Corey Stapleton and The Pretty Pirates debut album Sea Change is a refreshingly honest look at transformation and navigating change. Stapleton’s astir voice uplifts every heartfelt lyric and catchy melody. Sea Change is the convergence of honest country lyrics and modern day riff’s and melodies, making this album one of a kind. While the theme of personal metamorphosis can’t be missed, neither can Stapleton’s positive outlook. Whether he’s singing about himself, his relationships, or the state of the world you won’t leave this album feeling dejected. On the contrary, I found myself feeling more hopeful for the future than before.
URL: https://coreystapleton.com/
Movies are commonly known for exploring and capturing the human experience better than any other medium. Often, this is because we watch the protagonist grow and change over the course of the film (usually). Sea Change was the first album I’ve listened to in a long time that made me feel similarly to watching a film where the character discovers themselves or their true power. Stapleton doesn’t shy away from his personal experiences, instead he puts them out their and talks openly about what he’s learned. The emotional maturity of Sea Change is what makes it stand out. He admits to not always saying the right or kindest thing but doesn’t beat himself up for it either. Rather, he reminds listeners to search for what those mistakes or misadventures taught them.
It’s hard to not feel better when you listen to this album. Stapleton often pairs his evocative lyrics with smooth and soothing electric or acoustic guitars. This combination puts you at ease while making you think. The fact that almost every song on the album has a relaxing quality to it, makes the heavy topics go down easier. In fact, I’m not sure how this album would’ve worked if Stapleton didn’t find the silver lining. Stapleton’s willingness to be open about his romantic life and his feelings on America makes Sea Change an incredibly timely album. While songs like “Kabul’s Fallen” and “Western Son” openly discuss American politics, you never feel preached at. This is because Stapleton balances those touchy subjects with themes of personal growth. By drawing on his own experiences and observations Stapleton is able to navigate and comment on the divided state of the nation, without it feeling like he’s trying to convince you of anything. Sea Change feels more like a personal outlet for Stapleton’s thoughts and feelings to run wild, which is what makes this album so captivating.
While a myriad of topics are explored on Sea Change, most of the album is made up of ballads. Though the ballads don’t always feel serious or have a sense of drama, the overall sound of them are similar. This does make for smooth listening but also made me long for a few more upbeat tracks. While the guitars are prominent, the drums have a tendency to get lost. I think that’s what contributes to the relaxed feeling of Sea Change. It is in no way impaired by the lack of drums, but I wonder if more drums would’ve made some tracks a bit more robust. It may have even transformed a few tracks from ballads to country-rock anthems. Overall, Stapleton and The Pretty Pirates crafted a wonderfully breezy and evocative album that makes you think.
Sea Change is a good example of how deeply music can affect us. Stapleton’s positive and wise outlook on embracing the unknown is the gift I didn’t know I needed. I admire Stapleton’s openness and fearlessness to discuss his personal life and our current political state. This is a remarkable debut album from Corey Stapleton and The Pretty Pirates. They’re making their mark on the country music scene with Sea Change. You don’t want to miss this!
Chadwick Easton