Adkins, Matthew James
Stoned On My Own
The singer candidly describes having lost everything from alcohol and drug addiction and came back to lead a life of a man repented. Adkins attributes his gritty, soulful sound to the pain he has experienced, as well as to simply not trying too hard. "I just let it all out", he says, noting also the importance of listening to George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today." "I like to be real," Adkins says. "I think all the things that happened to me...I'm glad they happened. I wouldn't be who I am, and I wouldn't be where I'm at." All of this delivered in a frequent soulful growl that often reaches Otis Redding territory. Recorded, engineered, and mixed in Detroit at producer Bunky Hunt's studio, Adkins showed up one day with an acoustic guitar wanting to make a country record. Hunt's production on the album, along with contributions from his regular call list of wrecking crew musicians evolved the songs into a studio album, complete with horn arrangements, keys, and backup singers. This album will ring true with fans of traditional Americana and soul such as Chris Stapleton and Anderson East as well as fans of the Memphis, Motown, and Muscle Shoals sound.