Andrew Baeuerle

When I heard Ringo Starr was making a country album, I jumped out of my seat with excitement. You remember Ringo, right? The drummer for the Beatles? Not many people know this, but Starr has long been a country music fan. He even recorded a country song as a member of the Beatles, a cover of Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally.” The song became popular in Starr’s repertoire and is closely associated with him. In 1989, Owens and Starr teamed up to re-record the song, releasing a humorous music video that brought the track moderate commercial success. But this 2025 album is much different than “Act Naturally.”
The album, titled “Look Up,” features Starr collaborating with rising country stars Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings, Larkin Poe, and Lucius, along with seasoned veteran Alison Krauss. Many of the songs are written by T-Bone Burnett, who is known for his work on the soundtrack for the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Going into the album, I expected a lot of bro-country vibes, as is common with much of today's country music. But I was blown away by what came next.
The first track, “Breathless,” featuring Strings, is a stunning song reminiscent of classic country love ballads like Lonestar’s “Amazed.” The title track, “Look Up,” is an uplifting song about moving forward in life. As the song goes, “Keep your eyes on the skies, don’t look down on the shadow town.” The next three tracks—“Never Let Me Go,” “I Live for Your Love” and “Come Back”—are great fillers, so good that you wonder why they weren’t released as singles. “Can You Hear Me Call,” which features Starr and Tuttle on vocals, is reminiscent of classic duets by the likes of Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn or Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton.
“Rosetta,” which I’ll come back to, leads into my favorite track on the album, “Come Back.” This song was the only one I immediately replayed. Its brilliant writing and vocals took me back to the early hits of George Strait and Alan Jackson. It’s a masterpiece. The album closes with “Thankful,” which features Krauss. This track is a perfect combination of the themes in “Look Up” and “Breathless,” providing a fitting end to a great album.
Here’s my only grievance: two songs—“Rosetta” and “String Theory”—are a bit too repetitive for my taste, with the same lines repeated almost 30 times in each. I prefer songs that branch out and explore different directions.
Overall, “Look Up” is a strong testament to Starr’s 65-year career. It demonstrates why he’s my favorite Beatle. His music has always resonated with me, and this album may be his best yet. It has also turned me onto Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle even more. I’ll definitely come back to this album. My rating: 9/10. It may very well be the best country album of 2025, though there’s more to come this year.