This is NOT Your Typical Debut Album - Warren Zeiders Delivers
Warren Zeiders | 717 Tapes The Album | Review
The 23-year-old burst onto the country music scene in the last year or so, emerging as one of the genre’s fastest-rising success stories in recent history. With his brooding tunes and a knowing voice, that belie his years, it’s no surprise that he’s inspired a massive social media following, garnering over 1 billion views on TikTok and over 459 million global streams across platforms.
717 Tapes: The Album collects all of Zeiders’ critically acclaimed 717 Tapes singles and EP tracks in a single package including his recently released “Up To No Good.” The album will be rounded out with a few unheard tracks to boot. Owing to the breakout success of Zeiders’ releases over the past couple of years, the new full-length will nod to the songwriter’s stripped-down beginnings and look toward his future with Warner Records and a full band sound, propelling him to the next chapter of his career and cementing the 717 Tapes legacy.
Zeiders who is credited as a co-writer on the whole album is quickly earning himself the title of one of the top writers in Nashville. Lately, the upswing of artists writing more of their albums is showing us the true grit of the song & the emotions of how it was supposed to sound. I feel sometimes a lot of emotions are lost when songs get cut from a non-wrier on the song. Warren is raw emotion both on the album and on the live stage leaving his vulnerability to showcase in a powerful set of 15 songs compiled to make his debut full-length project.
1) Ride the Lightning (717 Tapes) (Eric Paslay/Rob Crosby/Warren Zeiders)
This song sets the tone for the album right out of the gate, showcasing the raw grit and talent that Warren Zeiders brings to the table. Talks about how he is going to live it up till it’s time for someone to lift him a little higher. Warren delivers on this song, and it could be why it has over 67 Million streams on Spotify.
I'm gonna ride the lightning, Feel the thunder, 'Til the darkness pulls me under
2) Never Look Back (717 Tapes) (Eric Paslay/Warren Zeiders/Tim Nichols/Lindsay Rimes)
Warren follows up with another Spotify popular song with over 17 million streams, Never Look Back was also co-wrote with Eric Paslay who has 3 cuts on the album. This is a fun one, everyone needs them a ride or die, and here they talk about finding theirs. This will be a Zeiders classic. I like how it was swapped from the lead song on the original EP.
“I've got a feelin' we could get this dive bar talkin’”
3) Boys for Life (717 Tapes) (Justin Walker/Randy Montana/Warren Zeiders)
Speaking of having a Ride of Die, Boy’s for Life hits hard. The grit in the sound and Warren’s voice nails the song. Talking about the guys you grew up with, your boys. Leaving a name in their small towns as the outlaws, this song keeps the flow of the album strong.
“We chase that sun, small-town outlaws, All for one, one for all, We smoke and fight, we laugh, we cry, They're my ride-or-dies, yeah, These are my boys for life”
4) Dirt Road Don’t (717 Tapes) (Randy Montana/Warren Zeiders/Erik Dylan)
Randy Montana pops up again for his 2nd album cut, & Erik Dylan joins In to add some deep lyrics to this one. Slowing down just a little bit but keeping the tempo uplifting. Talking about where he came from and where he will one day end up, go where the Dirt Road Don’t.
“If you wanna see where I belong, Where they'll bury this boy's bones, Where this rebel soul calls home, You gotta go where the dirt road don't”
5) Loving and Hating You (717 Tapes) (Justin Ebach/Warren Zeiders)
Keeping the acoustic feel to the album, Warren talks about a past love that could’ve been a toxic relationship. Stuck in between two hard feelings and not knowing which way to go is a tough choice when you still love someone, but also have that hatred of loving them.
“I'm right on the line of loving goodbye, And texting you after two”
6) Wild Horse (717 Tapes) (Martin Johnson/Brandon Paddock/Warren Zeiders)
This ballad could be one of the strongest Zeiders songs on the album & our favorite. We put this in the category of future Country Classic. Warren shows a softer side from his outlaw style. This could be why fans needed this so much after going viral on his socials. Warren delivers an emotional song while showcasing his vocals and strong lyrics.
