Cody Jinks Smashes Own Records, Disrupts Albums Charts with “Lifers”
Cody Jinks is disrupting the country music charts in a big way with his latest release Lifers by turning in career-best numbers that put him near the top of multiple album metrics, and causing folks on Music Row to ask, “Who is Cody Jinks?” With physical sales of over 22,000, and moving an additional 2,000 albums in streaming equivalents, it puts the Ft. Worth native at #2 on this week’s Billboard Country Albums chart, as well as #11 on the all-genre Billboard 200, and #1 on the Folk/Americana chart. In pure album sales (not counting streaming equivalents), Cody Jinks also comes in at #5 this week in all of music.
Cody’s previous best was with his 2016 album I’m Not The Devil, which sold 11,300 copies upon release, and ended up at #4 in country, and #39 all genre. The only thing keeping Cody out of the top spot in country this week is megastar Kenny Chesney’s new album Songs for the Saints, which moved some 77,000 total units in sales and streams to claim #1.
Lifers is the first record Cody Jinks released after signing to Rounder Records this spring. Bolstered by a dedicated fan base, the success of Lifers comes from the loyalty of Cody’s fans, some of which self-identify as “Flockers,” and who helped push the record to the top of the charts without any mainstream radio play or major promotion.
“When I became the President of Rounder in the Fall of 2017, I’d already been involved in Cody’s career for a couple years. I’m well aware of his immense talent, personal integrity, and work ethic.” says Rounder President John Strohm, “It’s been my top priority since I started my job last fall to sign Cody, and I could not be more thrilled for Rounder and Concord Music to have the opportunity to work with such an incredible, groundbreaking artist.”
The sales numbers put Cody Jinks in similar company with other independent artists who’ve shown mainstream impact on the country charts, including Blackberry Smoke, Aaron Watson, and Jason Isbell. It also comes as Cody Jinks prepares for his personally-curated event, Loud and Heavy Fest in Ft. Worth in less than two weeks.
August 6, 2018 @ 6:47 pm
Trigger, Is it still the year of Cody Jinks or are you underwhelmed?
August 6, 2018 @ 7:10 pm
If they hadn’t released this album on one of the five weeks a year a major male country star releases a new album too, “Lifers” would have gone #1 on the country charts. Cody Jinks DOUBLED his personal sales best in an environment where people are buying less and less albums. Most of Cody’s sales were physical, which means more money for the artist, and a greater commitment from the fans. So on the sales front, I would have to say this was a big success.
I think “Lifers” is a very solid album, and probably one of the better ones released in all of country music so far in 2018. But it’s hard to not acknowledge that some listeners were not impressed. I think a lot of this has to do with lofty expectations, and Cody having to compete against his own discography which is stellar. I personally don’t think it’s his greatest album, but I still think it’s great. I also think it’s a grower, and folks should give it time to sink in. If you can’t get behind a song like “Head Case,” then I don’t know what to tell you.
But with the mixed feelings about “Lifers” among some of the listening population, it may take some of the steam out of the “Year of Cody Jinks” prediction. But it’s also still early August. The reason going #2 on the country charts is significant is because it will have a lot of people who follow country music curious about this guy they’ve never heard of selling so many damn albums. Remember, some people were leery of Sturgill Simpson’s “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music” too.
Still cards to be dealt before we can crown Cody the King of 2018 in country, but the sales are certainly strong, and help keep his momentum flowing in a positive direction.
August 7, 2018 @ 10:11 am
Very interesting analysis. I am a die hard fan and was not flashed by this one as i had been with “Devil”.. but i will have to dig deeper into it for sure…
August 6, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
As much as I love seeing this news, and believe me I’ve seen in a bunch of times. First was Aaron Watson, then BBS, Sturgill, Stapleton, Isbell, Stapleton a few more times, John Prine, and now Cody Jinks.
Excuse me if I’ve forgotten anyone.
But does this really mean anything? I mean sure, the artist gets a nice check and probably gets to buy a new rug and a better dishwasher, but how much of an actual impact on music culture/pop culture as a whole has been made with any of these metrics?
The only true “success story” to play this game is Stapleton, and everyone else usually peaks, Sturgill had some great showing but he’s been quiet lately, Isbell never really broke the metaphorical glass ceiling into major mainstream relevance, and I would like to see some metrics as to the effects of these outsiders having such good releases and then not getting radio play and dropping back out of major industry consciousness.
Granted, Cody Jinks is a unique example in that he’s probably the single true poster child for alternative Country Music since many of the others are easily shuffled off into other genres or hybrids of genres, but can anyone explain why this happens so many times with so many people who then drop into relative obscurity with the exception of Chris Stapleton who seems to never drop out of the top 5 album sales?
August 6, 2018 @ 8:15 pm
I think that most of the guys on your list that are just now getting recognition are also at the point in life where they are done sacrificing family time for more touring and ticket sales. It took them so long to get the recognition that now they don’t have as much time to keep up the momentum.
August 6, 2018 @ 9:44 pm
I couldn’t disagree more. I think Sturgill and Isbell have had a huge impact. Sturgill was considered right beside Beyonce and Justin Bieber for Album of the Year at the Grammys, and sold out ampitheaters and is headlining festivals now. Jason Isbell’s impact has been massive as the spearhead of Americana, and he was also nominated for Album of the Year at the CMA Awards—another shattering of a glass ceiling. Aaron Watson had a Top 10 radio hit in 2017—something we didn’t think was possible previously for an independent artist. All of this was helped in part due to strong album sales and debuts that got the attention of the mainstream.
Also understand this is not 2015 anymore. Streaming is now counted in album sales, so the advantage to independent and older artists (since they sell more physical albums) has been diminished, and we’re still seeing strong numbers. 75% of the mainstream album releases this year will not cross the 24,000 album threshold. Cody Jinks is bigger than many mainstream artists. To put it into context. Brothers Osborne debuted with 22,000 in album sales+streaming equivalents—2,000 less than Cody Jinks, and for a band with a fairly strong fan base and radio play. Brothers Osborne are the two-time reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, and they just got beat by Cody Jinks.
Don’t tell me these numbers don’t matter.
August 7, 2018 @ 5:51 am
And then there’s the road. I just saw Isbell at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA. It’s amphitheatre with a capacity of 7,000. There were only about 5 tickets left in the seated section when I got mine a week or two before the show (thought I’d pass this time after seeing him 5 times but found I just couldn’t) but and the lawn looked pretty full. So, if he didn’t sell the place out, he came damn close.
Isbell is not of the Music Row world. He’s of the Americana/Roots world. I have been going to roots music shows in the DC area for close to 30 years and I think his rise has been nothing but astounding. And it seems to me it’s been a wholly organic rise. As a live draw, he has leap frogged over people that I love such as Patty Griffin, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and shit, even Gillian Welch, all while maintaining his artistic integrity.
August 7, 2018 @ 6:13 am
But ask anybody who watched the Grammy’s, and Sturgill Simpson is the odd man out. Nobody I know outside of serious music enthusiasts know him by name or by any songs. Critical acclaim is great but I feel like Sturgill Simpson is still largely a collective cultural inconsequence. The same goes for Jason Isbell. Stapleton is the big mover and shaker here, and I saw Sturgill live, I know what I’m talking about here, he’s just not the household name that Stapleton is, and he’s not the pop culture go-to guy for people to just party at a show like Jason Al-can’t-spell-and-hasn’t-read-a-book-since-high-school-get-over-my-affair-I-think-songwriterly-is-a-real-word-dean.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m not disagreeing with you.
I just don’t see the physical proof that Sturgill Simpson is having any breakthrough into the mainstream collective consciousness.
Also as an aside, maybe site trouble. when I type these comments the comment bubble turns gray and I have to reinsert my curser three or four times so it makes typing a bit more time consuming not sure if anyone else notices this.
