Hailing from Georgia, USA, Lauren Alaina first appeared in the public eye as a 15-year-old on series ten of American Idol, where she eventually finished as runner-up to Scotty McCreery. Her performances though earned her a record deal and her first album Wildflower followed later that year, debuting at number five in the Billboard 200 chart, and making Alaina the youngest female artist to debut that high since LeAnn Rimes.

A follow-up didn’t materialise until 2017, and in the intervening period, Alaina underwent vocal cord surgery. The change in vocals and overall style that then came with her second LP Road Less Travelled was stark; during her time away, Alaina had evolved into a smart country songwriter with big melodies and a stunning voice.

This new six-track EP opens with Run, which builds from a gentle finger-picked acoustic guitar verse into a huge country chorus, a brilliant slice of radio-friendly Americana that packs a killer guitar solo in the breakdown too. If I Was A Beer is full of playful lyrics (“'Cause I'm a fine, fine wine / I'm a slow, sweet pour / I can be a little bitter, but I ain't a hard hitter / Like a thirty from the grocery store”) and is a really fun track.

Bar Back keeps the alcohol theme running, but is a gentler number, telling the tale of a breakup and how the places a couple once knew together are divided up when they’ve parted. It’s an intriguing concept and expertly handled. Getting Over Him deals with similar breakup related themes, and is a big rock number which also features Jon Pardi, while Seen You In Your Hometown is a slick, out and out country number. What Do You Think Of? closes out the EP, and is a tender piano ballad that includes Lukas Graham, whose vocals are so good they come very close indeed to stealing the show from Alaina.

Close, but not quite. This is Alaina’s platform to shine, and with big songs, slick production and a heck of a voice, she takes that opportunity with both hands.

Watch the official lyric video for Run here.

Getting Over Him tracklist:

1. Run

2. If I Was A Beer

3. Bar Back

4. Getting Over Him

5. Seen You In Your Hometown

6. What Do You Think Of?

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Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.