Luke Bryan says his forthcoming ninth studio album, *Signs*, aims to balance the upbeat, party-focused sound fans associate with him with reflective material and songs recalling his early career. The album matters as it seeks to show both familiar and more contemporary sides of the country singer, while introducing a notably darker track, “Killer”, whose narrative is told from a bullet’s perspective.

*Signs* is due for release on 18 September, and Bryan co-wrote two tracks: “Fish Hunt Golf Drink” and “Crooked Rows of Corn”. Billboard revealed the additional titles “Killer” and “Woods”; Bryan describes “Woods” as a traditional country-life song, while he calls “Killer” one of the most distinctive and emotionally forceful songs he has recorded. Its lead single, “Country and She Knows It”, was at number 15 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart dated 29 August.