Mr. Sun Explained
Mr. Sun is the tenth studio album by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released on September 16, 2022, through Capitol Nashville and is a follow-up to their 2020 release Nightfall. It was self-produced by the band and features the single "Hell Yeah".
Background
The band announced the album in July 2022.[1] The creation of the album is nearly perfectly divided with seven of the sixteen songs written and recorded in sessions for the previous album, Nightfall, the rest of which from sessions taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] During the pandemic, it was the first time in twenty years that the band did not tour. It was during this time that they found the inspiration to write for this album.[3]
Jimi Westbrook wrote "Rich Man," which he describes as the "most heartfelt, personal, and special" song he's ever written.[4] He began writing the song around the year 2009, and finished it in late 2021.
Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music wrote that the album "is filled with sweetness, hope, and light, a record built for comfort, not speed. Consider the overwhelming sweetness as the band's way of processing the upheaval generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. I stead of wallowing in sorrow, they bask in the sunshine; even the slower ballads act as a balm, serving up smoothing melodies instead of sadness."
Catherine Walthall of American Songwriter praised the album saying, "Mr. Sun is a bright, upbeat album heavily inspired by the groovy music from the '70s. It's an album perfectly suited for yacht rock hang-outs or rollerblading meet-ups. Inside the record, notes reminiscent of the Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac, and the Eagles ring out, but they're all tailored to Little Big Town's country expertise. Songs like "Gold" and "Heaven Had A Dance Floor" possess a particularly disco-definite sound."[5]
Nicole Piering for Country Swag calls "Little Big Town at its absolute best" with Mr. Sun.
Zackary Kephart of The Musical Divide had mixed reviews for the album. He felt that the album was an "oddly disjointed attempt at both expanding the more mature sonic and lyrical foundation they set on their previous albums and throwing a few slick, ultra-polished cuts in along the way for good measure." Though he did say that "there's also a richness present in a lot of the organic warmth that can still feel unique to this band's core, especially when it can match writing that's only grown more mature and nuanced with each passing album."[6]
Promotion
On September 14, 2022, Little Big Town appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and performed "Hell Yeah" and "Rich Man".[7] They also appeared on The Today Show on September 16, 2022.[8]
Singles
"Hell Yeah", the lead single was released on April 11, 2022.[9]
Personnel
Little Big Town
- Karen Fairchild – lead vocals (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 13–15), tambourine (13), production (all tracks), art direction
- Kimberly Schlapman – lead vocals (7, 15), production (all tracks)
- Philip Sweet – lead vocals (3, 11, 15, 16), keyboards (11), 12-string acoustic guitar (12), acoustic guitar (15), production (all tracks)
- Jimi Westbrook – lead vocals (4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15), production (all tracks)
Additional musicians
- Tim Galloway – acoustic guitar (1–10, 12, 14), electric guitar (1, 2, 5–10, 12–16), percussion (5), mandolin (8, 15), banjo (15)
- John Thomasson – bass
- Hubert Payne – drums (all tracks), percussion (1–5, 7–16), production (1)
- Akil Thompson – electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 8, 11–13, 16), keyboards (1–7, 10–16), Hammond B3 (2–4, 6, 10, 12, 13, 16), acoustic guitar (7, 12, 16), percussion (11, 16)
- Evan Weatherford – electric guitar (1, 3–8, 10–16), acoustic guitar (11)
- Alysa Vanderheym – percussion, production, synthesizer (1),
- Josh Reynolds – programming (1, 14)
- Daniel Tashian – electric guitar (7)
- Luke Dick – clavichord, percussion (8)
- Jedd Hughes – electric guitar (11)
- Todd Clark – electric guitar, keyboards, percussion (13)
Technical
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Chris Allgood – mastering
- Rob Kinelski – mixing, engineering
- Alysa Vanderheym – additional production (1)
- Luke Dick – additional production (8)
- Todd Clark – additional production, recording (13)
- Josh Reynolds – recording (all tracks), vocal engineering (1, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13)
- Jason Hall – editing (12)
- Casey Cuayo – engineering assistance
- Eli Heisler – engineering assistance
- Zaq Reynolds – engineering assistance (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10–12, 15, 16)
- Joe Trentacosti – engineering assistance (2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14)
- Nico Salgado – engineering assistance (9)
- Jacob Butler – engineering assistance (13, 16)
Design
- Mary Hooper – art direction, design
- Ashley Kohorst – art direction, design
- Kelly Jarrell – art direction
- Kera Jackson – art production
- Blair Getz Mezibov – photography
Charts
Notes and References
- Web site: Little Big Town to Release 10th Studio Album 'Mr. Sun': Here's When It Arrives. Jessica Nicholson. Billboard. July 19, 2022. September 17, 2022.
- Web site: Piering. Nicole. Little Big Town: 'Mr. Sun' – Album Review. Country Swag. September 16, 2022. September 26, 2022.
- Web site: Raum. Morgan. Little Big Town Announces 10th Studio Album, 'Mr. Sun'. Country Now. August 1, 2022. September 26, 2022.
- Web site: Downing. Sterling K.. Little Big Town's 'Mr. Sun' expands artistic scope while maintaining a successful formula. The Tennessean. September 16, 2022. September 26, 2022.
- Web site: Walthall . Crystal. Little Big Town Has Arrived at Better Days and Has the Soundtrack to Prove It. American Songwriter. September 16, 2022. September 26, 2022.
- Web site: Kephart. Zackary. Album Review: Little Big Town – 'Mr. Sun'. The Musical Divide. Word Press. September 20, 2022. September 26, 2022.
- Web site: Fisher. Kelly. Little Big Town Hilariously Jokes About Song 'Hell Yeah' With Jimmy Fallon. Country.iHeart. iHeartMedia, Inc.. September 15, 2022. September 17, 2022.
- Web site: Little Big Town on how new album 'Mr. Sun' is about better days. Today. September 16, 2022. September 17, 2022.
- Web site: Hell Yeah by Little Big Town - Song of the Day. Mallory Arbour. Countrytown. April 11, 2022. September 17, 2022.
- The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 26 September 2022. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1699. 10. September 26, 2022.
