A Rock

A Rock (stylized in all caps)^[3] is the debut studio album by American country music singer Hardy, released on September 4, 2020, via Big Loud Records.^[4]

A Rock
Studio album by Hardy
Released	September 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)
Genre	Country country rock^[1]
Length	42:01
Label	Big Loud
Producer	Joey Moi (all tracks) Derek Wells (all tracks) David Garcia (track 5) Jake Mitchell (tracks 11 & 12)
Hardy chronology
Hixtape, Vol. 1 (2019) A Rock (2020) Hixtape, Vol. 2 (2021)
Singles from A Rock
"One Beer" Released: February 10, 2020 "Give Heaven Some Hell" Released: January 25, 2021^[2]

Content

Joey Moi and Derek Wells produced the entire album, with co-production from David Garcia on "Where Ya At" and from Jake Mitchell on "Unapologetically Country as Hell" and the title track. The album is a followup to Hardy's EP Hixtape, Vol. 1. "One Beer", featuring Devin Dawson and Lauren Alaina, is the lead single.^[5]

Critical reception

Jeff Lincoln of Country Standard Time reviewed the album favorably, complimenting Hardy's unconventional appearance for a country musician, as well as his lyrical skill and combination of country and rock influences. He concluded his review with "it's got authentic appeal, and Hardy's found the right label at Big Loud Records. Country music was always more than the hats anyhow."^[6] Zackary Kephart of Country Universe rated the album 1 out of 5 stars, stating that "he’s a detailed writer, and that’s why, I think, most people haven’t immediately written this off as an attempt at any sort of revival of the trend itself. It’s just that his details are completely unlikable". He also criticized the mixing and production of Joey Moi and Hardy's limited vocal range.^[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Truck"	Michael Hardy Ben Johnson Hunter Phelps	3:38
2.	"Boyfriend"	Hardy Zach Abend Andy Albert	3:39
3.	"Give Heaven Some Hell"	Hardy Ashley Gorley Johnson Phelps	3:37
4.	"Boots"	Hardy David Garcia Hillary Lindsey	3:13
5.	"Where Ya At"	Hardy Jessie Jo Dillon Garcia	2:59
6.	"Ain't a Bad Day"	Hardy Jake Mitchell Phelps	3:22
7.	"One Beer" (featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson)	Hardy Lindsey Mitchell	2:53
8.	"So Close" (featuring Ashland Craft)	Hardy Mark Holman Lindsey	3:45
9.	"Broke Boy"	Hardy Garcia Brett Tyler	3:52
10.	"Hate Your Hometown"	Hardy Garcia Lindsey	3:28
11.	"Unapologetically Country as Hell"	Hardy Smith Ahnquist Nick Donley Mitchell	3:55
12.	"A Rock"	Hardy Ahnquist Mitchell	3:40
Total length:			42:01

Notes

• All track titles are stylized in all caps.^[3]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2020) Peak position Australian Country Albums (ARIA)^[8] 20 Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[9] 34 US Independent Albums (Billboard)^[10] 4 US Billboard 200^[11] 24 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[12] 4

Year-end charts Chart (2020) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[13] 63 Chart (2021) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[14] 30 Chart (2023) Position US Independent Albums (Billboard)^[15] 38 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[16] 36

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[17]	Gold	40,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[18]	Gold	500,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Freeman, Jon (July 21, 2020). "How Hardy Became Nashville's Most Clever New Redneck Songwriter". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
2. "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". AllAccess. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
3. "A ROCK by HARDY on Apple Music". Apple Music. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
4. "A Rock – Hardy". AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
5. Stefano, Angela (July 21, 2020). "Hardy plans debut album, 'A Rock', for September". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
6. "A Rock review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
7. "A Rock review". Country Universe. September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
8. "ARIA Report" (PDF). ARIA. August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
9. "Hardy Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
10. "Hardy Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
11. "Hardy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
12. "Hardy Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
13. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
14. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
15. "Independent Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
16. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
17. "Canadian album certifications – Hardy – A Rock". Music Canada. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
18. "American album certifications – Hardy – A Rock". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 31, 2022.