Hard to imagine – but Sam Hunt’s album Southside, which has been released on 3rd April 2020, is just his second studio album at all. The first single has even been released in 2017 – so there seem to be quite some interesting stories about it. I was looking forward to review his first long-player after more than five years.
Sam Hunt – About The Artist
Sam Hunt was born on 8th December 1984 in Cedartown, a small town West of Atlanta, in Georgia. His intiial career has nothing to do with country music – up until College level, he was a very good quarterback in College Football, lining up for the Middle Tennessee State University as well as the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After training, he taught himself to play the guitar. When a tryout at the Kansas City Chiefs did not work out as expected, Hunt decided to go for the music career and moved to Nashville.
His first major steps were as a songwriter. For example he co-wrote Come Over by Kenny Chesney (2012) and Cop Car by Keith Urban. Based on that, he also signed a record deal and released his first EP, X2C, which made it up to the fifth position in the US country charts. Just some two months later, in October 2014, he published his debut album Montevallo, which was a huge success. It topped the US country charts and made it to the Top 3 of the (overall) charts in the USA and Canada. There were also Top 100 placements in Italy, the Netherlands and the UK. Three songs taken from this album, Leave the Night On, Take Your Time and House Party topped the US Country Charts as well as the US Country Airplay.
While singles taken from Montevallo were published until 2016 and even two EPs were published until then, Body Like a Back Road was likely Sam Hunt’s biggest hit so far. Published in 2017, it is the first single of the Southside album.
Sam Hunt – Southside – Track by Track
The twelve song album lasts 39 minutes.
1. 2016
Sam Hunt prefers the slow way of starting his Southside. A beautiful love song, really nice and atmospheric.
2. Hard to Forget
Hard To Forget has been released a week before the album. At the intro, I was tempted to shake my notebook or blaming Amazon – but after some half a minute, the song is back to Sam Hunt’s country pop sound. Freezing in Germany, snow in Finland – but this track has some summer touch. Not bad at all.
3. Kinfolks
Sam Hunt wants to introduce us to his Kinfolks (family and surrounding) – and this is just what this track is about. The song was released some half a year before the album and definitely a nice one. Melodic, rhythmic, typical Sam Hunt party-style.
4. Young Once
We were young once
We were gung-ho, singing in the sun once
Backroads in the wild, on the run once
Cheap thrills, doing things in the wheat fields
We were young, we were young, we were young once
We were young once
The song has a similar structure like many Sam Hunt songs – I just have to say that it does not touch me. Neither the story nor the arrangement has something special. Slips through my hands.
5. Body Like a Backroad
I am split about this song. First of all: it is a great one. But people were already singing to it while I was at the Red White and Boom Festival in Lexington, Kentucky… Which was in 2017. Album with a best of touch? Hard to imagine that Sam Hunt is that limited in creativity.
6. That Ain’t Beautiful
A song full of bitterness, in which the chorus somehow feels a bit too for away from the verses. Partially like a hip hop song. Hmm, I would at most call this an average one.
7. Let It Down
Let It Down is much closer to why I like (some of) Sam Hunt’s songs. A very classic country music arrangement, upgraded with rhythm and the feeling of a pop song. That’s a song, which can bring people closer to country music – at least in general, I struggle with the song itself here and there.
8. Downtown’s Dead
19th July 2018 – that’s the release date of Downtown’s Dead – so in case this one feels new to you, you are either not too much in Sam Hunt’s music – or you have simply forgotten the track. A very characteristic arrangement for that artist, but far away from his best songs like Body Like A Back Road.
9. Nothing Lasts Forever
A slow song with a bit of rhythm, decent backing melody and even some strings. Glad that this song does not last forever. It does have a certain touch, but does not exceed the average level by too much.
10. Sinning With You
The intimate atmopshere Sinning With You is one of the best songs of the album to me. Good!
11. Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s
I’m tired of gettin’ drunk
Tired of being free
Tired of seeing pictures I don’t wanna see
Girl you’re everywhere
Everywhere but behind me
I bet breaking up was easy in the 90’s
I won’t comment on Sam Hunts age even at the end of the 1990’s and the US alcohol laws. Early teenager experience maybe. I still like that song, it is my definite favorite on the album regarding the really new songs.
12. Drinkin’ Too Much
Regarding the storytelling, this is maybe my favorite song of the album. Drinkin’ Too Much is a song about the love of Sam Hunt and his wife Hannah Lee Fowler. Interesting plot, the song and the whole album finishes with some piano tunes.
Sam Hunt – Southside – Spotify
Here is the Spotify widget for Southside:
Sam Hunt – Southside – My View
In my point of view, the best song on the album (by far) is Body Like A Back Road – but if you have any kind of favor for it, you already had some three years to satisfy your melodic needs and buy that track. There are two, three songs on the album which have a nice touch – the rest is in my view at most average (some even below that). Really sad to say that, as I expected much more of this musical trip to the Southside.
Flyctory.com Country Music Reviews
Here are reviews of all country music albums and EPs I reviewed earlier on the website:

