Sam Barber is giving fans not one, but two new ones this week.
Earlier this week, a social media clip started circulating of Barber telling a crowd that he was going to release a cover of the fan-favorite Tyler Childers song soon, but fans did not think it would be this soon. But Barber did not delay the release (and part of me wonders if that is because he warned the crowd he was not supposed to share that information), and fans are stoked to have his take on the Childers’ song and a new single from the Missouri native.
If you have been to a Barber show recently, odds are you have heard his take on “Jersey Giant,” which is always a crowd-pleaser. His studio cut is no different. Barbers’ low and smooth vocals coat the listeners’ ears as he delivers the lyrics fans know by heart, and in my opinion, his vocals are the most similar to Childers’ from the covers we have seen lately. The melody composition that Barber paired with lyrics keeps the original song’s integrity but adds a little flare to his sound, differentiating his version from others as well.
Barber knocked this one out of the park.
While I am sure we could sit here and listen to that cover all day, we have another stellar single to discuss. Accompanying Tyler Childers’ ditty, he dropped “Better Year,” which is what we like here at Whiskey Riff—a sad country song that makes us happy.
In “Better Year,” the narrator struggles to let go of a relationship he knows is in a rocky place because of him. He longs for the relationship he once had but knows that it will never be the same again because of his doings. After a lot of thought, he feels it’s best to leave the girl and let her heal, move on, and find someone better. Although it hurts like hell, he knows that in the end, it will lead to him having a “Better Year” with less conflict and tears.
“Hold on, my dear
Because I’m fighting like hell to face my fears
Someday I’ll tame the fires that brought me here
And it’ll burn like hell
But it might as well be the last time you’re in tears
I’m betting on a better year.”
Sonically, this follows the formula for a Sam Barber hit. With an emphasis on the acoustic guitar at the forefront of the melody, as the song continues and the percussion and other elements emerge, the melody builds as the story grows. You feel the passion in both Barber’s vocals, and the composition complements flawlessly.
This one feels personal to Barber, and while we all know that songwriters often draw inspiration from more than their own life… if this wasn’t from personal experience, it shows the prolific songwriter Barber is shaping up to be.
Sam Barber continues to impress with each track, and this one is well worth listening to.
