Through guitar solos, harmonies and melodies, Luke Combs brings an all-encompassing vibe to his newest album.
Titled “The Way I Am,” the 22-song album features many different character-driven narratives and personal symbolism. Released on March 20, his first release since his previous album “Fathers and Sons” in 2024, gives the feeling of self-commentary on Combs’ life as a performer, husband and father.
The first song on an album sets the expectations for the rest of the album. For country music, I expect energy and punch. “Back in the Saddle,” does just that in a typical Luke Combs style. I love this song as the opener because it sets the tone with big, grandiose guitar chords and a sick solo. It lets you know that this album is going to be a ride.
Slowing it down, Combs steps into the album’s heavier emotions with “Days Like These.” The song details a nice sunny day and that “money can’t buy days like these.”
I really love that message because it puts things into perspective and makes you slow down. Sometimes we don’t appreciate the little things like a shining sun, and this song forces you to do that.
“15 Minutes” brings in a character-focused narrative about a convict serving a life sentence, calling his mother. Representing the struggle that incarcerated individuals face, I love the emotion in this song. The mother-son relationship is something that I really connected to and feel that others can too, even though I am not serving a life sentence (yet).
In the title track, Combs sings about the traits he considers to be flaws, but his partner loves him “just the way I am.” Following a lot of the messaging on this album, this song makes you either really appreciate the partner you have or wish to feel that kind of love.
The only song with a feature, “Ever Mine,” featuring Alison Krauss, is written from a soldier’s viewpoint. The song honors service members, highlighting the sacrifices that military families make, writing a letter to his wife without knowing if he’d ever see her again.
While I do not have any service members in my family, it’s easy to appreciate the time and energy it took for Combs to create this artistically emotional track.
One of my favorite songs on the album is “Miss You Here.” The song talks about a deep love that has been lost, featuring some awesome guitar riffs with a beautiful mid-song solo.
As a guitar player myself, this song resonated with me more musically than lyrically. I found my head bobbing to the riffs and solos as they played, and usually that’s all I need out of a song.
A lifelong lesson is the song “Rich Man.” The richness that Combs talks about in this song is not money, but the chance of having a fulfilling life with family. The older I get, the more I wish for the same kind of fortune that this song talks about. I feel a sense of hope when I listen to this one.
Overall, I would give this album an eight out of 10. While the album features many different themes and symbols, it does not feel too crowded or random. The album sticks to a general theme, with a large part of it feeling like Combs is evaluating where he is in life.
Combs sticks to the typical style that he has been known for for years. I would recommend this album to anyone who is looking for a dip into country music, as well as for anyone who wants to feel deeply connected to emotional metaphors and symbols.
