Make or Break Me

Production history

Make Or Break Me was recorded on December 1, 2009 and released on September 20, 2011 on Winding Road Music. It includes nine tracks from his previous two EPs, and six new original tracks. All tracks were written or co-written by Park, and he also produced the album himself. He made a music video for "Make Or Break Me," shot at New Braunfels' Whitewater Amphitheater in Austin.

According to Park, “The album is definitely a country and rock record with some other elements. I don’t think it’s a honky-tonk or Texas country record either. It’s more of a mainstream type record, which is what I wanted. I want to play this record all around the world, and not just in one specific location or for one musical demographic.”

Chart history

By November 16, 2011, the album's main single "Make Or Break Me" had climbed to #3 on the Texas Music Chart, jumping from number 8 in less than a week. It sat in the top 10 for over six weeks, and by December 12, 2011, it was still at #7. The single reached the top ten of the Texas Regional Radio Report. By February 6, 2012, both "Make Or Break Me" and the track "Leaving Stephenville" had charted in the TexNet 50 Internet Chart.

Reviews

The album was given 3/5 stars by Allmusic, who reviewed saying "Park's crack band plays tight arrangements in a variety of styles, ranging from traditional country and Western swing to Tom Petty-style midtempo rockers with electric guitar solos. Park sings in an ingratiating tenor, and his musical persona is equally pleasing, especially, it would seem, to his female listeners."

It was described as a "mixture of up-tempo, guitar-driven honky-tonkers and heartfelt ballads."

Vintage Guitar Magazine wrote "Loads of great guitar work here, including Lloyd Maines' pedal steel on "I'm Missing You" and John Carroll's power country licks on the title tun. Prove It To You shows Park to be an ace picker, too. He's a good songwriter, likely to get only better with time."

Red Dirt Report wrote "His vocals are warm, with a John Denver-like wistfulness to them. Park is one of those Texas guys whose smart, soulful and personal songs are finding wide appeal. Plus, he’s constantly touring and when you talk to him in person, he’s as friendly and down-to-earth as they come...Texas Country/Red Dirt fans will definitely enjoy it and more mainstream country folks are bound to be enchanted by his voice and music. I certainly am."

Track listing

All songs written by Kyle Park; co-writers in parentheses.

1. "Make or Break Me" (Ryan Beaver) — 3:47
2. "Prove It to You" (Geoffrey Hill) —3:25
3. "Mistakes I'll Regret" (George Ducas) —3:01
4. "The Heart of You" —3:28
5. "I Love Her for a Million Reasons" (Hill) —3:48
6. "All Night" —3:42
7. "Any Day or Night" —4:20
8. "I'm Missing You" —4:05
9. "Leavin' Stephenville" Ryan Beaver)—3:28
10. "What You'll Never Know" —3:26
11. "Just a Fake Smile" — 3:19
12. "Brokenhearted" — 3:06
13. "I Think You're in Love" — 3:49
14. "Whatever It Takes" — 4:34
15. "Overboard (It's Over)" — 3:30

Personnel