You'll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1)

Rising to fame as a multifarious content creator, Alex Warren started sharing his passionate, personal take on contemporary, electronics-polished singer/songwriter pop in 2021. Early singles like the ultra-alienated "Remember Me Happy" and grieving "Chasing Shadows" delved into the trauma of having lost a parent at a young age, endured the alcohol use of the other, and been left unhoused at 17. With his first full-length release, Youll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1), Warren expands his songwriting beyond heartbroken balladry (although theres some of that here, too) into anthemic, empowering festival pop, as exemplified on the at-first tender, then foot-stomping "Carry You Home." Included in the ten-song set are no less than four internationally charting hits (at the time of its release), including Warrens Billboard Hot 100 debut, "Burning Down," an example of the latter type of song. While he often crosses or at least straddles the borders into the maudlin (on sad songs) and the formulaic (on more upbeat material), hes a work in progress with a built-in fan base, and his sincerity isnt in question. ~ Marcy Donelson