With summer now officially upon us, Frank Ray’s latest album will be the perfect soundtrack for living your best life. The former police officer has been making waves with his contemporary take on Latin-infused Country music and this self-titled album takes each aspect of that into the next steps of Ray’s journey.
Right from the first track ‘Streetlights’, you can hear the influences which have inspired Ray from his time growing up close to the New Mexico border. There is a very distinct country feel to the track with a chorus which is incredibly catchy however he incorporates Spanish vocals along with Latin guitars and even a brass section to give the track his signature flair. If you’re unsure if that’s going to be your thing, I have to say that you need to give it a go before deciding as it plays out much better than I describe! Frank does however fully go to his country roots fully with tracks like ‘Y’all Showed Up’ which has fast become my personal favourite song of the moment and ‘Somebody Else’s Whiskey’. For something a little slower that still packs a punch, Ray hits every note with ‘Late’ while ‘Girl At The Bar’ takes things even slower and has traditional country and pop influences. The album takes you from the heartfelt to the rocking in the blink of an eye and it’s done with such ease that you’ll be dancing around the room in a heartbeat. As you hit the last track of the album ‘Party with Strangers’, you’ll certainly be ready to party with its upbeat and catchy melodies.
Frank Ray has a unique ear and talent for blending styles of well-known music while still honouring the traditional. While the album predominantly still holds as a country feel, he’s not afraid to explore and give us something new and exciting. There is something for pretty much everyone within the 14 tracks of this album from pop to a little RnB to country and a little rock too. The highs and lows keep you guessing, never knowing what’s going to come next, and that is perhaps the genius of this album. Frank Ray is certainly something special and an artist to keep your eye on as he rises.
His self-titled debut label album Frank Ray – out Friday, July 7th via BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records.
Review: Emmie Ellis
(Frank Ray, Bobby Hamrick, Frank Rogers)
2. Country’d Look Good On You
(Derek George, Monty Criswell, Taylor Phillips, Cole Taylor)
3. Y’all Showed Up
(Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
4. Somebody Else’s Whiskey
(Derek George, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
5. Late
(Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
6. Wasting Your Words
(Monty Criswell, Bobby Hamrick, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
7. Out On Me
(Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
8. We Got Em
(Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
9. Prettiest Girl At The Bar
(Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
10. Spring Break
(Bobby Hamrick, Frank Ray)
11. Let It Drop
(Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
12. Back Before My Time
(Monty Criswell, Derek George, Frank Ray)
13. Learn Something New
(Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Frank Ray, Frank
14. Big Fan
(Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Frank Ray, Frank Rogers)
15. Party With Strangers
(Bobby Hamrick, James Slater, Jamie Paulin)