It’s not just one or two new young country traditionalists making waves and surging in popularity. It’s a whole gaggle of them. And who knows, by the time Braxton Keith’s debut album Real Damn Deal is released on May 15th, he might be leading the pack.
Down in Texas, few if anyone needs convincing that Braxton Keith isn’t just the next big thing, but a one-man phenomenon packing out venues with young adults listening to old-sounding country music, and loving every minute of it. These are fans that were born and raised on Whitley and Strait, but identify with Braxton Keith because he’s from their generation as parent look on with pride.
And all of this and 2.2 million monthly Spotify listeners is happening ahead of Braxton’s debut album.
Now signed to Warner Records Nashville, Braxton Keith could have contemporized his sound and smoothed off the pointy, twangy edges. But if anything, as time has gone on, Braxton has double down on his traditional/neotraditional sound, including the Western Swing-inspired “I Ain’t Tryin’,” and his latest track “Little Bit By Little Bit.” He’s also recently released cover versions of George Strait’s “The Chair,” and Johnny Paycheck’s “Slide Off Your Satin Sheets.”
“We’ve been writing for a long time for this,” says Braxton Keith, who co-wrote 10 of the album’s 15 tracks. “I wanted it to be a nostalgic, classic sounding record and to showcase a little bit of everything—as country as we could make it in every way, shape and form. I’m really proud of it.”
Helping Braxton along the way is a killer list of writing contributors, including Jim Lauderdale, Liz Rose on multiple songs, Chris Stapleton, Josh Thompson, and Roger Miller via a cover of Glen Campbell’s “Am I All Alone (Or Is It Only Me).” The album is produced by Alex Torrez and David Dorn.
Some might think it’s pretty self-aggrandizing and presumptuous for Braxton Keith to proclaim he’s the Real Damn Deal on the cover of his debut album. Braxton initially felt that way too.
“I shot down the idea of this album title when it was first brought up,” says Keith. “It felt cocky, and that’s not who I am. But, everyone is in on country music right now, so why not use it as a big flashing reminder that country music is cool? This album is my way of taking country music back to what it was…the real damn deal.”
These kinds of proclamations a few years ago would have been taken as controversial, bellicose accusations against the country music industry. But thanks to guys like Braxton Keith and the popular appeal he’s created for traditional country, it’s just the honest truth.
Braxton has been paying his dues, refining his craft and writing, and now it’s finally time to strike out big. His debut album comes highly anticipated.
Pre-save/Pre-order Real Damn Deal
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TRACK LIST:
1. Real Damn Deal (Braxton Keith, Brice Long, Paul Sikes)
2. I Ain’t Tryin’ (Brice Long, Will Jones, Carson Peters)
3. Mrs. Green (Jim Lauderdale, Bob Minner)
4. That’s How Hearts Get Broken (Liz Rose, Morgane Hayes, Chris Stapleton)
5. I Dreamed You Dreamed of Me (Braxton Keith, Dan Isbell, Brice Long)
6. White Walls (Braxton Keith, John Pierce)
7. Always Leaving Something (Jessie Jo Dillon, James Melton, Clint Daniels)
8. Hurt By Heart (with Mae Estes) (Braxton Keith, Trent Tomlinson, Scotty Emerick)
9. Don’t No More (Braxton Keith, Liz Rose, John Pierce)
10. Little Bit by Little Bit (Braxton Keith, Liz Rose, Phil O’Donnell)
11. Am I All Alone (Or Is It Only Me) (Roger Miller)
12. I Own This Bar (Braxton Keith, Liz Rose, Phil O’Donnell)
13. Wind Blows (Braxton Keith, Tony Lane, Brice Long)
14. Prescription (Braxton Keith, Randy Montana, John Pierce)
15. Baby You Do (Braxton Keith, Brandon Kinney, Josh Thompson, Wynn Varble)
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source savingcountrymusic.com ’
