Country artist Luke Combs's extended play "The Prequel" features three songs from his upcoming studio album, which is set to come out in early 2026. The EP was released last Friday. Photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.
Luke Combs appeased the impatience of many country music-lovers with his release of “The Prequel,” a collection of three songs for his upcoming studio album.
This mini-album gives fans a look into the new album, drawing them in and leaving them wanting more. Combs is a celebrated American country artist most recently known for his hit single “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” that was released in 2024 for the movie “Twisters.” He is known for his gruff voice and varying styles of rowdy and sentimental music. This album reflects this with a rollercoaster of emotions, perspectives and instruments.
The first track of the album, “My Kinda Saturday Night,” begins with a low, strumming guitar, putting the listener in anticipation of a good time. It is the country version of surf-rock guitar heard in songs like “Misirlou” by Dick Dale & The Del Tones, letting everyone know that something big is coming. After a quick verse building up to the “Saturday Night” in question, Combs delivers the excitement with a jaunty chorus, ensuring people will get up to dance. The bridge contains a piano melody that transports the audience into a western saloon, with a rowdy crowd and the stereotypical country aspects of “boots on the back porch” and “coke cans.”
The next track, “15 Minutes,” starts with guitar and crooning vocals. The lyrics paint the scene of a prisoner calling home for only 15 minutes, inquiring about if things are how they used to be back at home. Nostalgia immediately washes over the listener as the “prisoner” laments about missing the old days while stuck in a prison. Audiences can interpret the relatable metaphor of feeling bored and stuck in a lifestyle while reminiscing about times when things were easier. The song maintains its calming essence throughout and ends sorrowfully, letting the listener reflect while the final chord hangs in the air.
To complete “The Prequel,” Combs lets out the melancholic notion of holding on dearly to “Days Like These,” singing the unfiltered, raw lyrics with his gravelly voice. The song’s message lies in treasuring the rare and precious moments people feel while together or in nature that cannot be bought by money. A sweet note rings out to conclude, and fans are left with hearts warmed and their spirits lifted.
Audiences cannot help but wish for more songs after they are done listening. If only three songs could make a person feel that much, the rest of the album must be worth the wait.
Rating: 4/5