Credit: Eric Ryan Anderson
There’s no denying that Drake Milligan has captured the attention of country fans across the globe, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a die-hard fan myself. But with a killer debut album under his belt, can the Sounds Like Something I’d Do hit-maker create another chart-topping album?
The answer’s short: I think he’s done it. Tumbleweed was teased by Drake earlier this year when he dropped a mini single with 2 tracks (Tumbleweed and Old Flames, Old Whiskey) off of the pending 14-track record, which lands on Friday, 7th November.
Drake’s debut album, Dallas/Fort Worth, charted at number one on both charts and also entered the Billboard Emerging Artists chart 5th, and I truly believe we’re going to see the same success with Tumbleweed. Same as the debut album, Tumbleweed is 14 tracks long with a fantastic collaboration with the one and only Randall King to close the record.
There’s a mix within this album – personal undertones, storytelling, but also worth noting, Milligan co-wrote 11 out of 14 tracks – proving once again that he is here to prove not only his talent, but also his craft in the business.
The first track on the album is Drake Milligan through-and-through – Cryin’ Shoulder into Hearts Together is that classic Western and honky-tonk swing – it’s the sheer perfection between timeless energy and tapping into a more contemporary sound – suiting every set of ears listening.
This album definitely taps more into a storytelling era for Drake, with tracks such as Tumbleweed and Old Flames, Old Whiskey delving into themes such as heartbreak and being out on the road – which, since his last record dropped in 2024 (Jukebox Songs in 2024) – Drake has been consistently on the road – with several visits this side of the pond too.
A standout track for me on this record is Like The Moon – it leans more into the more authentic country sound, “Your world revolves around him, my world revolves around you” – the lyrics feel deeper in this album, once again storytelling is something that is truly shining throughout this album.
Slow Dancing to a Fast Song – is a track that wouldn’t be out of place on the main street of Nashville – I can guarantee there will be a line dance to this before the end of the month.
Hard Headed Cowboy is another standout track on this record – showing the true strength in just Drake’s voice and a set of strings. Channelling the Western swing, I can imagine this would be one of those tracks which would knock you for six if you heard it live.
A moment has to go to the final track on the album, How Much Beer with Randall King – a fun, uptempo and playful track which I can imagine being the song that will have everyone on their feet when they hear it at C2C in March next year.
There is always pressure when it comes to releasing a sophomore record. How will you build on the last record? Will you give in to the pressures of trends and labels? How can this be different? And Drake has mastered this perfectly with Tumbleweed. He has stuck to his roots, his authentic sounds, and brought back a slice of traditional country that we all know and love.
Honestly, this is one of my favourite releases of the year. For a second album, Drake Milligan has absolutely smashed it – roll on his 2026 UK return
Review by Lauren Page
