While it may not be fair to say that Stoney LaRue has “gone Nashville” with his new album Onward, he has definitely made a decision to move further from his Red Dirt roots. Onward is Stoney’s first release since Us Time in 2015 that featured fan-requested LaRue favorites and some classic covers. 10 of the 13 songs on this new record are written, at least in part, by GRAMMY-winning producer, Gary Nicholson. The tracks were recorded in Nicholson’s Nashville studio.

The press release in advance of Onward quotes Stoney as saying, “You want to test your bones and see where they break. This record is wading through all the mud and storms to hopefully come out the other side with a wisdom that you didn’t have before. It’s a brighter way to look at things.”

The first hint that Stoney is looking to move “onward” from his Red Dirt history is the absence of any mention in pre-release press about “High Time,” the track featuring the late Brandon Jenkins that closes the record. The song was co-written by the two and appeared as a duet on Brandon’s Tail Lights in a Boomtown record released just weeks before his death in 2018. I would have to believe that in the past much would be made of the song showing up on this new release with some mention of the long history between the two Red Dirt icons. Instead, I had to independently confirm that it was, indeed, Jenkins featured on the track that is stuck at the tail end of the record. Maybe it’s there to remind us that LaRue hasn’t completely turned his back on the genre.

This is not to suggest that Onward is a bad record. It actually sounds very good and shows Stoney is willing to try songs from someone else to make his next step. As he says, again from the release, “You have to be willing to live it, that’s the only way to make it, and the way that I’ve made it. But I’m not haphazard in what I’m writing or singing anymore. I’m more focused and looking ahead to what I want to achieve.”

Onward features several straight-ahead country songs with catchy hooks and crisp production including, “Meet Me in the Middle,” a duet with Tanya Tucker (who is currently reviving her historic career with a new record), “I Can’t Help You Say Goodbye,” “Thought You’d Want to Know,” “Drowning in Moonlight,” and “Not One Moment.”

“You Oughta Know Me By Now” was co-written by Nicholson & Shawn Camp especially for LaRue. Stoney says in the advance release, “Gary told me ‘you’re getting a chance with this album to show people who you really are.’ It might be too blatant for some people, but if you’re that blatantly honest, that’s a direct path to someone’s spirit.” It sets the tone for the whole record and look for it to get some radio promotion.

“Message in a Bottle” is about as honky-tonk country as you’ll ever want and Stoney does a great job with it.

“Fallin’ and Flyin’” is the Nicholson song from the Jeff Bridges’ Crazy Heart movie soundtrack, but LaRue gives the tune a much better version here.

“Evil Angel” has the backing vocals of the McCrary Sisters featured much like the Oak Ridge Boys or the Jordanaires have been used in the past by other producers; a little gospel-influence for an otherwise sin-influenced lyric.

“Worry Be Gone” is a fun little dope-smoking tune penned by Gary Nicholson, Guy Clark, and Lee Roy Parnell. Stoney tries to have fun with it, but the addition of the cutesy “wah-wah” trumpet turns it more into a novelty song than the stoner statement on politics and religion that it wants to be.

“Let’s Chase Each Other Around the Room” was a favorite of Stoney’s grandparents according to the release and LaRue once again nails the Merle Haggard classic.

“Hill Country Boogaloo” was the first release from the record and was a good choice as it sounds the most like classic Stoney LaRue music fans have loved for years. Plenty of references to some of the great Texas music venues and funky rhythm keep this one moving along.

Onward is Stoney LaRue’s venture into the mainstream world of country music and he has done it with a top-notch producer and a batch of great-sounding quality songs.

Bundle packs: https://www.stoneylarue.com/store/

Pre-order on iTunes:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/onward/1475797097…

Pre-order on Google:
https://play.google.com/music/m/Bth5snplrhykklo254ket7sofoe

Pre-save on Spotify:
http://smarturl.it/stoney-onward