Gary Allan Returns with “Waste of a Whiskey Drink”
Gary Allan attempting to relaunch his career on radio has now morphed from a storyline into a bonafide saga. His latest attempt is the song “Waste of a Whiskey Drink” written by Josh Kear, Michael Hardy, and Mark Holman, and has been released to the public and radio from a still unnamed album fans have been waiting some five years for.
A cautionary tale about spending your hard earned cash on a shot for that cute little lady at the end of the bar, it recounts in rewind how all it will lead to is headache and heartbreak when she leaves you in six months and ruins your life. Consider it the opposite of songs that compel you into taking a chance and remind you that you can never win if you don’t play the game.
“Waste of a Whiskey Drink” is an interesting twist on a drinking song for sure, but even though Gary and the writers seem to want you to think that it’s about a specific girl who is trouble, the song seems to compel you to just sit and drink alone in general, and never try your hand at love. We’ve also received plenty of “whiskey” songs from 2nd tier mainstream country stars lately, which seems to be the way you can still claim some country cred, while still delivering a buzzword radio listeners will identify with. Slipping in a reference to “drunk texting” also helps keep this song relevant to Millennials, even if it will make some older fans wince.
Typical for Gary Allan, the song takes a distinctly rock approach to country, with little twang or roots sticking out from the production. But compared to when Allan tried his hand at R&B country similar to Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett with “Hangover Tonight” in 2015, it’s a step in the right direction. Gary Allan was recently quoted as saying he was happy to see country swing back around to a 90’s trend recently with artists like Luke Combs, and that he’s excited to get back into that action. “Waste of a Whiskey Drink” isn’t exactly that, but it’s much closer, with an interesting bass line and sensible production for radio.
But the more global question is why Gary Allan continues trying to probe radio with singles, which hasn’t gone well for him. 2015’s “Hangover Tonight” settled at #41, 2016’s “Do You Wish It Was Me” stalled at #57, and 2017’s “Mess Me Up” ended at #45. Gary Allan has always been hit and miss with country radio, though he pulled off four #1’s and eleven Top 10’s total during his heyday. With an artist like Gary Allan, it’s going to be less about the individual song, and more about the effort by the label to promote it. That’s the name of the game in 2020.
But Gary Allan is the perfect artist to mature beyond trying for the next radio hit and to just start doing what he wants. With a solid fan base and strong tour history, the 52-year-old is well-established, and could do just as much injury as good trying to chase trends. Luckily with “Waste of a Whiskey Drink,” it finds both Gary Allan and country trending back towards where they belong, even if it still leaves some to be desired.
August 6, 2020 @ 7:52 am
I just hope this means we finally get a new album from Gary soon. While he’s certainly had some missteps these last few years he’s consistently been one of my favorite artists and the one I’ve seen live the most.
August 6, 2020 @ 8:12 am
I like a lot of Gary Allan’s music, this new song included. I think it’s interesting that this song was chosen for a single. I mean, let’s face it, this song sounds bitter. And right now, with “boyfriend country” and idolizing women in songs being the big trend now, a good down-and-out, hopeless song like this should stand out.
Just hope it doesn’t become the new trend though. Bitterness is good every now and then, but being bitter all the time isn’t a good look.
August 6, 2020 @ 8:19 am
It’s not my favorite song, but I love Gary! Everytime I’ve caught him live, he always played every song you know & didnt change up the production. He always seemed genuinely interacting with fans, too!
August 6, 2020 @ 8:24 am
damn damn damn …..I REALLY want to like this . ok …I do like it ……well …no . I like Gary Allan .
I like the groove , his vocals , the ” sensible ” production ( you can hear EVERYTHING ….no sci-fi sonics..) and I LOVE the way the lyrics breathe . …..ah the golden days of songwriting when lyrics stood a chance and meant something and weren’t just chained together to form a ‘beat’ .
so , since someone brought up lyrics ( …guess that was me ) , as well-crafted as these are ,IMO, the narrative isn’t really working . there’s no solid hook ..or irony ..or ‘proof ‘ that THIS is how the story will undeniably unfold for YOU or ME given the same circumstance …and man … the results of buying one drink for someone you are attracted to are so incredibly overblown it kind of works AGAINST itself because of that implausibility factor.
so eleven thumbs up for me cuz its Gary Allan .
6 thumbs up cuz maybe I’m wishing it was a different ‘sensibly-produced’ song .
August 6, 2020 @ 8:25 am
Not his best but a great song in my opinion, been waiting for years to hear something new from him. Hope a new album is in the works finally.
