Maddie Wilson is not your typical YouTube star. Although she does have almost 100,000 and more than 9 million total views on her covers, she also has incredible original music. This, as well as her YouTube covers, has led her to open for superstars Chris Young, Lonestar, Danielle Bradbery, Imagine Dragons, and Lindsey Stirling. Lightning Strikes is Wilson's first full length album, and her first project since her self titled EP released in 2012, and it is full of catchy country pop tracks, that are refreshingly honest about the life of a modern day teenage girl.
Maddie Wilson is a YouTube sensation. She covers both country and pop tracks, and often has quite a few thousand views on each. She recently got a callout from rising country star Mickey Guyton, who praised her "Next Women of Country Mashup." Her most popular covers include covers of Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "All You Had To Do Was Stay," and her covers of One Direction's "They Don't Know Know About Us" and "Best Song Ever.' But her cover of Swift's "All You Had to Do Was Stay" is the real gem that truly shows her talent, and potential as a pop or country singer. Wilson turned it from an uptempo pop song to a heartfelt piano ballad, the way the track should've been produced. She takes Swift's music back to its roots, to the lyrics that mean so much at the core. An artist who can do something like that has so much talent.
This album reinforces that fact. Lightning Strikes is less like a full length record, and a bit more like an extended EP, despite how redundant that may sound. There are only actually seven songs, but with the addition of acoustic versions of "Echo" and "Chelsey's Boyfriend", and a work tape of "You Ain't All That". This album goes back and forth between the more teeny pop/rock tracks and the more country influenced ones. Although the lead single and many of the catchier tracks on this record are some of the former, Wilson shines on the more country oriented tracks like "Girls" and "Echo." Not surprisingly, these are the songs most reminiscent of her cover of "All You Had To Do Was Stay." "Girls" is special because it is quite similar to something Taylor Swift would have written for her first record. With acoustic country production, Wilson's vocals shine, and the personal, but universal lyrics are a peek into the beautiful lyrical ability she has. "Echo" is in another league altogether. An acoustic version of this track is included, and they are both special and incredible in their own ways. Wilson masterfully captures the essence of missing someone in a song, in a way many seasoned musicians cannot do. Vocally, Wilson sounds her most raw and beautiful on this track. Tracks like this one are the ones that will be sure to rocket Wilson into stardom. There is a vulnerability on this song not often found in modern music, but one that will connect with all music fans.
This album reinforces that fact. Lightning Strikes is less like a full length record, and a bit more like an extended EP, despite how redundant that may sound. There are only actually seven songs, but with the addition of acoustic versions of "Echo" and "Chelsey's Boyfriend", and a work tape of "You Ain't All That". This album goes back and forth between the more teeny pop/rock tracks and the more country influenced ones. Although the lead single and many of the catchier tracks on this record are some of the former, Wilson shines on the more country oriented tracks like "Girls" and "Echo." Not surprisingly, these are the songs most reminiscent of her cover of "All You Had To Do Was Stay." "Girls" is special because it is quite similar to something Taylor Swift would have written for her first record. With acoustic country production, Wilson's vocals shine, and the personal, but universal lyrics are a peek into the beautiful lyrical ability she has. "Echo" is in another league altogether. An acoustic version of this track is included, and they are both special and incredible in their own ways. Wilson masterfully captures the essence of missing someone in a song, in a way many seasoned musicians cannot do. Vocally, Wilson sounds her most raw and beautiful on this track. Tracks like this one are the ones that will be sure to rocket Wilson into stardom. There is a vulnerability on this song not often found in modern music, but one that will connect with all music fans.
When asked about this record, Wilson said that "you won't hear a ton of sugar coating, and in life, I feel like we need to be bold more often." This statement is reflected on this album the most in the lead single "Chelsey's Boyfriend" and "I Think We Should Date." The former tracks' chorus starts with: "Chelsey I just don't like your boyfriend / You're such a pretty girl and deserving so much better." The straightforwardness of this statement could make many listeners laugh out loud, and truly is honest, but doesn't quite have the same flow as the rest of the record. Nevertheless, this song is an insanely catchy teen pop/rock hybrid. The straightforwardness works out a bit better in "I Think We Should Date." Wilson honestly and seemingly easily navigates her way through a new relationship. This song drops the slight awkwardness the aforementioned track had, while still maintaining the straightforward, open, and honest theme.
Wilson shines with the country ballads, but she also sounds amazing angry. "You Ain't All That" is a highlight because of just that. This track is a production masterpiece, meshing country with pop rock, with pop punk. The amazing this about this song is that it could be sung by Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, or Avril Lavigne and be incredible in any genre. Wilson kills it vocally, and creates a track that fans of so many different genres can all appreciate, and love.
Maddie Wilson has such a bright future. She has the pop vocals, the country flair, and the rocker attitude, all brought together masterfully on this record. From her last project, her debut EP, Wilson has gone more pop, and more rock, and has lost the fiddle. But she has also matured as a songwriter, and a singer and has come to figure out her own, unique sound. The amazing this about country music today, is that it is not limited to just one kind of music. There are so many ways to interpret country music, and Wilson does that with this record. Lightning Strikes is not completely pop, not completely country, but it is most definitely completely Maddie Wilson.
Best tracks: Echo, Girls, You Ain't All That
Throwaway tracks: Chelsey's Boyfriend
Overall rating: 4 crowns
Wilson shines with the country ballads, but she also sounds amazing angry. "You Ain't All That" is a highlight because of just that. This track is a production masterpiece, meshing country with pop rock, with pop punk. The amazing this about this song is that it could be sung by Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, or Avril Lavigne and be incredible in any genre. Wilson kills it vocally, and creates a track that fans of so many different genres can all appreciate, and love.
Maddie Wilson has such a bright future. She has the pop vocals, the country flair, and the rocker attitude, all brought together masterfully on this record. From her last project, her debut EP, Wilson has gone more pop, and more rock, and has lost the fiddle. But she has also matured as a songwriter, and a singer and has come to figure out her own, unique sound. The amazing this about country music today, is that it is not limited to just one kind of music. There are so many ways to interpret country music, and Wilson does that with this record. Lightning Strikes is not completely pop, not completely country, but it is most definitely completely Maddie Wilson.
Best tracks: Echo, Girls, You Ain't All That
Throwaway tracks: Chelsey's Boyfriend
Overall rating: 4 crowns
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