First Listen: Holler Staff Reacts to Gavin Adcock's Own Worst Enemy

Since the release of his very first single, 2021's 'Ain't No Cure,' Gavin Adcock has stormed his way through the country genre, practically willing himself into the limelight.

In the last 18 months or so, his MO has seemed to be raucous live shows and rowdy–if not seriously questionable–antics from releasing a song about jail time just days after being arrested, to picking fights with Zach Bryan, Braxton Keith, Beyoncé and Nickelback's sound engineer... and with every turn, he's gained another little bit of virality.

With the release of his highly-anticipated and utterly sprawling third studio album, Own Worst Enemy, Adcock dishes up two dozen tracks to satiate his ravenous fanbase, while attempting to write the next chapter in his musical memoir.

Here, the Holler staff offer their takes on Own Worst Enemy, diving deep into its antics, wild energy and its role in Adcock's growing discography.

Throughout Own Worst Enemy, there are a lot of things Gavin Adcock does right.

While this album marks his third studio release, he properly introduces himself this time around, letting fans in on some of his more personal moments away from the drunken anthems and revved-up romps. In doing so, he also takes back a bit of his own narrative. Throughout the collection, someone far more multi-faceted than the testosterone-addled hothead that is so often presented across social media is finally allowed to take the wheel.

However, there’s plenty that the young star does wrong, too.

From the jump, Own Worst Enemy is too damn long. Even the most seasoned of artists struggle to successfully pull off a 24-song album, let alone Adcock, who up until a year and a few too many belligerent stunts ago wasn’t even a whisper in the mainstream.

While the project consists of two dozen tracks, many of them are plagued by viciously bland songwriting as Adcock and friends trade between the same three tropes, driving home the facts that 1.) he’s a bad boy; 2.) he just wants to be loved; and 3.) no one can change him, so don’t even try.

Twelve songs in and Own Worst Enemy becomes tedious, predictable and desperately hollow, with it becoming quickly evident that the album’s best songs were shoved down our throats months ago alongside clips of his raucous–often shirtless–live performances.

At the end of the day, Own Worst Enemy is fine for a select few songs. Many numbers are fun and thrilling, and Adcock, himself, really shines as a bold, brash new voice in the country genre. But the album, as a whole, suffers from its lack of brevity, its redundancy and its inability to say anything of true, unguarded merit.

6 / 10

What was your favorite track and why?

‘Never Call Again.’ It’s catchy and I’m a glutton for a decent hook.

What was your least favorite track and why?

‘Sick And Tired.’ It’s been done before, and well… I’m sick and tired of it.

What songs, if any, are bound to be hits? And why?

I think Adcock has already released the best of this album; the rest just feels like filler for filler’s sake.

What was the most notable lyric? And why?

That part where he rhymes “holler” with “swallow” in ‘Outside Dog’... I’ll be thinking about that for a long time.

Does this album bear any comparison to past or present artists? Describe.

Own Worst Enemy blends in perfectly with the rest of mainstream country in its current homogenized state. While it’s more Koe Wetzel than Morgan Wallen, when everything has started sounding one and the same, how can you really compare?

If you could sum this album up in three words, what would they be?

Excessive. Inflated. Dry.

What grade would you give the album cover?

C-

There are two types of people in this world: those who like Gavin Adcock’s music, and those who pretend they don’t.

Cast aside any aspersions and go into this album with closed eyes and an open mind; it’s a stark contrast to the brawling, careless persona he puts out on social media. Own Worst Enemy is exactly what it says: his journey exploring his choices, usually around drinking and heartbreak, and the self-reflection that comes with it.

This album puts Adcock on the map with great lyrics, fun melodies and some deeper meaningful tracks. Whether it’s the famously popular ‘Need To’ or newer ‘Outside Dog,’ there’s plenty to sink your teeth into. Sure, some of the tracks flow into the next a little too familiarly, but they’re not skip-worthy.

However, nestled amongst those big hitters are some boundary pushers for the Georgia native. ‘Loose Strings’ strips back his full band sound and focuses on Adcock’s drawl, while ‘Tall Tales’ explores more of a southern rock style and puts a firm full stop at the end of the album.

Gavin Adcock leaves it all out there with this album, opening him up to new fans who might have previously mislabelled him.

8 / 10

What was your favorite track from the album? And why?

'Loose Strings.' It’s simple, quiet and shows Adcock’s vocal talent, yet it’s still fun enough to be memorable.

What was your least favorite track from the album? And why?

'Sick and Tired.' It took a minute to place the beat with the lyrics which was quite jarring.

What songs, if any, are bound to be hits? And why?

Already released as a single, ‘Sunset’ packs a punch with Adcock’s regretful behaviour fuelling the toe-tapping beat. However, there’s also the final track, ‘Tall Tales,’ which pushes him out of his comfort zone and has more of a southern rock feel to it.

What was the most notable lyric? And why (good / bad)?

“Sometimes you need to wash down the weight of the world and watch it drown” from ‘Need To.’ The world’s on fire whether you do or don’t and sometimes it helps to hear that.

Does this album bear any comparisons to past or present artists? Describe.

If Zach Bryan and Morgan Wallen ran at each other really fast, they’d make Gavin Adcock. He’s got the angst of Bryan mixed with Wallen’s energy and the carefree, don't-give-a-fuck attitude of both.

If you could sum this album up in three words, what would they be?

Surprising, gritty, palatable.

What grade would you give the album cover or the attached creative?

