Album Review – Hudson Westbrook (Self-Titled)

#550.3 (Texas Country) on the Country DDS.

With an immediately infectious Texas country sound that leans towards the traditional side, and songs that come straight from his lived experiences, Hudson Westbrook announces his presence in country music with an auspicious and ambitious push behind his debut self-titled album. This 7-song project immediately puts Westbrook near the top of traditional-leaning prospects as country music’s outlook for the future continues to trend positive.

If you have any reservations about declaring that the country music revolution is in full force, an assessment of Hudson Westbrook will sell you on the idea fast. A few years ago it was the cavalcade of nameless Nashville douchebags with seven #1 radio singles making us worry that actual country music had no future. Now it’s guys from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky you’d never heard of six months ago releasing songs with 20 million streams before they’ve even finished college, while radio play isn’t even in the picture.

Texas Tech’s Hudson Westbrook reminds you a lot of an early Parker McCollum: handsome, honest, squared away, and someone you expect to be singing buzzy, radio-centric tracks over 808-beats. You’re pleasantly surprised when instead you hear songs featuring fiddle and steel guitar, and writing that doesn’t look to pander to anyone, and instead speaks honestly about the joys and struggles of love and distance.

Originally from Stephenville, TX where the legacy of Tuff Heademen and Tarlton State’s rodeo team loom large, Hudson Westbrook sings a lot in his debut about traversing the Lone Star State in long-distance relationships. Geography plays a big role as it often does in Texas country and Red Dirt. But no matter where he’s singing about, it speaks to the sense of home, how absence makes the heart grow fonder, and how when you’re young, all your emotions come with a racing heart.

Hudson Westbrook doesn’t find a truly traditional sound on the EP as much as Hudson and his producers figure out how to ground the music in traditional country, and weave those influences into his music. It’s the infectious, sensible nature of his sound that makes it so promising. There’s a bit of a Turnpike Troubadours vibe in how the music is true to itself, true to the regional influences, but also casts a wide net of appeal.

Along with finding a smart balance between traditional and contemporary country sounds, there is a great use of rhythm and timing to help distinguish the tracks on the album. Brushes on snare set the perfect tempo on the opening track “Pray Your Name” and one of the early hits “5 to 9.” But it’s the intoxicating draw of the waltz beat on “House Again” that has drawn Hudson’s widest audience to date.

Hudson Westbrook is still getting his feet beneath him as a songwriter, and its fair to call some of his writing as “budding” as opposed to “commanding.” But even though many of the songs feature co-writers, they still feel true to Hudson. Westbrook’s instinct to take the inspirations for his songs from his everyday life as opposed to what he thinks an audience might want to hear is a smart one. This will be key to his success moving forward.

If Westbrook falls for the trap of songwriting by committee and radio play, it could pay off in the short-term like it did somewhat for Parker McCollum. Hudson certainly has the look for the commercial side of the country music world. Or like Zach Bryan, Westbrook could continue to sing straight from the heart, flubs and all, and embrace the sound that is native to him, and find an audience that will allow him to be true to himself, no matter how big it swells.

Either way, Hudson Westbrook is starting from a very promising point, gives you a tingle of anticipation about what it could portend for the future, while doing quite well in the present. Put him in your growing list beside Zach Top, Braxton Keith, Jake Worthington, and other younger performers finding surprising success with more classic sounds, and helping to set true country music on a promising trajectory.

7.9/10

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