The album marks McCollum's major-label debut album following the success of his 2020 EP, Hollywood Gold, which was the top-selling debut country EP of that year. The album includes the number one singles "Pretty Heart" and "To Be Loved by You."
All ten tracks on the album were written or co-written by McCollum, showcasing a more collaborative approach than his earlier work,[2][3] which were mainly written by himself. McCollum collaborated with a number of respected songwriters, including Randy Rogers, Randy Montana, Rhett Akins, Miranda Lambert, and Tony Lane.[2][3]
The album's title is a nod to McCollum's flashy yet grounded persona, representing a blend of mainstream ambition and independent roots.[3]
McCollum said that the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to slow down and improve his songwriting process, and approach his craft with greater professionalism.[4] He stated that he intentionally avoided formulaic "beer songs and dirt road songs," opting instead for emotionally resonant material that allowed him to stand out artistically.[4] He credited his producer, Jon Randall, for allowing him to preserve his individuality, stating, "I'll always be willing to die on that hill of remaining myself and sticking to my guns."[3] The album was emphasized by McCollum to have all the songs be autobiographical, drawn from real life events and people.[5] From the late-night songwriting sessions during emotional lows to relationship struggles and triumphs, the album reflects his personal growth and introspection as an artist and as a man.[5]
Accompanying the album's release, McCollum joined Dierks Bentley on his Bears On Me Tour in August 2021.[3]
Themes
The songwriting reflects McCollum's commitment to storytelling and depth, influenced by his early admiration for artists like Chris Knight, Hayes Carll, and Robert Earl Keen.[3]
McCollum revealed that the song "To Be Loved by You" was inspired by a conversation during a drive with his merchandise manager.[5] Reflecting on a rough patch in his relationship, which was the inspiration behind previous album, Probably Wrong, with his girlfriend Hallie Ray Light, he asked aloud, "What do I have to do to be loved by this girl?" and recorded the first verse immediately.[5] The song was completed days later during a writing session with Rhett Akins, which McCollum originally intended to breeze through due to exhaustion.[5] The song "Drinkin'" was pulled from McCollum's personal vault of unreleased material.[5] It was originally written in 2018 during a period he described as self-sabotaging behavior for the sake of writing authentic country music.[5] He acknowledged that every song on the album is based on real-life experiences and people.[5]
The track "Falling Apart," co-written with Lambert and Randall, was inspired by McCollum's real-life breakup with his now-wife Hallie Ray Light and evolved from a late-night idea into one of the album's emotional highlights.[3] McCollum stated that he intentionally avoided cliché themes in favor of more personal songwriting, aiming to stand out in the country music landscape.[3]
Critical reception
Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal rated the album 4.5 out of five stars, stating that "There is a rawness and honesty to McCollum’s music. This album will resonate well with both fans of neotraditional and modern country."[1]
Lee Zimmerman of American Songwriter gave the album three out of five, describing Gold Chain Cowboy as a balance of "luster with bluster."[6] He praised McCollum's "good ole boy persona and arched attitude," noting that it aligns well with the album's themes of romantic turmoil and hard living.[6] Zimmerman singled out "Why Indiana" and "Dallas" for the anthemic qualities, and highlighted "Wait Outside" and "Falling Apart" for the emotional urgency.[6] Producer Jon Randall was credited for adding musical depth and polish, helping anchor the songs with weightier arrangements.[6] Zimmerman also commended the supporting musicians, including backing vocals from John Cowan, drummer Jerry Roe, and guitarists Jedd Hughes and Dan Dugmore.[6] Alongside the praise, he felt that some tracks leaned too heavily on familiar country tropes, suggesting the album at times fell prey to standard themes of breakup and regret without offering new narrative ground.[6] Still, Zimmerman acknowledged McCollum's potential for broader success, writing that if McCollum expands beyond "his own solitary circumstance," he should reach an even wider audience.[6]
Track listing
All tracks were co-written by Parker McCollum with additional co-writers listed.
↑ Gold Chain Cowboy (CD booklet). Parker McCollum. MCA Records Nashville. 2021. B0033573-01.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
