Tucker Wetmore’s debut album, What Not To, trades glossy, TikTok-ready country for raw, blue-collar grit, proving that dirt under your nails makes for better stories and even better songs.
Country music’s big stage seems to be shining a little too bright these days. Artists are polished to perfection—no dust on their boots, not a single scar or callus, just picture-perfect smiles and voices so smooth you’d think they belonged in a church choir instead of a honky-tonk. It’s like they’re plucked right off a TikTok assembly line, one after another, all flash and no grit. But where’s the dirt? Where’s the story soaked in sweat and heartache? If you ain’t walked the road yourself, how’re you gonna sing about the journey?
That’s where Tucker Wetmore steps in. Son of a steel mill worker, Wetmore’s got hands that’ve seen hard work and a voice that carries the weight of it. His backstory is the kind you can find in any small town—a football dream cut short, a pen and a six-string picking up where the pads left off. It’s familiar, sure, but it’s the unanswered questions—the whys behind his What Not To—that make him stand out. His songs are laced with echoes of real life, guitar licks that stretch out like a dusty back road, and a drawl that sounds like it was pulled from the heart of a blue-collar town.
Now, it wouldn’t be country music without a little déjà vu. Listen to “Break First” alongside Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time,” and you might hear a little more than inspiration—it’s almost like a mirror image. But with Wetmore, it doesn’t feel like he’s stealing pages from anyone’s book; it’s more like he’s living in the same chapters. Sure, he’s got hints of the greats under that ball cap, but this debut record What Not To is pure him—blemishes and all. He keeps those scars hidden under the brim, like he knows they’ve got more healing to do.
When it comes to good times and heartbreak, Wetmore’s got it down. “Brunette” is a rowdy, boot-stomping anthem built for neon lights and whiskey-fueled nights. It’s fast, wild, and Western, a far cry from the polished pop-country that lights up Broadway on a Saturday night. On the flip side, “Give Her The World” slows things down, spilling out heartbreak with a voice that leans more to Jon Pardi than pretty boy pop star. He’s got a line that lingers: “Holding her is like holding the wind.” It’s simple, raw, and hits just right.
Women, whiskey, and regret—all the pillars of good country storytelling—show up in spades. “Bad Habit” sees him trying to drop one for the sake of the other, but by “Drinkin’ Boots,” he’s right back where he started. It’s familiar territory, but Wetmore’s delivery is steady and sure. Even when the story’s been told a thousand times before, he’s got a way of making it sound like it’s his first go-round.
That’s the magic of Wetmore—his songs don’t try to be something they’re not. A lot of today’s radio hits shout about small-town roots but hide behind glossy, pop-heavy production. Wetmore’s got a modern edge, but he’s not shackled to nostalgia. He’s just as comfortable cruising under neon lights as he is tearing up a dirt road under the stars. Nowhere is this clearer than on “Wine Into Whiskey,” a sleek, well-crafted track that somehow still keeps its hands dirty. Wetmore’s the kind of cowboy who doesn’t flinch if the jukebox is playing something new, but he wouldn’t mind a little Willie Nelson if that’s where the needle lands. His debut is a product of experience—lived, not borrowed—and everyone involved seems to know exactly what kind of record they’re making.
But it’s the title track, “What Not To,” where Wetmore digs deep. It’s a gut-wrenching ballad that unravels his demons, laying out lessons learned from watching others stumble. He doesn’t shy away from the messiness of it all, and it’s clear those scars are his own. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best lessons come from seeing the wrong road taken.
Tucker Wetmore and his debut album aren’t about rewriting the country music rulebook. He’s not claiming to be the next big thing, but he’s honest about who he is and where he’s going. By the time the last note fades, you can picture him on his back porch, the sun setting low, wiping the sweat from his brow. He’s still figuring it all out, whittling away the parts of himself he’s outgrown, scribbling down the lessons learned in his notebook of What Not To. And as he stands there, boots scuffed and spirit weathered, you can’t help but hope those lessons carry him all the way to where he’s meant to be. He’s made it this far; there’s no reason to think he won’t find the rest along the way.
I’d give Tucker Wetmore’s What Not To a solid 8.5/10. It’s a raw, authentic debut that blends modern country with classic grit. While it occasionally treads familiar ground, Wetmore’s personal touch, especially on tracks like “Give Her the World,” elevates the album into something memorable. His mix of vulnerability and blue-collar storytelling feels like a genuine step forward in a genre often too polished.
