The likely first major country music album release of the year 2020 is by Brett Kissel. The Canadian published his eighth album Now or Never right on New Year’s Day of 2020, because of which I completely missed it in my review planning and during my vacation in Abu Dhabi. Here is the – belated – review.
Brett Kissel – About The Artist
Brett Kissel was born in 1990 in Flat Lake, Alberta, Canada, where his parents operate a cattle ranch. He received his first guitar at the age of six. He recorded his first album at the amazing age of twelve years already. The album also contained two Johnny Cash covers. In 2013, he signed with Warner Music Canada and released his debut single, Started With A Song, in June 2013, when it became the most added Canadian country radio song in its first week. The album released later that year had the same title and peaked 22th in the Canadian country charts. The second Warner album, the 2015 Pick Me Up, was the most successful album and even made it to seventh place in his country. It included Airwaves, the most successful single by Kissel so far, which topped the Canadian charts. He had regular chart placements in the Canadian country charts thereafter.
Brett Kissel – Now or Never – Track by Track
With 26 minutes, the album is comparably short. It contains eight tracks.
1. Drink About Me
The album starts with Drink About Me, which has been released as the first single of the album. A very nice song with a lot of good mood potential.
2. A Few Good Stories
A lot of country, a tiny bit of rocking and a lot of swinging – Brett Kissel is telling us one of his A Few Good Stories with that one. Two good starters of the eight course meal.
3. That’s Country Music
The ballad-alike That’s Country Music is a lovely praise to the genre. One of the best tracks of the album, definitely. By the way, it is the longest one as well.
4. Young Enough
Young Enough is one of the most powerful recordings on the album to me.
Let’s take a shot of something, feels reckless
‘Cause we still got a wild heart beatin’ out of our chest
Oh, while we still got fire racin’ through our blood
Let’s love the life we live, live the life we love
Really nice to listen to.
5. She Drives Me Crazy
Luckily, no Prince cover 🙂 A very catchy and straight-forward recording, which is especially nice to listen due to the long pronunciation of cra-a-a-a-a-a-…-zy 🙂 Nice one.
6. Hummingbird
Brett Kissel shows a softer side on Hummingbird. A lovely ballad with a lot of classic country sound.
7. I’m Not Him, I’m Not Her (feat. Christina Taylor)
I love Christina Taylor, I loved their her first collaboration with Kissel in As good as you look – and I just love this song. Great second duet between the two artists.
8. Coffee With Her
A very soft, minimalistic song, which I feel is a really lovely way to finish this selection of eight songs. Lovely country music ballad.
Brett Kissel – Now or Never – Spotify
The Spotify widget allows you to pre-listen to the album:
Brett Kissel – Now or Never – My View
If that is a hint how the country music year 2020 may be alike – I feel we might have a really good time together. Brett Kissel’s 2020 album might not be on the route to an all-time classic, but it is a very solid and good recording, which is fun to listen to. I absolutely like it – definitely not just because of the collaboration with Christina Taylor.
Flyctory.com Country Music Reviews
Here are reviews of all country music albums and EPs I reviewed earlier on the website:

Uncle Lucius – Like It’s The Last One Left

Treaty Oak Revival – Have a Nice Day

Dolly Parton – Rockstar

Todd Snider – Crank It, We’re Doomed

Chris Stapleton – Higher

Chris Shiflett – Lost At Sea

Lisa Brokop – Who’s Gonna Fill Their Heels?


Darius Rucker – Carolyn’s Boy


The Steel Woods – On Your Time


Dustin Lynch – Killed The Cowboy


Brent Cobb – Southern Star


Dan + Shay – Bigger Houses


Coffey Anderson – Tailgates and Heartbreaks


The Paper Kites – At The Roadhouse


Melanie Wiegmann & Carl Carlton – Glory of Love


Gregor McEwan – Going Solo



Adam Wendler – Living the Dream


Morgan Wade – Psychopath


Turnpike Troubadours – A Cat In The Rain


Tim McGraw – Standing Room Only


TracieLynn – More Than a Bad Habit EP


Ryan Bingham – Watch Out For The Wolf EP


Joe Lasher – Vol. 1 EP


Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – City of Gold


Lori McKenna – 1988


Kezia Gill – Misfit


Tom Astor – Wieder da!


Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – Sticks and Stones


Sean Patrick McGraw – Hillbilly Hippie


Sylvia Aimee – Identity EP


Lucinda Williams – Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart


Hannah Aldridge – Dream of America


Son Volt – Day of the Doug


Deer Tick – Emotional Contracts


Kimberly Perry – Bloom EP


Brittany Warthan – No Vacancy


Tanya Tucker – Sweet Western Sound


Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark


Daisy Briggs – Nice Knowing You EP


Anna Demetriou – More To This


Parker Millsap – Wilderness Within You


Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions


Philip Bradatsch – Philip Bradatsch


Dave Hause – Drive It Like It’s Stolen


Esther Rose – Safe To Run


Texas Hippie Coalition – The Name Lives On


Brian Falduto – Gay Country


Drayton Farley- Twenty on High


Dierks Bentley – Gravel & Gold


Lucero – Should’ve Learned by Now


Cort Carpenter – All In


Chase Rice – I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell



Shania Twain – Queen of Me


Vic Allen – Some Place I’d Rather Be


Joe Henry – All The Eye Can See


Laura Cox – Head Above Water


Richard Lynch – Radio Friend


Margo Price – Strays


Adam Warner – What We’re Known For


Madeline Consoer – Little Miss EP


Poppy Fardell – Back On My Feet


Melissa Carper – Ramblin’ Soul


Billy Strings – Me/And/Dad


Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver (Various Artists)


Stephanie Quayle – On The Edge


Tiffany Johnson – Over Emotional EP


Emily Nenni – On The Ranch


Russell Dickerson – Russell Dickerson


Trampled by Turtles – Alpenglow


Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country


Kenny Foster – Somewhere in Middle America


Alex Williams – Waging Peace


Logan Mize – Prairie Tapes, Vol. 1 EP


Callista Clark – Real To Me: The Way I Feel


Avery Anna – Mood Swings EP


Ashley McBryde – Lindeville


Richard Marx – Songwriter


Dr. John – Things Happen That Way


Sunny Sweeney – Married Alone


Kelsea Ballerini – Subject To Change


Nikki Lane – Denim & Diamonds


Kane Brown – Different Man


Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco


Jolina Carl – Hallo, ich bin Jolina Carl


Jon Pardi – Mr. Saturday Night


Ingrid Andress – Good Person


Watkins Family Hour – Vol. 2



Sykamore – Pinto


Kelsey Waldon – No Regular Dog


Wade Bowen – Somewhere Between The Secret and The Truth


Pete Wolf Band – Crosswalk To Nowhere EP


Brooke Eden – Choosing You EP


Whiskey Myers – Tornillo


Kaylee Rose – Hot Minute EP


The Local Honeys – The Local Honeys


More Than Words – Today (Make Today Be the Best Day of Your Life)


Kimberly Kelly – I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen


Jonny Houlihan – Coffee and Jesus


Kylie Morgan – P.S. EP


Chris Colter – Nice To Be Back To Be Back Nice


Luke Combs – Growin’ Up


The Cumberland River Project – A Smell of Gravy


Rachel LaRen – Cowboys Don’t Change EP


Brett Eldredge – Songs About You


Carrie Underwood – Denim & Rhinestones


Kyle Daniel – Following the Rain


Jillian Jacqueline – Honestly


Christa Fartek – Nashville and Me


Harper Grae – Confessions of a Good Southern Lady EP


49 Winchester – Fortune Favors The Bold


Aaron Raitiere – Single Wide Dreamer


Ryan Sheridan – Americana


Midland – The Last Resort: Greetings From


Tino Z – Highwayman


Charley Crockett – Lil’ G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley



Tenille Townes – Masquerades EP


Old Crow Medicine Show – Paint This Town


Joshua Hedley – Neon Blue


Chayce Beckham – Doin’ It Right EP


Cole Swindell – Stereotype


Mrs. Greenbird – Love You To The Bone


Caitlyn Smith – High


Paul Cauthen – Country Coming Down


Ann Doka – House of Change


Ian Noe – River Fools & Mountain Saints


Maren Morris – Humble Quest


Tiffany Woys – All About Love EP


Doug Adkins – A Cowboys’ Life


The Shires – The 10 Year Plan


Dolly Parton – Run, Rose, Run


Jackie Bristow – Outsider


Danny McMahon – Senses EP


Jördis Tielsch – New Mornings


Klaus Lage – Je wahrer die Liebe


Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Nightroamer


Priscilla Block – Welcome To The Block Party


Dustin Lynch – Blue In The Sky


Jeffrey Mitchell Ross – Waited A Long Time


Erin Rae – Lighten Up


Muscadine Bloodline – Dispatch to 16th Ave.


