Patterns is the fifth studio album by American country pop artist Kelsea Ballerini. The album was released on October 25, 2024, through Black River Entertainment.[2] Ballerini co-produced the album along with Alysa Vanderheym. "Cowboys Cry Too" was released as its first single on June 28, 2024. Three other songs were put out as promotional singles: "Sorry Mom", "Two Things", and "First Rodeo".
| Patterns | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 25, 2024 | |||
| Genre | Country pop[1] | |||
| Length | 46:00 | |||
| Label | Black River | |||
| Producer |
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| Kelsea Ballerini chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Patterns | ||||
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Content
Ballerini opted for an all-girl approach to Patterns, as she co-wrote and co-produced all 15 tracks on the album with Alysa Vanderheym, with additional writing on several songs from Jessie Jo Dillon, Karen Fairchild, and Hillary Lindsey.[3] She said the process happened "organically" following a songwriting retreat with her female collaborators, birthing an album "made from womanhood and sisterhood".[4]
The follow-up to the Rolling Up the Welcome Mat EP (2023) that documented the end of her marriage, Ballerini described Patterns as a "super autobiographical" album, taking the listener on a journey when listened from top-to-bottom.[5] She highlighted that the album is "not a love record", saying: "I think the whole record takes you through a very real journey of people that come together that have relational history and public relational history and different upbringings and different family dynamics and all these things, and you come together as adults and you have lives to sort through to be able to build one together. And to me, that is the most appealing part of love, sorting through all that and finding those dynamics that you're able to undo those patterns together. And I think it's a love record. It's just probably not what people are expecting".[5]
Ballerini credited boyfriend Chase Stokes as being present during the entire creation process for Patterns, and the inspiration for the song "How Much Do You Love Me?" which she declared the "softest song" on the record.[4] She referred to "Beg for Your Love" as the record's most vulnerable moment and the next step following "Leave Me Again", the closing track on Rolling Up the Welcome Mat.[4]
On October 28, 2024, Ballerini released a digital download of Patterns on her official website that included two bonus tracks, "Two Things (stripped)" and "To The Men That Love Women After Heartbreak" for a limited time. She first performed "To The Men That Love Women After Heartbreak" at the Grand Ole Opry on November 28, 2023 after putting the chorus out on social media the week prior.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone writer Jon Dolan gave the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, speaking favorably of the album's "characteristically varied collection that finds her looking inward with honesty and resolve, staying strong without sounding too heavy about it".[1]
Singles
The album includes a collaboration with Noah Kahan on "Cowboys Cry Too", which was released as the lead single on June 28, 2024.[6] "Sorry Mom", "Two Things", and "First Rodeo" were all issued as promotional singles ahead of the album release,[1] and all were accompanied by the release of music videos.[7][8][9]
Promotion
Ballerini will celebrate the album release with a headlining show at Madison Square Garden on October 29, 2024,[10] and is set to embark on her first headlining arena tour in January 2025.[11]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Patterns" |
| 3:40 |
| 2. | "Sorry Mom" |
| 3:35 |
| 3. | "Baggage" |
| 2:32 |
| 4. | "First Rodeo" |
| 3:43 |
| 5. | "Nothing Really Matters" |
| 2:37 |
| 6. | "How Much Do You Love Me" |
| 3:33 |
| 7. | "Two Things" |
| 3:35 |
| 8. | "We Broke Up" |
| 2:45 |
| 9. | "Wait!" |
| 3:02 |
| 10. | "Beg for Your Love" |
| 3:06 |
| 11. | "Deep" |
| 2:22 |
| 12. | "Cowboys Cry Too" (with Noah Kahan) |
| 3:51 |
| 13. | "I Would, Would You" |
| 2:52 |
| 14. | "This Time Last Year" |
| 3:41 |
| 15. | "Did You Make It Home?" (outro) |
| 0:59 |
| Total length: | 46:00 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Two Things" (stripped) |
| 3:42 |
| 17. | "To the Men That Love Women After Heartbreak" |
| 2:33 |
| Total length: | 52:00 | ||
Charts
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[12] | 48 |
| Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[13] | 4 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] | 46 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[15] | 9 |
| UK Albums Sales (OCC)[16] | 34 |
| UK Country Albums (OCC)[17] | 1 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[18] | 14 |
References
- ^ a b c Jon Dolan (October 24, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini Keeps the Pretty-Decent Times Rolling on Patterns". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Liptak, Carena (August 8, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini's New Album, 'Patterns', Is On Its Way". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Lorie Hollabaugh (August 9, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini Examines Some 'Patterns' On New Album, Due In October". Music Row. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c P. Claire Dodson (October 25, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini Says Chase Stokes Was Alongside Entire Making of New Album PATTERNS". Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Lauren McCarthy (October 24, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini's 'Patterns' Is Not a Love Album". Nylon. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Billy Dukes (June 27, 2024). "Why Kelsea Ballerini Picked Noah Kahan for Cowboys Cry Too". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini - Sorry Mom (Official Music Video)". August 12, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini - Two Things (Official Music Video)". September 20, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Kelsea Ballerini - First Rodeo (Official Music Video)". October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Jessica Nicholson (October 24, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini Releases New Album 'Patterns': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Gil Kaufman (October 23, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini Announces Dates For 30-City 2025 'Patterns' U.S. Tour". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2024.