Blake Smeltz’s first album ‘Heartbreak Highway’ comes off as honest from the first note to the last. Vocally, he’s raw but authentic. The lyrics are full of real life, real stories of love and lust, mistakes and loss, and the process of moving on. It’s straightforward, with each song having a quality of being the soundtrack to some real life event. “Til I See You Again” is a quiet and emotional opening track that focuses on the feelings of missing a loved one. It’s simple in its phrasing but effective in its lyricism. “You Ain’t Whiskey” is a hard-hitting break up song. He tells his ex that “your whiskey whiskey” doesn’t compare to what she used to be to him. The comparison is just as sad as it is biting.
“The Road” is a song about walking away from anger. It’s stripped down and sparse in its composition, making it effective for its resignation to move on from the bitterness. “Dear Old Me” is a letter to a version of himself in the future. He questions if he’s been wise to give up everything he has in the name of some unknown cause. It’s unflinching and self reflective. “Drive” has a rougher, heavier feel to it. This is a song about driving just to drive, about escaping everything, everywhere, even for a little while.
The title track, “Heartbreak Highway”, summarizes the varying emotions of life. The road of life is hard, love is painful, but we all keep trudging down the road in one way or another. The sound is forceful and the message is blunt.
“Good Faith” is a quieter and gentler song. It talks about the people in your life who remain steadfast even when the rest of the world seems to fall apart. It’s soothing and genuine. “I’ll Love You” is understated and sweet. It’s not about a fairytale romance but an enduring love. A love that weathers all the highs and lows. “Nicotine Daydream” is quick and perky. It’s a song about the idealistic reminiscence of youthful love. A perfect closing track for a largely personal album. Blake Smeltz is a singer/songwriter who is easily relatable to a mass audience. ‘Heartbreak Highway’ is a genuine, emotive, and truthful album.
