An Ineffective Mix of Electronic and Country

Thomas Wesley Pentz, famously known as Diplo, shifted his focus from EDM to country music with the release of his new album, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2—Swamp Savant. Although this record has some notable features and decent production, Diplo’s skill set is better suited for EDM. 

The album begins with “Sad in the Summer,” which is initially soft and simple, with acoustic guitar lines and Lily Rose’s country-style vocals. The chorus takes a sudden poppy and electronic turn that feels a bit out of place, as if Diplo is trying too hard to prove that he can incorporate his DJ skills into a country groove. This tune might’ve been effective if it stuck to the vibe that Diplo was setting up in the beginning of the track, but it wandered a tad too much and lost focus. 

The next track, “Use Me (Brutal Hearts),” takes an entirely different stylistic approach, with a catchy disco influence. While this track is upbeat and fun, with a memorable bassline, punchy drums and “Rasputin”-esque string section hits, the only thing “country” about it is Johnny Blue Skies’ southern accent. In the context of the rest of the album, it doesn’t make much sense, but on its own, it’s a pretty promising tune. 

“Rain on My Mind” is probably one of the most authentic sounding tracks on this album, with Paul Cauthen’s bold and clear vocals, tambourine shakes and boom-chuck guitar patterns. Sierra Ferrell and Cauthen’s voices balance each other out and blend together nicely with some satisfying vocal harmonies. 

On the other hand, the final track, “Wasted,” feels completely unsuitable for this album. It’s an unexpected power ballad that contains a mix of rap, rock and even a bit of an emo/punk influence. It feels like this song belongs on an entirely different album. Much like “Use Me (Brutal Hearts),” there are virtually no country elements on this track, except for Koe Wetzel’s vocal quality. 

Ultimately, Diplo’s attempt at creating a country/electronic album proved unsuccessful. Of course, it’s always encouraged for artists to experiment with their sound, however, Swamp Savant felt like it was trying to fit too many genres into a single album, making it disjointed in the process. If you listen to each one of the tracks on their own, it’s difficult to decipher that they’re part of the same album. The mix of multiple genres simply becomes confusing and disorienting. Hopefully, Diplo can use experimentation to create a much more cohesive album in the future.