Review: Ain’t In No Hurry By Julie Roberts

Looking for new traditional country music? This is an album to check out!

If you love Julie Roberts and traditional country music, this podcast is for you! I dive deep into her latest album, Ain't In No Hurry, produced by Shooter Jennings and Erin Enderlin. I’ll break down why it's one of the best country albums in years.

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Transcript

There is so much new music in the country format but one album that I keep returning is by Julie Roberts! Ain’t In No Hurry is a traditional country lover’s dream!

When Julie Roberts released her first album, Break Down Here, in 2004 - I was floored. I was 16 and that record just became a part of my life. Even then, I thought it had a timeless sound - everything from the lyrics, production, song choices, background vocalists - it was flawless.

And she was the “It-Girl” in country music during that time. I had a VHS tape where I recorded her performances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Good Morning America,” and had the copy of “USA Today Weekend” profiling her and Dierks Bentley, who was also on the rise around that time.

It's been quite some time since we've had new music from Julie Roberts; her last release was in 2013. When she began revealing on social media that she was in the studio, I was so excited.

I was thrilled that new music was on the way and then she announces the producers of the album, and the anticipation went to a different level. Shooter Jennings and Erin Enderlin produced this album - this is dream team stuff here.

In September of 2022, we get the first single, and it's a duet with Jamey Johnson. It’s called “Music City's Killing Me” and its hands-down one of the best songs to be released the entire year. This song sets up the tone for the rest of the record.

Ain't in No Hurry is released in October of 2022 and with one listen I knew it was going to be an album that I returned to again and again.

She has a fantastic duet with Randy Houser on here. There's a great mix of up-tempo songs and of course, the country gold ballads are highlights.

And for all of you Waylon Jennings fans – this is cool story. Shooter told Julie about a song his dad, Waylon Jennings, had started to write, but he never finished it. It just stayed in his musical archives. Shooter asked Julie if she could finish writing the song which she did. The song is called “Devils Pool” - it's unlike anything she's ever recorded.

Julie Roberts has always been able to write or record songs that have a unique flair to them. Nothing on this album chases trends. Erin Enderlin and Shooter Jennings did a remarkable job producing it.

Sometimes you see artists try to act like they are still in their 20s, and releasing vapid and trendy music to try to remain commercially relevant. This is not one of those albums. This is an artist who knows who she is and that comes across on this record.

For me, "The King and His Crown" features the classic storytelling that is missing from country radio right now. There's a song called "When You Wake Up in the Bed You Made” - it's my absolute favorite from the album.

There's also a cover of KT Oslin's “Do Ya.” KT was an artist that only recorded six studio albums over the course of her career - but they were masterpieces. It goes to prove that quality over quanity really solidifies an artist's lasting imprint. That's the case with Julie Roberts. She recorded two albums that were released on major labels, released two more independently, along with a holiday album and other singles - and she does things on her terms and gets to call the shots.

I want the world to know about this album! She has physical copies available on her website and it’s available on all streaming platforms. She’s been touring in support of this album, as well as the 20th anniversary of her debut Break Down Here album. If she comes your way, check her show out so you can hear all these new songs!

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