Riley Green, Valley Road Review

Riley Green was born in Jacksonville, Alabama, the singer and guitar player was raised on the sounds of old traditional Country, Bluegrass, and Southern Gospel music. His grandfather, Bufford Green, who ran Golden Saw Music Hall, inspired in Green the essence of songwriting and performing at a young age. Green’s lyrics sound of a mixture of outlaw-rebellion and respect for tradition. Fans are responding to Green’s music as he has over 51 million streams to date. Named one of Rolling Stone Country’s “Artists You Need to Know,” his EP In A Truck Right Now on BMLG Records was produced by Dann Huff and features four songs he co-wrote: “There Was This Girl,” “Same Old Song,” “Break Up More Often,” and “In A Truck Right Now.” Green is now releasing a five-track EP of acoustic songs titled Valley Road.

 Positives: Green is a solid songwriter and blessed with a distinct southern styled voice that will engage and endear.

Bottom Line: For Valley Road, Green recorded all the tracks at his home during the COVID-19 quarantine. He explains, “My acoustic EP Valley Road has some songs you know and some songs you don’t.” With acoustic takes on hits like “There Was This Girl” and “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” as well as some newer tunes. “Better Than Me” is a reflection on life during the pandemic, Green reflects on how the quarantine has required him to slow down and take a pause. “It seems like where I’m going might be better than where I’ve been/With all this going on, I’ve found the right in all this wrong/And I finally see, the good Lord knows better than me,” he writes in the song’s lyrics. Green’s voice is warm and filled with all the essence of country music. The slide guitar work on the track is solid. “Different ‘Round Here” is another southern charmer about the unique atmosphere in the South. The song is well-constructed and has a catchy melody and hook. An enjoyable collection of tunes that captures the challenges and emotions of the COVID-19 state of mind from a Southern country perspective. That’s the short of it!

Connect with Riley Green: Website |