“The hardest thing for people to admit about themselves is that they’re going to change,” says Josh Grider. The country stalwart knows, because he’s done it himself. When you release eight albums, tour the country and abroad, sign publishing deals, top the Texas radio charts, and start a family all in just over a decade, you’re going to come out different than when you went in. 

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On upcoming new record Good People, the New Mexico native turns the lessons he’s learned so far into an impressive collection of catchy, substantive country tunes — the kind that draw parallels between Grider and artists like Kacey Musgraves and Steve Earle. But Grider delivers them with a smooth neo-traditional baritone to rival Joe Nichols and melodic hooks that, when they hit you just right, feel timeless on first listen.

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Lead single “Good People” is the perfect example. Written with longtime collaborator Bobby Hamrick and James Slater (who has hits with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, among others), “Good People” is Grider’s reminder to himself that, no matter all the tragedy we see on our TV screens, there are so many good people outnumbering the bad.

 

Slated for a Spring 2018 release, Good People is beautifully understated, warm in delivery, and not afraid to embrace melancholy. It’s the kind of record that could, and should, redefine a career.