Take the title
Everlasting Country to heart.
Upchurch is playing it straight on this 2020 album, stripping away any lingering traces of hick-hop or comedy and delivering a straight-ahead modern country platter. Just because he's not indulging the bass-heavy bounce of hick-hop doesn't mean that he's entirely abandoned hip-hop here. Underneath the big twang, steel guitars, and plucked guitars, there are some tight, rolling beats that reflect a strong foundation in rap, but the form of
Everlasting Country is pure country.
Upchurch's roots lie in '90s country but he's not glitzy, he keeps things earthy by cranking up amplifiers and leaning into the twang in his voice. He unexpectedly manages to find place for some moments of levity, indulging his sweeter side on "Sunshine Girl." Previous
Upchurch albums have never found a space for something so light, and that additional mood, when combined with the sincerity of the rest of the record, makes
Everlasting Country a surprisingly effective country makeover.