Cole Swindell's first hit single, "Chillin' It," sounds a bit like
Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" as performed by Luke Bryan, and there's a
reason for that: prior to taking a stab at a recording career, Swindell
was a songwriter, penning songs for Bryan, FGL, and Scotty McCreery.
He's a behind-the-scenes bro, responsible for crafting the sound and
feel of contemporary country, and his eponymous 2014 album demonstrates
the attributes of his craft. Swindell knows his way with a hook, whether
it's coming up with a clever title ("Ain't Worth the Whiskey," "Brought
to You by Beer," "Dozen Roses & a Six-Pack") and worthy hooks along
with melodies that escalate nicely, and the production by Michael
Carter and Jody Stevens is crisp and clean, designed to fit within the
contours of modern radio. The one problem with the record is that
Swindell sounds like a songwriter, not a singer. He has a guy-next-door
voice that's ingratiating. Nevertheless, the album winds up pleasant
enough: it's constructed by pros who know how to get tunes on the radio,
so it goes down easy.
