This album was released on May 10^th, 2019 on Sumerian Records.

Shades of Blue is an album with music that you might hear when you walk into an American Eagle or a TJ MAXX. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not (unless it’s “Starlight” by Madonna. That song is ruined for me because of working in retail). The catchiness of this album is definitely at display, and Worsnop’s ability to write a hook is unparalleled on this project. Now, Shades of Blue is, for the most part, different from Worsnop’s last album, The Long Road Home, which lent itself to a large country influence and was more grandiose in nature than this project. This one leans more towards a pop genre with stripped-back instrumentals and a more subdued approach, while honing some of the country rock elements used on TLRH. Regardless of the criticism that Worsnop received from that foray into his career, or the backlash for his ungraceful fallout (and subsequent rise back) into Asking Alexandria, or the hate he received again when he took AA into a more alternative rock direction, he remains dedicated to creating something he’s passionate about, and it’s evident in the material.

Instrumentally, the album is mid-paced for a majority of the runtime, with some groovy riffs (“Little Did I Know”, “Keep On Lovin’”) and some softer, more vulnerable areas on display (“Tomorrow”, “I’ve Been Down”, “Tell Her I Said Hey”). Worsnop’s vocals, praised by many, are at a moderate range here; he doesn’t show off too much, save for some passionate parts in the third act of songs. The country instrumental influence isn’t completely erased away either; as mentioned earlier, the southern rock progression he built upon in TLRH is heard most of the songs, especially “Am I A Fool” and “Edge of Goodbye”, along with a signature vibrato sequence in the former that one can come to expect can only come from Worsnop. Songs on the second half on the album tend to blend together, but album closer “Ain’t Feeling Sorry” captures the energy that was spastic across the first half off the record.

Lyrically, Worsnop plays upon clichés that country artists (and most other genres) have sang about time and time again, the main focus of the album being love and the circumstances revolving the ever-conflicting emotion. “Little Did I Know” finds Worsnop helplessly falling for someone while not looking at the ramifications of that action, while “Tomorrow” talks about his plan to break up with his partner so that she can have someone better. It’s a tried-and-true concept that Worsnop is able to execute well.

As someone who has never been an avid fan of country rock music, I think that Worsnop makes Shades of Blue accessible enough for a casual listener to enjoy, while not shoving too much honky-tonk and country clichés to alienate someone on the fence about the genre. There are some weak parts in the album – the aforementioned second half drags a bit until the end, and the variety of the musical choice can be a little jarring on a song-to-song basis (an example being the heart-on-the-sleeve vulnerability of “Tomorrow” leading to an anthemic “Keep On Lovin’”) – but overall, the album is an enjoyable listen.

Rating: 7/10

Favorite Songs: “Little Did I Know”, “Am I A Fool”, “Heaven Is A Long Way Down”