Luke Grimes include:

• “Black Powder”
• “God and a Girl”
• “What Angels Do”
• “Wait for the Rain To Die Down”
• “South on 75”
• “Worst of Me”

While each of these new songs embodies the essence of solid country tunes, I find them somewhat lacking in depth, often delving into the clichéd tropes prevalent in modern country music—themes such as rain, lost love, and of course, God. For instance, Black Powder delivers an upbeat message about living life on the edge, but it falls short of conveying substantial depth. Similarly, both God and a Girl and What Angels Do adhere closely to their respective titles without venturing into more nuanced territory.

However, amidst these observations, tracks like South on 75 and Worst of Me shine brightly. I have always been a sucker for self-deprecating narratives of redemption, and Worst of Me serves as a perfect book-end for the album, encapsulating the essence of personal growth and introspection.

Final Thoughts

Luke Grimes fails to expand on what made Pain Pills or Pews so great

Luke Grimes delivers a solid collection of 13 tracks totaling 42 minutes in duration. Despite some initial reservations, this body of work remains impressive. I may have been too hard on Mr. Grimes, but my expectations were set high after the powerful opening of Pain Pills or Pews, especially with a team including producer Dave Cobb and co-writers Foy Vance and Brent Cobb. Not to beat the horse to death, but if you’re interested in my detailed review of the remaining songs, you can refer to my initial review of Pain Pills or Pews. (The 7 original songs that make up Luke Grimes)

Overall, it’s worth noting that the new additions to the album do not take away from anything, if only to offer us further insight into Grimes’ artistic direction. Therefore, I stand by my original grading.

Album Release: March 8,2024       Label: UMG Recordings, Inc

Favorite Tracks: Oh Ohio, Burn