Track45 – made up of Mississippi brothers Jenna, Ben and Keke – first started out as solo singers, working with the likes of Morgan Wallen, Dierk Bentley, Hardy and Lauren Alaina before emerging as a trio. They released their debut EP ‘Small Town’ in 2020 with their strong harmonies and contemporary yet classic sounds winning over fans, drawing on influences including rock, country, pop and R&B. Now they’re back with their third collection, ‘Grown Up’, the follow-up to ‘Big Dreams’, released in 2021.
The six-track set opens with ‘Drinkin’ and Thinkin’, which has a great vibe about the arrangement and some rocky touches, including a wicked guitar riff of late. The standout is the trio harmony. They blend together absolutely beautifully, especially on the chorus and the sharp lyrical delivery, and There is a real richness to their vocals that elevates the song.
Those vocals are the thread that pulls the entire EP together. On the title track, the band’s dreamy, funky-heavy melody and soaring bridge draw alongside lyrical details of John Deere’s ‘Like I Stole It’ and heartstrings around Jessie’s name. Elsewhere, they show their funky side on the jangly, fist-pumping ‘Hate Me’, which creates a fun atmosphere of drunken phone calls from exes, while their Southern drawl emerges on ‘Last Man Standing in Tennessee’, which mixes a playful twist. , with kiss-off lyrics and lots of slide guitar.
For me the main track of the group is ‘PCH’ (which doesn’t stand for what you think). It has a slinky melody and a laid-back, sun-soaked feel that pairs well with the lyrical cautionary tale, before transitioning into a thinner, thinner melody. I feel it wouldn’t be out of place on the ‘Dessie Jones and The Six’ soundtrack and the imagery and story of the song really shines through.
The project will first close with Bebe Rexha and David Gitta’s famous ‘Family’, before the track 45 version will be released on TikTok. With a relative gear shift for the rest of the project, the piano-led tune focuses on the group’s stunning vocals and lyrics about the value of friendship and love. For me it really feels like a positive and uplifting note to end on and it’s definitely a direction I’d like to see them explore more in the future.
All in all, with ‘Grew Up On’ Track45 put together a fun and great EP that showcases their vocal and songwriting skills. Whatever criticisms I may have, it feels like it makes little difference to me and I love certain songs like ‘Family’ that allow those harmonies to stand out. However, it’s another solid set of songs from them that will definitely attract new fans and play very well live, and I look forward to seeing where they go next.
Track List: 1. Drinkin’ And Thinkin’ 2. Raised In 3. Last Man In Tennessee 4. Hate Me 5. PCH 6. Family Record ID: This is Hit/Stone Creek Records. Official date: July 14, 2023
