Review
Wyatt Flores' debut album, "Welcome To The Plains," dropped on October 18, 2024, and boy is it a heartfelt slice of life. Produced by Beau Bedford under OEG Records, Wyatt dives headfirst into topics of relationships, mortality, and everything about the everyday that hits home. Songs like "When I Die," "Angels Over You," and "The Truth" don't shy away from exploring life and its sometimes-all-too-real shortness. His words reflect his own soul-searching, tackling some heavy-hitting themes with tunes that are both easy on the ears but pack a whole lot of meaning in 'em.
Opening up with the title tune, "Welcome To The Plains," Wyatt sets the tone with a somber touch, drawing out the troubles faced by the folks here in the American Midwest. We've got "Oh Susannah," wrenching a bit at the heartstrings as it paints the tough battle of keeping yourself intact while saving another. There's also "Only Thing Missing Is You," which serves up a reminder - without love, even success can feel pretty darn hollow.
Sure, some might think parts of the album tread familiar ground, but songs like "Little Town" and "Stillwater" do mix things up. Especially "Stillwater," with its honest perspective on small-town college life, adds just the right seasoning to the album's themes. Musically, it's rooted firmly in country territory, rocked up a bit by Red Dirt's spirited touch. The nostalgic cries of fiddle and steel guitar flow through it, making "Welcome To The Plains" stand out as not just another twangy affair, but one bursting with depth and emotion. Wyatt Flores has surely carved a spot for himself in the country music scene, bringin' folks songs that'll stick around long after the new wears off. - Mia
