This past week I had the opportunity to review Austin Meade’s brand new album Heartbreak Coming. I was really excited to hear about his new album

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after seeing him live at the River Road Ice House a few weeks ago where I had my first taste of his music. If you haven’t heard Austin Meade, he has a great blend of Blues and Rock N Roll with a distinctive southern flair to it. He puts on a great show as well as great studio music. Heartbreak Coming is his second album, his first being Chief of the Sinners and I would have to say it would be a great introduction to his sound if you haven’t heard him before. It definitely had my attention from the first song to the last with its story songs full of vivid lyrics and soulful singing.
Meant for More switches the tone up a bit with a laid back waltz about about the everyday rigors of touring. Long late night drives through empty stretches of road and small downs, subsisting on sandwiches and quick meals from gas stations, and old flames and acquaintances now deciding that they’re

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suddenly best friends again now that he’s achieved some form of fame. Here Austin takes ownership of the choice he’s made; all of this and more is part of his life now and he has to deal with it. Despite all that, though, it isn’t the end and he knows (or at least hopes) it will get better and there will be more than this in the future. It has a very resigned feel to it with Austin’s vocal tones as well as a lonely tinge with the minimal guitar playing that swells hopefully during the chorus. Subject matter and tone aside, this would be a fun song to dance to.
Heartbreak Coming is a short, satisfying story about Austin’s life as a musician that is very enjoyable. Born with a Broken Heart sets the scene and provides a preview of what’s to come while at the same telling it’s own story. Much like Aaron Einhouse in It Ain’t Pretty Austin doesn’t hold anything back in talking about the harsh life musicians lead, especially when starting out.

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Each song is deeply personal and speaks from his own experience. In my show I often speak about how many artists in the Texas Country and Red Dirt scenes have a tendency to show more vulnerability than those you see in the national mainstream and Austin Mead in Heartbreak Coming is a prime example of this. He invites the listener to hear his stories and feel what he feels in everything from the lyrics, to the instrumentation, to his vocal delivery. I think the song that shows this off the best is Feet on the Floor when he details the opportunities he passed up and the friends he lost along the way. There are so many songs about the positive aspects of being a musician– the exciting times and rush of being on stage, the cheering of a packed house, so it is interesting to hear about the other side of it, the loneliness, uncertainty, and depression. It really puts everything in perspective. This is the first full album that I’ve been able to listen to of Austin’s and I have to say that I’m looking forward to hearing much more! Heartbreak Coming came out on 6/3/16 and you can find it on the following sites: