The Way I Am

About

<b>The pitch:</b> “It’s the biggest album I’ve ever done.” That’s a bold statement coming from superstar Luke Comb, who’s never been known to shy away from big, whether it’s a sound, a song, or, of course, his larger-than-life voice. But for this sixth studio album, he wanted to give fans something they could really dig into, citing 2024’s <i>Fathers & Sons</i> as something of a creative detour and <i>The Way I Am</i> as a return to form. He also did it for himself. “My decisions have always come down to happine,” he tells Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “Obviously, it's great to be successful and have money and have all these thing, but what it really buys you is the ability to have this freedom and live the life that you want to live.” <b>The story:</b> At an ambitious but still carefully curated 22 track, <i>The Way I Am</i> is rich and layered, and rewards repeated listen. With one lone feature—bluegrass legend Alison Krau, no le, on standout cut “Ever Mine”—<i>The Way I Am</i> is a showcase for the sensibilities Combs has honed since debuting nearly a decade ago. His songwriting shines on highlights like “Days Like These,” a co-write with Brent Cobb and Aaron Raitiere that distills a philosophy of love and gratitude into a deceptively simple lyric. Conversely, songs like the smash hit “Be By You” and the album’s title track are reminders that Combs is also masterful at choosing outside cut. <b>Focus track:</b> “‘The Way I Am’ is the one that I would say, if I had to pick a favorite,” Combs say. “And I didn’t write that song—it was my buddy Rob Snyder, who I wrote ‘She Got the Best of Me’ with years ago. I’m jealou. It’s one of those things where you hear it and you’re like, ‘Damn, I wish I could say I wrote that.’” .

via Apple Music

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