

Chase Matthew is part of a growing contingent of country upstarts finding fans on TikTok, using the platform to share new music as well as glimpses of his life, like when, in 2021, he bought his father the ’65 Plymouth Satellite he’d had to sell a few years earlier. A former ATV mechanic, Matthew brings that everyman ease to his take on country music, which leans on rock and R&B-tinged pop, and should court fans of other rougher-edged artists like HARDY and Cody Jinks. This third album from Matthew opens with “DRIVES MY TRUCK,” a catchy Southern rocker that doesn’t reinvent the truck song, but does reinvigorate the form with some soulful muscle. “NO NAME ROADS” turns small-town musings into a power ballad, and fan favorite “YOU TURN” makes use of another driving metaphor for a slow-burn love song that name-checks Nashville’s famed Broadway strip. Matthew is a rare Nashville native, which adds a sense of immediacy to “DRIVING THROUGH MY HOMETOWN,” a nostalgic celebration of the good old days that toes the line between heartfelt and humorous, with production reminiscent of early Sam Hunt. And Lauren Alaina joins Matthew on “HEART HALF EMPTY,” a melodic duet with shades of Lady A and Little Big Town.