The winter of 2024 is one which none of us might be forgetting anytime quickly, and it’s solely proper that its soundtrack wins a crucial addition from Chris Chitsey this January within the type of his new single “Life is Arduous, Whiskey is Simple.” Appropriately stylized as each an anthem of rusticity framed in fashionable nation appeal, the vocal-led “Life is Arduous, Whiskey is Simple” is a muscularly melodic quantity from Chitsey that reveals the world how a lot he can accomplish even with out the help of a much bigger band behind him.

Not like his earlier works, this music isn’t rooted in folky foundations; if something, it’s straight out of the Nashville classics that many people grew up singing at the back of a truck. There’s by no means a second by which the vocals right here couldn’t be described as virtuosic in each model and form, however on the identical time, there’s nothing within the general combine that feels even remotely overindulgent. Chitsey has no place for bells and whistles on this music; he’s acquired an essential message he’s making an attempt to convey to us, and props would have solely gotten in the best way.

“Life is Arduous, Whiskey is Simple” feels prefer it’s on the shorter facet in its complete working time, however due to its potent harmonies, it feels a heck of quite a bit grander and filled with vitality than a few of the longer tunes of the charts have in latest reminiscence. The urgency in my man’s voice is greater than sufficient to make it really feel as if we’re listening to a extra dexterous effort than what some within the mainstream Nashville neighborhood would simply as quickly deem as a lot, and by the point the monitor is over, nothing feels notably unfinished or halfhearted; the precise reverse, as I see it.

This single, by means of a solely aesthetical lens, is arguably as interesting to the hardcore nation crowd as it’s to the informal fan, and in case you sustain with both of those genres with any kind of dedication, you already know that they’re getting additional aside than ever due to components of commerciality. One factor I decide up on in “Life is Arduous, Whiskey is Simple” is a disinterest in company fluff; it’s apparent that Chitsey is singing with all of his soul within the highlight right here.

I didn’t know a lot about Chris Chitsey up till trying out “Life is Arduous, Whiskey is Simple” for the primary time only in the near past, however I can let you know now that I’m going to be on the lookout for extra of his content material because the yr continues to return into focus. Though centered on a classical composition model that has been making the rounds within the underground as of late, there’s nothing right here to recommend something however a pointy artistic future for this singer/songwriter and the distinctive mix of Americana and rootsy melody he’s shaping together with his sound. It’s not the one high quality nation music I’ve listened to recently, nevertheless it has the potential to be probably the most intriguing one you hear this January fifteenth.

Mindy McCall