Review: Cory Marks – Sorry For Nothing Vol. 2
Better Noise Music (October 3rd, 2025)
Reviewer – Jason Hopper
I’ve been looking to review this album all year. I never heard of Cory Marks before he released the single ‘(Make My) Country Rock’ last year and was blown away by what I perceived was a perfect mix of country and hard rock. I reviewed ‘Sorry For Nothing Vol. 1‘ (review here) and expected a strong album, but what I got was so much more. An incredible mix of rock, country, and country rock hybrids. It contained fantastic melodies and some of the catchiest songs of the last several years. It easily made my ranking of the Top 3 albums of 2024.
Expectations were high as, I’m assuming by the title, these songs were written around the same time as his last album.I admit to being disappointed by first single ‘Hangman’, with its Daughtry-type vibe. It is the type of mid-tempo rock song that we’ve all heard countless times over the last few decades. Fortunately, it’s one of the weakest tracks on the album, with so many more tunes worthy of being released as singles.
Let’s start with my favorite track, ‘Wild Ride’, a country rock hybrid with sensational country style finger picking, a thumping rhythm, and an overall zest for life feel. It’s one of the best tracks he’s ever recorded and a ton of fun to listen to. Cory lets the boys cut loose with an extended solo in the middle and at the end. The band sounds like they are having a blast as they pluck away, sounding like a cowboy version of Van Halen. Technically proficient, infectious, and guaranteed to stay in your head for days.
The very next song is quite the opposite lyrically. Dark and filled with vitriol, ‘Someone I Hate’ is all about resentment over a lost love and a man who is spiraling down. Cory’s near guttural yell of the word “Hate” in the chorus was unexpected but rewarding, going for a full-on metal scream. He sells his heartache well.
While the last album had a nice mix of country and rock, this album veers more towards his rock roots. You don’t get a true country song until you reach Track 7. He tries to make up for it with a double shot of two different types of country tracks. ‘Whiskey River’ continues his penchant for drinking songs with a sing song, swing-type rhythm that is as old school country as one can get.
‘Empty Bottles’ goes for a more modern country ballad with lyrics about all the great life events that coincide with drinking amongst friends. The man paints a visual picture of events that may (or may not) have happened in people’s lives but just the skill in painting any picture through triggered memories is a remarkable trait.
Those mental visuals pop up again with ‘A Different Kind Of Year’, a breezy pop/rock/country acoustic number about coming out of the pandemic mess and living life again. You can close your eyes and paint those mental pictures with his words. I always hailed Jani Lane as one of my favorite writers who sing, and Cory has that same magic touch.
Like many double albums, the first one always seems to have the stronger songs. This album has a few too many songs that fall into the basic, by the numbers, modern rock tracks that are good, but not great. That does not mean the songs are throwaways. The album is a breezy listen but really picks up and becomes interesting with Track 5’s ‘Wild Ride’. With some of the songs here as strong, or even stronger, than what was showcased on Vol. 1, this is a no brainer purchase for those like me who were blown away by the first album.
Tracklist:
- Hangman
- Are You With Me
- Change The Game
- The Heart Breaks When It Wants To
- Wild Ride
- Someone I Hate
- Whiskey River
- Empty Bottles
- Pick Up The Phone
- A Different Kind Of Year
- Sorry For Nothing (Acoustic)
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