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Subject to Change (Kelsea Ballerini album)

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Subject to Change
Studio album by
Kelsea Ballerini
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2022
GenreCountry pop[1]
Length46:39
LabelBlack River
Producer
Kelsea Ballerini chronology
Ballerini
(2020) 		Subject to Change
(2022) 		Rolling Up the Welcome Mat
(2023)
Singles from Subject to Change
  1. "Heartfirst"
    Released: April 8, 2022
  2. "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)"
    Released: December 5, 2022

Subject to Change (stylized in all caps) is the fourth studio album by American country pop artist Kelsea Ballerini. The album was released on September 23, 2022, through Black River Entertainment. Ballerini co-produced the album along with Shane McAnally, Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, and Alysa Vanderheym. "Heartfirst" was released as its first single on April 8, 2022.

Background

[edit]

Ballerini first announced the album in July 2022.[2] Ballerini had hinted that there was a collaboration on the album, and on September 8, 2022, confirmed that the song, "You're Drunk, Go Home" featured Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce.[3] Ballerini co-wrote on fourteen tracks, and sole wrote one.

The albums track listing is "90s-inspired", and shows her growth as an artist. Some songs on the album are described as "breezy pop" and "super fun, honky tonk-style".[2][3] Talking about the composition of the album, Ballerini explained to Billboard that she "intentionally wanted to write with more women this time. For me, when you are making a record about emotions, when you connect with a woman creatively, you’re gonna be able to tap into that in a whole different way". She noted that the writing process for her 2021 poetry book Feel Your Way Through influenced her songwriting for Subject to Change, stating that "I credit a lot of the openness and the more poetic side of the songwriting to the book. I feel like that opened my mind creatively and helped me work outside of the [standard song] structure. That creative freedom unlocked a part of me I hope to keep pushing in any kind of project that I do". She also described The Corrs, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Sixpence None the Richer and Sheryl Crow as key influences for the album.[4]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
PopMatters6/10[6]

Steven Thomas Ervin of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars. He says, "Subject to Change is simultaneously glossy and softly lit, an album with plenty of modern electric flair. "[5]

Compared to her previous album, Jeffrey Davies of PopMatters wrote that the album's material has "moved backward as bland" and described Subject to Change as Ballerini's most conservative work to date. However, he praised her vocals as the strongest they've ever been and observed that she is "is in her element musically."[6]

Rachel Kovach of The Penn calls it a "stellar album that is certainly Grammy worthy."[7]

Rolling Stone's Dan Hyman said that the album is "mature and refreshing" and that it features some of her "most sonically progressive material to date."[8]

Singles

[edit]

The lead single "Heartfirst" was released on April 8, 2022. It debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart,[9] and ultimately reached a peak of number 23. "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" was released on December 5, 2022, as the album's second single.

"Love Is a Cowboy" was released as the first promotional single on July 15, 2022.[2] "The Little Things" and "What I Have" were also issued ahead of the album release.[10][11]

Promotion

[edit]

On September 23, 2022, she appeared on Good Morning America and performed "Heartfirst".[12] On September 27, 2022, Ballerini performed "Love Is a Cowboy" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.[13] She performed "What I Have" on The Kelly Clarkson Show on September 30, 2022[14]

Tour

[edit]

She promoted the album on the ten date Heartfirst Tour, which began on September 24, 2022, in New York City.[15]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks produced by Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally and Julian Bunetta, with the exception of "Love Is a Cowboy", produced alongside Jesse Frasure, and "Doin' My Best", produced alongside Alysa Vanderheym.

Subject to Change track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Subject to Change"
2:59
2."The Little Things"
2:57
3."I Can't Help Myself"
3:21
4."If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)"
  • Ballerini
  • McAnally
  • Bunetta
2:46
5."Love Is a Cowboy"
2:43
6."Muscle Memory"
  • Ballerini
  • McAnally
  • Bunetta
3:31
7."I Guess They Call It Fallin'"
  • Ballerini
  • McAnally
  • Bunetta
  • Vanderheym
  • Miranda Glory
  • Jordan Shellheart
4:01
8."Weather"
  • Ballerini
  • Vanderheym
2:54
9."Universe"
2:56
10."Walk in the Park"
3:20
11."Heartfirst"
  • Ballerini
  • Fairchild
  • Vanderheym
3:07
12."You're Drunk, Go Home" (with Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce)
  • Ballerini
  • McAnally
  • Bunetta
2:55
13."Doin' My Best"
  • Ballerini
  • Vanderheym
2:37
14."Marilyn"Ballerini3:26
15."What I Have"
2:58
Total length:46:39

Personnel

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Vocals

Musicians

Production

Imagery

  • Molly Dickson – styling
  • Ashley Kohorst – art direction, design
  • Daniel Prakopcyk – photography
  • Patrick Tracy – art direction, design

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Subject to Change
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] 82
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[17] 7
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[18] 72
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] 68
UK Country Albums (OCC)[20] 1
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[21] 11
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[22] 27
US Billboard 200[23] 18
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[24] 4
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[25] 3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini – 'Subject to Change' review". 22 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Goldstein, Tiffany (July 14, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Announces New Album, "Subject To Change"". CMT. Viacom International Inc. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Norwin, Alyssa (September 12, 2022). "Carly Pearce Teases 'Super Fun' New Song With Kelsea Ballerini & Kelly Clarkson". Hollywood Life. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Geeked Out on Poetry, Marilyn Monroe & More While Making New Album". Billboard.
  5. ^ a b Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Davies, Jeffrey (October 4, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Plays It Safe On 'Subject to Change'". PopMatters. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Kovach, Rachel (September 26, 2022). "Media Reviews: Kelsea Ballerini's fourth album, "Subject To Change"". The Penn. The Peen. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Hyman, Dan (September 23, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Opens Up About Her Divorce and a Falling-Out With Halsey: 'They're No Longer in My Life'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Tom Roland (May 10, 2022). "Makin' Tracks: Kelsea Ballerini Celebrates Smart Risk, Potential Reward in 'Heartfirst'". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  10. ^ Freeman, Jon (August 5, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Sings the Praises of 'The Little Things' in Breezy New Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  11. ^ Chua, Jeremy (September 2, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Takes Stock of Her Blessings in 'What I Have'". Taste of Country. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  12. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini performs 'Heartfirst' live on 'GMA'". Good Morning America. ABC News Internet Ventures. September 23, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  13. ^ Cantor, Brian (September 27, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Delivers Performance On "Late Late Show With James Corden" (First Look)". Headline Planet. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini & Kelly Share Hilarious Story Behind Recording New Single". Yahoo. Yaho. September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  15. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Returns The Road On The Heartfirst Tour For 10 Exclusive Nights Only This Fall". Kelsea Ballerini. July 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  16. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1700. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 3, 2022. p. 6.
  17. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  18. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  20. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  21. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  22. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  24. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
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