On his debut record Crowd Pleaser, Joelton Mayfield balances dusty charm and cosmic reflection. The troubadour’s textured warmth and pedal steel-laced melodies prove that despite relocating to Nashville, his Texas roots prevail. Working as a church music director throughout his adolescence shaped the religious doubt and existential undercurrents that run through his songwriting. Gems “Speechwriter” and “Pretty Linda” flirt with earthy Americana and plucky verses, while the jaunty “Turpentine (You Know the One)” completely turns the sad cowboy on his head with a bouncy off-kilter arrangement. Mayfield will make you question your faith, tap your boots to his beat, and walk out feeling a little more honest than when you came in. – Miranda Garza
