To understand the new Tyler Childers album Snipe Hunter, you first have to understand what the term snipe hunting really is. It is basically a prank that friends or family play on someone to make them go out at night to hunt an animal called a snipe that may or may not be real, by having them do silly things like yell for it or take pillow cases to catch it, just to name a few. What does this have to do with Tyler Childers though? Well Tyler has always been known to be a sort of fun spirit, often making jokes and funny gestures on stage or telling funny stories of his younger years. I am going to be completely open when I say I didn’t know what to expect when I first heard the new album was being released. The first two singles were old acoustic songs that have been unreleased up until this album, both having a very original early years Tyler feeling, but the new album is anything but that. It is a mixture of psychedelic, almost rock country songs, with heavy instrumental background music and semi-distorted vocals on a few songs. This was the first time Tyler has worked with the producer Rick Rubin who has produced work with greats such as Johnny Cash and The Chicks. According to an interview, Tyler had the intention of the album to be a unique sound, and he fully embraced that with this album. All of the songs showcase his vast world travels and his poetic lyricism, all while sticking to his Appalachian roots and acknowledging where he came from and the path he took to get where he is today, the highs and the struggles he faced along the way. One song that showcases this the most is “Cutting Teeth” a song about his musical upbringing and his time starting his band “The Food Stamps” and what the beginning of their journey was like starting out playing small shows in West Virginia to selling out stadiums and arenas. It felt that the song was dedicated to his band and the people that surrounded and supported his musical career. Another song, titled “Eatin’ Big Time” is a direct thank you and nod to the bands catchphrase “eating big time” which they say when they make a big accomplishment or career move together. It’s a way to say that they have made it in the music industry and a way to acknowledge their hard work has payed off, whether that be playing at a dream venue or an award nomination. This album has solidified Tyler Childers and his band as one of the most versatile and exciting acts out today. His lyrics prove that you can stick to your home and region, what made you who you are as a person, while still acknowledging your travels and evolution as an artist and as a person, always staying true to yourself and what you believe in and what makes you happy. The love you put into the art will always shine through when you make the art that you love, art for you, and Tyler has always proven he is true to himself, his beliefs, all while sticking to his Appalachian roots and acknowledging what it means to be an Appalachian. This album has already sparked major rewards, debuting at number 7 on the billboard top 200 chart and a million views on the music video for the song “Oneida” which was filmed in front of the house of the late artist Johnny Cash. As a thank you to his fans and as a fun time for his band, Tyler performed two pop up shows the week the album was released. One was at the Turkey & The Wolf Ice House in Nashville, the other was at Dinosaur World in Cave City, Kentucky where the whole band dressed up as characters from the Jurassic Park movie series. Some that attended this show have said that it felt like they stepped back to a time when they used to see Tyler at smaller shows. Every artist has a stepping stone or propeller album, an album that launches them farther to the top than they were previously, and this just may be the album to take Tyler and his band’s careers to the next level. Just don’t become a part of their “Bitin’ Lists” and they will invite you along for the journey!