Lady Antebellum is a band that I’ve always enjoyed listening to and they’ve always blown me away live but they’ve never been a band whose releases I’ve eagerly awaited.
Well something has changed in the run-up to their new record Ocean. Ever since they debuted new songs at C2C: Country to Country back in March, there’s been a buzz and excitement around the band that I’ve never felt before. In the lead up to the release on 15th November, we’ve already had What If I Never Get Over You and Pictures but it’s the title track Ocean that’s floored me.
The new song is written by Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton and Abe Stoklasa, and it’s a gorgeous piano ballad. Hillary Scott takes the lead and it’s the most emotive vocal I’ve ever heard her give.
Lyrically the song explores wanting someone to let you in but feeling resistance every time you try to get closer. It’s beautiful, it’s heartbreaking and it’s incredibly moving.
A live stream to announce the album took place yesterday and it saw Lady A perform the song live for the first time. After the performance Charles Kelley told the audience that the vocal you hear on the track is about 80% taken from the first vocal Hillary recorded.
Something has changed with Lady Antebellum and I’m here for it. The move to Big Machine Records seems to have sparked the band and they’re releasing some of the best material they’ve done in years.
