Music
MusicMatters Review
Cort Casady’s new album is a “Classic Country” Home Run
Singer-songwriter Cort Casady doesn’t mind being called the oldest new artist in country music. Because he probably is. Born in McAllen, Texas, Casady has lived most of his adult life in Southern California, which makes his new album, “Heartache and Hope,” especially compelling. In a truly engaging nine-song set that dropped on August 17th, Casady takes a skillful and soulful stab at bringing back ’70s and ’80s country. An Emmy Award-winning television and documentary writer-producer, Casady’s passion for country comes from his Texas roots and early days as a staff songwriter for country music publisher Al Gallico, before Cort became a successful TV hyphenate.
The songs on “Heartache and Hope” capture both feelings. “Too Much Texas Sky Between Us” captures the heartache of a guy driving across Texas to be reunited with his honey. “Cowboys Will Be Cowboys” warns that “unless you’re a fifth of Tequila, you can’t drop one.” “December 4th,” “Rain & Whiskey,” and “A Broken Heart (Is A Broken Heart By Any Other Name)” are just about as brokenhearted and satisfying as any classic country song can be.
But Casady turns to hope in “Old Man,” a song about a father and son; “Forever Neighbors,” a positive anthem for this time if ever there was one; and the intimately optimistic ballad, “(It’ll All Work Out) In the End.” Cort closes with a rockin’ fun bar song in which the singer admits, “I’ve Had One Too Many One Too Many Times” and hopes to do better.
CORT CASADY HEARTHACHE AND HOPE is available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, and wherever you get your music. For a shortcut, try cortcasady.hearnow.com to select your favorite source.