12. February 2025
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Media Review

Luke Combs – Fathers & Sons

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Luke Combs - Fathers & Sons

Luke Combs - Fathers & Sons
5

Rating

 5.0/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very personal and touching songs
  • Full of parental love

It was one of the big news at CMA Fest: just a week before the in-fact release of this album, Luke Combs announced Fathers & Sons. The country music superstar shared his new set of songs on 14th June 2024. Here is my review.

 

Luke Combs – About The Artist

Luke Albert Combs was born in Huntersville, North Carolina, on 2nd March 1990. Starting with his debut album album This One’s For You (2017), he became one of the most popular country music artists of recent times. The album was a six time platinum record each in the United States and Canada. Two more US Country Chart-topping albums followed, What You See Is What You Get (2019) and Growin’ Up (2022). His most recent release, Gettin’ Old (2023), “just” peaked second in there. Combs is a also having a large fan base overseas. For example, Gettin’ Old peaked fifth in the (non-genre-specific) British charts.

 

Luke Combs – Fathers & Sons – Track by Track

The twelve song album lasts 40 minutes. On factor why the album was rather surprisingly released is that only one song has been shared beforehand.

1. Front Door Famous

Walkin’ through the front door
Hearin’ Daddy at the top of his lungs
And his feet on the wood floor
Runnin’ up to give me a hug
Yeah, that’s what it’s all for
And the spotlight, I can’t replace it
And in a heartbeat, man, I’d trade it
‘Cause it ain’t got nothin’ on being front door famous

The album title already suggests that the topic of this album will be all around family. Front Door Famous is such a beautiful, emotional opener – you simply have to love it. Luke Combs at his best in regards of emotional songwriting.

2. In Case I Ain’t Around

In case I ain’t around when you get older… are the opening words of the chorus of this song. A song by his father to his child full of good advice (like before you crank a tractor, pump the clutch). The song is more rhythmic and snappy than the opener and comes with some nice fiddle element. But finally, the storytelling strikes so strongly in here again.

3. Huntin’ By Yourself

But next thing you know,
they’re all grown up and then
You’re huntin’ by yourself again

Combs is reflecting about the first time he takes his son to a hunt. The kid is not ready for that, he is not patient and quiet enough. But Combs simply enjoys the moment being with him, being thankful for his life. Taking kids to hunts may be questionable from some European point of view – but you don’t even dare to ask this question. This emotional, rather slow track is just too beautifully told that you want to disagree.

4. Little Country Boys

The fourth song is praising all the experiences a little country boy is doing while growing up. Finally, the key sentences are Dad, you’re my best friend and the beautiful bridge (below). A very relaxed song about all the things, which might also e a bit of struggle for parents, but finally are part of the things you did in your youth as well.

Yeah, they’re just like us
They don’t ever wanna grow up
They hunt, they fish,
they love to ride in the truck

5. Whoever You Turn Out to Be

The fifth song feels like a perfect follow-up to the song before. The key message is so simple, but also so strong – But I’ll love whoever you turn out to be. Luke Combs is so personal, so full of love in this album. You just don’t the rocking, powerful songs in Fathers & Sons so far. You just love him being such a supporting father and writing amazing songs about that.

6. Remember Him That Way

In the sixth song, Luke Combs is turning the perspective (maybe he has done before as well…). He is remembering all the admiration for his father when he was a kid. He is even comparing him with Superman in the chorus. So touching – especially if your family memories are not as happy as these ones.

But I remember him ten feet tall and bulletproof
Throwin’ me a ball in cowboy boots
A whistle and the dogs start runnin’
A whisper and Mama starts blushin’
A wrench in his hand and a beer in the other
God couldn’t make a man any tougher
And that ‘S’ on his chest is startin’ to fade
But I’ll always remember him that way

7. The Man He Sees In Me

The awesome song The Man He Sees In Me has in fact been the only song which has been published before the album. In the context of the Fathers & Sons songs, the song feels to send an even stronger message than it did as a single.

8. All I Ever Do Is Leave

Luke Combs is thinking about childhood memories in this song. Playing baseball, Batman and Robin – and waiting for his father. The song is again about parental love and the comfort it gives. Even though I feel it is slightly less striking and touching than the songs before, it is indeed a beautiful one.

9. Plant a Seed

Oh, time ain’t always your friend
It starts slow and gets faster towards the end
So fill up your heart with love, pass it on before you go
And thank the man upstairs
That you were there to plant a seed
And watch it grow

Plant a Seed is another emotional highlight of the album. The song is praising being a parent and also advising that you should be thankful to pass your love to the next generation. Just very decent drumming and a lot of strings in the background create a beautiful atmosphere on the album.

10. Ride Around Heaven

To me, Ride Around Heaven is the most beautiful write of the album. Luke Combs is taking a ride with his grandfather in his Ford. Hwoever, We took a ride around Heaven last night. And It felt so real, I could hear them Goodyears pulling out the front gate. It was just a dream. Such a lovely way to remind of your passed away ancestor.

11. My Old Man Was Right

The eleventh track is about all the good advice your parents give you. Finally, you need to take your own experience – and then feel that my old man was right. The song somehow feels like an excuse that you did some of the decisions your parents warned you about. But it also somehow states that it is natural that you have go for these things in life.

12. Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Mama said she loves you,
And in some ways always will
I guess maybe things are different now,
But daddy can’t you still?

The song is about parents breaking up – which also feels to change your life as a kid. Going to a baseball game as you did earlier is no longer on your schedule. The song is full of struggle, but also full of hope.

 

Luke Combs – Fathers & Sons – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

 

Luke Combs – Fathers & Sons – My View

If you want to party with Luke Combs, if you want to have the same feeling you had at Hurricane or Beer Never Broke Your Heart with Luke Combs, Fathers & Sons is not the right choice for you. The songs are slow and thus feel to have a certain monotony. But the stories, the emotions, the straight, personal style of the album turns it into one of my favorite albums of the year so far. So, if you just want to party with this amazing, you miss a fantastic listen.

Favorite Song: Remember Him That Way

 

The Flyctory.com Club of Excellence

There are not too many reviews (of any kind) which make it to a 5.0 on Flyctory. Praise the best ones:

 

All “classic” blog posts

No reviews – just debating and certain topics – these are my “traditional” blog posts in the categories Just blogging, Just blogging on music and Sports Blogging:

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