On 13th March 2020, there was some sort of national holiday for the British country music community: not only that the C2C: Country To Country festival was thought to happen (and had to be cancelled due to Corona), their national icon of the genre, The Shires, were about to released their latest album. Here is my view on Good Years.
The Shires – About The Artists
The Shires are a British country duo composed of Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes. Though the duo already feels like a legend in the British country music scene, they in fact just formed in 2013 and released their debut album Brave in 2015. They origin from Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire in England. Chrisse Rhodes was thought to be one of the favorites of the 2013 The X Factor edition, but failed comparably early. At that time, Earle, who also tried to make it big in The X Factor, was already a solo artist with decent success. The duo formed after Ben Earle was desperately searching for another country vocalist in social media. One of their first gigs was the 2014 Country To Country, where they played on Town Square mainly. In order to promote Brave, they toured with Little Big Town and Ward Thomas. The album became a massive success and did not only top the UK Country charts, but even placed tenth in the general UK album charts. The successor My Universe, released in 2016, was even the fastest selling UK country album in history. Two years later, Accidententally on Purpose again topped the charts and become third in the UK album, like its predecessor. Good Years is the fourth studio album by Earle and Rhodes.
The Shires – Good Years – Track by Track
The twelve songs of the 2020 album by The Shires last 40 minutes.
1. Lightning Strikes
Standin’ outside, rainin’ in the summer
Will you remind me why we ain’t lovers?
Maybe you and I were too young
Didn’t even know what love was
These are the first words of Lightning Strikes, the first worlds of the whole album. The song reminds me a lot of some songs of Taylor Swift’s latest album, Lover – a modern pop song with a country touch. Great sound!
2. On The Day I Die
On The Day I Die – another really catching song. Is that really European country music? Wow, I love that production. Well done!
3. Good Years
The third song of the album is the title track – and it is another great one. Wow, I am really amazed of these songs, which feel so modern, so good… And compared to Lightning Skies, I feel quite a lot of country music in these tracks.
4. No Secrets
Yeah we fight when we’re tired baby you and I
We ain’t perfect we work at it day and night
We can hurt but it works baby you and I
We never lie
Our only secret
Is we got no secrets
What a great sound of music. The chorus is supported by strong background voices, the song is really beautifully arranged. Love that!
5. About Last Night
About Last Night is the first song of the album, which does not catch me that much. It is a nice tune, but overall, it felt weaker to me than the tracks before – and it is also quite similar. Matter of taste.
6. New Year
At the time of year of writing, New Year was the best rated song of the album on Amazon. This track is a very acoustic, country-alike sound, definitely a good one!
7. Only Always
Only Always is one of the tracks on the album with the most classic country sound – still, of course, it is very modern. Nice one!
8. Independence Day
Yes, this song is really about the US-American Independence Day. And: yes, it works! Even though the track was published before the album, somehow one of the most surprising (and best) tracks of the whole album:
I can see the fireworks soarin’
Even though your tears are fallin’
For every star, every stripe
There’s a scar on your heart tonight
True love will never take your freedom
Right now I know you don’t believe it
But, baby, one day, hey
You’re gonna celebrate
Your Independence Day
9. Thank You Whiskey
How could a song be more Nashville-like, more country like than a song called Thank you Whiskey?
We’ve had good times
Wild nights
Both been down and burned sometimes
We’ve seen mad love
Bad luck
Pour it on the rocks we’ll be alright
Raise a toast
To the highs and lows
You’ve always been there for me
Thank you whiskey
The track starts slow, but more and more becomes a nice drinking and party song. I guess that could be one of the most alcoholic songs while The Shires are on Tour.
10. People Like Us
The combination of the two voices of Earle and Rhodes just lead to an amazing sound – and People Like Us is a great example for that.
11. Better Place
Better Place is a great rhythmic track with very strong vocals (again)… Great one!
12. Crazy Days
The album finishes in style – with a slow piano ballad. Love to have that kind of sound on the album as well
The Shires – Good Years – Spotify
Here is the Spotify widget for Good Years:
The Shires – Good Years – My View
I have to admit, I am not too much a fan of The Shires – but with Good Years, they just leave me one option: loving them! The album is modern, versatile, well produced, great voices… Is there anything negative about it? Not really… Great stuff – Top Pick!
British Media Reviews
Here are more music and other media reviews about bands originated in the United Kingdom:

Ludwig Wright – Turn of Tides or Where the Waves Come From

Skindred – Smile

Kezia Gill – Misfit

Sekou – Out of Mind EP

Lloyd Cole – On Pain

Yes – Mirror To The Sky


Anna Demetriou – More To This


As Everything Unfolds – Ultraviolet


Katie Melua – Love & Money


Drew Sycamore – Superfaith


Those Damn Crows – Inhale/Exhale


You Me At Six – Truth Decay


Vic Allen – Some Place I’d Rather Be


Ski Holiday – Ski Holadiy


Circa Waves – Never Going Under


Joesef – Permanent Damage


Poppy Fardell – Back On My Feet


Olly Murs – Marry Me


Massive Wagons – Triggered!


Chez Kane – Powerzone


Simple Minds – Direction of the Heart


Jim Kroft – The Isolation Diaries Vol. 3 EP



Billy Idol – The Cage EP


Bryde – Still



Alan Parsons – From the New World


Berries – How We Function


Ewan Mainwood – Broken EP


RXPTRS – Living Without Death’s Permission


George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid


Def Leppard – Diamond Star Halos


Famyne – II: The Ground Below



Suki Waterhouse – I Can’t Let Go


Amber Run – The Start (Act II) EP


Cold Years – Goodbye To Misery


Emily Roberts – thank you for leaving. EP



Placebo – Never Let Me Go


The Shires – The 10 Year Plan


Danny McMahon – Senses EP


Ard – Take Up My Bones


Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory


Saxon – Carpe Diem



Kiefer Sutherland – Bloor Street


Yard Act – The Overload


Magnum – The Monster Roars


Gregorian – Pure Chants


Spell Songs – Spell Songs II: Let The Light In


Al Lewis – Moving On Moving Past EP



Billy Bragg – The Million Things That Never Happened



Skinny Lister – A Matter of Life and Love


Duran Duran – Future Past



Elton John – The Lockdown Sessions



Dahlia Sleeps – Overflow (A-Side) EP


Natalie Imbruglia – Firebird


Peter Vale – Deep River



Billy Idol – The Roadside EP


Amber Run – The Search (Act 1) EP



The Vaccines – Back In Love City



Iron Maiden – Senjutsu



Baby Queen – The Yearbook


King Calaway – Midnight EP


Krissy Matthews – Pizza Man Blues


Ray Wilson – The Weight Of Man


Lauran Hibberd – Goober EP


Yola – Stand For Myself


Ida Mae – Click Click Domino


Rivers Of England – Eight In The Evening In Spring EP



Gary Kemp – INSOLO


Eliza Shaddad – The Woman You Want



Super db – Ecoute Ca


Kat Eaton – Talk To Me


Roger Chapman – Life In The Pond


Del Amitri – Fatal Mistakes


Jon Allen – …meanwhile


Levara – Levara


People Club – Take Me Home EP


Emma Moore – the table EP


Mighty Oaks – Mexico


Van Morrison – Latest Record Project Volume 1



Etaoin – Bedroom Walls EP


Gary Moore – How Blue Can You Get


Ray Cooper – Land Of Heroes



London Grammar – Californian Soil


Charlotte Young – Coffee and Conversations EP


The Fratellis – Half Drunk Under A Full Moon



Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen – Smith / Kotzen



The Dust Coda – Mojo Skyline


As Everything Unfolds – Within Each Lies The Other


John Smith – The Fray


Ringo Starr – Zoom In EP


Billy Lockett – Reflections EP



Thunder – All The Right Noises


Chez Kane – Chez Kane


Pet Needs – Fractured Party Music


The Paper Kites – Roses


Mason Hill – Against The Wall


Bonnie Tyler – The Best Is Yet To Come


Bow Anderson – New Wave EP


Kerri Watt – Neptune’s Daughter


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


Passenger – Songs For The Drunk And Broken Hearted


Paul McCartney – McCartney III


Gary Barlow – Music Played by Humans


Ross Antony – Lass es glitzern (Weihnachten mit Ross)



Sam Smith – Love Goes



Elvis Costello – Hey Clockface



Katie Melua – Album No. 8


The Struts – Strange Days


Benediction – Scriptures


Ward Thomas – Invitation


Melanie C – Melanie C


Tommy Atkins – Kiss Me, Cowboy EP



Roachford – Twice In A Lifetime


Hurts – Faith


Billy Ocean – One World



Talk Show – These People EP



Erasure – The Neon


Snow Patrol – The Fireside Sessions EP


Emilia Quinn – Firecracker EP


Pretenders – Hate For Sale


Ellie Goulding – Brightest Blue



Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?


Georgia Ku – Real EP



Right Said Fred – Good Times Everybody EP


Hannah White and The Nordic Connections (Album)


Asking Alexandria – Like a House on Fire


Paradise Lost – Obsidian


Jack Curley – Tomorrow EP


Cutting Crew – Ransomed Healed Restored Forgiven


Bob Fitzgerald – Another Highway EP



Natalie Shay – Naked EP


Twinnie – Hollywood Gypsy


Liv Austen – popsicle EP


Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter


A Choir of Ghosts – An Ounce of Gold


Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia


Ozzy Osbourne – Ordinary Man


Pet Shop Boys – Hotspot


Coldplay – Everyday Life


Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present


Vic Allen – Enough EP


King Calaway – Rivers


Andy Clark – I Love Joyce Morris


The Luck – Ready To Run


Sarah Darling – Wonderland (Album Review)


Whitesnake – Flesh & Blood (Album Review)


Bananarama – In Stereo (Album Review)


Emma Bunton – My Happy Place (Album Review)


Catherine McGrath – Talk of This Town (Album Review)
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Home is where the heart is – My Twelve Favorite Cities of the World


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Car Rental Review – Hertz London City Airport (LCY) – Citroen C4


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Heathrow Express – The Fastest Rail to the City (Business First and Express Class)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 19 May 2023)



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Placebo – Never Let Me Go


Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – 4



Kiefer Sutherland – Bloor Street


My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts



Billy Bragg – The Million Things That Never Happened



Skinny Lister – A Matter of Life and Love



Elton John – The Lockdown Sessions



Dahlia Sleeps – Overflow (A-Side) EP


Car Rental Review – Sixt London Heathrow (LHR) T5 / Sofitel – Audi Q2



Billy Idol – The Roadside EP



The Vaccines – Back In Love City



Iron Maiden – Senjutsu



Baby Queen – The Yearbook


The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)



Gary Kemp – INSOLO



Super db – Ecoute Ca


Walking in the London Docklands (Pictured Story)


SeaLife London Aquarium



Etaoin – Bedroom Walls EP



London Grammar – Californian Soil



Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen – Smith / Kotzen



The Dust Coda – Mojo Skyline


Madame Tussauds London



Thunder – All The Right Noises


Riding the London Eye


Views of London from One New Change (Pictured Story)


Conrad Hotel London St. James


Namco Funscape London (Pictured Story)


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Songs Of My Life (Christmas) – Bless Us All (Tiny Tim / Muppets Christmas Carol)


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Songs Of my Life: Don’t Stop Believin’ (Musical Version / Journey)


Majestica – A Christmas Carol


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Sam Smith – Love Goes



Elvis Costello – Hey Clockface


Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Terminal 2/3



Katie Melua – Album No. 8


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Roachford – Twice In A Lifetime


Novotel London Canary Wharf


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Talk Show – These People EP


British Airways First Class Lounge London Gatwick Airport


London Mithraeum – The Roman Temple at Bloomberg Space



Erasure – The Neon


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Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?



Right Said Fred – Good Times Everybody EP


Air New Zealand Boeing B777 Premium Economy from London to Los Angeles



Natalie Shay – Naked EP


Hilton London Kensington


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California With The Pittsburgh Penguins 2020 (Day 1, 25th Feb 2020)


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Pokemon Center London – A Gamers’ Paradise just for a Month


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TWG – My Favorite Tea Brand


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