Over the last decade, Leon Bridges has successfully made a name for himself in music.
His 2015 debut album, Coming Home, quickly put him on the map with its nods to late-‘50s and ‘60s soul. His 2018 sophomore LP, Good Thing, kept the essence of classic soul without being a complete rehash of its predecessor. Instead, he took a voyage through the sounds from the ‘70s through the ‘90s. Bridges’ genre-bending third offering, Gold-Diggers Sound (2021), was confirmation that he doesn’t make the same album twice. With his fourth album aptly titled Leon, Bridges takes listeners back to where it all began, much like a prequel.
As cliché as it sounds, Leon is his most personal album yet. It’s as intimate as being welcomed into someone’s home. In this case, Bridges takes us back to his home state: Texas. To know Leon Bridges is to know he loves the Lone Star State — he even made two side projects with Khruangbin inspired by it, 2020’s Texas Sun and 2022’s Texas Moon.
On “Panther City,” a nickname for his hometown, Forth Worth, Bridges recalls vivid summertime moments from his youth, from “Brandon dancing on the front porch” to getting his first taste of love: “There as a girl, she lived on Pinky Street, her name was Jaime.”
Four hundred miles south of Fort Worth is “Laredo,” another place that evokes nostalgia for Bridges. Here, he sings about his connection to the nightlife scene and a love interest. “Play me something downtempo / Low-key and rocksteady / Body hittin’ like Kimbo / Fallin for you like confetti / More whiskey and ginger / Love, I’m just a beginner / What if I stayed in Laredo / Just one more night,” he sings over a breezy guitar and soft drums accompanied by a grooving piano.
“‘Laredo’ is more than just a song; it’s a journey back to the roots, a return to what truly matters,” Bridges explained. “After years of searching for inspiration across the globe, I found myself drawn back to the border town memories that shaped me.”
“That’s What I Love” has the tenderness of a ‘70s soul ballad, recalling the sound Bridges embraced early on. Cinematic strings coalesce with acoustic guitar and soft drums as he calls out different things that warm his heart.
“This track is a special one for me—it’s a reflection of my journey, the places I’ve been, and the things that truly bring me joy,” Bridges explained. “It’s about celebrating the little things that make us who we are. It’s a tribute to the warmth of family, the charm of Texas, and the nostalgia that ties us all together.”
Leon is as much a meditation on love as it is on life. The country-soul ballad “Ain’t Got Nothing On You” beautifully captures the essence of unconditional love. “All the gold in the world, no, it don’t mean much / Can’t take it with you when your time is up / All the shine of the crown might be good for looking, but when it all breaks down / Oh, they ain’t got nothing on you,” Bridges croons.
The nectarous “Ghetto Honeybee” is the album’s most sensual moment, where Bridges sings about “a sweet paradise in my bedroom” with a love interest. The lyrics are poetically crafted, making it feel more romantic than raunchy. “You hum over / Your flower so sweet / You flow so naturally / You’ll always be my queen,” he sings in the chorus.
In many ways, Leon is a reintroduction to the artist who first emerged a decade ago. He’s been to a lot of places and seen a lot of things, all while never losing sight of his roots. It’s an album of pause and reflection.
Sonically, he challenges boundaries without ever feeling overly forced and calculated. If anything, it’s a natural melting pot of the various styles that have informed his artistry. As he succinctly puts it, “Leon is the genre.”
Regarding his album, Bridges previously noted, “It’s soulful music in the truest sense – it’s imbued with my soul. I’m excited to share these stories about my home, about nostalgia, about my upbringing, about where I’m from, with all of you. I hope this music brings you back to your roots and your journey.”
Bridges is currently on The Leon Tour with special guest Hermanos Gutiérrez. The tour, which launched on the album’s release day (Oct. 4), has upcoming stops in San Diego, Minneapolis, Chicago, Toronto, and New York. The Leon Tour concludes Nov. 15 in Fort Worth with special guest Charley Crockett. Tickets are available at leonbridges.com.
Stream Leon Bridges’ new album Leon below.
