Pure Noise Records
Release Date: January 27th 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Alex Melton– Southern Charm (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing [plus original artists]:
- Something Like That (feat. Ryan Scott Graham) [Tim McGraw]
- Beer Never Broke My Heart [Luke Combs]
- Play It Again [Luke Bryan]
- Friends In Low Places [Garth Brooks]
- Cowboy Take Me Away [The Chicks]
- Body Like A Backroad [Sam Hunt]
- Secrets [State Champs]
- Married To The Noise [Stick To Your Guns]
- Stranger [Can’t Swim]
- Seventeen [Four Year Strong]
- Soak Me In Bleach [the Amity Affliction]
- Quicksand [The Story So Far]
Alex Melton is no stranger to success. A different kind of superstar, the multi-instrumentalist and passionate singer has made a living and a following and a fan base… on the internet. Dominating his YouTube channel where Alex posts frequent covers of any popular song that is given the rock or punk cover treatment; you probably may not know who Alex is. But his videos are incredibly moving, inspiring, encouraging, and gut-wrenching. Musically, his stuff is probably a bit loud- but with Alex covering Hanson, Carly Rae Jepsen, Yellowcard, Goo Goo Dolls, Shania Twain, U2, Natasha Bedingfield, Bon Jovi, Alanis Morrisette, Avril Lavigne, Harry Styles, and Taylor Swift (to name a few- check out his channel here!); his musical and vocal range is crazily awesome- and you all should check out his music- because he is to punk music what Pentatonix is to acapella music. and that, my friends, is a glowing endorsement of everything that Alex has ever recorded and will record.
I first heard of Alex’s music when a video of him satirising worship music appeared on my Youtube feed. Alex posted 3 videos of ‘worship covers’ (“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls, “Only One” by Yellowcard, and “Hero Heroine” by Boys Like Girls), and though one could say that the videos seem to be blasphemous; we do not know Alex’s faith journey, and he could just be honouring and paying tribute to worship music and church music. Regardless, Alex’s creativity and his passion for making good art was evident in these three videos, and his artistry and dedication to his craft is of the highest calibre. I’m not sure if Alex has recorded anything original, but like First To Eleven, it seems Alex’s calling is covers music and making each song ‘pop-punk’. This year though, Alex is doing something different.
Southern Charm reminds us of Alex’s musical diversity, as he creates 6 pop/punk covers of country songs and 6 country covers of pop/punk songs. It really is ingenious and clever. It’s probably jarring and weird to hear Alex banging his head to The Chicks or Luke Combs, and then slowing it down in a ballad for Can’t Swim or Four Year Strong. And even if pop/punk or country may not be your thing; there’s no denying that this man is a visionary for those who aren’t on a label, and a visionary for those who are deciding to go the independent route on the internet.
There’s not much more to say about Alex’s groundbreaking album. I personally long for the day when I can hear Alex sing his own songs. Until that day though, let us marvel at how inspiring and thought-provoking these tracks are. As we are met with a near-flawless masterpiece in Southern Charm, let us bask in the awesomeness of this album and the prowess of Alex Melton as a musician and an entertainer. Well done Alex, I can’t wait to hear what’s in store for you next!
3 songs to listen to: Beer Never Broke My Heart, Cowboy Take Me Away, Seventeen
Score: 5/5
RIYL: Yellowcard, Blink 182, First To Eleven, Halocene, Demi Lovato, Skillet, Caleb Hyles