Charles Wesley Godwin blessed us all with some new music today.
It’s been 17 months since the West Virginia native released his highly regarded Family Ties album. Some might call that his “breakout record,” but here at Whiskey Riff, we like to think he’s been breaking out ever since Seneca dropped in 2019. Did his 2023 album help him become more of a household name in country music? Sure, but he had already introduced himself to the music world – and put himself on the map – long before that.
That was all achieved through hard work and dedication to his craft. Godwin has been a stellar songwriter from the very beginning, and even after Family Ties was released and met with praise, the “All Again” singer continued to put his head down and write. He estimates that he wrote close to 30 songs in 2024 alone, and that’s how Lonely Mountain Town found itself a home as an EP.
It’s the first time in Godwin’s young and rising career that he decided to record his vocals separately, and you’ll hear every bit of that in the seven songs included in the extended play. Each track tells somewhat of a different story, yet they all flow together effortlessly. Charles Wesley Godwin said himself that songs are more character-based than some of his previous work:
“These are character songs. Most of them aren’t about my life. They’re just little pieces that I’ve taken from traveling.”
And in typical CWG fashion, there’s not a single song included in the project that misses the mark. The title track is quieter and more contemplative, “It’s The Little Things” inspires the listener to take into account and appreciate the small moments in life, and his collaborations with Ernest in “Dead To Rights” and Scott Avett (of the Avett Brothers) in their cover of “Hammer Down” also stand out as highlights.
But the song that I keep revisiting from the new EP is “Then I’m Gone.”
There’s just something about the smooth melodic nature paired with Godwin’s powerful vocals that makes this song – in my humble opinion – the best of the group. Gentle, harmonic picking acts as the foundation for the first two verses, and Godwin sets the scene with the strong imagery these lines invoke:
“The sun sinks low in Nevada
Like a faded light that’s barely on
I’ve been through these canyons before
Preaching gospel neon songs
There’s a girl back home in West Virginia
With a heart of gold somebody’d kill you for
A part of me don’t think I deserve it
When the boys in town call it ignored.”
The vocal warmup of those verses then allows Godwin to rocket into high notes of the chorus that’s destined to turn into a fan favorite. If you’ve ever seen Charles Wesley Godwin (and the Allegheny High) in concert, you know that they like to build up to massive crescendos in their live performances, and this chorus is practically built to deliver that moment:
“I’ve settled down
But I’ll see you around your town anyway
But I’ll never stay past the night you need a song
Then I’m gone.”
To be clear, every song that’s included in Lonely Mountain Town is worth your time. I just personally find “Then I’m Gone” to be my favorite, and I think it’s the one that’ll become a staple of Godwin’s setlist.
Check it out:
Lonely Mountain Town Tracklist:
2. It’s The Little Things (Charles Wesley Godwin)
3. Dead To Rights feat. ERNEST (Charles Wesley Godwin, Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters)
4. It’s Her Move (Charles Wesley Godwin, Wyatt Flores, Aaron Raitiere)
5. Then I’m Gone (Charles Wesley Godwin)
6. She Don’t Love Me Anymore (Charles Wesley Godwin, Zach McCord)
7. Hammer Down feat. Scott Avett (Jason Molina)
Charles Wesley Godwin 2025 Tour Dates:
Jul 26 – Charlotte, N.C. – PNC Music Pavilion^
Jul 27 – Raleigh, N.C. – Coastal Credit Union Music Park^
