Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' is the third studio album by American country singer Lainey Wilson. It was released on February 19, 2021, by BBR Music Group. Produced by Jay Joyce, the album was Wilson's first album to be released on a major label and contained 12 tracks. The album was the third studio collection released in Wilson's music career and the first issued on a major record label. The disc has since spawned two singles: "Dirty Looks" (2019) and "Things a Man Oughta Know" (2020). The latter release became Wilson's breakout single, reaching chart positions on the country music surveys in North America. Sayin' What I'm Thinkin has since been met with favorable reviews from critics and writers.
| Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 19, 2021 | |||
| Studio | Neon Cross | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:57 | |||
| Label | BBR | |||
| Producer | Jay Joyce | |||
| Lainey Wilson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' | ||||
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Background
editLainey Wilson had been attempting a career as a country music artist for several years. She had previously released the studio album Tougher and played a variety of shows while networking along the way. After signing a publishing deal, she would sign her first major record label contract with the BBR Music Group. In 2019, BBR issued the extended play (EP) Redneck Hollywood.[3] Several of the songs that would appear on Sayin' What I'm Thinkin first appeared on Redneck Hollywood.[4] In crafting the album, Wilson would continually ask herself if the music was "saying what I'm thinking". The phrase was used often enough that she decided to name the album Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'.[5]
Recording and content
editSayin' What I'm Thinkin was recorded at the Neon Cross Studio, which was located in Nashville, Tennessee. The project was produced by Jay Joyce, along with assistance from Court Blankenship.[6] In regards to production, Wilson explained that she and Joyce were "kindred spirits".[7] A total of 12 songs comprised the collection and were all co-written by Wilson. In addition, Jason Nix and Brent Anderson are featured writers on multiple songs in the track listing.[6][1] Several of the songs on the project were composed as far back as 2018 when Wilson first landed a publishing deal with Sony ATV. "That’s when I started figuring out who I was more—what I wanted to say, and how I wanted to say it," she reflected.[7]
In developing the album's sound, Wilson wanted it to sound "fresh" and "familiar". In an interview with Rolling Stone, Wilson explained that she wanted the disc to have the "pureness of Lee Ann Womack" and the "sassiness of Dolly Parton".[2] Four of the disc's tracks were originally released on Redneck Hollywood: "WWDD", "Dirty Looks", "LA" and "Things a Man Oughta Know". The remaining eight songs were previously not released.[4] The opening track "Neon Diamonds" was chosen as the lead song because it had similarities to a concert opener, according to Wilson.[5] The song "LA" was derived from Wilson explaining to people that she was Louisiana (LA) and not Los Angeles. "I’d meet people and they’d say, 'Where in the world are you from?' as soon as I’d open my mouth. And I’d say 'LA.' And they’d say, 'There’s no way you’re from Los Angeles.'," she commented.[2]
The song "Pipe" was described by Wilson as being her "redneck rulebook".[7] The eighth track "Keeping Bars in Business" was composed after Wilson and her co-writers all experienced different personal tragedies: "We were talking about how even though we were going through things in life, they don’t stop the world from turning," she stated.[2] The tenth track "WWDD" (what would Dolly do) was a written as tribute to Dolly Parton, whom Wilson has been influence by: "Dolly is an international icon and role model for a lot of folks around the world, so it’s an easy song for a lot of people to relate to."[8] The eleventh track "Rolling Stone" was based on the breakup of Wilson and her high school boyfriend. After seven years of dating, the couple realized they were no longer compatible.[7]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| And It Don't Stop |  [9] |
Sayin' What I'm Thinkin was met with favorable reviews from critics. Mark Deming of AllMusic commented that the album "boasted more polished production but didn't dilute her style."[1] Jon Freeman of Rolling Stone commented, "It sounded like little else this year, and seemed particularly reflective of her singular, unabashedly Southern personality."[2] Jeremy Chua compared Wilson's style on the album to that of Miranda Lambert and Kellie Pickler. Chua further added that "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin is a strong, cohesive introduction to who Lainey Wilson is. A force to be reckoned with, the Louisianan’s stellar album seals her position as a mainstay in country music."[5]
Taste of Country's Billy Dukes also gave the album a positive response. He praised Wilson's songwriting and her "raspy" voice. He also found the album to be genuine in both its production and vocal delivery: "'Authentic' is a one-word review of Sayin' What I'm Thinkin, an album that's intentionally frayed at the edges. Beyond writing and recording songs that satisfy country music fans, she succeeds at introducing her whole self through the music."[10] Pip Ellwood-Hughes of the United Kingdom-based Entertainment Focus praised her songwriting and the honesty in her lyrics. Ellwood-Hughes concluded by saying, "Lainey Wilson has everything a breakout Country star needs and then some, and with any justice this will go down as one of the best records of 2021."[11]
Veteran critic Robert Christgau was more reserved in his praise, highlighting the songs "Dirty Looks" and "Sunday Best" while saying in reference to the album title: "Also what she's drinkin', often with a sexual edge to it, which says plenty for her skill set and not enough for her emotional equilibrium".[9]
Release, chart performance and singles
editSayin' What I'm Thinkin was originally released on February 19, 2021 on the BBR Music Group label. It was originally available to digital and streaming sites.[12] It was later released as both a compact disc[6] and as a vinyl LP.[13] It was the third studio album released in Wilson's music career and her first to be released on a major label.[3] The album was Wilson's second to reach the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Spending eight weeks on the list, the record peaked at number 40 in October 2021.[14] Two songs had previously been issued as a singles prior to the album's release. The first single was "Dirty Looks", originally issued on October 3, 2019.[15] The second was "Things a Man Oughta Know", which was released on August 24, 2020. The song became her breakout hit in the country field, reaching the top spot of the Billboard Country Airplay chart and the top five of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[16]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Neon Diamonds" |
| 3:06 |
| 2. | "Sunday Best" |
| 3:13 |
| 3. | "Things a Man Oughta Know" |
| 3:23 |
| 4. | "Small Town, Girl" |
| 3:02 |
| 5. | "LA" |
| 2:49 |
| 6. | "Dirty Looks" |
| 3:14 |
| 7. | "Pipe" |
| 2:49 |
| 8. | "Keeping Bars in Business" |
| 3:45 |
| 9. | "Straight Up Sideways" |
| 2:56 |
| 10. | "WWDD" | 2:20 | |
| 11. | "Rolling Stone" |
| 3:59 |
| 12. | "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'" |
| 3:21 |
| Total length: | 37:57 | ||
Personnel
editAll credits are adapted from the liner notes of Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'.[6]
- Lainey Wilson – lead vocals, background vocals, gang vocals, handclaps
- Brent Anderson – background vocals
- Tom Bukovac – electric guitar, Fender Rhodes, handclaps
- Fred Eltringham – djembe, drums, bongo, percussion, shaker, tambourine, vibraslap, gang vocals, handclaps
- Aslan Freeman – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, gang vocals, handclaps
- Jason Hall – gang vocals, handclaps
- Jedd Hughes – mandolin
- Joel King – bass guitar, gang vocals, handclaps
- Joanna Janét – background vocals
- Jay Joyce – acoustic guitar, B-3 organ, clavinet, drum machine, electric guitar, Farfisa organ, Fender Rhodes, keyboards, Oberheim, piano, programming, gang vocals, handclaps
- Billy Justineau – B-3 organ, CP-70, piano
- Jimmy Mansfield – gang vocals, handclaps
- Rob McNelley – dobro, electric guitar, gang vocals
- Mickey Raphael – harmonica, Jew's harp
- Matt Rogers – background vocals
- Jonathan Singleton – harmony vocals, background vocals
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Current Album Sales (Billboard)[17] | 94 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] | 3 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[19] | 40 |
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[20] | 74 |
| UK Country Albums (OCC)[21] | 8 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[22] | 86 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | February 19, 2021 | BBR | [12] | |
| April 16, 2021 | [6][13] |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin': Lainey Wilson: Songs, reviews, credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Freeman, Jon (December 23, 2021). "Lainey Wilson Doesn't Sound Like Anyone Else in Nashville. It Helped Make 2021 Her Year". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b Deming, Mark. "Lainey Wilson Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b Nicholson, Jessica (January 28, 2021). "Lainey Wilson Preps Studio Project "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'"". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Chua, Jeremy (February 22, 2021). "Lainey Wilson's 'Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' Is Throwback Country Perfection". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Lainey Wilson (2021). Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' (CD booklet). Broken Bow Records. 538658101.
- ^ a b c d Crone, Madeline (February 2021). "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin Set Lainey Wilson Free". American Songwriter. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Longmire, Becca (March 27, 2020). "Rising Country Star Lainey Wilson Pays Tribute To Her 'Idol & Queen' Dolly Parton In New Track 'WWDD'". ET Canada. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (May 9, 2022). "Consumer Guide: March, 2022". And It Don't Stop. Substack. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ Dukes, Billy. "Album Review: Lainey Wilson, Sayin' What I'm Thinkin". Taste of Country. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip. "Lainey Wilson – "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'" review". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin by Lainey Wilson". Apple Music. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ a b Wilson, Lainey (April 16, 2021). "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". BBR Music Group. 58101.
- ^ "Lainey Wilson chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "New at Noon – Lainey Wilson "Dirty Looks"". WJVL. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Freeman, Jon (September 23, 2021). "Lainey Wilson Flips Tammy Wynette's Immortal Advice in 'Things a Man Oughta Know'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "Lainey Wilson Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2021.