Tonight I am having a listen to “This Time Around” from Boston-based singer-songwriter Staci Gruber. The rock meets Americana tune was recorded in Nashville and produced by Erik Halbig (Ty Herndon, Jamie O’Neal).
Written by Staci and Michael Orland (American Idol), the track is a relatable and infectious honky-tonk anthem. Staci shares, “This Time Around is really a story of love that pulled too hard, truth that came too late, and a heart that finally listened when it mattered most.”
I am going to share the press review with you and then turn to my review. My intent is to have a listen to the main new single and then dip in to the back catalog to share a couple of my favorites with you. Staci is a new artist for me so I’m on one of my discovery voyages.
“Staci Gruber is a transformative Boston-based artist whose exceptional musical talents, storied songwriting, and emotional depth resonate deeply with her listeners. Her work seamlessly intertwines personal experiences with the emotional stories of others, creating a profound musical connection that explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and hope.
Music has been an intrinsic part of Staci’s life from an early age. What began as a shy, introspective passion—singing privately in her closet—quickly blossomed into a powerful voice when she performed her first solo, “12 Days of Christmas,” in elementary school. It was then that Staci discovered her true voice and has never looked back.
Throughout her childhood, Staci spent summers at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, which further solidified her deep love for music. Staci’s journey took a unique and ambitious turn when she became the first person to transition from the classical voice program to the jazz studies department in a pioneering five-year dual-degree program at Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music. This distinctive educational background has shaped her multifaceted artistry and honed her versatility as both a performer and a songwriter. Her diverse musical influences range from Anne Murray to Barbra Streisand, Karen Carpenter, KD Lang, Billie Eilish, Pink Nancy Wilson, John Coltrane and more, seeping various genres into her own unique musical melting pot. This led to her becoming a lead vocalist in a popular GB band that performed an eclectic range of musical styles and tastes.
While her musical career flourished as a vocalist, Staci also achieved distinction in a completely separate field as a renowned Harvard Medical School professor and pioneering neuroscientist at McLean Hospital. In her groundbreaking work on cannabis, she focuses on understanding the long term impact of cannabinoids across a wide range of conditions. Staci’s research has been a game-changer, generating real-world data that has influenced clinical trials and provided critical insights into the potential benefits of cannabis for various medical conditions.”
I can only applaud!
The review:
“This Time Around” is solidly in the lane for that Nashville sound, it’s cowboy boots and line dancing while a glass of coke and bourbon lies on the counter. It’s fun and the guitar sound breaks mid-song to effect. The track ends with a confident strut and some easy sing-along grooves. Very commercial and radio friendly for daytime country radio.
You know us – we always dive in a little deeper.
“No-One is Alone” is also worth checking out. It has a more gentle sway compared to “This Time Around.” It is also a little but more toward the pop sound, and the chorus has a built-in ‘sway along with me’ feel to it. Wave a hand in the air and watch the singer perform, a little piano addition works too.
“House at the End of the Road” was the one I actually liked best when I went through the catalog. It is dreamy, beautifully sung and tells us a story of a little house that I would like to visit, a moment when “I knew I would always be alone.” I connected with the song, it’s really good and I slipped it onto my playlist.
In summary, what we have here is A honky-tonk Nashville stomp with coke-and-bourbon swagger, “This Time Around” struts confidently into daytime country radio territory. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find gentler, swaying gems like “No-One is Alone” and the dreamy, quietly devastating “House at the End of the Road.”
A new discovery, a strong catalog, and at least one song that will earn a permanent place on your playlist.
Love what we do? Rock the Joint Magazine is completely free — no paywalls, no ads ruining the read — just passionate music journalism for 1,000+ readers a day. If you enjoy hanging out with us, please consider hitting the “Support Us” button and buying us a coffee on Ko-Fi. Even a small donation genuinely helps keep the magazine running, lets us publish more features, and reminds us that people value independent music writing.
You can stream music from Staci Gruber here
By Anna-Louise Burgess