"Country Stuff" finds
Walker Hayes ambling through his favorite down-home things with the assistance of a barely discernible
Jake Owen.
Hayes' sly phrasing bares an evident smile, one he also has on the amiable hit single "Fancy Like," whose litany of simple pleasures echoes with those on "Country Stuff." The rest of the
Country Stuff EP -- his first major release since 2017's
Boom. LP -- finds
Hayes shifting to lower gear, singing the sweet midtempo songs "Make You Cry" and "I Hope You Miss Me," then duetting with
Carly Pearce on the gilded "What If We Did" and
Lori McKenna on the intimate "Briefcase." Hayes acquits himself quite well on the smoother material--he has enough personality to shine in these polished settings--but it's the rangy, funny opening pair of "Country Stuff" and "Fancy Like" that leave a lasting impression. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine