Luke Combs debut album This One’s For You took the country world by storm when it was released in 2017, staying at Number 1 for 50 weeks which ended up being an all-time record for a male artist. It’s easy to understand why– Combs is an incredible vocal talent, filled with tone for days and a wonderful Southern twang that’s perfect for the industry. The dude just sounds like country music the minute he gets in front of a mic. Shockingly he only made it through one round of singing competition The Voice before they even got to TV tapings, which goes to show you just how fickle making a living in the entertainment business can be (follow your dreams kids). This was when Blake Shelton was a main judge on the show too! Pretty wild.
The other component working for Combs outside of his exemplary singing ability is his songwriting craft. Combs wrote all 12 songs on This One’s For You which is basically unheard of in the country music industry, and the personal nature of these songs certainly shine through. Combs’ ability to blend in his clear love for traditional country and the pop-hook nature of modern country is a match made in heaven, helping to bridge multiple generations of the genre into one distinct package. Toss in a dose of humor (“When It Rains It Pours” gets me laughing every time) and some rollicking guitar solos and you have a recipe that’s made him one of modern country’s most respected artists, and deservedly so.
Standout Songs: “When It Rains It Pours”, “Hurricane”, “One Number Away”. “This One’s For You”
