A Rock

2020 studio album by Hardy
A Rock
Studio album by
Hardy
ReleasedSeptember 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)
Genre
  • Country
  • country rock[1]
Length42:01
LabelBig Loud
Producer
  • Joey Moi (all tracks)
  • Derek Wells (all tracks)
  • David Garcia (track 5)
  • Jake Mitchell (tracks 11 & 12)
Hardy chronology
Hixtape, Vol. 1
(2019) 		A Rock
(2020) 		Hixtape, Vol. 2
(2021)
Singles from A Rock
  1. "One Beer"
    Released: February 10, 2020
  2. "Give Heaven Some Hell"
    Released: January 25, 2021[2]

A Rock (stylized in all caps)[3] is the debut studio album by American country music singer Hardy, released on September 4, 2020, via Big Loud Records.[4]

Content

Joey Moi and Derek Wells produced the entire album, with co-production from David Garcia on "Where Ya At" and from Jake Mitchell on "Unapologetically Country as Hell" and the title track. The album is a followup to Hardy's EP Hixtape, Vol. 1. "One Beer", featuring Devin Dawson and Lauren Alaina, is the lead single.[5]

Critical reception

Jeff Lincoln of Country Standard Time reviewed the album favorably, complimenting Hardy's unconventional appearance for a country musician, as well as his lyrical skill and combination of country and rock influences. He concluded his review with "it's got authentic appeal, and Hardy's found the right label at Big Loud Records. Country music was always more than the hats anyhow."[6] Zackary Kephart of Country Universe rated the album 1 out of 5 stars, stating that "he’s a detailed writer, and that’s why, I think, most people haven’t immediately written this off as an attempt at any sort of revival of the trend itself. It’s just that his details are completely unlikable". He also criticized the mixing and production of Joey Moi and Hardy's limited vocal range.[7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Truck"
  • Michael Hardy
  • Ben Johnson
  • Hunter Phelps
3:38
2."Boyfriend"
  • Hardy
  • Zach Abend
  • Andy Albert
3:39
3."Give Heaven Some Hell"
3:37
4."Boots"
3:13
5."Where Ya At"
2:59
6."Ain't a Bad Day"
  • Hardy
  • Jake Mitchell
  • Phelps
3:22
7."One Beer" (featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson)
  • Hardy
  • Lindsey
  • Mitchell
2:53
8."So Close" (featuring Ashland Craft)
  • Hardy
  • Mark Holman
  • Lindsey
3:45
9."Broke Boy"
  • Hardy
  • Garcia
  • Brett Tyler
3:52
10."Hate Your Hometown"
  • Hardy
  • Garcia
  • Lindsey
3:28
11."Unapologetically Country as Hell"
  • Hardy
  • Smith Ahnquist
  • Nick Donley
  • Mitchell
3:55
12."A Rock"
  • Hardy
  • Ahnquist
  • Mitchell
3:40
Total length:42:01

Notes

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[8] 20
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[9] 34
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[10] 4
US Billboard 200[11] 24
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[12] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2020) Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[13] 63
Chart (2021) Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[14] 30
Chart (2023) Position
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[15] 38
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[16] 36

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Gold 40,000‡
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Freeman, Jon (July 21, 2020). "How Hardy Became Nashville's Most Clever New Redneck Songwriter". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  2. ^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". AllAccess. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "A ROCK by HARDY on Apple Music". Apple Music. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "A Rock – Hardy". AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Stefano, Angela (July 21, 2020). "Hardy plans debut album, 'A Rock', for September". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "A Rock review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  7. ^ "A Rock review". Country Universe. September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  8. ^ "ARIA Report" (PDF). ARIA. August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Hardy Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  10. ^ "Hardy Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Hardy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Hardy Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  14. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  15. ^ "Independent Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  16. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  17. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Hardy – A Rock". Music Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "American album certifications – Hardy – A Rock". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
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