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
  • Bailee & Buddy
  • BBR
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 singer-songwriter 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

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [7] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "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.
  7. "American album certifications – Jelly Roll – Ballads of the Broken Man". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 22, 2024.