On the eve of its release, Pandora welcomed an intimate crowd to New York City for a first listen to Thomas Rhett’s fourth studio record, Center Point Road. Hosted by SiriusXM’s Storme Warren, Thomas Rhett not only played for us 10 new tracks, he also shared with us the stories and meaning behind each one.
Storme Warren admitted immediately that this was the type of record where no song deserved a skip, and in my opinion, that is one of the highest compliments an artist can receive.
Thomas Rhett went on to share that he prides himself in making genuine music. This record is no different. Looking back on some of his hits such as, “Die A Happy Man”, “Sixteen” and “Life Changes”, it was clear that the inspiration surrounding him on a daily basis was about to make another meaningful appearance in Center Point Road.
We listened to the first track off the record “Up”.
“My biggest fear is watching people listen to my music.” Said the singer just before hitting play on this upbeat, gospel inspired song that had everyone moving in their seats. A great tune with a positive message to set the tone for this album.
Storme Warren then skipped to the final track on the record, “Almost”. A song that pairs nicely with the first, and after listening to tracks 2 through 15, “Almost” rounds this album out perfectly.
“Oh but when I look back now, Thank God for the almost, thank God for the so close, thank God for the night I came within an inch of the fence post, for the doors that opened, for the ones that slammed closed, thank God for the girls I thought I’d marry but left me heart broke, thank God for the highs, thank God for the lows, thank God for the almost.”
It is amazing how one word can hold so much meaning. To Thomas Rhett, that word is “Blessed”. Every now and then a song comes along where the emotion is overflowing. This song makes you feel alive. I am confident that as you listen to the full record, this song will get a few extra spins before moving on.
We learned that with his current smash “Look What God Gave Her”, some of the simplest tunes are the hardest to write. Storme Warren asked what it meant for this song to be played across genres. Thomas Rhett knows where home is, but he shared some great advice from good friend, Chris Stapleton. “Always be a guest to other genres.” It is refreshing to see the respect these artists have for each other and their craft.
Thomas Rhett himself has invited several friends to join him on Center Point Road. The title track features Kelsea Ballerini and without any hesitation, he proclaimed that she took this song from good to great. After a listen, you can sense how much those lyrics mean to the both of them.
“That Old Truck” is not your traditional ballad. It is a tribute to what could be many people’s first love, their truck. And a good point was made, your car probably knows you best. It is the country twist on the old saying “If these walls could talk”.
“I broke up in it, I fell in love in it, made a lifetime full of memories on a half tank of gasoline. I learned just who I wasn’t and who I was, in that old truck.”
It is hard to capture everything you want to say in just a couple of minutes, but with “Notice”, is has been done. According to the singer, it is a love song mixed with an apology. The verses are a plea, but the chorus comes around and you cannot help but smile. As listeners, this song makes our emotions run wild and we are instantly daydreaming about this song being sung directly to us.
For songwriters, inspiration strikes anywhere. This time, it was on the golf course. While “channeling his inner Midland”, says Thomas Rhett, “Beer Can’t Fix” was born. And with a little help from Jon Pardi, became track number 10 on Center Point Road.
We closed the night out with two songs that had the entire room immersed in their lyrics. “Remember You Young” was a song that Thomas Rhett was proud he wrote. No matter how old we get, how old our children get, we will always look at them as innocent. Whereas “The Dream You Never Had” talks about the change. The change that everyone experiences and the confidence that we are right where we are meant to be. It also serves as a thank you. A thank you for all the people in our lives that are along for the ride.
While listening to the honest conversation happening just feet away, we learned a lot about each track on a deeper level and the reasons he put those words to paper. However, for each person in that room the meaning was different, and as songwriter, that is the job.
Pandora and SiriusXM brought us together for that once in a lifetime experience. While each song played and the crowd danced in their seats or talked amongst themselves, my eyes were glued to the stage. Thomas Rhett’s face said it all. This can easily be one of the proudest projects of his career.
After a successful release week kick off, Pandora presented Thomas Rhett with a plaque to commemorate 3 Billion Spins across the platform.
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