With “I Met A Girl” storming up the charts, Warner Bros. Records newcomer William Michael Morgan becomes the latest neo-traditionalist country artist to break out. Ironically, the song was written by and originally intended for a Sam Hunt record (it appeared on his acoustic mixtape in a different form) but with William Michael Morgan, it is a stone country ballad in the Randy Travis/Keith Whitley tradition. The song is one of six tracks found on this EP, the Vicksburg, Mississippi 22 year old’s debut record.
If you love that song and think the other five songs on the Scott Hendricks and Jimmy Ritchey produced project would be anything but honest to God country music, well, you’re in for a surprise as they very much are Real. Country. Music. “Beer Drinker” has a easygoing feel to it while “Cheap Cologne” has more than a nod melodically to the sensual love songs from the 70s/80s catalogs of Ronnie Milsap and Conway Twitty. “Back Seat Driver” is another strong showing as is likely next single “Vinyl.” In this track I hear hints of classic stars like Gene Watson and current stars like Easton Corbin and Chris Young.
As great as those songs are, it is "Lonesomeville" that showcases his potential stardom. I hear echoes of Daryle Singletary in the vocals along with the Whitley-ism. It's a beautiful vocal and a beautifully nuanced melodic track with lonesome fiddle fills and tear in your beer lyrics.
At just six songs, William Michael Morgan is short but every song is satisfying. This is an EP that hopefully suggests great things are still ahead for the newcomer. It’s taken a while for “I Met A Girl” to catch on but it still is doing well for a newcomer with a sound not all too favored by modern country radio but there’s still room and a place for this sort of country music on the charts. I can’t wait to hear what he has coming at us next.
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