Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Brad Cox, Sony Music Australia 2020.
It’s been reported in studies that Australians are drinking more alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic, and forced isolation, than prior to it.
Speaking personally, it’s possibly true,
A couple of glasses of wine with the evening meal has become the norm.
Up until recently we had every second day alcohol free, then again we also frequented the club at least two nights a week.
But who’s counting?
But why the mass-societal behavioural change?
Trying to recreate the greatly desired restaurant experience?
Surely not boredom with the company at home.
Maybe just general ennui?
Anyway, country star Brad Cox was probably spurred into action by reading the same report and has come up with this up-tempo country rocker which is the latest single to be lifted from his up-coming album which is due for release later this year.
Drinking Season was written by Cox and co-writer Dan Isbell (Luke Combs) on a long-haul flight to Nashville, and yep, it’s got that Nashville sound.
Layered electric guitars built over a solid rock beat, the requisite amount of twang in the vocal, you know what I mean.
I’m not sure how many beers were consumed in its creation but it’s a good song and a worthy addition to the pantheon of great drinking songs that we Australians are famous for such as The Pub With No Beer and Cheap Wine.
Cox explains that the song conjures up memories of summer holidays spent by the waterside with mates.
Whatever the inspiration, the song is certainly relevant to our recently shared experiences.
Cox has quickly made his mark in the Australian country music scene with his debut self-titled album having received two Golden Guitar nominations for contemporary Album of The Year and New Talent of The Year in 2018.
In 2020 Cox earned a further two Golden Guitar nominations for his two singles Rusty Strings and Give Me Tonight.
The latter reached number one on the Country singles chart and will also be on his next album.
