Post Malone has branched out with his most recent work, that’s for sure. His new album F-1 Trillion, which is heavily country and full of collaborations with iconic genre artists, hit streaming platforms on August 16. Features include Dolly Parton, Luke Combs, and Chris Stapleton, among others, while there are only 3 songs that are exclusively Post.
While his foray into country might have been a surprise to some fans, apparently he’s always said he would go country at 30. Granted, he’s 29 currently, but he’s indicated recently that he’s much more stable than a few years ago. With F-1 Trillion, it’s clear that this shift has resulted in the messy vulnerability of his past music being traded in for more straightforward sentiments. It’s a decision that has paid off—this sixth album may surprisingly be his best yet.
The album opens with ‘Wrong Ones’, featuring Tim McGraw. Anyone who knows the country genre knows Tim’s influence has always been profound, and the cadence of his voice is a contrast to Post’s, making the song unmistakably powerful. The track is raw and almost serves as a point of connectivity between his rap career and new positioning, colouring in the sound of both genres. McGraw is also very self-referential in the song, dropping references in the chorus to his iconic 1994 track, ‘Please Don’t Take The Girl.’ Both artists are undeniably looking forward while also paying homage to their previous work.
Post chooses to peruse a lot of the classic themes of country throughout the album, including ‘Finer Things’ (featuring Hank Williams Jr.). Painting a picture of a life lived to the absolute fullest, from ‘catfish caviar’ to decorating limousines. With its infectious energy, playful hooks, and unapologetic celebration of extravagance, Williams’ Southern charm mixed with Post’s verses undoubtedly makes this one of the finer tracks on the album.
But Post doesn’t just choose to honour the legends of the country genre, as F-1 Trillion also brings some of the more recent stars into the fold. ‘I Had Some Help’ (featuring Morgan Wallen) is one of those tracks. Exploring the concept of how relationships often don’t have passive actors in their endings, this song is clever and tinged with irony. Despite the song’s subject matter not being particularly upbeat, the music itself is reflective and almost cheerful throughout. It also plays on well-known idioms, such as ‘people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.’
Blake Shelton’s signature twang lends extremely well to ‘Pour Me a Drink.’ Post and Shelton traverse the theme of soothing life’s woes with a drink on this country rocker. It’s interspersed with quips throughout, and the optimistic tone makes this one easy to listen to. Instrumentally, it’s a sharp contrast to ‘Have the Heart’ (feat. Dolly Parton), which is filled with unashamedly traditional arrangements and overall very refreshing. Post hit the jackpot of collaborations with this one, having showcased his love for Dolly in the music video for ‘Guy For That.’ The track combines Dolly’s intricately classic voice with Post’s weightier one, making it a mixture that honours each artist vocally but equally lets the background harmonica and instrumentals stand out.
‘What Don’t Belong To Me’ is Post’s first track without an added collaborator on F-1 Trillion. Between this song and ‘Yours’, Post’s single tracks are among the most moving on the album. This one is a powerful ballad singing about emotional unavailability and the consequences of past decisions. It takes the listener on a journey, from the sense of romantic idealism present at the song’s beginning to the caveats that are then exposed in the following verses.
‘Goes Without Saying (feat. Brad Paisley)’ is another song that, although has a more sad subject matter, is joyous. Composed of twinkly infectious hooks and twangy guitar riffs, it’s reminiscent of music from the 90s. Paisley and Post play on the bittersweet topic, both giving the impression that although the relationship being sung about is over, the sentiment lingers that it’s not necessarily something to regret.
‘Guy For That’ is one of the few songs on F-1 Trillion to have a music video. Featuring Luke Combs, who stunningly showcases his range during this song. With a playful collection of guitars, ‘Guy For That’ is a polished single, featuring much of the electronic feel that permeates Post’s discography. The track centres on the idea of someone who has a contact for just about anything but not fixing their broken love life. It echoes desperation and the need for salvation, as reflected aptly in the Bible references.
