Fri Jun 20 04:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Country Music Scene Mixed Bag in New Album Reviews

**June 16, 2025** – Music critic Jonathan Keefe has delivered his latest round of album reviews, offering a diverse snapshot of the current country music landscape.

Headlining the roundup is **The Crowe Boys’** latest release, deemed a high point this week. On the other hand, **Dierks Bentley’s** “Grotesque” album is characterized as a lackluster attempt to maintain relevance, with Keefe suggesting it feels “inessential.”

**Hailey Whitters’** “Corn Queen” garnered significant praise as a “terrific set of rough-hewn narratives.” However, Whitters’ proximity to Music Row’s MAGA contingent and some of the “TradWife coding” in her lyrics raised eyebrows for Keefe. **Dillon Carmichael** lands at the other end of the spectrum, critiqued for over-reliance on small-town clichés.

**Brokestring & the Empty Promises** impressed with clever and political songwriting, drawing comparisons to Dan Bern. In a surprise, a release expected to be another Wallen copycat proved to be a misjudgment, praised for its deeply human songwriting and killer harmonies.

A **Duets** greatest hits collection from **Life is a Highway Refueled** was considered barely tolerable, with only collaborations with pop acts like Kelly Clarkson and the Jonas Brothers showing promise. **Tayla Lynn’s** Loretta Lynn covers are regarded as equally uninspired.

Finally, the soundtrack for **The Bondsman** was criticized for being overly reliant on pre-existing lore, failing to stand on its own musically.

Keefe also touches on his continued struggle to connect with **Ashland Craft** albums, despite repeated attempts. He closes with brief mentions of classic No. 1 singles from Alan Jackson and Freddie Hart. The review sparked discussions in the comments, with readers sharing their own opinions on the reviewed albums, particularly Whitters’ work and her potential MAGA associations.

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