Brent Cobb – And Now, Let’s Turn The Page


Katie Henry – On My Way


Lata Gouveia – Stay The Same


Greensky Bluegrass – Stress Dreams



Kiefer Sutherland – Bloor Street


Conner Smith – Didn’t Go Too Far EP


Noah Guthrie – Blue Wall


Jamestown Revival – Young Man


Jacob Bryant – Bar Stool Preacher


Ryan Montgomery – Chasing Sunsets EP


Rachel Bradshaw – Rachel Bradshaw EP


Matt Moeller – Where We Used To Be EP


Rockmann – One Guitar Hit EP


Carolyn Miller – Thank You EP


Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP


Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)


Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP


Alena Neubert – A Life That’s Good


Armanda Shires – For Christmas


Jason Aldean – Macon


Billy Bragg – The Million Things That Never Happened


Dennis Adamus – Right For You


Brett Eldredge – Mr. Christmas



Tenille Arts – Girl To Girl


SixForty1 – Started Right Here EP


Det Haggard – Teamwork 2.0


Ryan Hurd – Pelago


Cassadee Pope – Thrive


Toby Keith – Peso In My Pocket


Josh Turner – King Size Manger


Crystal Leigh – Trading Skylines EP


Jesse Cole – SAND (Some Are Never Done)


Miko Marks & The Resurrectors – Race Records EP


Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days


Logan Mize – Welcome To Prairieville


Billy Strings – Renewal


Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name


Taylor McCall – Black Powder Soul


Charley Crockett – Music City USA


Peter Maffay – So Weit


Mitchell Tenpenny – Midtown Diaries EP


Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman


Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind


King Calaway – Midnight EP


Ashley Cooke – Already Drank That Beer Side A


Kalie Shorr – I Got Here By Accident EP


Jayne Denham – Wanted


Dan + Shay – Good Things


Clare Dunn – In This Kind Of Light EP


Emily Rose – Wings EP


Chris Young – Famous Friends


Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth


Leah Blevins – First Time Feeling


Jim Lauderdale – Hope


Son Volt – Electro Melodier


Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream


Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee


Los Lobos – Native Sons


Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive


Rodney Crowell – Triage


Charlie Worsham – Sugarcane EP



Alee – Feels Like This


Midland – The Last Resort EP


Lucinda Williams – Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 2 – Southern Soul: From Memphis To Muscle Shoals


Callie Twisselman – Closure EP


Tigirlily – Tigirlily EP


The Flatlanders – Treasure Of Love


Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP


The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds


LANCO – Honky-Tonk Hippies EP


Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP


Brent Moyer – Song Rider



The Heels – I Am


Vincent Neil Emerson – Vincent Neil Emerson


Gary Allan – Ruthless



Meghan Patrick – Heart On My Glass


Amythyst Kiah – Wary + Strange


pez – All Lowercase EP


Richie Necker – New Songs and Untold Stories


Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP


Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart


Walker Hayes – Country Stuff EP


Brett Young – Weekends Look A Little Different These Days


Andrew Jannakos – Gone Too Soon EP


Black River Delta – Shakin’


Brynn Cartelli – Based On A True Story EP


Southerland – Boot Up EP


Lori Rayne – 1926 EP


Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia


John Hiatt With The Jerry Douglas Band – Leftover Feelings



Alexander Ludwig – Alexander Ludwig EP


Jordan Davis – Buy Dirt EP


Blake Shelton – Body Laguage


Oliver Wood – Always Smilin’


Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground


Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP


Alan Jackson – Where Have You Gone


The Steel Woods – All Of Your Stones


Emma Moore – the table EP


Travis Tritt – Set In Stone


Matt Castillo – How The River Flows EP


Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A


Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP


Ronnie Milsap – A Better Word For Love


Todd Snider – First Agnostic Church of Hope And Wonder


Elvie Shane – County Roads EP


Adam Douglas – Better Angels


Justin Moore – Straight Outta The Country


Carver Louis – Take Off EP


Eric Church – Soul


Eric Church – &


Eric Church – Heart



Brett Kissel – What Is Life?


Charlotte Young – Coffee and Conversations EP


Fancy Hagood – Southern Curiosity


Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times


Jon Randall – Neon Texas EP


Canaan Smith – High Country Sound


Leslie Jordan – Company’s Comin’


Truck Stop – Liebe, Lust und Laster


Tyler Braden – What Do They Know EP


Carrie Underwood – My Savior


Esther Rose – How Many Times


Sara Watkins – Under The Pepper Tree


Timo Scharf – Everything Ever Always Is All Forgotten EP


Kora Naughton – Nineteen


Midland – The Sonic Ranch


Loretta Lynn – Still Woman Enough


Morgan Wade – Reckless


Joey Hendricks – Between The Clouds EP


Alyssa Trahan – Baby Blues & Stilettos


Christina Taylor – Covers Vol. 1 EP


Jimbo Mathus & Andrew Bird – These 13


Track 45 – Big Dreams EP


Adam Warner – Big Storm


Kaylee Bell – The Red EP (EP)


Hayden Joseph – Different


Willie Nelson – That’s Life


Adam Hambrick – The Flipsides EP



Jess Moskaluke – The Demos


Carly Pearce – 29 EP


Jack McBannon – True Stories


Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’


Callista Clark – Real To Me EP


Haley Mae Campbell – Growing Up EP


Tobacco Rd Band – Worth Fighting For


Florida Georgia Line – Life Rolls On



Dustin Bird – Unscripted


Colton Chapman – Can’t Hide The Truth EP


Alex Hall – Six Strings EP


Ben Ransom – Brave New World


Daniel Holmes – Dead End Town


Lucero – When You Found Me


Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP


Langhorne Slim – Strawberry Mansion


Logan Mize – Still That Kid


Matt Wynn – Matt Wynn EP



Tebey – The Good Ones


Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart


Willie Jones – Right Now


Chelsea Berman – Can You Just Not EP


Kerri Watt – Neptune’s Daughter



Petric – Flashbacks


Devin Dawson – The Pink Slip EP


Whitney Duncan – Heartbreaker EP


Morgan Wallen – Dangerous – The Double Album


Colby Keeling – Catch Me If You Can EP


Aaron Watson – American Soul


Barry Gibb & Friends – Greenfields – The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook Vol. 1


Tanner Sparks – Living A Nightmare


Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T.


Bret Mullins – Kiss The Girl


Halle Kearns – Finally EP


Lexie Hayden – You Heard Right EP


Cody Weaver – Southern Noise EP


Russell Dickerson – Southern Symphony


Brian Callihan – Brian Callihan


The Highway Women – The Highway EP


Granger Smith – Country Things, Vol. 2


Garth Brooks – Fun


Clayton Smalley – Dirt Road Therapy EP


Ward Davis – Black Cats and Crows


Lee Brice – Hey World


Roman Alexander – Between You & Me


Shenandoah – Every Road


Kameron Marlowe – EP


Chris Stapleton – Starting Over


Easton Corbin – Didn’t Miss A Beat EP


Caitlyn Shadbolt – Stages



Eric Ethridge – Good With Me


Emily Rose: The Heart EP


Charlotte Ave – Women of Country


The Cadillac Three – Tabasco and Sweet Tea


DanaMaria – Desert Diamond


Runaway June – When I Think About Christmas


Matt Stell – Better Than That EP


Mira Goto – Nobody Warned Me EP


Trace Adkins – Ain’t That Kind Of Cowboy EP


Austin Michael – Austin Michael


Melinda Schneider – Be Gentle On Yourself EP


Ward Thomas – Invitation


Brothers Osborne – Skeletons


Drew Haley – Wildflower EP


Jordan Brooker – The Young Troubadour’s Almanac


Jason Nix – Money on You EP


Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi 2020


Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas


Brent Cobb – Keep ’em on They Toes



Terri Clark – It’s Christmas … Cheers!


