23. March 2025
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Riley Green – Don’t Mind If I Do

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Riley Green - Don't Mind If I Do

Riley Green - Don't Mind If I Do
4.3

Rating

 4.3/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • 18 tracks (10 new songs)
  • Nice range of country music sounds

I have featured the country musician Riley Green twice already. However my most recent review is dated as of 2021. His fourth studio album overall, Don’t Mind If I Do, feels like a perfect opportunity to do so. Here is my review of the 18th October 2024 release.

 

 

Riley Green – About The Artist

Riley Green is an 1998-born US-American artist, who is originally from Jacksonville in Alabama. He originally pursued a quarterback career in American Football, but had to retire and changed to music. In 2013, he started to pursue a professional artist career. Four years later, he self-released is debut EP Outlaws Like Us. So far, he released three studio albums and six EPs. I featured two of these releases, Behind The Bar (2021, EP) and his 2019 debut album Different ‘Round Here. In April 2024, he shared the EP Way Out Here. Six out of seven songs on that release are also part of Don’t Mind If I Do.

 

Riley Green – Don’t Mind If I Do – Track by

Track

The eighteen song album lasts 63 minutes.

1. That’s A Mistake

The credits of the opener state Tucket Beathard, Jimi Bell and Travis Denning as the writers of the song. Riley Green worked with some of the finest ones of the country music business – which results in a beautiful, emotional and touching song. A promising beginning of the album.

2. Change My Mind

After the opener, Change My Mind rather heads into the country-rock direction. The song has been one of the feature singles of the album. A beautiful storytelling, in which Riley Green himself also pops up as an author. How nice is Show up in a midnight sundress // 
Burn me up with a whiskey kiss, for example? I really like it.

3. Reel Problems (feat. Luke Bryan)

Rilex meets the Big Luke in the third song of his 2024 album. Reel Problems is a mid-tempo listen with a nice groove. The song feels like a classic Luke Bryan track – which also means that it is fun to listen.

Got me some reel problems 
Like some cold beers to crack 
Got a hole in my net
And a good ol’ fashioned backlash
Yeah, some reel problems like a big old bird’s nest
There’s ten pounds of bass on my seven-pound test
And I’m hung up on the log down on the bottom
Yeah, I got myself some reel problems 

4. Turnin’ Dirt

We turn rain into gold, and we turn seeds into somethin’
We turn hard work into cold hard cash but that ain’t nothin’
He turned water into wine
He makes this world turn on a dime
Yeah, the closest you and I can get to God down here on earth
Is turnin’ dirt

Don’t Mind If I Do doesn’t change the setting too much between the third and the fourth track. Turnin’ Dirt is about the same speed, maybe not as groovy as its predecessor. A heart-warming track for traditional country music lovers, which also means that there are some typical small town life reference in it.

5. Jesus Saves

The song is one of the most nicely told ones of the album. It starts with the words There was man I used to pass on my way into town, he was covered in dirt like the world had beat him down. During , Riley Green explains how he got more and more into the story of that man. A great listen, which definitely deserved to be picked as a single release.

6. Too Early To Drink

The song is about personal struggle, breaking up – and the role of alcohol. The song comes with a rather easy and basic melody with a rather traditional touch. But the story does not need more than that – and the simplicity of the song helps to focus on its lyrics.

7. Pick A Place

Trying to revive a relationship – or pick a place where hearts don’t break. This is the key topic of the seventh track on Riley Green’s 2024 album. A nice write, which turns into a straight country music ballad. A good listen.

8. Way Out Here

Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
You might meet ’em both if you show up here not welcome, son

The eighth song is about country / small town life again. Not sure if I favor this kind of personal protection from a European perspective. But the title track of his recent EP release is definitely a song, which works well on the North American market. Definitely, Way Out Here comes with good country vibes.

9. Waitin’ All Day

I guess this song deserves the explicit marker on streaming platforms. Or do I get lyrics like Been losing my mind like you’re losing that dress wrong? A country song full of desire and a nice melody, which initially felt a bit of average to me. However, I just cannot deny it stays in my head.

10. Chip Off The Ol’ Block

I had to smile while writing the review of this song. The official press kit states every company name with the registered trade mark sign And there are quite a lot in this song – and on Don’t Mind If I Do in general. Maybe this one deserves being marked as some sort of singing advertisement. But Riley Green is also advertising his music well in here. A cool, laid back, groovy country song with some party potential.

11. Alcohall Of Fame

Lukas Nelson released his Alcohallelujah in March 2023. One and a half year later, Riley Green comes up with a similar word joke. Needless to say that the lyrics sheet is full of these trade mark signs. But what else would you expect from the Alcohall Of Fame? Te songis definitely fun. I highly recommend a cold one while listening to it.

12. Rather Be

Rather Be is a real catch. Similar to other songs before, it combines an easy melody, a good groove and a chorus which stays in your mind. This finally leads to fluent, entertaining almost three minutes. I really like it.

13. Good Morning From Mexico

We had it all planned out, that honeymoon trip
We’s gonna head south of the border as soon as we got hitched
Girl, I guess you had a change of heart
My whole world began to fall apart
And now you’re wondering where I’ve been, and you just called checking in

This dramatic opening of Good Morning From Mexico turns into a rather happy ending. Good morning from Mexico, I found a little senorita and she don’t wanna let me go – the catch phrase of the chorus leads into a easy melody with some in-fact Mexcan music vibes.  You’ll have to dance to this song, indeed.

14. Torn

Riley Green is indeed presenting some fun music in this section of his 2024 album. Torn is another really nicely flowing country rocker. I guess this one could be a lot of fun on upcoming shows by the Alabama artist. I like it.

15. Damn Good Day To Leave

And he rocks on. Stomping drums, guitar power and a lot of energy comes with this song. No matter if You picked a damn good day to leave does not feel like a fully happy story. Nice one.

16. Looking Back On This

I’m looking through the windshield at the white lines tryin’ to keep it on the road
I’m starin’ at your long hair, your green eyes, slidin’ over to me close
You’re looking at me like you wanna lean in for a kiss
It’s looking like we’re ‘bout to make a memory that we won’t forget
And I’m looking forward to looking back on this

Ahh, the muses of love. Ain’t that beautiful? As a mathematician, I highly envy that level of romance I will never be able to reach. So I enjoy this one, which starts slowly, but then comes with a lot of energy.

17. Don’t Mind If I Do (feat. Ella Langley)

The last two songs have been released before the album already. The title track is rather on the slower side, and Ella Langley adds a nice touch to this ballad duet, especially in the second half of the song. Nice song.

18. Worst Way

I want you in the worst way
My hands are needin’ your hips
Want the first taste of whiskey to be off your lips
So close all the blinds, lock all the doors, put away anything that’ll break
Baby I need you tonight
Let’s see how much love we can make
I want you in the worst way

If Riley Green is an as hot lover as his songs about this topic are, the ladies must really love this guy. Maybe out of that perspective, it is a wise choice sending this message out at the very ending of Don’t Mind If I Do. Doesn’t the last message somehow stand the best? Definitely a memorable finale of this record.

 

Riley Green – Don’t Mind If I Do – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Riley Green – Don’t Mind If I Do – My View

First of all: thanks, Riley Green, for sharing 18 songs on this album with us. This is definitely not industry standard any more. Yeah, there are eight previously released ones, but that still means, ten new listens are waiting for a listen by the Riley Green fan base. The album is good and is a very fluent listen. Don’t Mind If I Do features a nice range of songs as well. They might not all be in the top notch range, but definitely a good listen. I highly appreciate this album.

Favorite Song: Damn Good Day To Leave

 

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