August 7, 2018 @ 9:16 am
Sturgill has gotten much, much more well-known over the past 1.5 – 2 years, but not to the level that Stapleton has. I think most of the answer lies in the clout that Nashville and the pop country world still has, unfortunately. Stapleton’s CMA and other award show presence over multiple years and radio presence (to a lesser extent) was a huge deal as far as bringing in a new demographic of fans. Also, he is much more approachable to the general public. Straight ahead blues / southern rock, vs. Sturgill who’s latest album was a bit out there, and whos prior albums were too classical country to really peak the interest of the masses. Finally, I get the feeling that Stapleton is much, much more career / “let’s make some damn money” (nothing wrong with that) oriented than Sturgill, and his label and PR team have approached things from that angle…..at least to a greater extent than Sturgill’s.
August 7, 2018 @ 8:59 am
I agree with the premise of everything you just said, but Stape isn’t the only one. Pat Green was Texas Country guy, as well as Eli Young Band and Cody Johnson. Randy Rogers has also had some mainstream play. The point is the same though; Real country music has been dead for a while. We need more of these type artist in country music! Good stuff!
August 7, 2018 @ 11:50 am
Including Texas/Red Dirt artists in the conversation alongside the more Americana leaning guys definitely makes a difference. Red Dirt is big with people in their 20s and 30s well beyond just Texas and Oklahoma. I’ve seen people like Aaron Watson, Randy Rogers sell out theaters here in Nebraska. Even lesser known acts like Bart Crow have been known to pack so many people into bars that the fire marshal forced them to turn people away.
And from a radio standpoint, the last station I worked at got more requests for those types of artists than anything else by a wide margin.
August 6, 2018 @ 7:01 pm
I’ve spent the week listening to this album and I get why some hot takes weren’t immediately spouting AOTY . It’s a DEEP album with a number of songs that look directly in the mirror. While I do think resequencing would’ve corrected some negative Insta-takes, it just takes a few listens for this album to reveal just how good it is and the progress Cody’s songwriting has taken. Head Case, Somewhere Between, Holy Water, Stranger, 7th Floor & Whiskey are all worthy to compete with David, Vampires & No Surrender. Definitely album of the year stuff for me.
August 6, 2018 @ 7:30 pm
I have now listened to the album several times. I don’t like the first two tracks: “Holy Water” and “Must Be the Whiskey.” But if I pretend those tracks don’t exist and start with track #3, then it’s a brilliant album all the way to the end. Cody is one of my all-time favorite artists, but I really don’t like how the new album begins.
August 7, 2018 @ 3:28 am
No surrender?
August 7, 2018 @ 6:01 am
My favorite song from Bruce’s Born in the USA album. I’ guessing that’s not it, though.
August 7, 2018 @ 8:05 am
That’s what I thought, agreed.
August 7, 2018 @ 7:17 pm
Ha…I meant No Words
August 6, 2018 @ 8:08 pm
I personally think the album is amazing from start to finish! It is also my favorite Cody Jinks album!
August 6, 2018 @ 8:56 pm
Not a great album. Not even one of his better ones. His fanbase saved him on this one. I’ve been a fan and still am but I can’t pretend and say otherwise.
August 6, 2018 @ 9:31 pm
Album has grown into a real good listen..
August 6, 2018 @ 10:20 pm
excellent news and well deserved! Cody Jinks is a straight up badass dude. He kind of has that punk-rock spirit and connection to the underground that just keeps making him more and more popular. long-time fan. ????????????
August 6, 2018 @ 10:33 pm
Its a good album. The closer is superb but in the same way people were talking of Kacey Musgraves being album of the year, I do a similar double take with this. Its good but not great.
August 6, 2018 @ 11:41 pm
Still waiting on copy making its way over the Atlantic on the slow boat.Thought that signing for a “big” label might have meant a European distribution but no.On the plus side I guess I’ve contrabuted to its US sales. Now if I could only hear the fkn thing
August 7, 2018 @ 4:24 am
Lifers slowly grew on me little by little, but then hit a boiling point and it’s lost its appeal to me since then. I haven’t so much as put it on since a few days after it came out.
August 7, 2018 @ 6:01 am
While it hasn’t made as much of an impression on me as his previous album, it’s still a solid effort and very deserving of this success. Congrats, Cody.
August 7, 2018 @ 6:58 am
I always said Cody Jinks brings it all in every song he sings. All the different styles! Jinks has United so many different types of music lovers it’s truly amazing to see this happening! Have been listening to Jinks for 6 years. Thank you Jinks ????????????????????????????????????♂️ ????
August 7, 2018 @ 8:06 am
Great news. Glad he is making a mark on the industry as a whole, and it couldn’t happen to a better guy from all accounts. As far as album of the year talk goes, I don’t think Lifers is going to end the year in the top 5 -10 on any credible country list, partially because there have been and will be some great country albums coming out this year, and partially because Lifers misses the mark on several levels.
August 7, 2018 @ 8:21 am
Lifers is solid, but it’s boring. His album arc reminds me of Stableton’s. People can say what they want about Sturgill leaving country but at least I’m getting his creative best every record. I’ve listened to Lifers a couple of times and if I’m going to listen to the same song over and over I’d rather listen to the old same songs. That all having been said, I’m glad to see him having some real success – it’s a good thing all around.
August 7, 2018 @ 8:43 am
Glad about this. Hasn’t had quite the popularity I hoped for but it’s a great album. I still can’t comprehend why it hasn’t been more well received by his own fan base but I guess opinions differ, because I loved it.
August 7, 2018 @ 8:43 am
This really isn’t just about Lifers per se. It’s about new people discovering Cody as he rocks the mainstream boat. They may or may not love or even like this album but if there’s a few songs they hear wherever that grab them then maybe they’ll go back and find all the other incredible songs. Like Trigger says he’s competing with his own catalog of songs. You guys think it’s easy to write 10 new great songs when you’ve already written 30 or 40? All the songwriters out there know how hard that is. Maybe he peaked with Devil? Maybe this is that interlude album before another amazing one. I like the album a lot, I don’t love it yet but I may in the future. The point is we should all stand united in backing Cody not divided.
August 7, 2018 @ 11:04 am
If Lifers had been his 3rd album and Less Wise dropped last week, Kenny would have had his hands full. I’m not taking anything away from Lifers. It’s a great album. I like it better than I’m Not the Devil, but it lacks the venom of his earlier work. We age, and it happens. I’m happy for his success. He’s a great guy and he makes fantastic music!
August 7, 2018 @ 5:53 pm
I like Lifers fine. Jason Eady’s new one, out Friday, available now on NPR’s First Listen, is a knockout!
August 7, 2018 @ 8:26 pm
Agreed. That’s the album of the year so far in mind. Stellar production and really cool how they recorded it. On a different level than Lifers in any category.
August 7, 2018 @ 8:35 pm
Gave Lifers another spin today in my truck (first time listening to it in there). Am I the only one noticing the nearly unusable production, without big tweaks to the eq? Literally had to roll the bass off about 40% from my usual settings for country in my truck, or else it sounds completely muddy and way too loose. That and the harshness of the drums really stand out on this one. I have no idea what parameters they were mixing to or trying to accomplish, but I haven’t had this big of an issue with an album’s production in I can’t remember how long…and that’s listening to the same higher end system for the past several years. Maybe they just mixed it for standard headphones / computer speakers….
August 8, 2018 @ 6:18 am
I agree with you, and highlighted that on the original album review thread (particularly the bass). Many people commented on the harshness of various instruments. It doesn’t ruin the album for me as I still like the music, but it’s surprising that it wasn’t recorded & mixed better. Not the Devil and Adobe sound way better than the Lifers to me.
August 8, 2018 @ 8:27 am
I frankly don’t hear any production issues. But just like the folks complaining that this record has no gravitas, if enough people are perceiving the same thing is wrong, it’s worth regarding as a valid concern.
