21. February 2025
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Media Review

Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Kelsea Ballerini - Patterns

Kelsea Ballerini - Patterns
3.9

Rating

 3.9/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very personal, relatable album
  • Eleven new tracks
  • Overall, a good listen

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Some weaker pop tracks

Kelsea Ballerini has been one of the first female country music artists I ran into in my journey into the genre. Thus, new releases by the country pop lady are always something special to me. On 25th October 2024, Kelsea shared her fifth studio album overall, Patterns. Here is my review.

 

Kelsea Ballerini – About The Artist

Kelsea Ballerini is a four time Grammy Award nominated artist. She was born on 12th September 1993 in Mascot, Tennessee, and grew up in Knoxville. Her father Ed, having Italian descent, was a sales manager at a country radio station. During her high school years, she was a student of the Knoxville Central High School during the 2008 shooting there. In 2015, Kelsea released her first album The First Time, which peaked fourth in the US Country Album Charts and received a platinum record. The record also included four platinum-awarded singles. Three of them, Love Me Like You Mean It, Dibs, and Peter Pan topped the US Country Airplay Charts.

In 2017, Kelsea released her sophomore album Unapogetically, followed by the 2020 one, Kelsea, and Subject To Change in 2022. All albums peaked at least third in the US Country Charts. Apart from that, she released two EPs, the most recent being Rolling Up the Welcome Mat in 2023.

 

Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns – Track by Track

The fifteen track album lasts 46 minutes.

1. Patterns

The opener Patterns comes with gentle guitar sounds, but rather feels like a beach pop song than the country pop sound you might be used to from Kelsea. The song does show a vulnerable, very personal side of Ballerini, though. It is just a bit of surprising at first listen.

2. Sorry Mom

Only four songs of the album have been released beforehand. Sorry Mom is one of them. The title already tells the message of the song. Lyrics like Sorry, Mom, you know that I had sex ‘fore I bought the white dress are illustrative for this song. Nonetheless, Ballerini also states I turned out alright so you can sleep good at night. Thus, there song is not that submissive, but also comes with a strong and self-confident message.

3. Baggage

A previously unreleased song of the album is Baggage. The song is likely a treat for fans of the former albums. The country touch is fading, but it is an energetic pop track with catching lyrics.

4. First Rodeo

First Rodeo rather connects to the very beginning of Patterns, presenting a rather emotional and personal message. Take my heart, but take it slow, ’cause this ain’t my first rodeo. Rather metaphoric storytelling, which is, however, having a nice touch.

5. Nothing Really Matters

Kelsea Ballerini opens the fifth song very playful. Even though there are also some slower and more mental moments, the cheeky lyrics combined with nicely flowing chorus lead to a nice contrast and an interesting listen.

6. How Much Do You Love Me

The plot of the album feels like an up and down. How Much Do You Love Me is a straight ballad. Thus, it rather emphasizes the emotional side of Patterns. The song nicely focuses on Kelsea’s fine voice.

If the meteor hit, babe, would you get
In your car and drive to me to cry with me?
If I went insane and didn’t know my name
Would you stay beside of me, reminding me?
If I gambled away my money, would you back away?
If my jokes weren’t funny, would you laugh?
How much do you love me? I gotta ask
How much do you love me?

7. Two Things

Two things can be true, I’ll love and hate you. Two Things continues with a rather stripped-back song with a strong focus on Kelsea’s voice and storytelling. The song is more energetic than the previous one. This also turns it into a rather interesting listen.

8. We Broke Up

But it’s as simple as “We broke up” – the eighth song is a fine, fragile modern pop track with a very present rhythm. It is a nice listen, but finally, other Patterns songs leave a much stronger mark. At least, the sing-a-long potential during the We broke up lyrics part might be entertaining in live shows.

9. Wait!

I’m better on my own, I’m better on my own. Wait! Don’t go. The ninth song continues with the break-up subject and illustrates with the struggle of leaving. Can’t get myself to say, “Stay,” before you’re out the door. The song feels very relatable and is thus is one of the strongest messages on Kelsea’s 2024 record.

10. Beg for Your Love

I’d follow you to the moon, babe
You know I’m ride-or-die for you
But if you want a chase, I won’t run
I ain’t gonna beg for your love
I wanna go the distance, babe
But can’t do it if I betray
All the way before you work I’ve done
I ain’t gonna beg for your love

After the up and down at the beginning of Patterns, this part of the album feels much better structured. Beg For Your Love does not need much more than an acoustic guitar and Ballerini’s vocals. A very intimate message sent by the artist, which leads to a touching experience.

11. Deep

The limited instrumentation style of some other songs is peaking in Deep, where you partially just feel listening to her vocals. There is some rhythm and slight instrumentation in the background, though. Even though the song comes with nice lyrics like If lovin’ you is an ocean, then I’m in deep, I don’t get into it that much.

12. Cowboys Cry Too (feat. Noah Kahan)

Cowboys Cry Too, recorded together with Vermont-origin Noah Kahan, has been by far the most successful song of the album release campaign. Especially the duet part of the song feels like a perfect match of two vocalists, indeed.

13. I Would, Would You

The thirteenth track is another song about love and being in a relationship. I Would, Would You has a nice rhythm and a good groove and works at least to move to its vibes. Just what pop music is about.

14. This Time Last Year

This Time Last Year takes a rather unhasting start, but then develops towards a country-pop track. Thereby, it again feels to be a nice present to the long-term Kelsea fans – even if some of her previous albums do include better listens of a smilar style.

15. Did You Make it Home? (outro)

The last 59 seconds of the album are dedicated to this outro track, which does come with some lyrics as well. Just driven by the acoustic guitar and Kelsea on the microphone, it is a nice fade-out and farewell from the album.

 

Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns – Spotify

Here is Patterns on Spotify:

 

Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns – My View

Patterns definitely moves Kelsea Ballerini much stronger into the pop music direction. Some of the songs are really fascinating and lead to an enjoyable listen. I especially liked her direct, personal storytelling. However, there are also weaker spots, especially among the eleven previously unreleased tracks. Nontheless, it is a good album – it just cannot connect to some of her fabulous releases before.

Favorite Song: Baggage

 

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Here are all my Media Reviews related to pop music and the USA:

 

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