After the success of their criticism-filled single “Girl in a Country Song” calling out perpetrators of “bro-country,” brand new duo Maddie & Tae released their much-anticipated self-titled debut EP today.
While their first single hasn’t achieved the No. 1 status yet (although it deserves to), it landed among the top ten on the U.S. Country charts. Many young artists fall victim to the trends of country radio in order to propel them to success. The duo defied the trends and went so far as to call out offenders of them. “Girl in a Country Song” is still the only single released from the duo since July, but that’s about to change with the release of their four-song EP.
The first song is their current single, which draws attention to the not-so-discreet role of women in modern country songs. The lyrics are some of the most biting in country music, especially because they contain references to popular songs by Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, and Jason Aldean. The duo sings “We used to get a little respect/Now we’re lucky if we even get/To climb up in your truck, keep our mouths shut, and ride along/And be the girl in a country song.” Female listeners, regardless of genre preference, can no doubt identify with the lyrics. With an eye-opening music video, it’s no surprise how successful the duo’s first song has become.
The next song stays true to the duo’s unique style with “Sierra,” a song about the pitfalls of being a shallow girl, which shows the potential to be their next single. The lyrics show off how incredibly fierce the duo can be without uttering a single swear word. They dance around the thought of using them with “Life ain’t all tiaras/You’re gonna find out that karma’s a…” and “Big pain in the…as far as I can tell/Yours is adding up fat.” It’s clear one of the qualities that sets these girls apart is their relentless truth throughout every line.
The EP takes a turn with the next song “Fly,” meant to be the inspirational aspect of the album. The slower song provides the opportunity to show off their already impressive vocals. While it may seem like a stereotypical moment of inspiration essential to most every album, a closer listen to the lyrics proves otherwise. Rather than only highlighting the positive aspects, the song analyzes both good and bad, providing a pleasant balance of motivation without being overly sappy or cheesy. The EP concludes with “Your Side of Town,” which offers a return to the spunk that kicked off the album.
Maddie & Tae show an incredible amount of potential to thrive in country music. Their debut EP is filled with their unique style that incorporates traditional country roots with lyrics that pack an intense punch. This duo is just what country music needs to set many of the superstars straight and redefine the genre. Maddie & Tae have only recently graduated high school, but their music is some of the most mature we’ve seen this year. The duo’s music shows strong ties to superstars like the Dixie Chicks, and they’re still a household name today.
4/5