CD Review: Head Above Water by Brandon Rhyder
Brandon Rhyder has made a name for himself in Texas music in recent years, and his growing reputation is well deserved.
If you need proof, look no further than his recent release, Head Above Water, in which the silver tongued Rhyder again teams up with country legend/producer Walt Wilkins. The collaboration results in another country album that hits incredible highs, mixing a bluesy sentimentality with a rocker’s attitude.
The opening track, “Rock Angel,” has already made extensive rounds as a radio single and it rightly rushed to the top of the charts. Rhyder knows what a woman wants to hear and his voice, always a standout, sounds as smooth as honey. While the song fits perfectly on the radio, the other tracks are what make the album worth buying.
“Last Swan Song,” the album’s breakup tune, showcases Rhyder at his best, lamenting the fact that he’s “not changing / You’re not changing / There’s no sense in rearranging / We never promised each other forever.” The singer-songwriter shows that raw emotion is his forte.
And when he takes that emotion, combines it with his deeply soulful voice and pours gasoline all over it, we get a song like “You Burn Me.” The song would be the best on the album, if not for Rhyder’s refusal to stop getting better as the record progresses.
“Ultimate Deceiver” is the album’s climax and perhaps one of the best songs of the year. The passionate build-up that Rhyder and Wilkins orchestrated throughout reaches its pinnacle, and the country star has never sounded better.
Sadly, “It’s the Country That Saves Me” plays like a clichéd country song about “life in the sticks,” and if not for a few similar duds, the album would be perfect. The rare miss is puzzling, especially considering the singer covers the same themes so much better on the later “Battery.” One “down home” song would have been more than enough.
Do not let the uncharacteristic stumble fool you, though. Head Above Water represents a high point for Brandon Rhyder and Texas Country, in general. The singer-songwriter has avoided becoming stale and his continued growth as a musician shows no sign of slowing.
This may be one of the best country albums of the year, and in a perfect world, it would garner the national recognition that Brandon Rhyder and musicians like him deserve. The man still doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page for crying out loud!
So do not expect Head Above Water to win a CMA, but do buy it and do expect to hear some beautiful country music.
4.5 stars out of 5.