As someone who grew up dissecting every lyric of Taylor Swift’s Fearless and Speak Now, my understanding of country music is deeply rooted in storytelling—songs about heartbreak, hope, and self-discovery set to a backdrop of acoustic guitars and raw emotion. So when I listened to Chris Chitsey’s latest single, “Chasing Taillights,” I was immediately struck by how he captures the same emotional resonance that once drew me to Swift’s early work, while also embracing the edgier, genre-blurring trends seen in modern country rock artists like Jelly Roll and Post Malone.
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“Chasing Taillights” is, at its core, a song about the end of a relationship—a theme that feels like familiar territory in country music, but Chitsey makes it feel fresh. His lyrics, which describe the fading connection between two people, are deeply poignant without veering into cliché. Lines like “the love we’ve been holding on to is fading like a fallen star” feel raw and poetic, evoking the kind of wistful sadness that’s relatable whether you’re a fan of country music or not. For someone like me, who craves lyrical depth and storytelling, this song is an instant win.
What surprised me, though, is how sonically “Chasing Taillights” bridges the gap between traditional country and the gritty, genre-bending sound that has propelled artists like Jelly Roll and Post Malone to the top of the charts. While Chitsey doesn’t dive into hip-hop or pop influences like those two artists, his ability to blend emotional authenticity with rock-inspired instrumentation positions him as a natural fit alongside them. The track features a driving rhythm section, plucky guitar riffs, and lush strings that give it both a classic and contemporary feel. It’s polished but not overly so, retaining just enough grit to appeal to fans who prefer their country with a rock-and-roll edge.
Vocally, Chitsey’s smooth, evocative delivery is striking. His voice carries a sincerity that’s reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s early vulnerability but with the maturity and weight of someone who’s been in the game for decades. If Jelly Roll is known for his raw, confessional ballads and Post Malone for his ability to make melancholy feel anthemic, then Chitsey lands somewhere in between. He’s not reinventing the wheel, but he’s perfecting a formula that works: heartfelt lyrics, dynamic production, and a voice that connects.
One area where Chitsey diverges from today’s country rock stars is his adherence to storytelling over spectacle. While Jelly Roll and Post Malone often bring a theatrical flair to their music and public personas, Chitsey relies on the strength of his narrative and instrumentation to make his mark. The result is a song that feels less like a commercial product and more like an intimate conversation—though it’s no less ready to climb the charts.
For someone who’s more familiar with Taylor Swift’s confessional storytelling than with modern country rock, “Chasing Taillights” was an unexpectedly compelling listen. Chris Chitsey may not yet have the genre-defying clout of a Post Malone or the raw vulnerability of Jelly Roll, but with songs like this, he’s proving that there’s plenty of room for honest, heartfelt country rock on today’s playlists.
Jason Hillenburg
