Luke Combs - The Way I Am [2LP]

Luke Combs goes big on The Way I Am, his sixth studio album, with 22 songs of hard-working country and heartfelt balladry.

Combs co-produced the record with Jonathan Singleton and Chip Matthews and had a hand in writing 19 of the 22 tracks, working with co-writers such as Lori McKenna, Randy Montana and Brent Cobb. The remaining three come from outside writers, and the whole set feels like an honest snapshot of where he stands as a husband, father and touring musician.

Back in the Saddle kicks things off with rowdy, road-ready swagger, while Days Like These slows down into a reflective ballad that shows off the warmth in his voice. Ever Mine pairs his gravelly baritone with Alison Krauss for one of the album's most tender moments, and Sleepless in a Hotel Room, one of the early singles, captures the restless side of life on the road.

The songs move easily between barroom singalongs and quiet reflection, and the production keeps the spotlight firmly on his voice and the stories he is telling.

Generous and unhurried, it's a record built for long drives and loud singalongs, and further proof that few artists in modern country connect with an audience quite so directly or so consistently.