August 18, 2018 @ 5:16 pm
I wanted to wait for a few listens before commenting. I have to agree that the production has a lot of low end issues. The bass and kick drum are way too high in the mix, overbearing. The result for me is that the album appears to lack dynamics and the songs seem rushed. I am definitely a Cody fan and I wish him all the success in the world; he is the kind of guy with the kind of band I want to see succeed. But honestly, not sarcastically, the production sounds to me like the engineers/producers in the control room were just way too high and maybe “feeling it” a bit too much to put all that bass and kick drum into the mix.
August 8, 2018 @ 9:06 am
I hate the drum work in Somewhere Between I Love You and I’m Leaving …. especially in my earbuds… I have to skip it when it comes on. It sounds wet.
August 8, 2018 @ 9:24 am
Lifer’s is #1 this morning of the Billboard Americana/Folk chart. I don’t think Trig mentioned that so that’s a win! I love the way everybody has an opinion on the production/sound of the album. The funny thing is ALL of us listen to it on many different systems that are EQ’ed to our own taste. It sounds one way in my iPod and 1 way on my office stereo system and even different in my car system. All (lossless uncompressed WAV files by the way). I agree with Scott, Devil and Adobe sound better but Lifer’s isn’t horrible or unlistenable by any means just a little different. Maybe that’s what they were going for?
August 8, 2018 @ 12:04 pm
Count me as a new Cody Jinks fan, and a relatively new country music fan at that (had my feet in the water for a few years with Sturgill Simpson, whom I’ve seen perform excellently live several times, and Stapleton, of course – yeah, I’m that guy).
I had the pre-release singles on repeat this past month so I was eagerly anticipating the full Lifers release. Almost a week in and I have to say I’m digging the album a lot. Had it on loud on my home stereo system last night while putting back some beers, and the album kicks hard.
I’ve read gripes here about the production, but I interpret it as a plus. Everything is rich, loud, and punchy, especially that kick/snare. I’m a longtime hard rock, metal, and electronic music guy so that scratches a major itch for me. I love Cody’s baritone too, obviously. Very clean and natural, with no embellishments or straining. I could listen to him sing the phone book.
I expect Lifers to be in my top ten albums of the year, for sure. Other favorites so far have been Brent Cobb’s Providence Canyon, Mike and the Moonpies’ Steak Night At The Prairie Rose, and Brothers Osborne’s Port Saint Joe (yeah it leans pop, but I think it’s a fun album, and they’re from about thirty miles east of DC where I live, which is not a big country music hub). Still looking forward to Shooter’s (can I say that here?), Dillon Carmichael’s, and Whitey Morgan’s forthcoming albums. It’s looking like a great year for country music.
August 8, 2018 @ 1:26 pm
Great post!
Check out Jason Eady’s new album on Friday the 10th and add it to the cornucopia of great music that is 2018. 100% agree on Mike and the Moonpies also.
And Lifers.
August 8, 2018 @ 2:00 pm
Thanks, KGD. Yes, been listening to these new Jason Eady singles and am looking forward to the full album this Friday, too!
August 8, 2018 @ 5:18 pm
Had no idea Eady had a new album coming. Thanks for the heads up.
August 8, 2018 @ 8:23 pm
You can listen to the full album already on NPR First Listen.
August 8, 2018 @ 1:28 pm
I love it!
Colorado is my favorite.
August 8, 2018 @ 6:11 pm
Been listening to the new one every day. Love it! Happy for Cody.
August 9, 2018 @ 1:20 pm
Whoever mentioned Jason Eady on this thread. I owe you a big thanks- it’s a new find for me and I’m thoroughly enjoying it!
August 9, 2018 @ 2:27 pm
“………without any mainstream radio play or major promotion.” Amazing for an Independent Artist to be at the (near) top of the entire album chart. Exciting for what this means for all those many other Independent Artists out there, who are probably very aware of this. So good to see someone making Real Music today, with emphasis on songwriting and Real instruments, CRUSH the competition like this.