PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
SOMETIMES Y
One’s been hailed as “one of hip-hop’s most vital voices” by The Guardian; the other’s one of the Americana world’s most sought-after producers and songwriters with a pair of GRAMMY Awards to his name.
On paper, Yelawolf and Shooter Jennings might not seem like the most obvious combination but take a listen to the duo’s self-titled debut as Sometimes Y and you’ll quickly come to understand that their chemistry is in fact as intoxicating as it is unexpected.
Recorded in the heart of a tumultuous summer marked by social and political upheaval, to say nothing of the global pandemic that nearly scuttled the entire project, the album fuses past and future sounds to conjure up some alternate universe where David Bowie fronted Thin Lizzy or Axl Rose sang with The Cars.
The songs on “Sometimes Y” are as addictive as they are unpredictable, mixing ’80s bombast and arena-rock energy with country earnestness and hip-hop swagger, and the performances are thrilling to match, fueled by the pair’s undeniable chemistry and irrepressible joy.
Jennings’ production work is lush but never crowded, and Yelawolf’s lyrics are utterly arresting, grappling insightfully with purpose and perseverance, struggle and triumph, pain and transcendence. Weighty as the record can feel at times, it’s ultimately a work of liberation and release, an ecstatic declaration of creative freedom fueled by adventure, discovery, and just the right amount of chaos.
Release date: March 2022