August 6, 2020 @ 11:43 am
Garys always rode the line between rock. Pop and country. Hes no purist by any means. I would describe his music as country rock with a bit of twang, thanks to his voice which does come across as authentic. His strength in the past has been picking strong songs with great hooks and melody. Life Ain’t Always Beautiful was a monster in pop and country and stands as his finest IMO. Watching Airplanes, Songs About Rain were undeniably catchy. My favorites from his catalog though are Smoke Rings in The Dark and I Just Got Back From Hell, which resonated heavily with me for so many reasons. When Gary’s at his best he tugs at your heart, which is the mark of greatness in my book.
That said, this song is fine, but nowhere near his best.
August 6, 2020 @ 8:27 am
Damn these women for climbing in cars and messing up sheets! I mean, not the sheets!!!!!
That said, this sounds decent for a manufactured song full of buzz words meant to relate to certain demographics so that it can try to place well on the charts.
August 6, 2020 @ 10:42 am
Manufactured song? This sounds like high art compared to Eric Church’s new song, “Bad Mother Trucker.” Talk about manufactured, paint by numbers drivel.
August 6, 2020 @ 12:46 pm
Hey the song manufacturing industry is more than big enough for the both of em. And besides, EC’s song is gaining him lots of attention for its “female empowerment” while this guy is attacking women for messing up his sheets. Owned!
August 7, 2020 @ 11:31 am
County music is full of puns, which I like, but some puns are more equal than others. “Bad Mother Trucker” ain’t one. Cheap stuff, Eric.
August 6, 2020 @ 9:03 pm
I think the point of opening with that bit about climbing in the car and messing up the sheets is to say that’ll just be tip of the iceberg.
August 6, 2020 @ 10:20 am
“…it’s going to be less about the individual song, and more about the effort by the label to promote it. That’s the name of the game in 2020.”
That’s how songs can spend 60+ weeks in a slow climb up the charts, then jump from 8-1 in one week (or 6-1, for another recent example) and then as soon as the chart gets published, the song drops off again.
I miss the days where songs got played on the radio based upon the quality of the song, and made their way up and down the charts in 20 weeks. Popular artists with worthy songs could have 2 or even 3 hit singles in the same year, and bad songs didn’t get airplay in the first place.
August 6, 2020 @ 10:25 am
I love all of Gary Allan’s music!!!even his weakest songs are better than most of the stuff we here on the radio these days.I don’t want him to change his music just to please radio execs,especially the same radio exec’s that are responsible for the music on country radio today.Keep doing your own thing Gary,and plz give us a new album!
August 6, 2020 @ 10:40 am
“But the more global question is why Gary Allan continues trying to probe radio with singles..”
My guess would be to keep his record deal. Once that’s gone, I’m sure we’ll see Allan do what he does best, tour, tour, tour and maybe record the kind of album he’s always wanted to make.
August 6, 2020 @ 12:08 pm
“Waste Of A Whiskey Drink” is already on my playlist.
Big Gary Allan fan…but i don’t have high hopes for the track reaching the higher regions of the charts.
August 6, 2020 @ 12:31 pm
I think this is definitely country, albeit more nineties country than today (which is actually a good thing). I don’t hate it; could listen to it again. And I think it does have a solid hook.
August 6, 2020 @ 1:09 pm
Gary Allan is one of those favorites I always wait for new music from. “Hangover Tonight” was bad, but “Do You Wish It Was Me” wasn’t overly terrible, even if Allan is capable of better.
I do like the song structure here. The song isn’t Allan at his best, but I do agree that this one is a step back in the right direction. The thing with Allan is that even when he had a big hit, it was rarely followed up with a big hit. His radio success has been sporadic, so he really should just go the route of staying true to his self and just let the radio success come if and when it may.
August 6, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
Sure, i like it BUT, there are lyrical problems. First, who says “whiskey drink”? Its a whiskey, or a shot or whiskey and dry.
2nd, dude, I’m not going to give her my heart, probably not even going to give her my real name.
Also, “get in your car?”. Just who is going to drive after shooting whiskey?
I like “mess up your sheets” it’s a simple signifier of the positive side of this.
Still, keeping it a bit more real. Better than a love song
August 6, 2020 @ 4:17 pm
I say whiskey drink all the time, as do a lot of people I know, idk maybe it’s just me
August 6, 2020 @ 5:24 pm
He drinks a whiskey drink. He drinks a vodka drink. He drinks a lager drink. He drinks a cider drink…
August 6, 2020 @ 9:17 pm
I can see asking the barmaid to “Make me a whiskey drink. Surprise me.” If I was a whiskey fan, that is.
“Lager drink” just sounds wrong, though. Unless it’s spoken by a slightly drunken girl who’s uncertain of what “lager” means. 😉
August 6, 2020 @ 10:05 pm
He sings that remind him of the good times…. he sings the songs that remind him of the better times….
August 7, 2020 @ 8:18 am
Gary Allan was knocked down, but could this be him getting back up again?
August 8, 2020 @ 5:26 pm
LMAO!!! You took the thoughts right out of my head!!! ????
August 6, 2020 @ 2:28 pm
His cadence immediately gave me Teenage Dirtbag vibes. Also does no one in the US drink rum, vodka, or scotch?
August 6, 2020 @ 5:20 pm
Her name is Noelle, and I took a whiskey drink, now I feel like hell…
August 7, 2020 @ 5:18 pm
Bourbon was born and bred here, like the Morgan horse.
August 6, 2020 @ 3:05 pm
Had a Knob Creek whiskey sour, in the pool, in Nashville, on Sunday.
Might have had a vodka & tonic & fresh lime juice on Saturday
August 6, 2020 @ 5:17 pm
And a glass of red, at home, on the porch, in a chair, on Wednesday?
August 6, 2020 @ 5:51 pm
Actually, no, doggone it.
Nothing since Sunday.
Heading to INDY tomorrow for the night. Taking Honeybaked ham and cheeses (we ate all the Honeybaked smoked turkey)
Somebody better be putting a drink in my hand about the time i pull in tomorrow.
(Just sayin’)
August 6, 2020 @ 8:16 pm
Gary Allan is probably the best artist when it comes to mixing gritty 90s-style alt rock with soulful country music.
However, this song is a bit on the boring side melodically compared to much of his past work.
August 7, 2020 @ 10:31 am
Kip Moore does a solid job of that, too
August 6, 2020 @ 8:51 pm
Hmm. Allan’s first album came charging out of the chute like a bull hellbent on tossing Pop off into the dust, and stirring its corpse with his horns for good measure. This ain’t that.
The opening is a little unsteady, but I like how it unfolds. And maybe the unsteady beginning is because the narrator isn’t far enough into his cups yet. Anyways, he keeps adding details, which helps keep the story interesting. After the second time through the chorus I thought he was running out of gas, but the bridge spills more details, capped with the third telling of the chorus relating that she wasn’t just flirting, but sleeping with his friends. Nice buildup, I think. Not sure whether the other guy’s interest in the gal is the trigger for the telling of the tale of woe, or if the gal was the very woman the narrator was involved with.
The song reminded me of Eric Church’s “Hell on the Heart”, which may be my favorite of his. Church’s song may have some prettier turns of phrases, but I think this one from Allan has a more interesting buildup.
I’d be happy enough to hear this in the mix while shopping Tractor Supply, and will check out the album if it happens.
August 7, 2020 @ 8:08 am
This song sound like it is from the mid to late 2000’s it sounds out of date with too much checklist stuff
August 7, 2020 @ 11:29 am
I’d be the word “drink” is there for rhythm not sense. Speaking of rhythm and sense, I’m thinking this whole song might work better as a lazy shuffle.
Band sounds good. Bukovac on guitar? I like and believe this line: “you’ll never taste Jack again without her on your mind.”
Been there. Cue the pedal steel.
August 8, 2020 @ 6:27 am
Hardy been getting a lot of cuts lately and I can hear his songwriting wording and verbiage in a lot of those songs
August 8, 2020 @ 10:31 am
Waste of a Whiskey Drink pales in comparison to Tough Goobye, IMO. But I still like it. So ready for a new album. Back in the day, Gary Allan was one of the few country artists I had not seen perform live. Here’s hoping I can one of these days. Got the time to travel now. BOO COVID.
August 8, 2020 @ 10:59 am
I love Gary Allan. I am glad that his song didn’t offend me. It’s really his voice that pushes the song ahead. And I agree with the review’s idea that he should make the music he wants.
August 11, 2020 @ 9:25 pm
Gary Allan’s voice is two standard deviations to the right, and that is a good thing. He sounds different, and anything he puts out there gets a listen from me.
While this song SOUNDS similar to many others, lyrically I think it stands out a bit. Just enough of a twist of a story to get your attention to give it a further dive. And when you do, it’s not bad. And it kinda pisses you off with the realism. If this were 30 years ago, and some skank girlfriend “sleeps with your friends”, well, what a b*tch and what a set of a-hole friends that aren’t your friends anymore. It makes me realize that kids today look at it differently… oh, you slept with her? Ugh, that hurts. Ok dude, wanna go get a coffee? Different world, glad I don’t have to grow up in it.
Call it 90’s, or call it a Gary Allan special, or whatever, it sounds pretty good to me overall as a composition and as a song, and it’s on a couple of my playlists.
A good and fair review, Trig.
August 13, 2020 @ 4:53 pm
Loving Gary Allan new song! I can’t get enough listening to it. When I first heard Gary new song it immediately became one of my favorite songs. I hope all of Gary fan is streaming it to the max. We need to help Gary to get his new song waste of a whiskey drink to the top of chart . So we can have new album. Love every songs that Gary Allan puts out there.