I'm In Love (Pigasus Records/Songs & Daughters/Big Loud Records, 2023)

Hailey Whitters smartly plays with words on the title track to this six-song EP. "He's in a Chevy/And I'm in love," she explains contrastingly. With its upfront mandolin part, the track nicely resembles Whitters' hit, "Everything She Ain't," which is reprised on this release - albeit more acoustically. It may not be as conceptual as Whitters' full-length, "Raised," was, but this smaller offering nevertheless covers familiar and enjoyable Whitters territory.

Whitters loves to compare and contrast different types of women in her songs. "Countryside Chick" puts city people side by side with country folk. For example, she points out how there may be plenty of 'tens' in urban metropolises, however these gals sure don't know "Willie from their Merle." With her downhome country sound, you can be sure Whitters knows well the difference between Nelson and Haggard. Just as Eric Church saluted The Boss with his hit "Springsteen," Whitters does something similar on one called "Mellencamp." "Bad Love" opens with a cheerleader chanted vocal, which sounds more Taylor Swift "Shake If Off" than what we've come to expect from Whitters. However, the song's super tasty, super twangy electric guitar fills make the track work.

Although this EP doesn't satisfy like a new Whitters album, it will at least give us a few new tunes to consume while we wait for a new LP. For fans of traditional-leaning country music, Hailey Whitters remains our favorite country side chick.