On “Nashville Grey Skies,” The Shires sing of building their own Music City from the ground up, harmonizing over insistent drums and wistful steel guitar. It's a song about how music can make people feel optimistic even on a dreary day, but it's also a statement of regional pride from one of the UK's most exciting country duos. Formed in 2013, The Shires make Lady Antebellum-style country-pop that combines rootsy instrumentation with big, radio-ready hooks. “Guilty” climaxes with the kind of chorus that's perfect for an arena sing-along, while “State Lines” slows things down for a love song to both an American partner and America itself.