Country Again (Side A)

After several years of exploring pop, soul, and R&B, Thomas Rhett returns to his country roots on Country Again (Side A), the first side of a planned double album. The 11 tracks, cowritten by Rhett, dig back into the sounds, emotions, and stories that initially inspired the superstar artist to pursue country music back when he was a wide-eyed teenager. But while the music may be a throwback, lyrically, Country Again reflects his growth as both a writer and a person, with “To the Guys That Date My Girls” addressing his role as a father and “Heaven Right Now” wrestling with the grief following the death of a friend. Other entries are more playful, like the clever “What’s Your Country Song,” which crams decades’ worth of country history into just under three minutes of music. Producers Dann Huff and Jesse Frasure strike the right balance between contemporary radio fare and traditional-leaning arrangements, making good on the album’s title.