Backslider (album)
| Backslider | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 29, 2021 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 53:14 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Oscar Charles | |||
| Elvie Shane chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Backslider | ||||
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Backslider is the debut studio album by American country music singer Elvie Shane. It was released through Wheelhouse on October 29, 2021, for digital download/streaming, and made available on CD on February 11, 2022.[1] It includes the singles "My Boy" and "County Roads".
Content[edit]
Shane co-wrote all of the album's 15 tracks, with the exception of "Kickin' Stones", which is a spoken word interlude by The Fletch.[2] It was preceded by the release of the EP County Roads, which featured six of the album's tracks.[3] Tenille Townes is featured on "Nothin' Lasts Forever", and Shane's mother guests on the closing track, "Miles", which he wrote as a tribute to his father, inspired by his career as a truck driver.[4] Oscar Charles produced the album.[4]
The album title was inspired by a conversation Shane had with a preacher friend of his who referred to him as a "backslider". He favorably embraced the terminology as just being "human", saying: "Love found, love lost. Mistakes made in the recklessness of youth, lessons learned from mistakes made".[5] A country music record, Backslider draws additional inspiration from southern rock, R&B, and gospel genres.[4] Topically, the album is described as "[weaving] between blessings and contradictions" and displaying "a messy honesty" inspired in equal parts by Shane's rebellious upbringing and his Christian faith.[6] Shane informally defined Backslider as having three distinct chapters inspired by his life: "The Dazed and Confused Year" (inspired by his reckless youth), "The Mandy Years" (dedicated to his wife and turning his life around), and "The Nashville Years" (as a tribute to his appreciation for country music).[6][4]
The first song written for the record was "My Boy", which went viral on social media in 2018, and led to Shane eventually signing a record deal with BBR Music Group in 2019.[4][7] It was released as Shane's debut single to country radio on September 21, 2020.[8] It became a number one hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart on the week dated October 23, 2021,[9] and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.[10] "Country Roads" was released as the album's second single on February 7, 2022, and it debuted (and peaked) at number 60 on the Country Airplay chart.[11]
Critical reception[edit]
Rolling Stone Australia named Backslider number 23 on their list of the 25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2021.[12] Lee Zimmerman of Holler gave the album a 7.5/10 ranking, calling it "a tenacious debut that paints a vivid picture of life in rural America and the blue-collar attitudes that define so many of those that reside within those realms".[13]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Will Run" |
| 3:25 |
| 2. | "Love, Cold Beer, Cheap Smoke" |
| 3:19 |
| 3. | "Sundays in the South" |
| 3:15 |
| 4. | "Sundress" |
| 3:30 |
| 5. | "County Roads" |
| 3:11 |
| 6. | "Rocket Science" |
| 4:25 |
| 7. | "My Kinda Trouble" |
| 2:37 |
| 8. | "Kickin' Stones" (featuring The Fletch) |
| 1:09 |
| 9. | "Saturday Night Me" |
| 4:02 |
| 10. | "My Boy" |
| 3:23 |
| 11. | "Heartbreaks & Headaches" |
| 3:24 |
| 12. | "Nothin' Lasts Forever" (featuring Tenille Townes) |
| 3:09 |
| 13. | "Keep on Strummin'" |
| 3:13 |
| 14. | "My Mississippi" |
| 4:01 |
| 15. | "Miles" (featuring Elvie Shane's Mama) |
| 3:54 |
| Total length: | 53:14 | ||
References[edit]
- ^ "Elvie Shane Official Merchandise". Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ Lorie Hollabaugh (October 1, 2021). "Elvie Shane's Full-Length Debut 'Backslider' On Tap For October". Music Row. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Elvie Shane Announces Debut Album, Backslider – Arriving October 29th". KBUL. October 4, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Steven Boero (October 29, 2021). "Elvie Shane's Debut Album 'Backslider' Offers An Honest Look At His Personal & Musical Journey [Interview]". Music Row. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Catherine Walthall (June 18, 2022). "Elvie Shane is Picking a Fight with the Status Quo on Latest Album". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Tricia Despres (November 3, 2021). "Elvie Shane Opens Up About His Life as a 'Backslider' : 'I'm Just Going to Own It'". People. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "BBR Music Group Signs Elvie Shane". BBR Music Group. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". All Access. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for October 23, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Elvie Shane Celebrates His First Platinum Single". Chesterman Communications. KSJBAM. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "The 25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2021". Rolling Stone Australia. December 14, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Lee Zimmerman (October 26, 2021). "Elvie Shane - Backslider - Album Review". Holler. Retrieved June 17, 2024.