Ballads of the Broken

Last updated

Ballads of the Broken
Jelly Roll - Ballads of the Broken.png
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2021 (2021-09-17)
Studio
  • Sound Emporium (Nashville)
  • Wardog (Nashville)
  • Blackbird (Nashville)
  • Melody Market (Dickson)
  • Station West (Nashville)
Genre
Length31:02
Label
Producer
Jelly Roll chronology
Waylon & Willie IV
(2020)
Ballads of the Broken
(2021)
Whitsitt Chapel
(2023)
Singles from Ballads of the Broken
  1. "Dead Man Walking"
    Released: October 26, 2021
  2. "Son of a Sinner"
    Released: March 31, 2022

Ballads of the Broken is the eighth and major-label debut studio album by American rapper Jelly Roll, released on September 17, 2021, through Bailee & Buddy and BBR Music Group. It includes the singles "Dead Man Walking", which reached number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart, and "Son of a Sinner", which reached the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Country Airplay chart. [2] The success of "Son of a Sinner", one of the few Nashville country-influenced songs on the album, inspired Jelly Roll to fully take on a country sound for his following album, Whitsitt Chapel (2023).

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]

A staff review on AllMusic called it "short and surprising" due to the "evolution" in Jelly Roll's sound and his taking "a different stylistic approach than his usual countrified rap on almost every track, going from country-adjacent hooks [on] 'Son of a Sinner' to eerie, remorse-filled pop tunes [on] 'Over You'." The review also highlighted Jelly Roll's "soulful vocals and the twangy backing [as] the main points of interest here", and felt that to longtime fans, the slight shift in his sound "shouldn't be too much of a jolt" after Self Medicated (2020). [1]

Track listing

Ballads of the Broken track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dead Man Walking"
  • Andrew Baylis
  • Jason DeFord
  • David Ray Stevens
  • Michael Whitworth
3:21
2."Backslide"
  • Baylis
  • DeFord
  • Stevens
  • Whitworth
3:03
3."Son of a Sinner"
3:52
4."Over You"
  • Baylis
  • DeFord
  • Stevens
2:16
5."Hollow"
  • Baylis
  • DeFord
  • Stevens
  • Quint Collins
3:13
6."Even Angels Cry"
  • Baylis
  • DeFord
  • Stevens
2:53
7."Sober"
  • DeFord
  • Stevens
2:36
8."Empty House"
  • Baylis
  • DeFord
  • Stevens
3:32
9."Mobile Home" (demo)
  • DeFord
  • Stevens
2:21
10."Son of a Sinner" (demo)
  • DeFord
  • Stevens
  • Smith
3:55
Total length:31:02

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Visuals

Charts

2021 chart performance for Ballads of the Broken
Chart (2021)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [3] 157
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [4] 21
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [5] 41
2024 chart performance for Ballads of the Broken
Chart (2024)Peak
position
UK Country Albums (OCC) [6] 19

Related Research Articles

<i>Laura Branigan</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Laura Branigan

Laura Branigan is the sixth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on March 21, 1990, by Atlantic Records. The album's lead single, "Moonlight on Water", reached number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the second single, "Never in a Million Years", peaked at number 22 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. The third and final single, a cover version of Vicki Sue Robinson's 1976 song "Turn the Beat Around", failed to chart. The song "Unison" was recorded by Celine Dion the same year.

<i>Everything Is Fine</i> 2007 studio album by Josh Turner

Everything Is Fine is the third studio album by American country music artist Josh Turner, released on October 30, 2007. "Firecracker" was the first single released, reaching No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs charts, and was followed by "Another Try", which peaked at No. 15 on the same chart. The title track was released as the album's third single and reached No. 20.

<i>Shine</i> (Martina McBride album) 2009 studio album by Martina McBride

Shine is the tenth studio album from American country music singer Martina McBride, released on March 24, 2009 by RCA Nashville. The album spun three Top 20 hits on the Billboard country chart: "Ride" and "Wrong Baby Wrong" both reached #11, and "I Just Call You Mine" peaked at #18. McBride co-produced the album with Dann Huff and co-wrote the track "Sunny Side Up." It is her last studio album released through RCA Records before switching to Republic Nashville.

