James Mitchell Tenpenny Ⅲ celebrates the beauty of life, love,  and manhood with his third studio album, aptly titled, “The 3rd.” After a six-year gap between his second and third albums, country fans are fervent to listen to Tenpenny’s new 20-track album, released last Friday, Sept. 20.

Tenpenny’s album consists of twenty country-focused songs and features collaborations from a diverse range of genres, from country singers alike to even a hard-rock band. Some of the collaborations are polarizing having caused debate to whether Tenpenny subsumes true country essence into his music or recklessly experiments; however, it is known that the album itself has a similar soul to any other country compilation. moreover, country enthusiasts find that Tenpenny has skillfully bent the genre with modern pop and rock conventions.

“The 3rd” is full of many surprises. The biggest hit on the compilation is Tenpenny’s cover of “Iris,” the tremendously famous rock song by the Goo Goo Dolls. The song played a critical role in Tenpenny’s life, as it influenced him to start playing music and naturally, it was the first song he learned on the guitar.

Tenpenny’s cover of “Iris” is crafted with the utmost feeling of sincerity; making it heartwarming to any listener. His country-ization of the Goo Goo Dolls hit was a new way to bring life to the monumentally popular song.

Originally, Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik wrote ”Iris,” for the Nicholas Cage movie “City of Angels.” The song follows the movie’s plot line of an angel Seth, who wants to give up his immortality for a normal human existence in the hope of being with the woman of his dreams. Rzeznik puts himself in the point of view of Seth the Angel while singing this song, which consequently creates a true-to-life feeling for everyone to listen to.

“And I’d give up forever to touch you/ ‘Cause I know that you feel me somehow.”

Following the roadwork laid out by Rzeznik, Tenpenny applies his twist to the song with a masculine Tennessee twang and the use of traditional country instruments.
Compared to the original song, Tenpenny also uses a more stadium rock style in balancing his drums and guitar rather than just relying on his voice as the main focus of the song and having drums and the guitar lead in the background. Theme-wise, ‘Iris’ is perfect for Tenpenny’s album because it incorporates themes of love, sacrifice and death, all relevant to the theme of life and legacy.

The most controversial song on the compilation, “Demon or Ghost,” is a track with a dual focus on hard rock and country. The song features Grammy-nominated metalcore band Underoath. To summarize the theme, “Demon or Ghost” follows a typical country song dynamic: It tells the story of a man in a toxic push-pull relationship with his girlfriend and struggling to cope with his feelings. Tenpenny sings with a pain-inflicted voice and a passionate undertone.

“Are you gonna haunt this house or burn it down/And be everywhere I go? Are you just a memory of a thing that was/ Or just tryna steal my soul?”

Regardless of the theme, the song cannot be taken as a stereotypical country tune due to the hard rock element that completely dominates any country semblance. Underoath lead singer Spencer Chamberlain consistently sings over Tenpenny during the track, bringing to question who the main credit to the song belongs to. “Demon or Ghost” headlines the chaotic nature of a hard rock song, however, coming from a country album some might say that it sounds more like a glorified mixtape than an appropriate country-to-rock collaboration.

Tenpenny’s most creative work is the fourth song on the album, ”Woke Up in a Dream,” which plays before ‘Iris.’ The track is one of the most heavy-hearted songs on the compilation and depicts the story of a man who is caught in deep love to the point where he isn’t sure whether he is dreaming. Surprisingly, the work involves a theme of growing up and accepting one’s emotional vulnerability instead of denying the emotions cope with.

“Woke Up in a Dream” has heavily syncopated rhythms that create a pop-like feel to the track, and allow space for Tenpenny’s country style to take command of the song. At the beginning of the song, Tenpenny hums a simple but catchy introduction and transitions to singing a quiet and syncopated verse which, leads up to the main phrase.

“Yeah, I Woke up in a dream/ Laying in the bed with you laying on me/ Déjà vu, round two in the sheets.” 

After the second chorus, the song includes a textbook example of a guitar solo influenced by 1980s stadium rock. Similar to the long line of guitar solos before it, the solo creates a dramatic pause and effect, leaving passion in the ears of listeners. “Woke Up in a Dream” is truly a powerful cultivation of Tenpenny’s emotional outlook on love and manhood, not to be forgotten any time soon.

“The 3rd,” is an album to remember for years to come, as it is one of Tenpenny’s best musical works so far. In the near future, Tenpenny will be featured on the newest Brooks & Dunn album,” Reboot Ⅱ,” which, will be released this year on November 15. Shortly after “Reboot Ⅱ” is released, Tennpenny will attend the CMA Awards for his nomination for ”New Artist of the Year,” on November 20, 2024.