Travis Denning - Roads That Go Nowhere
By Soda Canter
Roads That Go Nowhere is the debut of an artist with a dominant understanding of who they are and where they truly want to go, though his next outing should avoid conforming to meet the needs of the radio.
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Travis Denning - Roads That Go Nowhere
Label: Mercury Nashville
Producers: Paul DiGiovanni & Jeremy Stover
Release Date: May 24, 2024
Tracklisting:
1. Why I’m Drinking
2. I Know How It Sounds
3. Better At Leaving
4. Strawberry Wine And A Cheap Six Pack
5. Going Places
6. Someone That Isn’t Me
7. Southern Rock (Featuring Hardy)
8. Love You Past That
9. Things I’m Going Through
10. Add Her To The List
11. Roads That Go Nowhere
12. The Sound Of A Beer Getting Cracked (Featuring Josh Ross)
13. Can’t Find One
14. Here And Her
15. Ocmulgee River
After co-writing for the likes of Jason Aldean and Morgan Wallen, up-and-comer Travis Denning has delivered his debut album, Roads That Go Nowhere. The 15 track collection – 12 of which were co-written by Denning – continues to build on his early success with ‘ABBY’ and ‘After a Few’ by showcasing his versatility as both a songwriter and vocalist.
While the polished collection is presented well, Denning is undeniably at his best when he rampages, allowing his full bear growl to devour the more rock-leaning tracks. Album standout ‘Southern Rock’ is a ferocious, headbanging anthem celebrating what makes his metalhead heart tick. Though HARDY’s feature is a perfect selection, it isn't necessary to propel the song forward with committed intensity; Denning can easily do that alone. Similarly, on braggadocious ‘I Know How It Sounds,’ Denning effortlessly snarls “I know how it sounds / Sorry if you don’t,” channeling the gritty best of Hank Williams Jr. and Eric Church alike. Both tracks allow the gloriously jagged facets of Denning’s voice to give considerable depth to each story told.
This is exactly why tracks like ‘Strawberry Wine and a Cheap Six Pack’ unfortunately suffer. Though certainly demonstrating his writing chops with an easy singalong chorus, the track loses what makes Denning such a unique vocalist by stripping his voice of its remarkable grit and instead inserting glossy production that makes him sound unrecognizable. That’s not to say that he can’t be gruff and tender, though. ‘Love You Past That’ rightfully matches his unfiltered voice against an acoustic backdrop, delivering a heartfelt wallop as he discerns the extent of his love with each gravelly dip bringing forth sincere emotion.
It’s a project that finds Denning writing and singing with stern commitment that's almost impossible to deny. Roads That Go Nowhere is the debut of an artist with a dominant understanding of who they are and where they truly want to go… though his next outing should avoid conforming his surefire natural abilities to meet the needs of the radio.
6.5/10
Travis Denning’s 2024 project, Roads That Go Nowhere, is available everywhere May 24 via Mercury Nashville.
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