Still be playing OD3, that is, because the only over this album I’ll be is over my dead body. As a new album looms on the horizon, “Pretty soon actually, really soon…” according to Trevor Rosen during an appearance on GMA, I find myself once again wondering, as I do from time to time, if I am completely ready to move on from OD3. I realize that there is no statute of limitations on loving an album, but I do think there is some level of closing a chapter in a song book as you get ready to open a new one. For me, the turning of the proverbial last page of this chapter just seems exceptionally hard.

The OD3 era has been quite the emotional roller coaster ride, not only for the band, but for fans. Well, it has for this one anyways. It saw me through some highs and some really low lows. The music on this album soothed my soul and held my hand. It made my cry. It made me smile BIG. It brought some really amazing people and memories into my life, and helped me get through some of those amazing people deciding not to be a part of my life anymore. OD3 gifted me so much. It gave me my forever favorite song, One Man Band. I’ll never be sorry for loving this album.

Yesterday, during one of our many OD car conversations, my ten year old daughter said something to me that really made me realize that smooth sailing into OD4 doesn’t really have to feel like a “moving on.” She said, “Even though their music sounds different than in the beginning, Matthew’s voice sounds exactly the same. I like that the most.” She’s right (and I like that the most too, kiddo). The warm tone of his voice is always like a “welcome home,” their music always like a big hug, or a high five, or a safe space to laugh or cry. OD3 will be that for me no matter how many albums Old Dominion releases. I realize that while I’ll never be able to fully close the curtain, stack up all of the chairs and dim the spotlight of OD3, I look forward to hearing more of the story that OD4 has to tell.

No hard feelings…no bad vibes. I’ll roll with that.