Wreck Me

Editors’ Notes Even though Australian country star Travis Collins is known for his sturdy songcraft, he chose to close his eighth album, the Luke Wooten-produced Wreck Me, with a cover of the Eagles’ “Desperado.” It’s a reminder that Collins adapts to the stylistic shifts of the moment—exemplified by the slippery swagger of his hip-hop-influenced vocal cadence during “Girl Outta the Country,” a sound well represented on country radio—while staying grounded in the tradition of studio-refined singer-songwriter country rock. He leans into those tendencies during “Rainy Day,” a supple, stoic goodbye to a friend.