Pop

The pairing of Post and HARDY sounds like the late-night, drunken musings of two buddies asking big questions – and that is quite possibly how this song came together. While the story begins with “the world turnin’ back on,” Post wonders if he saw a message in the white and yellow street lines guiding him home, prompting him to worry just how far his partner would go for him. And while he questions whether they’d pack a go-bag or hide his gun for him, among other murder-adjecent hypotheticals, the story proves to be just that. “Lord, I didn’t do anything wrong,” whispers Post at the end, “I’m only asking just because.”

Any fan of Post knows just how true this song’s title is, as the artist has never shied away from the finer things in life, many of which he rattles off here: “platinum on my teeth, and wagyu on my grill,” he sings, before declaring himself to be a “five-star hell raisin’ dive bar rockstar.” In that one sentence, Post manages to sum up many of his parts – and you can almost hear his self-aware grin coming through the speakers. Getting a legend like Hank Williams Jr. to join in on the fun makes this song all the better, as he lists his own lavish loves, from a “50-foot pontoon” to “Pappy Reserve.”

It’s not until the sixth track that Post takes center stage with his first of just three solo songs. And while “Belong” begins with a subtle twang, the song quickly transitions into a more classic Post Malone cocktail of pop, a splash of hip-hop and a touch of rock. The beauty is in that seamless transition, as this song shows just how natural this evolution has always been for the superstar. Plus, what makes it most country isn’t the production but more so the meaning, as Post counts all the people and places he’s already given his heart to, from “half-way lovers” to his “rockstar livin’ – and proves just how much of a softie, and romantic, he is when he declares, “If I knew I’d meet you one day, I woulda never gave it all away.”

Serving as the sole solo country song from Post on the album, “Right About You” is proof that he didn’t need help to make this project – or to have it be a success. But as evidenced by the stacked track list – and as he himself sings on the album’s lead single – he sure did have some help. And it’s those heavyweight features that make a song like this not only stand out, but feel even more special for and appreciated by Post’s day one fans who knew he had this in him all along. Bet they’re feeling pretty right themselves right now.

Post and the legendary Parton takes things back to the ‘70s with this throwback, rollicking, piano-laden duet that soars when the two sing together, as they do for the majority of the tune. These two lovers “don’t have the heart” to break up with each other so they simply keep falling back into each other’s arms and beds. The nearly 50-year age difference between the two may give some people the ick when lusty thoughts prevail, but it’s hard not to smile when Parton sings, “Oh what the hell, what’s one more night going to hurt.” 

On the first of two collaborations between Post and Combs on the set, they scratch below the surface as this uptempo tune belies a puzzling situation. They both know guys who can fix almost anything that ails them from the sighting on a rifle to the binding on a bible, but they come up short when it comes to finding a guy who can fix a woman’s broken heart — and they know they’re just going to have to live with the consequences of their actions.

On the heels of a break-up, Post lists all the things that he should have done differently on this track that utilizes classic country cleverness: It goes without saying that she’s not coming back and then as the train leaves the track, she goes without saying goodbye. Post and Paisley, whom Post first saw in concert when he was six, trade verses and Paisley’s guitar licks are tastefully on display, though he keeps the fireworks at bay (which may not be a good thing) in keeping with the low-key feel of the mid-tempo track. The tune sounds different from everything else on the album, especially with the subtle mandolin work, and could be a potential switch up single. 

In their second collab on the set, Combs and Post go straight for the feels with this traditional country ballad that sounds straight out of the ‘80s. Fiddles accompany the heartache as absence only makes the heart grow sadder even when, as Combs sings, “the next best thing is lying right here.” 

Post and Wilson find the beauty in hitting rock bottom in this twangy, gentle ballad that the pair debuted at the Grand Ole Opry Wednesday (Aug. 14). “There’s learnin’ in the hurtin’,” Wilson sings as the pair trade verses and come together for the chorus. Their pain feels real and authentic, as does the redemption and hope as they sing the last chorus a cappella.

Just as expected, a Post Malone and Billy Strings collaboration not only hits hard but man oh man is it fun. Everything from the high-speed bluegrass beat to the playful songwriting – in which Post spins a story about being paid off by his girl’s dad to skip town, only to find himself in a series of questionable situations while on his way down to Mexico – secures this song as an album standout, and surely one of the more lively tracks to hit the road with.

This gorgeous ballad sounds tailor-made for moonlit swaying, with Post and Sierra Ferrell crooning in perfect, aching harmony about the impending loss of a lover – “I’ll love you ‘till tomorrow, then I’ll never love you again,” they sing matter of factly. There’s a beautiful simplicity both in the message and delivery from the pair, and in the greater context of the album, this intimate track arrives as a pleasant respite from some of its higher-energy companions.

Post Malone and Jelly Roll tread familiar territory for fans of the latter with this mid-tempo, heavily produced track that wraps its arms around all the outcasts out there. “You might be lonely, but you’re never alone,” sings Post, before Jelly Roll comes in, assuring anyone who feels like they have nothing to lose, “there’s a spot for you beside me on this stool.” From two artists who have made no secret of their outsider status –real or imagined — it’s an appealing and relatable invitation.

A litany of woes from the tedium of the work week to your favorite team losing and getting a speeding ticket are no match for the curative powers of your favorite libation. Shelton and Posty’s voices are indistinguishable as they blend on the catchy chorus that is sure to become a Friday 5 p.m. standard. 

Oftentimes, a cliche is a cliche for good reason – and on F-1, Post surely saved the best of himself for last. While not nearly as rousing as some of the album’s standouts – especially the previously released singles – “Yours” is a stunning, singular ballad written not only for his baby girl, but also for himself. A proud father, Post spotlights his adoration on this album closer, managing to summarize the experience of loving – and being loved – endlessly in just 3 minutes and 19 seconds.

While the singles that preceded F-1 are the most pop appealing from the album, “Devil” fits in with the pack as Post and Ernest cooked up an inviting melodic fusion. For a song about salvation, its production is fittingly freeing; unlike other tracks here, the band takes a bit more of a backseat allowing Post and Ernest – and their message of leaving demons behind – to properly take hold.

The lead off track from the album proved to be quite the juggernaut: six weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart (the most of any song this year) and five atop Country Songs, the first song to ever achieve such a double-fisted feat. It’s a leading contender for song of the summer for good reason: The undulating, swaying tune about a relationship gone wrong and an ex who doesn’t see her role in the mess is simple and infectious. Stop looking for any message or complexity here and just give in to the season’s top earworm.

This rousing, twangy album opener perfectly sets the tone for the hour ahead as it begins acoustically – immediately proving Post as a vocalist in his own right – before slowly building into a booming, almost threatening beat, as if meant to foreshadow a bar brawl. Through it all, Tim McGraw (whose hits including “Real Good Man” and “Don’t Take the Girl” are playfully mentioned) is perfectly woven into the narrative and helps drive the instrumentation to its dizzying end. At which point, Post makes clear just how sonically lush F-1 Trillion set out to be – and boy does it deliver.

Post Malone and Stapleton are clearly having the time of their lives on this tune that blends bluegrass, country, rock and just enough grunge to feel appealingly swampy. “She said, ‘Baby give me one more kiss before I kiss your ass goodbye,’” sums it up, as they wrap their voices around each other as they are left in the dust by a bewitching hitchhiker, who takes them for everything they’re worth. Someone needs to make Smokey & The Bandit IV just so this can be in it.