“22 years riding back and forth, I threw it all away on a wild horse”
7) Dark Night (717 Tapes) (Warren Zeiders/Joe Clemens)
Picking back up on the pace, Warren talks about his dark nights & facing his fears. No matter how much you want to quit you need to ride through those Dark Nights, need to face those fears to overcome them.
“Devils on my shoulder, demon's gettin' closer, All I know is I gotta ride, Ride into that dark night”
8) Southbound (717 Tapes) (Shy Carter/Mark Holman/Erik Dylan/Andy Sheridan/Warren Zeiders)
This song stands out from most of the new album, Warren shows his softer side in this ballad. The acoustic opening set’s the tone for a heartfelt song about family and the different paths in life you must choose.
“Life will come and pass you by, Unless you chase it down”
9) Ain’t Been Found (717 Tapes) (Ben Chapman/Meg McRee/Warren Zeiders)
With a little southern rock flair, and a gritty opening. Warren shows that he has a rebellious side to him, and the lyrics show it in this song. Helping the album roll right along with a little slow-down funky song. We sometimes like to play with the fire of our own desires. Plus, it includes one of our personal favorite songwriters in Ben Chapman as well.
“Always standing too close to the fire, Never could say no to my desire”
10) Burn It Down (717 Tapes) (Erik Dylan/Rob Snyder/Andy Sheridan/Warren Zeiders)
Burn It Down is packed with talented writers, it starts out gritty and a little haunting. It shows that just might happen to Country Music once Zeiders is on the loose. He could burn it all down with songs like this one, that could be a guaranteed #1 out of many on this album.
“I'd bet everything, There's a lot of folks like me, Cuttin' off the puppet string, And breakin' out the gasoline, Once you strike that match, There ain't no turnin' back”
11) Wild Horse (Martin Johnson/Brandon Paddock/Warren Zeiders)
This ballad could be one of the strongest Zeiders songs on the album & our favorite. We put this in the category of future Country Classic. Warren shows a softer side from his outlaw style. This could be why fans needed this so much after going viral on his socials. Warren delivers an emotional song while showcasing his vocals and strong lyrics.
“22 years riding back and forth, I threw it all away on a wild horse”
12) Up To No Good (Warren Zeiders/Lindsay Rimes/Russell Sutton)
In another hard-hitting song, Zeiders talks about the girl your mama warned you about, once again with the strong lyrics Warren delivers a rocking upbeat song, keeping the flow of the album still as one of the best debut albums. You know this is about the girl that drives you crazy, and all you can think of is her.
“Like a devil on my shoulder, She's the drug I can't say no to”
13) One Hell of an Angel (Warren Zeiders/Josh Jenkins/Benjy Davis)
Talk about a #1 song, Zeiders nails this one. Every song on this album has the potential to be a single, but this one stands out the most. Talking about someone you need to save this Sinner, and it’s going to take a good one. Sometimes hard to find. You know it’s going to take the girl who is up to no good, to be one hell of an angel.
“I ain't saying I can't be saved, I'm saying it's gonna take, One hell of an angel”
14) Heavy Pour (Erik Dylan/Rob Snyder/Andy Sheridan/Warren Zeiders)
The duo of Snyder & Dylan shows up on this classic song, proving there is not a bad song on this album. Zeiders is shining as if he is a veteran in this business with these lyrics and the tone of the song. This has #1 written all over it. Everyone has those long days at work, and all you want is a tall glass of Jack & hold the coke on that one, I need a Heavy Pour
“I’ve been through hell & I’ve had enough”
15) Highway Run (Eric Paslay/Warren Zeiders/Rivers Rutherford)
The album closes with a smash, Zeiders slows it down a little with the haunting rasp in the voice mixed with the acoustics this album has featured. This ends a perfect debut album.
“What does it take to wash away the sins”
This is a strong debut album from someone who is only 3 years into his musical focus. With this album, Warren Zeiders shows fans that he is here to stay, maybe one of the best debut albums we have heard in years. The only downfall was that we have heard 75% of the album already, but the way Warren put this project together, makes the songs flow so flawless and makes it the perfect debut album. Leaves you anticipating more new music from someone showing longevity in Country Music. Watch out cause 2023 will be a HUGE year for Mr. Warren Zeiders.
