29. May 2026
Home » Music & Media » Media Review » Joshua Ray Walker – Ain’t Dead Yet
Media Review

Joshua Ray Walker – Ain’t Dead Yet

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Joshua Ray Walker - Ain't Dead Yet

Joshua Ray Walker - Ain't Dead Yet
4.4

Rating

 4.4/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Straight, very personal lyrics
  • Songs with intense atmosphere

Joshua Ray Walker teases his new album as his most autobiographical record yet. The album also deals with his cancer diagnosis, even though he is healed nowadays. In summer, he will share his songs on an extended European tour. These are quite good reasons to have a deeper listen into Ain’t Dead Yet, his sixth studio album overall. He shared these songs on 29th May 2026.

 

Joshua Ray Walker – About The Artist

Joshua Ray Walker is a 1991 born country artist from Dallas in Texas. He is also adding some other Americana elements to his music and his well-known for his excellent presentation of characters in his songs. In 2019, he released his debut album Wish You Were Here. In the press information about the album, he describes the circumstances under which he wrote his 2026 album.

I faced death; I almost lost my house; I got engaged; We lost most of our belongings to flood and mold; I’ve had loved ones die; I almost lost my entire music catalog. It’s been a lot, good and bad. I’m just a much different person,” he continues. I’m very intentional with my time, and I’m a lot happier, even though things have been hard, I genuinely do think I’m happier. It’s been a pretty wild transformation.

 

Joshua Ray Walker – Ain’t Dead Yet – Track by Track

The ten song album lasts 40 minutes.

1. Ain’t Dead Yet

To all you non-believers
Wondering what I’ll wear when I’m laid to rest
I won’t need my Sunday’s best
Cause I ain’t dead yet

The title track sends the core message of the album right at its beginning. The dark, unagitated voice feels calm, but is definitely not free of emotions. I’m done waiting around to die, my friends, Walker states later in the song. These opening (almst) three minutes feel like a promising beginning.

2. Shoot Me Straight

Shoot Me Straight immediately goes for a more zesty song. The drums are banging and the groove of the second song catches you quickly. A nostalgic honk-tonk powerhouse, which is definitely a fun listen. I am sure this one will make Cologne dance when he hits my home town in summer (see below).

3. Chasing Sunsets

Another previously released song is Chasing Sunsets. Just as the title suggests, this one is a significantly calmer listen. The country-ballad has a struggling and melancholic touch. For example, the artist states I’m running out of ones to call my friends, memory lane is a freeway now. The slightly whiny style of his voice in this song feels like a perfect fit.

4. Outlaw

With howling vocals and rocking Western-style music, the fourth track indeed spreads Outlaw feelings. Joshua Ray Walker keeps Ain’t Dead Yet rather on the traditional style – but he definitely does not make his record sound old-fashioned so far.

It’s all very simple
If your here to play the game
You’d be wrong to call an outlaw
By any other name

5. Capital Letters

The last previously released song of the album is Capital Letters. It starks rather calm, but the four minute track increases its energy. Especially from the instrumental side, there is quite some power. However, it also has fine elements like a fiddle melody as well.

6. Texas Sober

The sixth track is Texas Sober. It is defined by a playful melody and the special touch in Joshua Ray Walker’s voice. The song is maybe not the most striking one of the album at first sight, but it is much more than a filler. Additionally, it comes with nice storytelling.

I won’t buy it
I don’t drive it
I definitely won’t supply it
I always leave when the night is over
You can call it Texas sober

7. Blue Genes

My bad teeth are from my daddy
And I got my mama’s eyes
These jeans don’t seem to sit right
Crab apples on both sides
I tried my best but sadly
I got unlucky in my veins
So I’ll be the last to carry my name

The seventh track is a very dark track with a sad touch. My line is drawn, ain’t got nothing in these pockets worth passing along, he states in the chorus. With that narration, the song also has a very social critic touch, which has its climax in a lamenting jodeling section. To me, Blue Genes is one of the most intense listens of this release.

8. Stepping Stones

Despite the song comes with a more rocking, modern and playful style, Stepping Stones struggles with life as well. A high hospital bill, working too much overtime – there are so many challenges. Nonetheless, the song is not that melancholic and even has an uplifting twist. This life is just on loan, so enjoy the stepping stones demands you not too struggle too much. And, while listening to the song, it somehow feels working out well.

9. Some People

The penultimate song is about people who complain about life, even though their fair is not too bad. The melody of the song could be a 1960’s country song, but the lyrics are absolutely up-to-date and fit into the 21st century perfectly. Thus, it is a song I absolutely enjoyed during my review.

10. Thank You For Listening

Thanks for listening
To all my sad songs
Thanks for loving me
When I sing the words wrong
Makes the bad times
Not seem so long
Thanks for listening

What a polite way of closing the album. The chucker-out is a direct message to the listener and almost feel like an excuse. I have to state: it was definitely not a that bad experience. Thanks for recording all your sad songs!

 

Joshua Ray Walker – Ain’t Dead Yet – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Joshua Ray Walker – Ain’t Dead Yet – Track by Track

Of course, Joshua Ray Walker’s record is not a mainstream album. It is nostalgic, often thoughtful and melancholic. But in all of that setting, he has created an absolutely lovely listen. I especially liked the personal style in his lyrics – and the traditional style feels like a nice fit. If you dare listening to country albums, which are not predictable, don’t deal with alcohol, girls and cars, but give you some stories to reflect about, you should give Ain’t Dead Yet a chance.

Favorite Song: Blue Genes

 

Joshua Ray Walker – Ain’t Dead Yet Tour 2026

In early July, Joshua Ray Walker kicks off his European tour, which especially includes quite a lot of dates in Norway.

Fr 03.07.2026 Trondheim (Norway) – Byscenen
Su 05.07.2026 Tromso – Blarock
We 08.07.2026 Lillehammer – Wiese
Fr 10.07.2026 Breim – Norsk Country-Treff
Su 12.07.2026 Bergen – Ole Bulle Scene
Tu 14.07.2026 Stavanger – Tou Scene
Fr 17.07.2026 Oslo – John Dee
Sa 18.07.2026 Gothenburg (Sweden) – John Dee
Tu 21.07.2026 Stockholm – Debaser
We 22.07.2026 Hoganas – Garage Bar
Fr 24.07.2026 Copenhagen (Denmark) – Mojo
Su 26.07.2026 Cologne (Germany) – Freideck Kantine
Tu 28.07.2026 London (United Kingdom) – The Lower Third
We 29.07.2026 Manchester – The Deaf Institute
Th 30.07.2026 Glasgow – The Hug and Pint
Sa 01.08.2026 Dublin (Ireland) – Wheelan’s

 

Concerts in Germany

Here are all my concert reports related to Germany:

 

Flyctory.com Featured Artists

I grant special focus and support to the Flyctory.com Featured Artists. Here are all postings related to at least one of them:

You might also like

Diane Weigmann – Die Wahrheit liegt irgendwo dazwischen

Giovanni Zarrella – Per sempre

Sepultura – Quadra

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *