The Devil I Know
| The Devil I Know | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 8, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2021–2022 | |||
| Studio | Neon Cross | |||
| Genre | Country rock | |||
| Length | 37:59 | |||
| Label | Warner Music Nashville | |||
| Producer | Jay Joyce | |||
| Ashley McBryde chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Devil I Know | ||||
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The Devil I Know is the fourth studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde, and released on September 8, 2023, by Warner Music Nashville. It was preceded by the lead single "Light On in the Kitchen". It follows her 2022 concept album Lindeville and re-teams her with producer Jay Joyce, whom she worked with on her first two albums Girl Going Nowhere and Never Will, and features eleven tracks, all of which were co-written by McBryde.
Background
[edit]The Devil I Know had already been completed when McBryde began writing and recording Lindeville with John Osborne and a series of collaborators, and she submitted both albums to her label simultaneously, stating that they were aware she had been working on something in addition to her "proper" third record but did not know what. McBryde was able to convince the label to release Lindeville first, and explained that "Blackout Betty", a song written with Nicolette Hayford and Aaron Raitiere for The Devil I Know, had helped to inspire the idea for the project that would eventually become Lindeville.[1][2] McBryde described the process of recording both albums over a three-month period between late 2021 and early 2022 as "going over to a friend's house for a sleepover and then deciding to stay an extra day" and noted the intentional contrast between Lindeville, a project featuring songs about fictional characters inhabiting the titular town, and The Devil I Know, which veered more towards introspection and reflection of McBryde's real life experiences on the road. She and producer Jay Joyce recorded the majority of the album live with McBryde's touring band Deadhorse.[3]
McBryde released the album's lead single, "Light On in the Kitchen", on February 24, 2023. It was written with Connie Harrington, a significant contributor to Lindeville, and Jessi Alexander about the importance of female figures in their lives and received a positive response from critics.[4][5]
The album was officially announced on June 2, 2023.[6] Discussing the concept of the album, McBryde stated that it was created as a pushback to some of her critics, noting "'Y'all are too country.' We leaned into that – more country it is. Y'all are awfully rock leaning for a country artist.' Is that so? You ain't seen nothin' yet. 'Last thing y'all need is another tender, finger pickin' song.' Oh? Tender makes you uneasy, cowboy? I hear you. Let's see how much more tender we can be. We listened to all those opinions and said, 'I hear you. I understand what you're saying.' But sadly, there's no room on the record for your opinion. We'll do what we want."[7]
Critical reception
[edit]Veteran critic Robert Christgau gave the album an "A" in his "Consumer Guide" on Substack, applauding the subject matter and the "impressive clarity and deliberation" with which McBryde sings.[8]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Made for This" | 3:43 | |
| 2. | "Coldest Beer in Town" |
| 3:39 |
| 3. | "Light On in the Kitchen" |
| 3:32 |
| 4. | "Women Ain't Whiskey" |
| 2:46 |
| 5. | "Learned to Lie" |
| 3:50 |
| 6. | "The Devil I Know" |
| 3:07 |
| 7. | "Single at the Same Time" |
| 3:41 |
| 8. | "Cool Little Bars" |
| 3:42 |
| 9. | "Whiskey and Country Music" | 2:57 | |
| 10. | "Blackout Betty" |
| 4:01 |
| 11. | "6th of October" |
| 3:01 |
| Total length: | 37:59 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Musicians
- Ashley McBryde – lead vocals (all tracks), acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 6, 8, 9, 11), background vocals (3, 5, 8), electric guitar (5, 10)
- Quinn Hill – drums (all tracks), percussion (8, 11)
- Jay Joyce – keyboards (all tracks), electric guitar (1, 2, 4–7, 10), acoustic guitar (1, 4, 6, 8), claps (1), programming (1–3, 6, 8), percussion (1, 10), bass guitar (4)
- Chris Harris – background vocals (1, 2, 4–11), acoustic guitar (1, 4–7, 9, 10), mandolin (2, 3, 9), bouzouki (2, 8, 11)
- Chris Sancho – bass guitar (1–3, 5–11)
- Matt Helmkamp – electric guitar (1, 3, 4–7, 9–11), 12-string guitar (2), acoustic guitar (6, 8)
- Jason Hall – claps (1)
- Mickey Raphael – harmonica (8)
Technical
[edit]- Jay Joyce – production, mixing
- Andrew Mendelson – mastering
- Jason Hall – mixing, recording
- Court Blankenship – production assistance
- Jimmy Mansfield – engineering assistance
- Josh Groppel – engineering assistance
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[9] | 19 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[10] | 14 |
| UK Country Albums (OCC)[11] | 1 |
| US Billboard 200[12] | 158 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[13] | 28 |
References
[edit]- ^ Freeman, Jon (September 14, 2022). "Ashley McBryde's 'Lindeville' Album to Feature Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ Daykin, James (September 26, 2022). "Interview: Ashley McBryde takes us on a tour of 'Lindeville' as she brings her new album to life". Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ Nicholson, Jessica (September 9, 2023). "Ashley McBryde Traces Life Lessons on New Album The Devil I Know: 'They Don't Make a College Degree for Things Like That'". Billboard. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ Freeman, Jon (February 24, 2023). "Ashley McBryde's New Song Reminds Us to Keep a 'Light On in the Kitchen'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ Oermann, Robert K. (March 9, 2023). "DISClaimer Single Reviews: Women Of Country Music Own The Genre". MusicRow. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ Dukes, Billy (2 June 2023). "Ashley McBryde Announces New "The Devil I Know" Album". Taste Of Country. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ Paul, Larisha. "Ashley McBryde Reveals Family Secrets on New Song 'Learned to Lie'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (September 13, 2023). "Consumer Guide: September, 2023". And It Don't Stop. Substack. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ "Ashley McBryde Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Ashley McBryde Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
