Sam Hunt released his debut studio album Montevallo Oct. 27 after his four-song EP sold 20,000 copies just three months prior.
Born in Cedartown, Georgia, Hunt achieved much of his early success in athletics, going on to fill the role of quarterback for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Instead of accepting an offer from the Kansas City Chiefs, he opted for the road perpetually travelled to Nashville. A publishing deal proved successful, as he wrote multiple singles for country superstars Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, and Keith Urban. Following in the footsteps of many rap and hip-hop artists, he released a free mixtape in 2013. After signing a deal with MCA Nashville, he released a four-song EP, which sold 8,000 copies in the first week. With the first single off his album already certified gold, Montevallo shows potential to follow in the same direction.
Despite growing up in the south, Hunt lacks the traditional country style, setting him apart from the usual top country artists. Without the ever-present hat and boots, he’s nearly unrecognizable within the genre. His voice is without the usual twang and sounds more like a rock or pop act.
During a recent interview with Rolling Stone, he was questioned about how he fits into the country genre.
The first song on Montevallo solidifies Hunt’s style. Rather than show off his vocals immediately, “Take Your Time” begins with him speaking quickly over the music, but not quite rapping. This style filters throughout many songs on the album. The speaking segues into singing when the chorus hits. It’s different without branching too far from traditional country concepts.
Next follows the artist’s biggest hit to date, “Leave the Night On,” a catchy song that has favored well among the country charts. He brings new meaning to the term with the next song, “House Party.” The assumption would be to groan and complain about how he’s just another artist singing about alcohol, but the song is about two people just having a good time at home, apparent through the lyrics “You ain’t gotta leave the house to have a good time/I’ma bring the good time home to you/We’ll have a house party, we don’t need nobody.”
Following is a return to the style that kicked off the album with “Break Up in a Small Town,” one of the most notable songs. While not all country fans will like the style of the song, it’s clear Hunt knows what he’s doing when it comes to the storytelling element. The only song that incorporates some country stereotypes is “Raised on It,” but it still sets itself apart.
Sam Hunt is not your traditional “country” star. He doesn’t look the part or write every song about beer and trucks. His songwriting is intricate and gives phrases a new meaning. His play on words is impressive and definitely causes him to stand out among other country artists. Montevallo may not please everyone in the country genre, but it should based on the storytelling Hunt works so hard to incorporate into every song. This album contains the perfect mix of emotions, balancing serious songs with catchy ones.