Blue in the Sky is the fifth studio album by American country music singer Dustin Lynch. It was released on February 11, 2022, through BBR Music Group.[2] It was produced by Zach Crowell and preceded by the lead single "Thinking 'Bout You", a collaboration with MacKenzie Porter. The album also includes collaborations with Chris Lane and Riley Green.[3] Lynch toured in support of the record.[4]

Blue in the Sky
A photograph of Lynch looking to the side wearing a cowboy hat against a blue sky background
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 11, 2022 (2022-02-11)
GenreCountry
Length39:00
LabelBBR
ProducerZach Crowell
Dustin Lynch chronology
Tullahoma
(2020)
Blue in the Sky
(2022)
Killed the Cowboy
(2023)
Singles from Blue in the Sky
  1. "Thinking 'Bout You"
    Released: May 3, 2021
  2. "Party Mode"
    Released: February 14, 2022
  3. "Stars Like Confetti"
    Released: January 30, 2023[1]

Background

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Lynch released the lead single "Thinking 'Bout You" featuring MacKenzie Porter in May 2021, a song originally recorded for his previous album Tullahoma as a duet with Lauren Alaina. He followed this with two songs released digitally in July, the "mid-tempo, fiddle-led love story" "Pasadena" and "acoustic ballad" "Not Every Cowboy". In December 2021, Lynch told Taste of Country that the album was finished and had been handed over to his record label.[5] Lynch described the album as a "collection of songs that are going to make you feel good and want to mix a drink and party with your friends".[2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the album often "wanders into territory that's pretty corny, but Lynch serves up his good times with a smile, an affect that serves him equally well on breezy pop tunes and earnest ballads".[6]

Track listing

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Blue in the Sky track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Party Mode"
3:31
2."Thinking 'Bout You" (featuring MacKenzie Porter)
2:51
3."Stars Like Confetti"3:14
4."Somethin' That Makes You Smile"
  • Erik Dylan
  • Andy Sheridan
  • Wyatt McCubbin
3:09
5."Break It on a Beach"
3:11
6."Tequila on a Boat" (featuring Chris Lane)
3:07
7."Tennessee Trouble"
  • Lynch
  • Matt Dragstrem
  • Phelps
  • Jordan Minton
2:53
8."Summer Never Ended"
3:20
9."Back Road TN"
3:22
10."Huntin' Land" (featuring Riley Green)
  • Lynch
  • Albert
  • Phelps
  • Weatherly
3:01
11."Pasadena"
  • Lynch
  • Jeff Hyde
  • Ryan Tyndell
3:35
12."Not Every Cowboy"
3:49
Total length:39:00
Digital bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Fish in the Sea"
  • Lynch
  • Minton
  • Dragstrem
2:49

Personnel

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  • Dustin Lynch – lead vocals
  • MacKenzie Porter – vocals (track 2)
  • Chris Lane – vocals (track 6)
  • Riley Green – vocals (track 9)
  • Nir Z – drums
  • Aaron Sterling – drums
  • Jerry Flowers – bass guitar
  • Mark Hill – bass guitar
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass guitar
  • Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar
  • Devin Malone – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin
  • Derek Wells – electric guitar
  • Sol Philcox-Littlefield – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
  • Kenny Greenberg – electric guitar
  • Josh Matheny – dobro, acoustic guitar
  • Justin Ebach – acoustic guitar, programming, background vocals
  • Scotty Sanders – dobro, pedal steel guitar
  • Jenee Fleenor – fiddle
  • Will Weatherly – programming, keyboards, acoustic guitar
  • Zach Crowell – producer, programming, keyboards, background vocals, percussion
  • Sarah Buxton – background vocals
  • Ben Caver – background vocals
  • Jeff Hyde – background vocals
  • Bryce Cain – digital editing
  • Jim Cooley – mixing
  • Zach Kuhlman – mixing assistant
  • Andrew Mendelson – mastering
  • Scott Johnson – production manager

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". AllAccess. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (January 21, 2022). "Dustin Lynch To Release New Album 'Blue In The Sky' In February". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Farthing, Linda (January 20, 2022). "Dustin Lynch Announces Fifth Studio Album, 'Blue In The Sky'". MusicRow. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "Dustin Lynch Reveals Details To New Album 'Blue In The Sky' On 'Good Morning America'". Music Mayhem. January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Dukes, Billy (January 19, 2022). "Dustin Lynch Reveals Surprise 'Blue in the Sky' Album". Taste of Country. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dustin Lynch Blue in the Sky Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  7. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 21 February 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1668. Australian Recording Industry Association. February 21, 2022. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Dustin Lynch Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Dustin Lynch Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  11. ^ "Dustin Lynch Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  12. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.