SINGLE REVIEW: Erik Smallwood-Water in my Hometown
- Sep 9, 2015
- 2 min read
Perusing the playlist that occupies my MP3 player, country staples; George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Tim McGraw and newcomers like Chris Stapleton, Montgomery Gentry, Jason Aldean and many others, occupy the space. Those of us, who grew up listening to country music, listen to it not as much with our ears, as with our heart and soul. Now that sounds a little high handed, I realize; but country music, at its best, is storytelling from the heart. Simple, relatable, something you can sing along to, tap your foot to and get lost in, even for a moment. A lot of the newer country stylings, take liberty with the genre, and along the way, the stories get muddled, even lost. Context is everything and country music is a genre that has seen a complete collapse of any type of defining boundaries. For those of us who mourn that loss, even yearn for traditional country, Alabama born, Erik Smallwood, is just what the doctor ordered.
In his upcoming single, Water in My Hometown, Erik Smallwood has vowed to reach beyond the depths of bro-country drinking and sex romps to include more ‘grown up’ material, and in this he succeeds. Water in My Hometown, is a universal cut, that twangs as hard as it bangs; a clever reflection and homage to, not only his hometown, but that southern sound simply, known as Muscle Shoals.
Maybe it’s the water in my hometown/Something in the river that helps us bring the house down/Maybe it’s the whiskey/Maybe it’s the sweet tea/Maybe it’s the way my mamma raised/ Oh how sweet the sound/Maybe it’s the water in my hometown.
Smallwood’s ten year career, has taken him across the country, had him share the stage with the likes of Joe Diffie, Shooter Jennings and many others. He’s received many accolades including Up and Coming Magazine’s Best Entertainer.
Water in My Hometown feels like a deep south version of John Mellencamp backed by The Black Crowes; a swagger and stomp, that won’t let you stop listening. The single—(and hopefully the full album) is anchored by two things; convincing lyrics and Smallwood’s inviting vocal. This track seamlessly blends both.
Smallwood is unique in today’s world of country. You can’t compare him to others, and you shouldn’t. He’s in a class by himself, proving that you can do things your own way and do it successfully.
To connect with Erik: www.eriksmallwood.com
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