Review- Brent Cobb: Southern Star
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, musician, and now producer, Brent Cobb will release his anticipated new album, Southern Star, September 22 via Ol’ Buddy Records/Thirty Tigers. If floating down the Chattahoochee river surrounded by fireflies serving as miniature disco lights had a soundtrack, it would be called the Southern Star.
Produced by Brent Cobb (his first self-produced album) and recorded at Macon’s famed Capricorn Sound Studios, Southern Star is a love-letter to Cobb’s southern roots, filled with the sounds and stories of his home state of Georgia. Featuring local Georgia musicians, Cobb finds beauty in the small moments, as he explores seemingly simple themes with his signature southern electric sound and lyrical depth. Brent pulls no punches on this album as he launches his own assault to the penultimate and perhaps join cousin Dave with a Grammy of his own, putting the world on notice that he too can fly.
Photo by Jace Kartye
Southern Star is absolutely the righteous vibe you need in your life right now. It is ten delectable tracks of straight cool summer breeze, providing the perfect amount of relief from the turmoil, pressures and stresses of the world. I have been a fan of Brent Cobb for a long time, so long, in fact, the needle has almost worn through another copy of Shine On Rainy Day. Southern Star shines brightly enough to supplant your favorite Brent Cobb album or any other album that may be on your record player.
Brent Cobb’s unassuming southern drawl lures you into this wonderfully fantastic album. The production quality of the musical arrangements along with beautiful songwriting is what sets the hook while each and every song ratchets up your inner bliss. Pour yourself an ice-cold refreshing beverage, prop your feet up and just press play to escape and recharge your mind, heart and soul. Let the swirling delicious melodies flow effortlessly through your mind as your troubles fade away.
“Southern Star,” the title song off this album sets the mood and instantly injects just the right amount of zip to lift you off your feet. I just adore and revel in Brent Cobb’s inspiration for this song, "You know how when you’re growing up, you're told that if you ever get lost out there, look for the Northern Star to help find direction back home?" he asks. "Well, I'm from Georgia, so I always look for the Southern Star.” Following this southern star will lead you to another nine amazingly terrific songs and leave you wonderstruck.
If you aren’t in gear, swaying like a palm tree and absolutely feeling it when “Livin’ the Dream” hits your ears, then there might not be a cure for whatever ails you. The funky syncopation seemingly swoops in and sweeps you off your feet, then a feeling of elation presents itself. For me, not so much bobbing has occurred since I was a young kid fishing from a river bank with a bamboo cane pole. “So make conversation with the warm sunshine” and jump on in, the water’s fine. This song is an instant mood changer.
The harmonica makes its first of many appearances on this album during this track and delights all around. When played just right, it brings exactly the right atmosphere to a track and instantly makes me smile. Plenty of musical guilty pleasures are laced throughout this album and expertly orchestrated with no excess of any kind. Every note, strum or lyric on this record are right where they belong. Nothing is out of place and - dare I say - perfect in every regard.
The harmonica playing on “Devil Ain’t Done” sings new life into your being and has you questioning why the heck country music doesn’t have more of it. As cheesy as it may sound, I've got a fever and the only prescription is more harmonica!
“I guess I'll live forever cause only the good die young, heaven ain't ready and the devil ain’t done.” Crank this song up as loud as you can. It will have you swaying and grooving to the beat, living in the moment, and of course, put a smile on your face.
I decided to follow Brent Cobb on Instagram after I already had this review complete and I just had to add a couple more words. My wife already hates that my reviews are super long; I just keep typing 'til I run out of things to say!
Art imitates life is absolutely apropos for Cobb, who I can solidly say without a doubt, is the one person in the world that I would most love to have a beer with. What a genuine down to earth, kind-hearted guy who absolutely deserves our attention. He’s appreciative of every second, good or bad: he likes it all. Now, about those dang ol’ geese! Going to have to bring over a retriever, shotgun and of course a Miller Lite.
When “Country Came Back to Town” is a song “about the friends I've made along the nearly 20-year-old path it's taken for the independent country movement to grow into what it is today."
Many of the artists mentioned within this song are Mile 0 Fest alum. (This is an incredible, annual music festival in Key West, Florida, that I have been fortunate to have attended for the last five years. If you get a chance to attend, I highly recommend it). Some of the many shout outs contained within this song are: Nikki Lane, Ryan Bingham, Hayes Carll, Cody Canada, Chris and Morgane [Stapleton];
“Childers, Jinks, Price, and Whitey, Hood, Shook, Cook, Cauthen and Combs”;
“Isbell, Eady, Patton, Moonpies, Turnpike, Colter, and Crockett”;
Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Leroy Powell, Brandi Carlile and Sturgill Simpson.
After this review is finalized, I will be taking a short hiatus and only listening to musicians mentioned by Brent Cobb during this track as kind of a Thoreau-esque musical thought experiment to see if and how it may further acculturate my soul and lift it above the noise.
“Shade Tree” is the last song on the album and one of my favorites. I gauge what my favorite song on an album is by how many times I hit repeat. Every single time I play this song I am at peace. Not only are you sad that the album is almost over, but Brent Cobb’s ability to transport you into another dimension and make you feel like you actually are sitting under a tree is nothing short of insanely amazing. This song doesn't have a ton of fanfare, stripped down with only a whisper of instrumental assistance; this is extremely intoxicating for me.
Overall, I found this album to be just as beautiful and elegant as the azaleas that grow along the 13th hole at Augusta National. I can't wait for the rest of the world to become mesmerized as I am about the quality of this record from start to finish. You can certainly tell that Brent Cobb poured his heart and soul into this record, just press play and enjoy.
Find out more about Brent Cobb at the links below:
