New Music Review: JELLY ROLL ‘Beautifully Broken’

JELLY ROLL 'Beautifully Broken' - COVER PHOTO

Rating: 10 / 10 Stars

JELLY ROLL is: Jason DeFord (vocals)

REVIEW – With Beautifully Broken, JELLY ROLL delivers yet another deeply personal, genre-blending masterpiece, seamlessly weaving together country, rock, and hip-hop influences with raw, unfiltered emotion. The album, set for release on March 29, 2025, via BMG, takes listeners on an introspective journey, tackling themes of addiction, redemption, and self-acceptance through hard-hitting lyrics and soaring melodies.

Opening with “Winning Streak”, JELLY ROLL kicks things off with an anthemic burst of energy, featuring infectious hooks and a driving rhythm that instantly sets the tone for the album. “Burning” follows with a soulful blend of country and rock, its lyrics diving into the flames of past mistakes and lessons learned. “Heart of Stone” offers a stripped-back, heartfelt ballad that showcases JELLY ROLL’s raw vocal power, making it one of the album’s most emotionally charged moments.

The deeply personal “I Am Not Okay” provides a brutally honest look at inner struggles, blending moody production with vulnerable storytelling. Things take a dramatic turn with “When the Drugs Don’t Work”, featuring Ilsey, which explores the emotional toll of addiction and the false promises of self-medication, carried by haunting melodies and JELLY ROLL’s signature rasp. Meanwhile, “Higher Than Heaven” featuring Wiz Khalifa brings in a hip-hop-infused energy, boasting laid-back grooves and a hook that sticks with you long after the song ends.

Midway through the album, “Liar” stands out as a brutally honest confession wrapped in a hypnotic, blues-inflected arrangement, while “Everyone Bleeds” delivers an alt-rock twist, thanks to The Monsters & Strangerz’s gripping production. The uplifting but gritty “Get By” presents a struggle for survival, while “Unpretty” offers a stunning reimagination of TLC’s classic, infused with JELLY ROLL’s signature grit and vulnerability.

As the album heads into its final stretch, “Grace” delivers a soaring, gospel-infused moment of introspection, followed by the emotionally stirring “What It Takes”, which showcases JELLY ROLL’s ability to turn pain into poetic storytelling. “Hey Mama” is a heartfelt tribute that hits deep, while “Time of Day”, featuring Machine Gun Kelly, wraps up the standard edition with an electrifying mix of rap, rock, and country grit.

For those diving into the digital edition, extra tracks like “Born Again” and “Guilty” continue the album’s themes of struggle and resilience, while “Little Light” provides a hopeful, uplifting moment. “Woman” and “Smile So Much” highlight JELLY ROLL’s knack for blending soul, country, and rock seamlessly, before closing with “What’s Wrong With Me”, a final, haunting reflection on self-doubt and growth.

With Beautifully Broken, JELLY ROLL cements his status as one of the most authentic voices in modern music. His ability to channel pain, perseverance, and personal battles into powerful anthems is what sets him apart. This album is a must-listen, a raw and honest journey that will leave a lasting impact.