You know what, I don’t hate it. A-. It’s fit for purpose and feels slick and classic, elevating Adcock’s classic image of sweaty bar brawls and lukewarm beer.

Between Nickelback fights, Beyoncé call-outs and smiling mugshots, you have to give credit to Adcock for making an advanced impression ahead of his aptly titled sophomore effort, Own Worst Enemy.

Frankly, it’s oddly refreshing to see a young male country star care less about the court of public opinion or any pesky preconceived Nashville ideals. It’s evident that Adcock is freely living life on his own terms, though that always comes at a price.

Own Worst Enemy represents the twists and turns of this journey across a collection of rough-and-ready country tracks that mostly well represent Adcock’s talents. Standouts like ‘Morning Bail’ and ‘Last One to Know’ demonstrate his winning formula of utilizing the entirety of his vocal range to add diverse rock dimensions alongside welcome vulnerable layers.

Though, Own Worst Enemy suffers, like most trending albums to-date, at the sheer volume of material that often becomes repetitive in nature without good reason. With such an impactful title track, offerings like ‘Black Sheep’ and ‘On One’ aren’t needed. The picture is already painted black, Adcock isn’t to be messed with. A more exacting act of curation could have made Own Worst Enemy a finely tuned rebel-rousing machine instead of the performative next step of a rising country star.

6.5 / 10

What was your favorite track and why?

The slight reggae funk overtones on ‘Need To’ work well to offer a more tender vocal than Adcock’s regular routine, but hearing his take on ‘Loose Strings’ is revelatory. The latter was a standout track on Hailey Whitters' stellar 2020 album The Dream, and it would be amazing to hear this as a duet between them at some point.

What was your least favorite track and why?

By the time we get to the minute mark and the production finally speeds up I’m frankly sick and tired of ‘Sick and Tired.’ I understand the concept and certainly feel the anecdote most days, but this one should have stayed in the cooker a little longer.

What songs, if any, are bound to be hits? And why?

The newly dropped ‘Light A Fire’ is just another representation of what Adcock does well: a rock-leaning, countryfied mid-tempo banger about lost loves and pouring on the kerosene when times get tough. It’s made perfectly for rolled down windows and fist pumping your way through heartbreak.

What was the most notable lyric? And why?

“Guess, I’ll just sit here and rot / Hey mister, can I get a copy of the mugshot?” paints quite the memorable picture on ‘Morning Bail.’ Adcock tows the line between reflectively remorseful and tongue-in-cheek acceptance of his wrong-doing.

Does this album bear any comparison to past or present artists? Describe.

The least shocking news in country music is that Adcock has been recently signed to Morgan Wallen’s management company, since Own Worst Enemy screams of Wallen’s influence in album structure business practices. Yet, a closer listen reveals Adcock’s appreciation for the stylings of Hank Williams Jr. and his rock-leaning growl slightly nods to the incomparable Cody Jinks.

If you could sum this album up in three words, what would they be?

Rough-around-the-edges country rock... is that cheating the three word minimum? Adcock plays by his own rules and so do I.

What grade would you give the album cover or the attached creative?

I would give it a B+ for the sheer drama of it all.

On Own Worst Enemy, Adcock doubles down on his rowdy, larger-than-life persona, weaving between mellow acoustic reflections and hard-hitting barroom anthems. It’s an album that swings like a door that’s wide open one minute, dead still the next.

At its best, it channels the “classic Gavin Adcock” charm: a little reckless, a little tongue-in-cheek and built for belting back at a live show.

From the hootin’ and hollerin’ hooks to the intentionally forced twang, Adcock leans into his brand of southern storytelling. 'Sunset' feels like a radio-ready slice of classic country, while 'Tall Tales' edges into campy rock theatrics that hint at a direction he could really thrive in, if he pushed harder. Acoustic ballads throughout offer a softer reprieve, though their sentiment sometimes gets weighed down by lyrics that want to hit deeper than they actually do.

The production keeps things tight, toggling between foot-stomping grit and stripped-back ease, but the emotional core wavers. There’s subtlety at a more introspective side worth exploring, yet much of the lyricism feels surface-level, almost as if Adcock is circling something real without fully digging in.

Still, Own Worst Enemy works as a snapshot of an artist toeing the line between honky-tonk fun and heartfelt country grit. When the energy spikes or slows, you just wish it landed harder.

6.5 / 10

What was your favorite track from the album? And why?

'Tall Tales.' Its campy rock feel is pure personality and would kill live.

What was your least favorite track from the album? And why?

'Morning Bail.' The concept is there, but it leans too heavily on cliché imagery and a viral moment rather than delivering a hook or lyric that sticks.

What songs, if any, are bound to be hits? And why?

'Sunset.' It’s the most effortlessly charming cut—classic country warmth without overthinking itself.

What was the most notable lyric? And why (good / bad)?

From 'Losing Hope,' “I’d go retrace my steps but I’ve already lost what I had to lose.” It’s one of the most grounded, self-aware lyrics from the entire album.

Does this album bear any comparisons to past or present artists? Describe.

Touches of early Luke Bryan’s party-era charm with flashes of HARDY's grit, but with a rougher, more self-aware edge.

If you could sum this album up in three words, what would they be?

Rowdy. Campy. Uneven.

What grade would you give the album cover or the attached creative?

B-. It fits the sound and brand, but doesn’t elevate the music beyond what you expect.

For more on Gavin Adcock, see below: