25. March 2025
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Media Review

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Lainey Wilson - Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'

Lainey Wilson - Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'
4.3

Rating

 4.3/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Twelve really good songs
  • Very different tracks - from powerful to intimate
  • Lovely songwriting

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Nine out of twelve songs pre-released - don't expect surprises

Her powerful songs – and maybe also her strong Southern accent as a signature element – boosted Lainey Wilson’s music steadily during the last years. Things A Man Oughta Know, a 2019 song, has been streamed 16 million times on Spotify only. Thus, it is not too suprisingly that country fans worldwide celebrated the announcement that Wilson would release her second album in February 2021. Her 19th Feb publication is called Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

 

Lainey Wilson – About The Artist

Lainey Wilson grew up in Baskin, Lousiana, as the daughter of a farmer and a teacher. She already started to writer lyrics at the age of nine and learned to play the guitar two years later. After a school project, she had her first appearances on stage in all Lousiana as a Hannah Montana tribute – she however did perform own songs as part of these shows as well. In 2016, Wilson released her debut album Tougher. She steadily grew her popularity with Workin’ Overtime driving the success of her 2018 self-titled EP. Her 2019 four track EP, Redneck Hollywood, featured two very popular songs, Dirty Looks and Things A Man Oughta Know. Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ is Wilson’s second album release.

 

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ – Track by Track

The twelve song album lasts 38 minutes. Unfortunately, nine songs have already been released before the album.

1. Neon Diamonds

Someday, I want the weddin’
Somethin’ borrowed, somethin’ blue
Flowers and a veil
And a sunset honeymoon
But tonight we ain’t nothin’
But a downtown bride and groom
Gettin’ hitched on whiskey vows
And exchangin’ drunk I do’s
With neon diamonds and smoke rings
Neon diamonds and smoke rings

Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ starts with a very characteristic Lainey Wilson song: straight, powerful – and, of course, with her very own and signature voice. Lainey Wilson is special – and you just enjoy this twelve song country music trip with her from the very first stage.

2. Sunday Best

Sunday Best comes with a lovely country groove. I am sure country music traditionalists love these kind of Lainey Wilson songs. On the other hand, it is definitely not old-fashioned in a way that new country lovers will doubt about it. Cool one!

3. Things A Man Oughta Know

When I received the album via a German nationwide promotion network, I was a bit sad that the current single is Things A Man Oughta Know. For sure, this slower track is a beauty – but I would have loved to have one of the more powerful songs as the promo track for the album. Hope that I am wrong and the few radio stations playing it will get a bunch of good feedback.

4. Small Town, Girl

Small Town, Girl is a classic modern style country song: close to spoken word in the verses, powerful, rocking chorus. The good thing about it: when Lainey Wilson performs a song like that, it does not feel like Nashville’s mainstream mass sound. Good listen with a cool sing-a-long potential.

5. LA

A song about Los Angeles? Of course not – Lainey Wilson is very straight about that in her song LA. Really enjoy to listen to it.

When you say LA, I think Louisiana
Lower Alabama, stars up in the sky
And I ain’t been to California
Way too far from Georgia
But one day I might

6. Dirty Looks

The Dirty Looks bring the album back to an emotional and less powerful mood. Lainey Wilson is also album to do these kinds of songs with a lot of beauty.

7. Pipe

Lainey Wilson fans are already in the familiar comfort zone while listening to Saying What I’m Thinking… So many tunes they already know. But then, there is Pipe. It sounds new. What’s that? Sorry for being a bit sarcastic, but Pipe is the first song of the second half of the album – and indeed, it is the first new song. So be aware that you don’t miss it. Not my favorite one on the album, though.

8. Keeping Bars in Business

Keeping Bars in Business is the second new track on the album – and while I haven’t been that fond about Pipe, I definitely love this one. A rather slow and soft song with a beautiful melody. It is simply a lovely listen to me.

9. Straight Up Sideways

Back to well-known tracks – and back to Lainey Wilson power: Straight Up Sideways is one for the country rock fans. Nonetheless, the song comes with this lovely Louisiana groove by Lainey Wilson. She is simply doing great.

10. WWDD

WWDD
That’s the bottom line for me
My go-to compass and my golden rule
When life rings my southern bell
I just gotta ask myself, hell
What would Dolly do

If you haven’t fallen in love with Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ this praise to Dolly Parton is the perfect opportunity to do so. It might come with the deepest lyrics ever written by Wilson – but it is indeed perfect to cheer up the crowds at your next party!

11. Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is to me the emotional highlight of the album. The nearly four minutes are just so beautifully arranged. You can really feel the happiness and love Lainey Wilson is also spreading in the lyrics. Love it!

12. Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

The album closes with the title track – which is again on the intimate and fragile side. Another beautiful song with a very nice melodic atmopshere.

 

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ – Spotify

Here is the Spotify widget of Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’:

 

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ – My View

I am really mixed about Sayin’ What I’m Thinking. On the one hand, it is indeed a fantastic album. Lainey Wilson truly deserves the Top Pick! award for that. On the other hand, I just cannot deny that I feel knowing nine out of twelve songs beforehand is unacceptable to me. Nashville, the album is dead because you killed it. The beauty of a new story in ten, twelve, fifteen episodes, of which you just know a few cornerstones is impossible if you tell us the whole first act beforehand. I know people are controversial about it – but that’s my thought. Add up some notches to my rating if you feel differently or if you haven’t run into Lainey Wilson’s music.

 

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