Album Review: Post Malone – F-1 Trillion
3 min read
Post Malone, AKA. Austin Post, is well known at this point. Whether it’s for his breakout album Beerbongs & Bentleys in 2018, his highly successful followups, or for his fantastic Nirvana covers performed at the peak of the pandemic, Austin has proven his talent, as well as his ability to switch and mix genres seemingly at will. Now, to the surprise of no one in particular, he has returned with a record comprised entirely of country and folk, a genre that he has dabbled in previously.
The album starts, appropriately, with banjos and Austin’s almost exaggerated Southern drawl on Wrong Ones, singing about problems down in Tennessee and quote on quote sermons from estranged women. His commitment to the change in sound is admirable, and his usual powerfully gravelly vocal cords work well with the country twang. Tim McGraw adds his vocal chops to the tune also, as do many other well known faces of the country scene across the entire record. The first truly stand-out feature comes on the second track Finer Things, Hank Williams, Jr. bringing his recognisable baritone to the song. Among more contemporary heavy-hitters on the first half of the record, such as Morgen Wallen and Luke Combs, Dolly Parton makes an appearance on Have The Heart, and out and out duet with the pair trading off each other wonderfully.
There are a few rare moments on the album where Austin appears alone, one early example being What Don’t Belong To Me. It’s an enjoyable mid-tempo ballad that has a fairly generic structure but features catchy backing vocals and a memorable melody. Right Now hits harder, embracing a swinging folk beat and containing brilliant guitar and fiddle performances. Going back into the heart of the album, Nosedive featuring Lainey Wilson is a gorgeous ballad, while Devil I’ve Been has a hooky mandolin riff and a catchy chorus featuring ERNEST. A late album highlight is California Sober, a stripped-back rock tune with Chris Stapleton that resembles the acoustic side of Led Zeppelin. M-E-X-I-C-O is an all out barnburner with Billy Strings that is as outlandish as it is entertaining, whilst the final track on the record returns to Austin on his own, for one final power ballad Yours, a song about familial love and keeping a close eye on his daughter.
F-1 Trillion is a ballsy transitional album for Austin, one that while not unexpected, is surprisingly well executed. Every feature serves their purpose, neither taking the limelight nor bringing the songs up – that is to say the songwriting on show here is impeccable. There’s nothing to shock county fans, and there’s nothing to really impact Post Malone fans, just good solid tunes that should go over well with most listeners.
Writer and Musician, Ryan Bulbeck has been published with a number of online publications, and has worked with a myriad of great artists, both as a performer, and as a producer. His most recent band The 295 are still active, playing shows around the UK.
