His CD was released on the label Mercury Nashville, and Stapleton co-produced it with Dave Cobb. He co-penned 12 out of its 14 tracks.
Stapleton’s album opens with the dynamic title track, “Traveller,” where his baritone vocals are rich and smooth, with a southern rock vibe to it. He showcases his wide vocal range on “Fire Away” by hitting the high notes and “Tennessee Whiskey” is sultry and bluesy.
He changes the pace of the album with the upbeat yet infectious “Parachute,” thus showcasing his versatility as a country recording artist. “Whiskey And You” is a haunting acoustic ballad that Stapleton nails. (It was previously covered by country songstress Julie Roberts and it is refreshing to hear Stapleton’s version, especially since he co-wrote the song). “Nobody To Blame” has an outlaw vibe to it and “More Of You” has a more traditional country sound, where the listener can recall such country giants as Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
Stapleton is able to paint a vivid picture in the minds of his listeners with “When The Stars Come Out,” while “Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore” is another well-crafted ballad, coupled with harmonica playing.
It closes with “Outlaw State Of Mind” and the heart-wrenching “Sometimes I Cry.”
The Verdict
Overall, Chris Stapleton’s Traveller album is superb and worthy of the “Album of the Year” recognition that it received at this year’s Country Music Association (CMA) awards. It is well-produced, well-written and well-performed. He pays homage to his musical roots, and his risk has paid off. It earns an A rating.
