Who I Am (Cory Marks album) explained

Who I Am
Type:studio
Artist:Cory Marks
Cover:Who I Am Cory Marks.jpg
Released:August 7, 2020
Studio:The Hideout, Las Vegas, NV
Genre:Country rock
Length:44:25
Label:Better Noise
Prev Title:This Man
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Nashville Mornings
Next Year:2021

Who I Am is the second studio album by Canadian country rock artist Cory Marks, and was released on August 7, 2020 through Better Noise Music.[1] [2] [3] It includes the singles "Outlaws and Outsiders", "Drive" and "Blame It on the Double".

Background

Marks spent five years co-writing and recording the songs for this album with producer Kevin Churko.[3] Marks frequently travelled from his hometown North Bay, Ontario to Churko's studio "The Hideout" in Las Vegas, Nevada to work on the album.[4]

Critical reception

Dave Brooks of Billboard referred to the album as the "Long Awaited Next Generation Country Rock Record".[5] Nanci Dagg of Canadian Beats Media said of Marks and the album: "his style is outlaw country/country rock and he pulls it off like no other. He has a boisterous sound and unique style that will always impress those who have come to know him and his music".[4] Rock 'N' Load Magazine said the "album is packed with a gnarly backbone and beautiful melodies intertwined right across the thirteen fine recordings".[6] Andy Morley of Maximum Volume Music stated the album is "for the good ol’ boys, [it's] never meaning no harm, oh and it's going to take over the world. See, a college hockey player, and a pilot he might have been, but these days Cory Marks is about to break out as a big star.[7]

Singles

Marks released his first single on Better Noise Music, "Outlaws & Outsiders", featuring Ivan Moody, Travis Tritt, and Mick Mars,[8] in November 2019. It debuted at #1 on iTunes in Canada as well as #1 on the Billboard Rock Digital Songs and Hard Rock Digital Songs charts and #7 on the Country Digital Songs charts[9] and would later peak inside the top 10 on US Mainstream Rock radio, top 5 on German rock radio, and at #12 on Canada Rock radio.[10]

Marks released three promotional singles, "Better Off",[11] "Blame It on the Double",[12] and "Devil's Grin",[13] prior to officially announcing the album.

In June 2020, Marks released "Drive",[14] [15] and announced it as the second single to country radio off the simultaneously announced album.

"Blame It on the Double" became the album’s second single to rock radio in Germany and the United Kingdom in October 2020.[16] A later version of the song featuring Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman was sent to Canadian country radio,[17] while another version featuring Connolly and Jason Hook was sent to Canadian rock radio.[18]

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.[19]

Charts

Album

Chart (2020)Peak
position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[20] 16
Canada Top 20 (MC)[21] 12
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[22] 74
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[23] 17

Singles

YearSinglePeak
positions
CAN
Digital
[24] 		CAN
Rock
[25] 		US
Country
Digital
[26] 		US
Main
Rock
[27] 		US
Rock
[28]
2020"Outlaws & Outsiders"[29]
(featuring Ivan Moody, Travis Tritt and Mick Mars)		111271014
"Drive"[30] —————
"Blame It on the Double"—————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2021Canadian Country Music AwardsAlternative Country Album of the YearWho I Am[31] [32]
2022Country Music Association of OntarioSongwriter(s) of the Year"Blame It on the Double" (with Kevin Churko and Kane Churko)[33] [34]

Release history

Release formats for Who I Am! Country! Date! Format! Label!
VariousAugust 7, 2020Digital download
Compact disc
Streaming
August 28, 2020Vinyl

