RATING: 7/10
It’s been a long time coming for country duo, Love and Theft to release new music.
The duo whose 2011 hit single, “Angel Eyes” rode a wave of success along radio air waves and released their debut album, Love and Theft via RCA Nashville in 2012 have been, for the most part, under the radar.
Things started to heat up when the duo released their hit single, “Night That You’ll Never Forget” which received positive feedback and renewed excitement among loyal fans eager to hear a new record from the duo made up of Eric Gunderson and Stephen Liles.
This past January, the intensity began to grow after Love and Theft announced that they would be releasing their sophomore studio album, Whiskey On My Breath. The album released on Feb. 10 is a redefining moment for the duo who recently came clean about being released from their label.
Whiskey On My Breath was released on independent label, Hate & Purchase and contains 11 new tracks. In addition to party anthem, “Night That You’ll Never Forget” the album features love songs equipped with unforgettable harmonies on tracks like “Anytime, Anywhere” a love song about being unashamed to show the world your love for your significant other and being willing to kiss them anytime, anywhere and “Like I Feel It,” a more energetic love anthem that takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions when love is still young, fresh and fun.
The album’s title track, “Whiskey On My Breath” is one of the deepest songs on the album about a man meeting Jesus with whiskey on his breath. It’s a track about alcoholism being a bad habit hard to break despite how bad he knows it is. Stephen and Eric sing about not wanting to answer for their sins if it means meeting Jesus with whiskey on their breath.
The most creative track on the album is “Everybody Drives Drunk” with a title that immediately sparks thoughts about partying a little too much and driving home drunk the song takes the title and gives it a creative twist. “Everybody Drives Drunk” is about heartbreak and unfortunate events that we all endure at some point in life. It’s about hurt feelings and heartache from our past that lives on in us and influences our lives forever, it’s a track about “driving life drunk” after you’ve been hurt.
The first thing that stands out when listening to the album one time through is the organic nature of each song as it was pieced together. Love and Theft strayed away from electric guitars and stuck to primarily acoustic elements on the album that take you back to 90’s country versus modern day bro-country you can find on every radio station. Whiskey On My Breath was a redefining moment for the duo and it does well in showcasing their genuine talent that hooked fans from the start, their powerhouse vocals and sweet harmonies.
