Mickey Guyton. An country singer and songwriter currently on tour with Brad Paisley, and slowly growing in popularity, as more and more people discover the extreme amount of talent this young woman from Arlington, Texas has. We have written about her twice so far, but this one is an especially momentous review because this is her debut fully-produced EP, and her real introduction to the world of country music.
If you thought Guyton could go no bigger than "Better Than You Left Me," you were wrong. "Why Baby Why" is arguably a better song even than her debut, which is an especially high bar. Piano driven, this track discusses how Guyton cannot get her ex out of her head, similar in content to Craig Campbell's "Outta My Head." Despite the fact that it has gotten a bit tiring to hear the same groaning break up songs over and over again, this is different. This is a break up song in the same league as Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" and Hunter Hayes' "You Think You Know Somebody." The power and desperation in Guyton's vocals makes it a timeless, gorgeous, and relatable track. Even if you are not going through a breakup and even if you never have been through a breakup, the desperation and begging feeling throughout the song will resonate. If any song will give you chills, this is it.
Over the course of her somewhat short career so far, Guyton has become almost a mentor to her fans. This is very Taylor Swift-esqe of Guyton, with Swift's hits "Fifteen" and "Mean" being lessons in a song. As seen in her acoustic EP, on the track "Unbreakable," where Guyton reassures her fans that they are strong, she continues that trend with this EP. The second track, "Somebody Else Will" is a reassurance to broken-hearted girls. This track is definitly the most pop Guyton has ever gone, and hopefully the most pop she ever will go. This track contains some of the cliches that are riddled throughout all popular music today, but Guyton admits that she knows these lyrics are cliche, with the lyric: "I know it's cliche, but you know it's true/there's a million more fishes in the deep blue/No he ain't the only one." Just because she admitted it, makes it so much better, and okay to be in the track.
Over the course of her somewhat short career so far, Guyton has become almost a mentor to her fans. This is very Taylor Swift-esqe of Guyton, with Swift's hits "Fifteen" and "Mean" being lessons in a song. As seen in her acoustic EP, on the track "Unbreakable," where Guyton reassures her fans that they are strong, she continues that trend with this EP. The second track, "Somebody Else Will" is a reassurance to broken-hearted girls. This track is definitly the most pop Guyton has ever gone, and hopefully the most pop she ever will go. This track contains some of the cliches that are riddled throughout all popular music today, but Guyton admits that she knows these lyrics are cliche, with the lyric: "I know it's cliche, but you know it's true/there's a million more fishes in the deep blue/No he ain't the only one." Just because she admitted it, makes it so much better, and okay to be in the track.
Guyton turns from acoustic to rocky with "Pretty Little Mustang". The original acoustic version onUnbreakable was excellent, but nothing compared to the fire of this track. The electric production adds a much needed upbeat element to the track. More pop rock elements are included in this version, but this song needs those elements in order to be the best it can be.
The EP ends with her debut single and one of the best tracks on the album, "Better Than You Left Me." As a summary from a review we did of the track a while back, we said that "the R&B elements along with the traditional country production creates a new, interesting blend. Guyton is unique because she's not your typical female country singer. She has a powerful voice that even though has some definite Carrie Underwood influence, is so different in quality and tone. Guyton has taken her idols and incorporated their best qualities into her music without copying them. Her sound is her sound, and no one else's. This song is hers. And no one could have sung it better than she did."
Guyton pushes boundaries and reworks old overused cliches and song topics to work for her. She has a unique sound, but also one that could fit in the radio setting. This EP is most likely a sampler of an album that's to come, and hopefully it will contain more power ballads like "Why Baby Why" and the upbeat vibes of "Somebody Else Will." Guyton is a force, and given the quality of this EP, will be a definite contender for many "Best New Artist" awards.
Best tracks: Why Baby Why, Better Than You Left Me
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 crowns
The EP ends with her debut single and one of the best tracks on the album, "Better Than You Left Me." As a summary from a review we did of the track a while back, we said that "the R&B elements along with the traditional country production creates a new, interesting blend. Guyton is unique because she's not your typical female country singer. She has a powerful voice that even though has some definite Carrie Underwood influence, is so different in quality and tone. Guyton has taken her idols and incorporated their best qualities into her music without copying them. Her sound is her sound, and no one else's. This song is hers. And no one could have sung it better than she did."
Guyton pushes boundaries and reworks old overused cliches and song topics to work for her. She has a unique sound, but also one that could fit in the radio setting. This EP is most likely a sampler of an album that's to come, and hopefully it will contain more power ballads like "Why Baby Why" and the upbeat vibes of "Somebody Else Will." Guyton is a force, and given the quality of this EP, will be a definite contender for many "Best New Artist" awards.
Best tracks: Why Baby Why, Better Than You Left Me
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 crowns
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