‘Nosedive (feat. Lainey Wilson)’ is another slower track. The point that even though life can become tough, there’s always a brighter side is the thematic background of this track. ‘Losers (feat. Jelly Roll)’ comes next, which is triumphant in a different way. Stripped back and dramatic, ‘Losers’ reclaims this titular term as something to be proud of within your life. Using a combination of both happy and sad, with low-key instrumentation, the artists celebrate the idea that everyone can find a sense of community through the lyrics.
Featuring ERNEST, ‘Devil I’ve Been’ is, in fact, one of the more earnest songs on the album (pun intended). Post uses this track to address his past lifestyle choices while comparing them to the ones he’s built with his daughter and fiancé. He sings, ‘Yeah, it’s funny how a cage can make a man feel so free’ during the bridge, referring to how the limits he now places on himself have given him a renewed sense of peace. ERNEST’s contribution levels up the harmoniousness, adding rich vocals and an extra level of authenticity. Overall, ‘Devil I’ve Been’ is a catchy track, but one that features a soulful edge and smooth production.
Debuted at the 2024 ACM Awards, ‘Never Love You Again (feat. Sierra Farrell)’ is slow, filled with a variety of backing instruments, and when it comes down to the topic, ultimately heartbreaking. Farrell’s voice complements here nicely, but it’s not one of the album’s standouts. ‘Missin’ You Like This’ (feat. Luke Combs), however, definitely is. Luke Combs has been on high after high lately, and no doubt collaborating with THE Post Malone twice (right after Tracy Chapman at the Grammys, mind you) will propel his career to even higher heights. With its raw lyricism and fresh, engaging execution, the combination of Combs and Post once again shines.
‘California Sober (feat. Chris Stapleton)’ is a jaunty southern rock track. Telling the story of a traveller on the highway looking for a good time, the song incorporates the classic term that tends to mean kinda-sober, kinda-not to describe the experience. With pining electric guitar and deep bass, the track has an infectious backdrop, and the final verse has a bit of irony in there for a final kicker. Post immerses himself in the world of Stapleton (who is known best for songs like ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ and ‘Broken Halos’) and it results in a sense of ambience.
‘Hide My Gun (feat. Hardy)’ is another complex track about love and the lines of loyalty. Would you help your partner if they committed a crime is the key question throughout, conjuring a literal scenario of how far you would go for someone. It’s emotionally intense, as expected with a song that covers the idea of devotion and ultimately, sacrifice. With its sombre tone and raw vocals, it’s easy to get the sense that this song is not only haunting but eerie to its core.
The back-to-back tracks of ‘Right About You’ and ‘M-E-X-I-C-O (feat. Billy Strings)’ match well together. ‘Right About You’ is upbeat and optimistic, while ‘M-E-X-I-C-O’ is a bluegrass-style, upbeat anthem that almost feels caffeinated to listen to.
Concluding the primary album is ‘YOURS’, and it’s without a doubt the sweetest song that F-1 Trillion has to offer listeners. Inspired by his daughter’s future wedding, the song is filled with heartfelt lyrics like ‘it’s gonna break my heart / when she gives hers to you.’ Post is very private about his fiancé and daughter, so this tribute-style track is a heartwarming note to end the main album with. There are not many Post songs that could bring tears to the eyes, but this is definitely one, and no doubt this will always be a very special song for his family and fans alike.
Post then surprised fans after the initial release, letting an extended version of the album titled F-1 Trillion: Long Bed’ loose into the world. Featuring 9 exclusive tracks, they are composed of singles solely featuring Post and are just as delightful as the original 18 should you choose to listen. F-1 Trillion will no doubt receive critical acclaim, as Post has effortlessly convinced fans of his impressively wide range and ability to shift between genres without losing his charm. By making this crossover, he has surely also secured himself an entirely new audience – one that will likely stick around to see what he does next. And F-1 Trillion has proven fans new and old definitely should.
