By Kate Tocke, PR Director

[Interscope Records; 2025]

Rating: 8/10

Key Tracks: “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out,” “Some Protector”

After weeks of teasing, Role Model, aka Tucker Pillsbury, dropped the deluxe version of his sophomore album, “Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye).” As a sweet Valentine’s Day gift, he added four brand-new tracks to the mix. 

The four new songs mesh very well with the original album. With this latest project, Pillsbury definitely has become experienced in writing a few breakup songs. Role Model has recently taken a stab at the pop music scene and he is killing it. In recent projects, Role Model has been noted to release more alternative, and sometimes, rap songs, which didn’t do him much justice. This new pop and folk approach he has taken within this album is doing him much better and has definitely been drawing him a crowd. 

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“Sally. When The Wine Runs Out,”  was a track that had been on the minds of many after Role Model went forth to tease this track at the end of January. Immediately, this was stuck in the heads of those chronically online Gen-Zers. Teasing the part of the song with the craziest instrumentals also had people going. I might have heard a lap steel in there, which is more than enough to get excited for. The bridge truly takes the spotlight, which was the part he had decided to tease, as it is no question the best part of the song. This hype around just one specific part of the (at the time) unreleased song made the deluxe album bigger than anticipated. It had left many on the internet, including myself, thinking what more could Role Model have up his sleeve because he keeps pulling out these news tricks. 

The other three tracks are a little slower and heartfelt. They are definitely break up tracks, which play into the overall theme of Kansas Anymore. Prior tracks such as “Deeply Still In Love” or “Frances”  are reminiscent of a prior relationship that has clearly left Pillsbury heartbroken, and he has had no issue pouring out all of those post heartbreak emotions into this album. “Old Recliners” is the first bonus track we were gifted with, but it is one of the more forgettable tracks because the other three just stand out more. “Some Protector” is a great track as it features a banjo and who doesn’t love a good banjo?

Lyrically, this stood out to many in Role Model’s audience, because he is taking us through his journey of navigating his 20s which many of his listeners can relate to. Although they do grab the attention of many Role Model’s listeners, his lyrics aren’t his strongest suit but his charm is hard to deny. 

“The Longest Goodbye” is the track that closes out this album. The folky-ness of the track was surprising but I’m not mad about it. The pacing and overall vibe of this song is the epitome of a closing track. The trumpet and soft strumming guitar make this track what it is. It feels as if this song could very well be in a Pixar film.

This deluxe version was a nearly perfect add-on to the already great Kansas Anymore, giving us more to wonder about and depth about his storytelling heartbreak. Sometimes when completing a deluxe album, the artist is doing too much. Adding too many songs or sometimes the song doesn’t even coincide with the original tracks, but this extra four hit that sweet spot. 

Role Model has definitely left us in shock with his recent folky outburst, a route that many didn’t see coming but are glad that he decided to steer away from the weird and alternative 2020 e-boy music. Maybe this is his sign to keep a hold onto that cowboy hat for just a little bit longer. 

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5gZFprukMkMJiEKEgf3q1f?si=IDRVdmHwThSBN8RZt07aCg