American Young

Nashville duo American Young is comprised of singer, songwriter and producer Jon Stone and singer, songwriter, Kristy Osmunson (a founding member of Bombshell, in which she sang and played fiddle). Before recording together, the pair wrote hit songs for everyone from Kenny Chesney to Rascal Flatts to Blake Shelton and Lee Brice (the latter produced their first single, "Love Is War," which appeared on the television show The Bachelorette). This six-track EP is contemporary country that attempts to cross over to mainstream pop. The songs are well-crafted and recorded. Opening track "I Wasn't Gonna Drink Tonight," with Stone singing lead, contains looped drums, soaring, highly compressed electric guitars, fiddle, and cascading vocal harmonies. "Ain't Lookin' for Love" features .38 Special-esque guitar breaks, while the dance handclaps recall Hunter Hayes; the "whoa-oo-whoa" chant that introduces the chorus suggests the Lumineers. "God Sends a Train" melds shiny yet spare, classic-sounding pedal steel, acoustic guitars, and natural sounding drums. Its subject matter is gritty, in sharp contrast with Osmunson's dreamy, nocturnal lead vocals. The single was a wise choice as it blends both modern and classic neo-traditonalist elements. "Soldier's Wife," with its swelling strings in the crescendo underscored by enormous tom-toms, finds Osmunson rising above the mix; she can sing the hell out of a song. The final track is a cover of Garth Brooks' "The Thunder Rolls." It's been thoroughly re-arranged and re-visioned. Covering an iconic song like this is a gutsy move. The first offering from American Young signals that this is a band to watch for contemporary country fans. ~ Thom Jurek|