Luke Combs 'Growin' Up' Album Review

Luke Combs proves once again he is the reigning king of country with his new album Growin' Up. His third album seems to have everything you would expect from Combs, and more than originally thought possible.

Combs is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, and a touring machine. For a man from the mountains of North Carolina, it seems like he has reached the pinnacle of success. Combs is known for his down-to-earth persona just as much as the songs he writes. As mentioned in his most recent No. 1 "Doin' This," Combs is fueled by the passion he has for music. With this new record, Combs demonstrates his growth and determination to make music that comes from his heart.

If there was ever an album created for a live audience, Growin' Up might be it. "Any Given Friday Night" will rock and setlist and is the definition of a country party song. "Ain't Far From It" has a very similar feel with more 90's country element. He sings,"Where 20 bucks buys a guitar strumming / Paychecks turn to cold beer buzzing / All that leads to late night loving / We ain't dead yet / But we ain't far from it."

The collaboration with Miranda Lambert is sure to become a fan favorite. "Outrunnin' Your Memory" adds to the vulnerability found on this record. Combs' and Lambert's voices together feel like a match made in musical heaven. "Outrunnin' your memory is like outrunnin' the wind / I can't get where i'm going if i can't leave where you've been." Track "Call Me" also tells the tale of the messiness that comes from heartbreak. There is real talent in a singer that can convince fans they are singing from such a low place when they are happily married.

"Middle Of Somewhere," which is where the tour name comes from, feels the most like traditional Combs. He sings about the simplicities of small town life which will be another anthem for his fan base with lines, "Just remember when you're driving through nowhere / To us / That's the middle of somewhere."

The album concludes with "Going, Going, Gone." It's the perfect end to a project aimed at the theme of Growin' up, as it's about accepting and moving on.

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