16. June 2025
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Media Review

Dillon Carmichael – Keepin’ Country Alive

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Dillon Carmichael - Keepin' Country Alive

Dillon Carmichael - Keepin' Country Alive
4.5

Rating

 4.5/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very characteristic and nice voice
  • Good storytelling
  • Good range of songs

Dillon Carmichael made his Grand Ole Opry debut and released his debut album at the age of 24. His career advanced quite a bit in the meantime. On 13th June 2025, he already released his third album. Here is my review of Keepin’ Country Alive.

 

Dillon Carmichael – About The Artist

Dillon Carmichael is a US country music artist born on 8th November 1993 in Burgin in Kentucky. His family includes multiple other musicians. The most prominent is likely his Uncle John Michael Montgomery. He started to do music in early teenage years and moved to Nashville after graduating at high school.  In 2018, Carmichael released his debut album Hell of an Angel, which peaked 37th in the US indie charts. Apart from his sophomore album Son Of A (2021), he released three EPs. Namely, they are I Do for You (2019), Hot Beer (2021) and Where I Grew Up (2023).

 

Dillon Carmichael – Keepin’ Country Alive – Track by Track

The 14 song album lasts 44 minutes.

1. Raised Up Wrong

Keeping’ Country Alive kicks off with one of six previously released songs, Raised Up Wrong. The opener is a rather mid-tempo one, coming with energetic, pumping guitar work. Here and there, you have to slightly bang your head to it, while stomping your boots as well. A really nice first taster of the album.

2. Good Ol’ Day

The rock attitude of Good Ol’ Day is definitely lower than in the opener. Overall, the song is even a bit of the traditional country music side, but is – of course – still a modern country track. The nice sway in the song makes it feel like the typical summer night country night sing along. I really like this kind of music by Dillon Carmichael.

I’m right smack dab in the middle of
What I need more than just a little of
Gotta live it up ‘fore I’m 6 feet down
I gotta good ol’ dog
A good ol’ truck
A damn good women with some good ol’ love
This good ol’ boys sure got it made
Lord it’s been a good ol’ day

3. When She’s Drinkin’

Keepin’ Country Alive has a really enjoyable beginning. When She’s Drinkin’ is melodically somewhere between the first two songs. The song is a really nice song to listen as well as being made for a show on stage. The catch phrase She only loves me when she’s drinkin’ is likely also quite a precise one tailored for the targeted modern country music audience. I absolutely enjoyed listening to these three minutes.

4. She Gone

The relationship scenarios presented in this part of the album are not the most positive ones. After love being based on alcohol the song before, this one is about a breakup. Despite there is some trouble (obviously) behind this story – Dillon Carmichael tells the story in a really lovely way and turns it into a really good modern country song.

She gone, she gone down the highway
Gone and ripped that rearview off
No last chance kiss in the driveway
Now, don’t that sound like a country song
She’s rolling like she stole it, all I know is
She ain’t going
She gone

5. Home

After these three new songs, Dillon Carmichael now shares three previously released ones on Keepin’ Country Alive. A typical country music song put into a rather slow and ballad-alike style. Home, family, childhood memories – they are all in here. And I pray one day that’s where they’ll lay these bones when the good Lord calls me home. Really nice storytelling again.

6. No Matter How Hard I Try

No Matter How Hard I Try brings the album back to the modern country rock style of some of the tracks before. Can’t stop thinkin’ ’bout you, I dream about you all night, too – there is a lot of love and emotions in this one. The song feels very relatable and is thus definitely another really nice one on this record.

7. Someone Like You

Dillon Carmichael covers Adele in this one. It might sound a bit of dubious in mind, when you think of his very male, slightly raspy voice. But that’s what gives Someone Like You a special twist. I still prefer the original, but it is a nice part of the album – and one of the most frequently streamed ones of the already released songs.

8. Tiny Little Fiddle
I saw you soon as you walked in
Pretty as you’ve ever been
Walkin’ up with those tears in your eyes
Saying how your missin’ me
And everything we used to be
The grass wasn’t greener on that other side
The songs starts with a very traditional, extremely soupy style. Just when you think about whether you will stand this sound for the entire duration of the song, it suddenly turns into a rhythmic, modern country song, which is perfectly made for a country dance. A really clever and fun twist.
9. Keepin’ Country Alive

The title track of Dillon Carmichael’s 2025 album is next. The title of the track already tells it story, it is praising and asking to preserve the country music lifestyle. Merle Haggard music, meetings at the porch and farming – they are all in this energetic song, which deserves more attention than it had so far.

10. Hell Freezes Over

I’ve been reading my bible and watching the weather
Pacin’ that front porch straight through December
Prayin’ and waitin’ on it to get colder
Cause you said you’d come back
When Hell freezes over

The tenth song is a slightly slower one. I especially like the vocal performance by Carmichael in this one. However, Hell Freezes Over is overall an intense and present listen, even though I prefer other songs on this album.

11. I’d Call Grandpa

If you look at Spotify streams, the last already released song on the album has also been the most successful track so far. When Momma was busy and Daddy was gone I’d call Grandpa – the intention behind this rather emotional song is rather obvious. A song just as they love it on the West side of the Atlantic Ocean.

12. She Likes Me This Way

Sometimes I fish too much
Sometimes I misbehave
Sometimes my mouth needs shut
Sometime I need a shave

There may be bad or unfortunate things about Dillon Carmichael and being with him – but She likes me this way. That’s exactly the plot and story of the song. It feels very personal and it is beautiful listening to the lyrics. A very solid one.

13. Heartbreak Waitin’ To Happen

Heartbreak Waitin’ To Happen is a bit of a traditional style song with summer vibes. The strumming guitar even has a bit of campfire atmosphere: The penultimate song on Keepin’ Country Alive is one of its most fun ones, indeed.

14. Goin’ Places

The slightly traditionally featured Goin’ Places is a zesty finale of the album. The song has a present rhythm, it fast pace is catching. It ensures that you close this album with a smile in your face.

 

Dillon Carmichael – Keepin’ Country Alive – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Dillon Carmichael – Keepin’ Country Alive – My View

I really loved listening to this album. Dillon Carmichael has a lovely, characteristic voice and he is a lovely storytelling. The songs on Keepin’ Country Alive cover a wide range of styles. Here and there, there are a bit too many country music stereotypes in the record – but that’s what the North American market appreciates. His 2025 release is definitely worth listening.

Favorite Song: She Gone

 

USA-related postings in 2025

Here are all my posts related to the USA and released in 2025:

 

Media Reviews – 2025 Top Pick!s

Here are all 2025-published Media Reviews, which lead to a Top Pick! rating:

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