Ashley Gearing has been around the country music industry for 12 years now, and she's only 24 years old. In 2003, at 11 years old, she released "Can You Hear Me When I Talk to You?". It peaked at No. 36 on the country charts and Gearing broke a record, being the youngest solo artist to enter the country charts, previously held by Brenda Lee. From then to now, she released an album titled Maybe It's Time with Squeeze Records in 2006, and six singles with Curb Records, "Train Track" off of this EP being her latest one.
The lead single, "Train Track" set such a good tone for the EP. Many lead singles are chosen for radio-appeal, because they have the hippest pop beats, or a rap verse, because that is what fans are eating up right now. "Friendzone" by Danielle Bradbery is a perfect example of that. But this song has radio appeal, but also is a high quality song, which is quite hard to find. "Train Track" is a country pop masterpiece, but also a girl power song, about not letting yourself be trampled over by a guy, because you are worth so much more than that. "Won't be the penny on your train track," is the key line of the song, and really is an anthem for the passive, who need to stand up for themselves. Similar in topic to her most recent single release, "Boomerang," but this song is a better one that the 2014 release. Gearing is confident and empowering without being cocky, and will make so many people buy her EP and music if this song gets big, which is should.
The middle of the EP brings more country pop tracks, "Crybaby" and "Your Smile." "Crybaby" is a hit-in-the-making. The chorus is masterful, with the change from Gearing singing low and soft, "I ain't gonna cry baby / cause you said goodbye baby..." and then her belting out "But baby I ain't gonna cry." The change makes her belting sound even more impressive than it usually does. Placed right after "Train Track" in the tracklist, "Electric" is the slight oddball in this collection. This song is rockier than anything on the EP, almost pure country rock. It sounds a little more Kristen Kelly than Carrie Underwood, and is a definite change of pace. It still is a solid offering, but doesn't match up to the heights of "Train Track" and "Crybaby."
The middle of the EP brings more country pop tracks, "Crybaby" and "Your Smile." "Crybaby" is a hit-in-the-making. The chorus is masterful, with the change from Gearing singing low and soft, "I ain't gonna cry baby / cause you said goodbye baby..." and then her belting out "But baby I ain't gonna cry." The change makes her belting sound even more impressive than it usually does. Placed right after "Train Track" in the tracklist, "Electric" is the slight oddball in this collection. This song is rockier than anything on the EP, almost pure country rock. It sounds a little more Kristen Kelly than Carrie Underwood, and is a definite change of pace. It still is a solid offering, but doesn't match up to the heights of "Train Track" and "Crybaby."
Gearing puts off a 'tough girl' persona the whole EP, especially with songs like "Train Track" and "Crybaby," but towards the end of the EP, Gearing shows her softer side and more vulnerable side with "Love Can Go To Hell" and "Human." The former track is the only ballad on the EP, and a brilliant one at that. It doesn't lose all of Gearing's grit, because that is part of what makes her an unique, amazing artist. But it does slow the collection down a bit, and shows that Gearing can sing ballads just as well as she sings uptempo tracks. "Human" is one that shows all her flaws. The song name 'Human' has been greatly overdone recently, but Gearing makes this one super personal and unique. "It's alright to be human" is the hook, rather than "I'm only human" from the Christina Perri hit. It is a carefree yet honest song that closes the EP on a high note.
It has been a long road for Ashley Gearing. She's been working since she was eleven years old, and it has continued to pay off for her. She is now signed with Curb Records and this is her first EP release with them, hopefully to lead up to a full length album sometime in the future. Her talent has only gotten better since she was first introduced to country radio, and fans will be just as eager to get "Train Track" and other songs on this EP on the radio as they were 12 years ago with "Can You Hear Me When I Talk to You."
Best tracks: Train Track, Crybaby, Love Can Go To Hell
Throwaway tracks: Electric,
Overall rating: 4 and a half crowns
It has been a long road for Ashley Gearing. She's been working since she was eleven years old, and it has continued to pay off for her. She is now signed with Curb Records and this is her first EP release with them, hopefully to lead up to a full length album sometime in the future. Her talent has only gotten better since she was first introduced to country radio, and fans will be just as eager to get "Train Track" and other songs on this EP on the radio as they were 12 years ago with "Can You Hear Me When I Talk to You."
Best tracks: Train Track, Crybaby, Love Can Go To Hell
Throwaway tracks: Electric,
Overall rating: 4 and a half crowns
RSS Feed
