The Castellows - A Little Goes A Long Way

The Castellows, though well known across country music TikTok, aren't your typical Gen-Z, viral country act. Their modern take on traditional country differentiates them from younger artists in the genre, and in spite of a slightly incohesive project, their debut EP lays a strong foundation for their career.

At its core, A Little Goes A Long Way is the culmination of a lifetime of making music together, their angelic harmonies weaving together in a way only possible when you’ve been singing in unison all your lives.

The EP finds the band immediately showing off their songwriting prowess, with six of the seven songs either self-penned or co-written. Amidst the rest of the project’s effervescence, the outlier is a cover of Levon Helm's 'Hurricane', which while gorgeously spellbinding, seems sonically out of place in a moment of haunting darkness. The antidote is knowing it’s one of the first songs they ever performed together, poignantly put on their first project.

Their artistry is at its most authentic when they conjure up images of singing together on their porch, guitars and banjo in hand. For instance, in contrast to the more pop sensibilities of 'The Part Where You Break My Heart', the neo-traditional 'Heartline Hill' and sentimental 'No. 7 Road' sound unique yet traditionally country, a formula many new artists strive for but usually fall short of.

For this reason, it’s important that they stand steadfast in their individuality, as the pop-leaning tracks feel a bit more manufactured and made-for-radio. When The Castellows find the balance of dreamy vocals and a nostalgic yet fresh style, they feel like a country group destined for greatness, and an LP full of their authentic sound and songwriting could make for a nearly perfect collection.

7/10

The Castellows’ debut project, A Little Goes A Long Way, is available now via Warner Music Nashville.

For more on The Castellows, see below: