Aaron Lewis’ First Full Length Solo Country Album, ‘The Road’, Coming Tuesday

I stumble upon great albums all the time, but it has been a long time since I was this excited for an album to come out. Aaron Lewis, lead singer for the rock band Staind, has gone country, and his first full length solo album drops this Tuesday (November 12th).

Back in March of 2011 Aaron teased us with a 5 song EP, that featured the hit song “Country Boy”, called “Town Line”. Then it was back on the road with Staind, making us wonder if would ever get a full country album. Well, my friends, we are getting one!! Lewis recorded “The Road” while touring with Staind toward the end of last year.

It was a dream come true for me to get to hang out and talk to Aaron before he played an acoustic show for K99 listeners this September. I grew up listening to the sounds of Staind, and instantly fell in love with his solo music when I first heard the EP. It was almost like talking to a long lost friend that night as we discussed everything from Staind to hunting, and of course the album.

“Staind would play three or four shows in a row, and on the fifth day when I should have been resting, I was flying to Nashville and recording for the day, and then at the end of the day (I was) flying to wherever it was that I needed to play my next show at,” Lewis said.

Lewis said his inspiration to make country music came from the music his grandfather listened to when he was growing up, including artists like Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash and George Jones. Among modern country artists, Lewis said he “can’t say enough good things” about Jamey Johnson.

And with other crossover artists like Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker, and Darius Rucker making an impact in country music, I would say there is plenty of room for Aaron Lewis.

“If you like good old-fashioned country music, not necessarily everything that’s dominating the airwaves these days … come check it out,” Lewis said.

Here is the video for the latest single called “Forever”…