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Who I Am – Cory Marks. AllMusic. September 4, 2020.
  2. Web site: CORY MARKS 'WHO I AM' DEBUTS WORLDWIDE. The Music Universe. Buddy. Iahn. August 11, 2020.
  3. News: Cory Marks, The Critically Acclaimed Next Generation of Country Rock, Releases Debut Album, WHO I AM. August 7, 2020. The Country Note.
  4. Web site: Review & Interview with Cory Marks. Canadian Beats Media. Nanci. Dagg. August 26, 2020.
  5. Cory Marks Debuts Long Awaited Next Generation Country Rock Record 'Who I Am'. Billboard. Dave. Brooks. August 11, 2020.
  6. Web site: CORY MARKS // WHO I AM // ALBUM REVIEW . Rock 'N' Load Magazine. December 22, 2020.
  7. Web site: REVIEW: CORY MARKS – WHO I AM (2020). Maximum Volume Music. Andy. Thorley. August 12, 2020.
  8. Web site: North Bay's Cory Marks' new song is number one on iTunes Canada. Jessica. Gosselin. CTV News Northern Ontario. November 26, 2019.
  9. Web site: Cory Marks Throws Down in Single "Outlaws & Outsiders" ft. Travis Tritt, Ivan Moody & Mick Mars. Front Porch Music. January 26, 2020.
  10. Web site: Big day for North Bay's Cory Marks. BayToday.ca. August 7, 2020.
  11. Web site: Cory Marks releases his new single 'Better Off'. The Rockpit. December 13, 2019.
  12. Web site: Top Country Pick: Cory Marks 'Blame It On The Double' . Top Country. February 14, 2020.
  13. Web site: Cory Marks Releases New Single, 'Devil's Grin'. iHeart Radio. Blake. Taylor. April 17, 2020.
  14. Web site: Cory Marks debuts new track Drive ahead of August album release. Pip. Elwood-Hughes. Entertainment Focus. June 7, 2020.
  15. Web site: CORY MARKS ANNOUNCES 'WHO I AM'. The Music Universe. Buddy. Iahn. June 5, 2020.
  16. Web site: Cory Marks on Twitter: "Very excited to announce that my single #BlameItOnTheDouble is now at UK & [German] rock radio!! @BetterNoise "]. Twitter. October 5, 2020.
  17. Web site: CORY MARKS' NEW 'NASHVILLE MORNINGS' EP OFFERS REFRESHED APPROACH TO THE COUNTRY-ROCKER'S CATALOGUE. Rock N' Load Magazine. June 17, 2021.
  18. Cory Marks Drops Single With Jason Hook & Theory of a Deadman's Tyler Connolly. Billboard. Dave. Brooks. April 30, 2021.
  19. Who I Am. Cory Marks. 2020 . CD booklet . Better Noise Music. BNM-581-2.
  20. Web site: ARIA Report. ARIA. August 15, 2020. August 15, 2020.
  21. Web site: Top 20 Albums - Charts for August 17, 2020. Music Canada. August 17, 2020. April 26, 2021.
  22. Billboard Top Album Sales - Week of August 22, 2020. Billboard. July 19, 2021. subscription.
  23. Billboard Heatseekers Albums - Week of August 22, 2020. Billboard. July 19, 2021. subscription.
  24. Travis Tritt Chart History: Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales. Billboard.
  25. Travis Tritt Chart History: Canada Rock Song Sales. Billboard. March 15, 2020.
  26. Travis Tritt Chart History: Country Digital Song Sales. Billboard. March 15, 2020.
  27. Travis Tritt Chart History: Mainstream Rock. Billboard.
  28. Travis Tritt Chart History: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. Billboard.
  29. Cory Marks 'Outlaws and Outsiders' Is the 2019 Hit That Couldn't Be Confined. Billboard. Dave. Brooks. December 20, 2019.
  30. Cory Marks New Track 'Drive' Is The Feel Good Country Hit of the Summer. Billboard. Dave. Brooks. June 19, 2020.
  31. Web site: Katie. Colley. The Reklaws Lead CCMA Awards Nominations With Six: See The Full List. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923090024/https://etcanada.com/news/821320/the-reklaws-lead-ccma-nominations-with-six/. dead. September 23, 2021. ET Canada. September 21, 2021.
  32. Web site: Jamie. Samhan. 2021 CCMA Awards winners list: Dallas Smith voted entertainer of the year. Global News. November 30, 2021.
  33. Web site: 2022 CMAOntario Awards Nominees Announced. CMA Ontario. March 24, 2022. June 7, 2022.
  34. Web site: 10th Annual CMAOntario Awards Winners Announced. CMA Ontario. June 6, 2022. June 7, 2022.

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