<i>Unstoppable</i> (Rascal Flatts album) 2009 studio album by Rascal Flatts

Unstoppable is the sixth studio album by American country music group Rascal Flatts, and their final album to be released with Lyric Street Records. It was released on April 7, 2009 and produced four singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. with 351,000 copies sold, making it the band's fourth consecutive number-one debut on the chart. It topped the 1 million mark on October 31, 2009. As of June 2010, the album had sold over 1,230,638 copies in the United States. This was the band's final album to top the Billboard 200.

<i>Eleven</i> (Martina McBride album) 2011 studio album by Martina McBride

Eleven is the eleventh studio album by American country music singer Martina McBride, released on October 11, 2011, through Republic Nashville. The title of the album was inspired by the fact that it is McBride's eleventh album, it has eleven tracks and its release date. A deluxe edition of the album was also made available exclusively at Target stores. It featured slightly different cover art, with a blue fade at the bottom instead of white, and included four bonus tracks, as well as music videos for "Teenage Daughters" and "I'm Gonna Love You Through It". As of March 2012 the album has sold over 150,000 copies in the US. On July 3, 2012 the four Deluxe Bonus Tracks were released on iTunes as individual singles.

<i>See You Tonight</i> 2013 studio album by Scotty McCreery

See You Tonight is the third studio album by American country music singer Scotty McCreery. It was released on October 15, 2013, by Mercury Nashville. The album is produced by Frank Rogers with the exception of two tracks produced by Mark Bright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jelly Roll (singer)</span> American rapper, singer, and songwriter (born 1984)

Jason Bradley DeFord, known professionally as Jelly Roll, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter from Antioch, Tennessee. Beginning his career in 2003, he rose to mainstream prominence in 2022 following the release of two singles, "Son of a Sinner" and "Need a Favor".

<i>Eyes Wide Open</i> (Sabrina Carpenter album) 2015 studio album by Sabrina Carpenter

Eyes Wide Open is the debut studio album by American singer Sabrina Carpenter. It was released by Hollywood Records on April 14, 2015. Carpenter began planning the project in 2014, after she launched her debut EP Can't Blame a Girl for Trying, she wanted to make a full-length LP. All the tracks on that EP were included on the album. The album was recorded from 2013 - 2015 with the majority of the album being recorded in 2014. Musically, Eyes Wide Open is a pop record with folk, pop rock and teen pop influences. Its production consists of guitars, piano, drums and keyboards. Thematically, the album focuses on Carpenter's personal experiences, friendship, love and teenage problems.

<i>Thirty One</i> (Jana Kramer album) 2015 studio album by Jana Kramer

Thirty One is the second studio album by American actress and country music singer Jana Kramer. It was released on October 9, 2015. It became available for preorder on August 27, 2015 on iTunes, the same day the track list was revealed.

<i>Delirium</i> (Ellie Goulding album) 2015 studio album by Ellie Goulding

Delirium is the third studio album by English singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, released on 6 November 2015 by Polydor Records. Music critics were generally impressed by the overall production of the record, although they were ambivalent in regards to its originality. It debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, earning Goulding her highest-charting record in the latter country and her highest first-week sales figures in both territories. The album spawned three singles: "On My Mind", "Army" and "Something in the Way You Move".

<i>Playing with Fire</i> (Jennifer Nettles album) 2016 studio album by Jennifer Nettles

Playing with Fire is the second studio album by American country music singer Jennifer Nettles. It was released on May 13, 2016, by Big Machine Records. This is her first album with Big Machine after parting ways with Mercury Nashville. Ten of the album's twelve tracks were written or co-written by Nettles. Produced by Dann Huff, the album also features a collaboration with singer Jennifer Lopez, titled "My House".

<i>Music Is Medicine</i> 2016 studio album by Marie Osmond

Music Is Medicine is the tenth studio solo album by American country music singer Marie Osmond, released on April 15, 2016, on OliveMe Records. It is her first studio album released on her private label OliveMe, LLC. It was released on both CD and digital download through big box stores and major music download services.

