Brand New

Ben Rector isn’t your average Music City singer. There’s nary a mention of cowboy hats or beer-filled coolers on Brand New, a suite of stirring pop-rock tunes that come straight from the heart. His tender croon is infectiously uplifting when set atop a gentle piano and galloping drum beat on the title track. And “Paris” recounts a trip overseas, where the singer's youthful anything-is-possible outlook colors the tune with positivity. Softly lit rock like this can feel as familiar as an old pair of Levi’s, but with Rector’s introspection steering these songs, anything can seem new again.