Norman Collins - I Wanna Rule Somebody
Rock, Alternative
California, U.S.
Overall Impression: Singer/songwriter/guitarist Norman Collins examines unjust power dynamics and broken social contracts, with his release of "I Wanna Rule Somebody." As the premier single from Collins' 2024 full-length album Front Porch Philosopher, this track features an aggressive modern country-rock sound that blends monster riffs and heavy backbeats with twangy leads and a clear contemporary country music influence. Spirited vocals deliver keenly sardonic lyrics that explore hotbed topics of inequity and despotism, spotlighting a critical cultural junction and illustrating the crucial breaches and burgeoning cracks in the overarching social order. Norman Collins' "I Wanna Rule Somebody" should appeal to forward-thinking country and Southern rock fans, thanks to its hard-hitting sound and progressive themes.
Strongest Point(s): Solid production and mix. Good tonal balance and clarity. Great energy and intensity, straight from the top. Excellent arrangement and song structure, nice contrast between verse and chorus sections and a particularly good bridge that does well to break things up a bit. Outstanding guitar tones and techniques, nice blend of acoustic and electric. Great solo around 2:12. Tremendous country-rock groove, rhythm guitar, bass and drums work very well together here to create a galloping-type beat. Terrific vocal performance, compelling style and delivery that audiences will love. Brilliant lyrical content and themes; nice first-person narrative along with a healthy dose of clever sarcasm to get your point across, and the topics should resonate strongly with audiences. All in all, this is a fantastic tune that operates as a sly protest song in the guise of a mainstream, modern country-rock track. Stellar work on this one, all around!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Pop/Rock, Country, Contemporary Country, Southern Rock, Country Rock, Progressive Country.
Artist target suggestions: Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Brothers Osborne, Cody Jinks, Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Lukas Nelson, Luke Combs, Charles Wesley Godwin, Dierks Bentley, Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Jackson Dean.
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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.