Michael Moravek with The Electric Traveling Show – Night Songs

Max McNown – Night Diving

Jessica Lynn – All I Own

Ringo Starr – Look Up

Early James – Medium Raw

White Denim – 12

Mense – Spanish Night

Niko Moon – These Are The Nights EP

Jessica Lynn – A Very Merry Classic Christmas (Live) EP

Ashley Anne – Call Me When You Land EP

Dwight Yoakam – Brighter Days

Steve Leon & The Accusations – Borrowed Time Bonanza

The Sheepdogs – Hell Together EP

Willie Nelson – Last Leaf On The Tree

Jenna Davis – Sike EP

Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns

Amythyst Kiah – Still + Bright

We Mavericks – Heart of Silver

Riley Green – Don’t Mind If I Do

Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken

Tim Dugger – Stars Over Alabama

Christo Graham – Music For Horses

Sarah Darling – Canyon

Luke Bryan – Mind of a Country Boy

Dylan Schneider – Puzzled

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – Into the Wild EP

Keith Urban – High

Willie Watson – Willie Watson

Brantley Gilbert – Tattoos

Jackson Dean – On The Back Of My Dreams

Ray.An – Hey You!

Warren Zeiders – Relapse

Lainey Wilson – Whirlwind

Thomas Rhett – About A Woman

Cole Phillips – No Town, Oklahoma

Morgan Wade – Obsessed

Elles Bailey – Beneath The Neon Glow

Sugarland – There Goes The Neighborhood EP

Amos Lee – Transmissions

Van Winkle & the Spirits – Southern Song EP

Joe Ely – Driven To Drive

49 Winchester – Leavin’ This Holler

American Aquarium – The Fear Of Standing Still

Kyle Daniel – Kentucky Gold

Megan Moroney – Am I Okay?

T.G. Copperfield – Steppenwolf

Twinnie – Blue Hour (Before The Dawn) EP

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – South of Here

Various – Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty

Luke Combs – Fathers & Sons

HunterGirl – Tennessee Girl EP

Sara Evans – Unbroke

Carly Pearce – Hummingbird

Kameron Marlowe – Keepin’ The Lights On

Jack McBannon – Tennessee

Chancy DeAnne – Chancy DeAnne EP

The Avett Brothers – The Avett Brothers

The Mavericks – Moon & Stars

Scotty McCreery – Rise & Fall

Wade Bowen – Flyin’

Tenille Arts – to be honest

Ilse DeLange – Tainted

Charley Crockett – $10 Cowboy

Sam Hunt – Locked Up EP

Phosphorescent – Revelator

White Dog – Double Dog Dare

Sue Foley – One Guitar Woman

Josh Ross – Complicated EP

The Secret Sisters – Mind, Man, Medicine

Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Revelations

Sheryl Crow – Evolution

Sierra Ferrell – Trail of Flowers

The Wandering Hearts – Mother

The Cumberland River Project – Vain Regrets

Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well

The Northern Belle – Bats In The Attic

Luke Grimes – Luke Grimes

Corb Lund – El Viejo

Chase Matthew – We All Grow Up EP

Drake Milligan – Jukebox Songs EP

Blackberry Smoke – Be Right Here

The Castellows – A Little Goes A Long Way EP

The Dead South – Chains & Stakes

Kerstin Bogensee – Sonne & Zweifel

Taylor McCall – Mellow War

Charles Esten – Love Ain’t Pretty

Sarah Jarosz – Polaroid Lovers

Randall King – Into The Neon

Ashley Anne – dear dolly EP

Backstrom – The Carousel

Hannah Ellis – That Girl

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
