ALBUM REVIEW: Southern Charm – Alex Melton

In modern rock we have seen many mashups and collaborations that defy conventional expectations. ALEX MELTON is no different, having established his style of creating pop-punk turned country song covers, and vice versa, on YouTube. He’s released a litany of singles and EPs in recent years, and here we have his latest offering Southern Charm, which also marks his first release since signing to Pure Noise Records.

Now, for some, it’s easy to put down country music, but what Melton has done here is show that country stars have a lot in common with rockstars in that they both write songs to express their feelings and pain, songs that tell stories and have moments where you feel seen as the artist recounts an event in their lives. It’s not everyday that you get to listen to someone like Luke Combs having their song performed in the style of a band like A DAY TO REMEMBER or Garth Brooks being reimagined as a member of BEARTOOTH.

That said, it’s not all fast pop-punk and metalcore, as some tracks go down a more bluesy country route and take the form of gentle acoustic songs that would be perfect to play around a campfire. These include, but are not limited to, covers of songs by CAN’T SWIM, STATE CHAMPS and FOUR YEAR STRONG – you know, some of our favourite country stars. Being a covers album, it’s hard to not think back to the original artists and compare the two versions with the likelihood that you’ll always prefer the original release, but you should still enjoy what you’re listening to here.

It’s a bold move to completely rebrand several well-known country and rock artists where they become the opposite of each other, and to do it in a way that’s so enjoyable is an impressive feat. Sure, you might not want to start listening to country music anytime soon, but Melton has opened a new door for you and has allowed you to check out songs that may have never appeared on your radar under other circumstances. Southern Charm is just pure fun and it feels nostalgic and comforting, like you’re living in the soundtrack of a family adventure movie, or a coming of age story.

Rating: 7/10

Southern Charm is out now via Pure Noise Records.

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