Top 10 Underrated Leon Bridges Songs
Courtesy of @NME; Credit: Press
Coming Home (2015)
1. “Brown Skin Girl”
On his debut album, Leon Bridges championed old-school sounds, tapping into a fountain of inspiration from his gospel and soul music predecessors. “Brown Skin Girl” has a leisurely pace with a tempo guided by the steady accompaniment of a trio of horns. Leon croons all over this one as he swoons for the ruby-lipped lady with the polka-dot dress on whose name he doesn’t know. As I play this one back, I can’t help but think that I’m listening to a Sam Cooke song reincarnated, perhaps a more 2015-friendly version of “Only Sixteen”. Paying homage to Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl”, Leon’s “Brown Skin Girl” is just as much the classic and a perfect song to kick off his underrated Top 10.
(Apple Music / Spotify)
2. “Lisa Sawyer”
This ballad is not only a tribute from Leon to his mother, Lisa Sawyer, but a tribute to her entire family. As the track unfolds, Bridges’ lyrics narrate the story of her New Orleans roots, upbringing, passions, and values that live on through him. As you listen, you learn about the diligence of Lisa’s parents, working multiple jobs to provide for their 8 children (though Leon mentions 7 in the song, Lisa was in fact, 1 of 8). Leon continues to describe their humility and gratitude, they “never had much money” but were “rich in love”. A true testament to Leon’s songwriting prowess, each verse is concise but comprehensive. If you listen closely at the beginning, you’ll catch the Earth, Wind & Fire reference when he talks about his grandmother Eartha. And in the final two stanzas, Leon speaks directly to how his mother’s legacy as a singer and a woman of faith is carried on through his own.’
Good Thing (2018)
3. “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand”
Ironically, Leon opens up his second studio album “Good Thing” with a break-up. The reasons he gives (the “it’s not you, it’s me” kind) are completely aligned with the trajectory his career is taking, which naturally, makes you assume, and appreciate, that “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand” is inspired by true events. In this metaphor, the “bet” being referred to is Leon’s career, which he feels is not worth the relationship, or in this analogy, “hand”. What I like about this track is the quick fold from the nostalgic, soulful sounds that led to his success, and the double-down on the relaxed, leisurely tempo that enables his voice and lyrics to shine. While the soft string arrangements, twinkling of bells, and strum of the harp may lead you to find this one more Disney soundtrack than “underrated”, I appreciate the sincerity of this song. Standing alongside and released at the same time as his first single and second most popular track (“Bad Bad News”) on the album, it’s a fine time to give this underrated song a few more spins.
4. “Shy”
On his second album with Columbia Records, Leon is encouraged to start exploring new genres, specifically Pop and R&B, in an attempt to appeal to a broader audience with more mainstream sounds. Even though you can anticipate the label’s attempt to capitalize on the success of “Coming Home” from a mile away, Leon’s authenticity, voice, and songwriting keep the integrity of the music intact. While songs like “Beyond” and “Bad Bad News” got all sorts of rightly deserved airplay, “Shy” is the first true R&B record Leon released and deserves some recognition of its own. An uncharacteristically steamy track from Bridges up to this point, “Shy” highlights how sexy Leon’s voice can get when he combines rhythm with the blues, and boy has leaning into this sound paid off on his most recent album, “Gold-Diggers Sound”.
5. “Georgia to Texas”
As we all do, Leon Bridges forms his identity through a combination of nature and nurture, but also by paying close attention to his mother’s journey. “Georgia to Texas” weaves their narratives together, telling the story from his birth in Atlanta to his upbringing and adolescence in Fort Worth. Starting with slow, decisive strums from a bass guitar, the song builds to a relaxed crescendo sprinkling soft snares, light keys, background vocals, and a smooth saxophone to tie it all together. The pensive nature of this track pairs perfectly with the acoustics here, while the lyrics highlight Leon’s vulnerability to invite the listener along as he finds solace through reflection.
Gold-Diggers Sound (2021)
6. “Magnolias”
Urging that we trade our roses for the magnolias scatter plotted across the southern states where Bridges grew up, he still wants us to stop and take them in all the same. On Leon Bridges 3rd album, “Gold-Diggers Sound”, you’ll hear Leon’s sound graduate from Pop to R&B, settling into a genre that compliments his voice best. “Magnolias” is a standout track for me. I love the dichotomy of the acoustic guitar adjacent to the trap beats. The way Leon’s voice sounds as sexy as an early 2000’s Usher song. The brass of the marching band peppering the chorus. Simply put, it’s underrated now, but sure to be one of your favorite cuts from the new album.
7. “Details”
If Leon comes off old-fashioned on this album, it solely stems from the wisdom of his songwriting. Turning 32 just before its release, though Leon’s always had the maturity to appreciate simple things, this track is all about the details.
8. “Don’t Worry”
“Don’t Worry” has a Texas trailhead vibe to it, with Leon playing the ranch-hand out on the road. Away from home with his focus turned elsewhere, Leon’s lover is left lonely and seeks to be seen with attention from someone new. An inevitable challenge of long-distance dating will always be a lack of quality time. In this ballad, Leon and Ink focus on picking themselves up by the boot-straps and moving on.
Various Singles & EPs (2020)
9. “C-Side”
10. “All About You”
Honorable Mention: “Pony”
