A.M. (Chris Young album) explained

A.M.
Type:studio
Artist:Chris Young
Cover:ChrisYoungAM.jpg
Recorded:2013
Genre:Country pop
Label:RCA Nashville
Producer:James Stroud
Prev Title:Neon
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:I'm Comin' Over
Next Year:2015

A.M. is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Chris Young. It was released on September 17, 2013, via RCA Nashville.[1] [2] Young co-wrote six of the album's eleven tracks.[3] [4] The album includes the singles "Aw Naw", "Who I Am with You" and "Lonely Eyes".

Critical reception

A.M. garnered generally positive reception by music critics. At AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine told that the release was "steeped in modern vernacular," and showed Young "brightening up his sound by leaning on cheerful, chipper pop hooks and a production so gleaming it shows his reflection; he has even chosen to smile on his album cover for the first time ever." Lee Zimmerman of American Songwriter wrote that "In the hands of a wannabe, the aforementioned songs might sound somewhat cloying, but given Young’s rugged vocals and apparent reservoir of conviction, the emotions ring true." At Entertainment Weekly, they felt that Young "survives on his fourth album, but too often he falls into the "bro country" trap currently plaguing the genre." Bob Paxman at Country Weekly stated that it "disproves the popular belief that nothing good ever happens in the a.m. There’s plenty of good stuff here." At Roughstock, Matt Bjorke said that "Everything about A.M. screams star-making and with a hard core collection of fans who already help him headline venues across The USA, Chris Young's only destined for bigger things because of A.M.." In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin placed "Lonely Eyes" at number 4 on his top 10 list of Young's best songs.[5]

Personnel

The following list is adapted from the A.M. liner notes.[6]

Chart performance

The album debuted at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and No. 3 at Billboard 200 with 53,000 copies sold.[7] [8] The album has sold 267,000 copies in the US as of October 2015.[9]

Year-end charts

Chart (2013)Position
US Top Country Albums[10] 43
Chart (2014)Position
US Top Country Albums[11] 41

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions
US CountryUS Country AirplayUSCAN Country
[12]
CAN
2013"Aw Naw"4345550
2014"Who I Am with You"8248672
"Lonely Eyes"4250565

Notes and References

  1. News: Dukes. Billy. Chris Young Unveils 'A.M.' Track Listing and Album Art – Exclusive Premiere. July 18, 2013. Taste of Country. July 11, 2013.
  2. News: Whitaker. Sterling. Chris Young Reveals 'A.M.' Track Listing and Album Art – Exclusive Premiere. July 18, 2013. The Boot. July 11, 2013.
  3. News: Wyland. Sarah. Chris Young Reveals A.M. Cover Art & Track Listing. July 18, 2013. Great American Country. July 12, 2013.
  4. News: Chris Young Reveals A.M. Album Cover & Track Listing . July 18, 2013 . That's Country . July 11, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131221224650/http://blog.thatscountry.com/?p=1492 . December 21, 2013 .
  5. Chris Young's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks. Dauphin. Chuck. Chuck Dauphin. Billboard. July 24, 2017. May 18, 2020.
  6. A.M.. Chris Young. RCA Records. 2013. liner notes. 88883-73264-2.
  7. Jack Johnson Scores Fourth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200. Keith Caulfield . September 25, 2013 . Billboard .
  8. Web site: Country Album Chart News: The Week of September 25, 2013: Justin Moore, Chris Young lead 5 country artists in all genre Top 10 . Matt Bjorke . September 25, 2013 . Roughstock . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808064714/http://roughstock.com/news/country-album-chart-news-the-week-of-september-25-2013-justin-moore-chris-young-lead-5-country-artists-in-all-genre-top-10/ . August 8, 2014 .
  9. Web site: Upcoming Releases: Hits Daily Double . Hits Daily Double . https://web.archive.org/web/20151013033930/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases . October 13, 2015 . dead .
  10. Top Country Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts. Billboard. 2 January 2013. Prometheus Global Media. January 15, 2015.
  11. Top Country Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts. Billboard. 2 January 2013. Prometheus Global Media. January 15, 2015.
  12. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=chris young|chart=Canada Country}} Chris Young Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 20, 2013.