Son Of A

Dillon Carmichael made massive waves through the country scene with the release of his 2018 album *Hell on an Angel*, an LP that, with its gritty blend of Southern rock and traditional country, announced Carmichael as a fresh new presence in an increasingly homogeneous field. With *Son of A*, Carmichael proves that debut acclaim was no fluke, delivering an ambitious collection of 14 tracks with roots in traditional country and an eye toward integrating those roots into the genre’s mainstream. “Paychecks and Longnecks” takes a familiar trope—enjoying a beer after a long week of work—and adds a bit of nuance, acknowledging that the manual labor glorified in so much of country music is actually “doing what most folks wouldn’t do.” “Pickin’ Up Girls” could be your run-of-the-mill “girl in a truck” song, but Carmichael, with an assist from the Southern rock trio The Cadillac Three, gives the formula some much-needed edge and playfulness. Carmichael isn’t necessarily reinventing the country wheel with *Son of A*, but he sure is making it more fun.