Raleigh J Squires - Darwin
Country, Country Rock, Christian/Gospel
Tennessee, United States
Overall Impression: Tennessee based singer/songwriter Raleigh J Squires serves up an insightful slice of neo-traditional country with his release of "Darwin." A brutally honest and acutely aware social commentary, this mid tempo track makes the keen observation that "We're all just monkeys with money and guns", set to a mostly acoustic folk/blues based arrangement that serves as an ideal backdrop for Squires' easygoing, natural vocal delivery. Its rootsy sound and down-to-earth character make Raleigh J Squires' "Darwin" an easy recommendation for mainstream country music fans, while the thought provoking, mindful nature of its lyrics will appeal to alt-country and folk audiences as well.
Strongest Point(s): Excellent production and overall mix, especially for a DIY project. Great "porch music" vibe here. Outstanding lyrical content, amazing job of summarizing global plights in a concise and entertaining manner. Vocals sound terrific, nice subtle harmony layer. Great tagline/hook, with the "monkeys" line. The sparse drums establish a supportive "swampy" groove. Guitars sound crisp and clean, and that's a fantastic bass tone reinforced by the tick-tack guitar. Overall, it's an incredibly observational, compelling song and a finished track that's got a wonderfully rustic charm about it. Tremendous job, really nice work on this one!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Country, Neo-Traditional Country, Americana, Folk-Rock, Alt Country
Artist target suggestions: Dwight Yoakam, Sturgill Simpson, Steve Earle, Clint Black, Robert Earl Keen, Shooter Jennings, Rodney Crowell, Billy Joe Shaver, Chris Stapleton, Lukas Nelson, Conway Twitty, Robbie Fulks, Justin Townes Earle
Interested in having your Song Reviewed by our Professional Staff? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Song Reviews under the Special Offers menu!
About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre, from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers