Chris Young is a study in contrasts and dualities. He’s frequently complimented by music press as being a country “traditionalist”—with good reason—but he’s equally fond of pushing against stylistic boundaries. He’s an old soul with songs that express deep wisdom as well as youthful rambunctiousness, and he somehow makes it look effortless. “I still love what I do,” says the Tennessee native, who’s notched 13 career Number Ones and more than two dozen R.I.A.A. certified projects. “I love creating music and the fact that I get to do that for a living is a pretty incredible thing.”

After scoring a major hit alongside his pal Kane Brown with 2020’s “FamousFriends,” Young returned to the studio and embraced the many contrasts of his artistry. The result is Young Love & Saturday Nights, Young’s ninth studio album and a bold statement that he’s one of the most versatile and durable talents of his era. At 18 songs, the project is Young’s most ambitious release yet and a demonstration of his confidence as a writer, artist, and producer. Instead of chasing trends, Young turns things up—emotionally, sonically, stylistically. The ballads hit harder, the rowdy tunes are more raucous, and the anthems hit new highs. Young sounds both classic and cutting-edge, one of the many reasons he’s so firmly established himself as a bedrock artist in country music.