Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1

From A Room: Volume 1, released in May 2017, is Chris Stapleton’s second studio album, recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A and co-produced with Dave Cobb. The title references the very room where the sessions took place, underscoring the album’s commitment to authenticity and roots. Blending country, blues, and roots rock, the record maintains a lean, focused approach: nine songs delivered in about 32 minutes, each emphasizing emotional communication over grand spectacle. Stapleton’s songwriting—largely co-written with longtime collaborators—often explores regret, longing, and resilience, framed by sparse arrangements that foreground his voice and guitar. 

Standout tracks such as “Broken Halos,” “Either Way,” “Second One to Know,” and “I Was Wrong” showcase both breadth and restraint: Stapleton moves fluidly from intimate balladry to gritty blues-tinged fare. The stripped-down “Either Way,” featuring only acoustic guitar, highlights his vulnerability, while “Second One to Know” brings gritty electric edge to the proceedings. Though the album does not aim for sweeping cohesion, each moment feels carefully chosen, and its restraint gives it emotional weight. *From A Room: Volume 1* won the Grammy for Best Country Album and solidified Stapleton’s reputation as a modern torchbearer for the intersection of soul, country, and roots music. 

Reviews

"As good as each of these songs is individually -- and there isn't a bad song in the bunch -- what's best about From A Room: Volume 1 is how it holds together. There's no grand concept here: it's just a collection of good tunes, delivered simply and soulfully, and that's more than enough." – AllMusic

“The focus of From A Room: Volume 1 is on individual moments, not on how its songs work together as a whole … it’s easy to get lost in the simple pleasures of ‘I Was Wrong’ … or the rowdy electric guitar riffs of ‘Second One to Know.’” – Slant Magazine

“Nashville institution Chris Stapleton … followed his 2015 breakthrough with two new albums this year. They showcase his omnivorous approach to country music in all its dignified melancholy.” – Pitchfork