Carrie Underwood – My Gift


Diana DeMuth – Misadventure


Granger Smith – Country Things, Vol. 1


Yonder Boys – Acid Folk


Tommy Atkins – Kiss Me, Cowboy EP


Smith & Wesley – Greetings From The Land of Y’All


Tori Martin – Lucky


Keith Urban – The Speed of Now Part I


Elizabeth Cook – Aftermath


Mickey Guyton – Bridges EP


Van de Forst – Unconditional


Hardy – A Rock


Lauren Alaina – Getting Over Him EP


Tennessee Jet – The Country


The Tuten Brothers – Radio Plays EP


Ryan Griffin – Name On It EP


Tiffany Johnson – Tiffany Johnson EP


Molly Tuttle – … but I’d rather be with you


Ruston Kelly – Shape & Destroy


Courtney Cole – Earthquake EP


Tucker Beathard – King


Kree Harrison – Chosen Family Tree


Josh Turner – Country State of Mind


Tim McGraw – Here on Earth


Caylee Hammack – If It Wasn’t For You


Mo Pitney – Ain’t Lookin’ Back


Eric Paslay – Nice Guy


RaeLynn – Baytown EP



Lindsay Ell – Heart Theory


Mary Chapin Carpenter – The Dirt and The Stars



Cory Marks – Who I Am


Cassadee Pope – Rise and Shine


Luke Bryan – Born Here, Live Here, Die Here


Charley Crockett – Welcome To Hard Times


Chris Tomlin – Chris Tomlin & Friends


Rascal Flatts – How They Remember You EP


Lori McKenna – The Balladeer


Canaan Cox – Stilettos EP


Emilia Quinn – Firecracker EP



The Reklaws – Where I’m From (Deluxe) EP


Dixie Chicks / The Chicks – Gaslighter


Olivia Lane – “Living Instead” Podcast about Artists’ Life and More


Lakeview – She Drove Me To The Bar EP


Jimmie Allen – Bettie James EP


Brett Eldredge – Sunday Drive


Jonny Houlihan – Hey Girl EP


Jody Direen – Smokin’ Ashes


Willie Nelson – First Rose of Spring


Eric Paslay – Heartbeat Higher EP


Kyle Nix – Lightning On The Mountain & Other Little Stories



Tenille Townes – The Lemonade Stand


John Gurney – Remind You EP


Gabby Barrett – Goldmine


Gone West – Canyons


Hannah White and The Nordic Connections (Album)



Matt Lang – More


Tyler Farr – Only Truck in Town EP


Kip Moore – Wild World


Jaime Wyatt – Neon Cross


Chris Bandi – Chris Bandi EP


Craig Morgan – God, Family, Country



High Valley – Grew Up On That EP


Florida Georgia Line – 6-Pack EP


Steve Earle & The Dukes – Ghosts of West Virginia


Jordan Davis – Jordan Davis EP


Chase Rice – The Album Part II EP


Ilse DeLange – Changes


Travis Denning – Beer’s Better Cold EP


Sara Evans – Copy That


Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen – Hold My Beer, Vol. 2


Jack Curley – Tomorrow EP


CJ Solar – Coming My Way EP


Kenny Chesney – Here and Now


Hot Country Knights – The K Is Silent


Tim Dugger – Signs Of A Good Time EP


Drake White – Stars EP


Upchurch – Everlasting Country



The Washboard Union – Everbound


Lena Stone – Princess EP


Lucinda Williams – Good Souls Better Angels


Bob Fitzgerald – Another Highway EP


Bree Doster – Bree Doster EP


Twinnie – Hollywood Gypsy


Liv Austen – popsicle EP


Julia Cole – Honey Child EP


Maddie & Tae – The Way It Feels



Sykamore – California King EP


Ruthie Collins – Cold Comfort


Sam Hunt – Southside


Ashley McBryde – Never Will


Brett James – I am Now EP


Jim Lauderdale – When Carolina Comes Home Again


Ingrid Andress – Lady Like


Dan Smalley – If I’m being honest EP


Delta Rae – The Light


Kelsea Ballerini – Kelsea


The Shires – Good Years


Rachel Reinert – Into The Blue


Brandy Clark – Your Life is a Record


Lauren Alaina – Getting Good EP


The Secret Sisters – Saturn Return


The Cumberland River Project – The Cumberland River Project (Album Review)


Hailey Whitters – The Dream


Henriette – Henriette EP


Carly Pearce – Carly Pearce



William Prince – Reliever


John Moreland – LP 5


The Cadillac Three – Country Fuzz


Richard Marx – Limitless



Tenille Townes – Road To The Lemonade Stand EP


Celeste Kellogg – Keep It On Repeat EP


Redeye Caravan – Nostrum Remedium


Steve Moakler – Blue Jeans


Cody Hibbard – Memory and A Dirt Road


Little Big Town – Nightfall


Dustin Lynch – Tullahoma



Tenille Arts – Love, Heartbreak, & Everything in Between


Pete Wolf Band – 2084 (Album Review)


Cassadee Pope – Stages (with Track by Track Commentary)


Björn Heuser – Kopp voll Dräum (Nashville Recordings)


Jason Aldean – 9 (Album Review)


Lady Antebellum – Ocean


Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get (Review)


Luke Combs – This One’s For You – The Record-Breaking Album


Miranda Lambert – Wildcard


Hootie & The Blowfish – Imperfect Circle


Jon Langston – Now You Know EP


Old Dominion (Album Review)


Sylvia Aimee – Superhero EP


Maddie & Tae – Everywhere I’m going EP


Vic Allen – Enough EP


Chris Janson – Real Friends


Chris Knight – Almost Daylight


Blanco Brown – Honeysuckle & Lightning Bugs


King Calaway – Rivers


Brantley Gilbert – Fire & Brimstone


Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury


Emma White – The Actress EP


Zac Brown Band – The Owl


Riley Green – Different ‘Round here



Meghan Patrick – Wild As Me EP


Trisha Yearwood – Every Girl


Sheryl Crow – Threads


Taylor Swift – Lover


Tanya Tucker – While I’m Livin’


Midland – Let It Roll


Tracy Lawrence – Made in America


Olivia Lane – The One EP


Tyler Childers – Country Squire

