Nashville-based guitarist James Bruner brings years of writing, playing, and experimentation into focus on his debut album, Can’t Keep Wanting You. Rooted in rock tradition but fueled by the tension between love, lust, and desire, the record captures an artist stepping fully into his own sound.
The distance between Springfield, Illinois, and the stage at Paris’ Bataclan is measured in more than miles. For James Bruner, it’s been years of writing, hundreds of shows, and the kind of live experience built one night at a time.
Since launching his solo career in 2023, the Nashville-based guitarist has shared stages with The Struts, Orianthi, and Barns Courtney while developing a sound rooted in the rock and roll that first made him pick up a guitar. Now, with Can’t Keep Wanting You, those years of playing and experimentation come into sharper focus.
The twelve-track album moves through love, lust, desire, and defiance, capturing the tension between wanting something and knowing better. Bruner sees the record as a thank-you to the artists who made him feel understood, with the hope that its songs can offer that same sense of connection to someone else.
Working alongside producer Shane Weisman, Bruner shaped the title track through a highly collaborative session, passing a Fender Stratocaster back and forth to chase the right grit and energy. That organic approach becomes a thread running through the record.
“OMG” leans into pop sensibilities with a piano-and-guitar hook, while “Hypnotized” rides rolling drums and a driving bassline. Bruner stretches beyond straightforward rock throughout the album. “Getaway” brings punk urgency into the mix, while “Take It or Leave It” lands as a direct pop-rock anthem. On the other end of the spectrum, the subdued “Shine” and introspective “It’s Too Late” create moments of necessary breathing room.
After years of writing, recording, and playing his way from Springfield to stages across the U.S. and Europe, Bruner has arrived at a record that feels distinctly his own. Can’t Keep Wanting You carries the influence of the artists who first made him feel understood while leaving plenty of room for Bruner to create that same connection in his own voice.
