It’s hard to argue the fact that Sam Barber is one of the fastest-rising talents in independent country today. Recently picking up his first gold record with his breakout hit, Straight and Narrow, the Missourian singer/songwriter looks to keep the ball rolling with his newest release, S.O.B..
Barber took to Instagram back on Jan. 23 and teased three brand new songs with the caption, “Need y’all’s help! Whatcha like best? 1, 2, or 3???”
Though many people were begging him to release all three, the second option, which was later revealed to be S.O.B., prevailed as the winner.
Flash forward to Jan. 30 and Barber made an official announcement of the song’s release. While announcing it, he assured fans that the other two tracks would be coming in due time.
S.O.B. is exactly what you would expect from Barber in the best way possible. The production feels a bit more full compared to his earlier work while still containing a predominant acoustic guitar throughout. The slide on the electric guitar is an excellent touch that gives the track a longing, western feel to it.
As you would expect in a song titled, S.O.B., Barber laments about his shortcomings throughout the track. In a very Zach Bryan-esque fashion, he grapples with feelings of loneliness as well as a lack of control. Lines such as “There’s a war in my mind over all the things I cannot fix” exemplify this sentiment and perfectly encapsulates feelings of anxiety and worry over things you cannot control..
The lyrics ride an incredibly fine line between showcasing the anxiety and anguish that he’s feeling while also being just vague enough that the listener can easily emphasize with whatever he was going through while writing.
The second verse is particularly compelling, showcasing Barber’s songwriting prowess while simultaneously creating some incredibly strong imagery.
“Every step feels like barbed wire wrapped around my skin
Cutting deeper than the fires that burn me within
But keeps me up too late is the thought of my old death
‘Til the liquor takes over and I can’t hold my head”
Barber is about to begin his Til I Return tour starting on Feb. 22 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Upcoming tour dates are as follows:
- February 22 – Chattanooga, TN
- February 23 – Atlanta, GA
- February 24 – Durham, NC
- February 28 – Oxford, OH
- February 29 – Lakewood, OH
- March 1 – Detroit, MI
- March 2 – Toronto, ON
- March 6 – Indianapolis, ID
- March 8 – Fayetteville, AR
Listen to it here: