I have long admired Rusty Reid as an artist, having enjoyed his musical compositions for many years. His new single “The United States of Selfishness” demonstrates once again why his work resonates so strongly with me. With this track, he’s put his finger on something a lot of us have been feeling – that overwhelming sense of “me first, what’s in it for me” that seems to be tearing the US apart these days.
Something about Rusty’s relaxed Americana style just makes his songs so easy to listen to, even when he’s addressing difficult topics. His melodies have a way of easing my mind into a more reflective space. The layers Rusty packs into his music always amaze me. On this track, his guitar work is seriously impressive. It gets my foot tapping every time with those classic Americana sounds.
The themes he explores in “The United States of Selfishness” are so relevant right now. It’s like he distilled everything a lot of us are feeling into a single song. And he did it in just over 7 minutes! Most artists would need to double the time to get their message across so effectively.
I think part of what makes Rusty’s songwriting so powerful is that stripped-back style of his. With all the noise out there nowadays, it’s easy to miss the deeper layers if everything is all layered up and produced to the extreme. But the space in Rusty’s recordings lets his lyrics and melodies really shine in a way that sticks with you.
Especially these days, when it feels like we’re more divided than ever, Rusty’s voice is so meaningful. His music does those things that start important conversations without being preachy or making people feel attacked. It brings people together through that common ground of what’s in our hearts. If you ask me, ‘The United States of Selfishness’ deserves widespread acclaim and regular airplay. It’s the kind of song I want to share with all my friends and family, whether they like folk or not. Rusty’s melody and message are just that powerful. I have a feeling this one is going to stick with me, and a lot of other people, for a long time.