<i>Different Man</i> 2022 studio album by Kane Brown

Different Man is the third studio album by American country music singer Kane Brown, released on September 9, 2022, through RCA Records Nashville. Brown co-produced the album, which was preceded by the singles "One Mississippi", "Like I Love Country Music", and "Grand", with "Thank God", a duet with his singer-songwriter wife Katelyn Brown, which impacted country radio on September 12. The songs "Leave You Alone" and "Whiskey Sour" were also released ahead of the album. The album was promoted with the Drunk or Dreamin' Tour, which ran from September 17, 2022, to September 8, 2023.

<i>Charlies Angels: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack</i> 2019 soundtrack by various artists

Charlie's Angels: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the film Charlie's Angels, based on the television series of the same name created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts. It was released through Republic Records on November 1, 2019, and was executive produced by Ariana Grande and Savan Kotecha. The lead single, "Don't Call Me Angel", by Grande, Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Rey, was released on September 13. The soundtrack's second single, "How It's Done", by Kash Doll, Kim Petras, Alma and Stefflon Don, was released on October 11 with the album's pre-order. The soundtrack also features contributions from Normani, Nicki Minaj, Anitta, Chaka Khan, Victoria Monét, and Tayla Parx.

<i>Country Again: Side A</i> 2021 studio album by Thomas Rhett

Country Again: Side A is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Thomas Rhett, and the first release of the Country Again double album project. It includes the singles "What's Your Country Song" and the project's title track. The album was released on April 30, 2021 through the Valory Music Co., with its follow-up Country Again: Side B intended for release in late 2022, which did not eventuate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Son of a Sinner</span> 2022 single by Jelly Roll

"Son of a Sinner" is a song by American musician Jelly Roll. It is the second single from his 2021 album Ballads of the Broken. The song is also Jelly Roll's first single release to the country music format.

<i>Standing Room Only</i> (Tim McGraw album) 2023 studio album by Tim McGraw

Standing Room Only is the sixteenth studio album by American country music singer Tim McGraw, released through Big Machine Records on August 25, 2023. It was produced by McGraw and Byron Gallimore and preceded by the title track and lead single, "Standing Room Only", as well as the track "Hey Whiskey".

<i>Whitsitt Chapel</i> 2023 studio album by Jelly Roll

Whitsitt Chapel is the second major-label studio album by American rapper Jelly Roll, released on June 2, 2023, through Bailee & Buddy and BBR Music Group. It is his first country music album and includes collaborations with Brantley Gilbert, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf and Lainey Wilson. It was preceded by the singles "Need a Favor" and "Save Me" with Wilson. The songs "She" and "Unlive" were also released prior to the album.

<i>Carolyns Boy</i> 2023 studio album by Darius Rucker

Carolyn's Boy is the eighth studio album and sixth in the country genre by American singer Darius Rucker, released on October 6, 2023. The album is dedicated to Rucker's mother Carolyn, who raised him and his siblings as a single mother and died before her son experienced success in the music industry. The album was preceded by the singles "Beers and Sunshine" and "Fires Don't Start Themselves"; the former topped the country charts and the latter reached the top 40. It also includes a collaboration with Chapel Hart on "Ol' Church Hymn" and cover of Rihanna's "Lift Me Up".

<i>Bigger Houses</i> 2023 studio album by Dan + Shay

Bigger Houses is the fifth studio album by American country pop duo Dan + Shay. It was released through Warner Bros. Nashville on September 15, 2023. All tracks on the album were produced by duo member Dan Smyers and Scott Hendricks. It serves as the follow-up to their previous album, Good Things (2021). The album was supported by one single, "Save Me the Trouble", and four promotional singles: "Heartbreak on the Map", "Always Gonna Be", the title track, and "We Should Get Married".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jelly Roll – Ballads of the Broken Album Review". AllMusic . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  2. Daykin, James (June 1, 2023). "Jelly Roll – Whitsitt Chapel album review". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  3. "Jelly Roll Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  4. "Jelly Roll Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  5. "Jelly Roll Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  6. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 8, 2024.