Luke Combs, ‘Joe’ – Single Review ★★★★☆

‘Joe’ by Luke Combs – Single Rating: 4/5 ★★★★☆

Say ‘country music’ to anyone in the U.K and ask them to name a current artist, they will likely mention Dolly Parton. Also, at a push Shania Twain or Garth Brook. However, it’s contemporary country performers like Luke Combs that will keep pushing the genres boundaries. Also, it’s artists like him that seem most likely to become a force over here in the UK. ‘Joe’ is the third single from Luke Combs fifth studio album ‘Gettin’ Old’, coming out on 24^th March.

‘Joe’ is an acoustic driven song. Moreover, it features a typically slick country production, hints of pedal steel and beautiful piano licks. Comb’s lead vocals are humbly emotive, while at the same time powerful, perfectly capturing the bittersweet nature of the song. The instrumentation on the track is also top-notch, creating a lush and atmospheric backdrop for Combs’ vocals. The electric guitar harmonics are a wonderful touch, and the lead piano part towards the song’s middle eight is magnificent.

‘Joe’ is actually about two years old as a song and it was teased by Combs’ live on the famous ‘Grand Ole Opry’ television show back in 2021.

Meaning

Lyrically, ‘Joe’ describes a man recovering from alcoholism and getting back on his feet. It’s mature writing from Combs’, the guy was only born in 1990 for crying out loud. Upon the songs release Comb’s wrote on Twitter ‘Our genre has so many songs about drinking and partying, hell, I’m probably one of the worst culprits of it. There’s nothing wrong with that I don’t think, but sometimes I wonder what someone in the crowd who doesn’t drink or struggles with addiction is thinking or feeling when there’s thousands of people around them screaming ‘Beer Never Broke My Heart’ or ‘1,2 Many’.’

Luke Combs has already had Grammy nominations, one UK top ten album, and two UK top 75 singles. The man has momentum over here. Also, he promotes ‘Gettin’ Old’ with a UK arena tour in October, including two shows at London’s O2.