Music review: Brett Young – ‘Ticket to L.A.’
Inspired by his hometown, Brett YoungĢƵ latest album seamlessly blends a laid-back SoCal vibe with the down-home charm of Nashville on “Ticket to L.A.”
The follow-up to YoungĢƵ self-titled 2017 debut that featured four No. 1 singles serves as a natural continuation of the rising country artistĢƵ talent and maturity.
The California nativeĢƵ sophomore effort is poised to be YoungĢƵ breakthrough release on the strength of well-crafted arrangements that strike an emotional chord with their simplistic and heartfelt stories about life and love.
Debuting at No. 1 on BillboardĢƵ Top Country Albums chart, Young co-wrote 10 of the 13 tracks on the new release and demonstrates why he was named the 2018 Academy of Country Music New Male Vocalist of the Year.
The title track opens the album by dishing the details about a chance encounter at an airport during a weather delay and falling head-over-heels in love after just a few hours of casual conversation.
The albumĢƵ first single, “Here Tonight,” is a charming love song with Justin Ebach, Ben Caver and Lady AntebellumĢƵ Charles Kelley sharing the writing credits with Young as he declares, “‘Cause I don’t wanna go if you don’t wanna go/We can just stay here in this minute/Lose all track of time/Let the world spin on without us for a while.”
Clever tracks like “Catch” and “Change Your Name” capture the first feelings of a budding romance after flirtation leads to a life-changing moment when you realize that you can’t live without someone. Hearts are certain to melt as Young sings, “When you see somebody/Who erases everybody in the room/I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what to do/ThatĢƵ what you did to me when I saw you.”
Young takes a reflective look back at his life through the years with “Chapters.” The 37-year-old is joined by Gavin DeGraw on this life song that examines the stories that make up the different chapters of life and the lessons learned.
The set comes to a moving close with “Don’t Wanna Write This Song,” a heartbreaking piano ballad that conveys the devastation and isolation felt after love suddenly dies and the struggle to let go and move forward.
Young will join Kelsea Ballerini on tour with a local appearance in Erie on April 13 at Erie Insurance Arena.
Clint Rhodes is the ĢƵ music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.

