The Hard Way (Cameron Whitcomb album)
The Hard Way is the debut studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Cameron Whitcomb. It was primarily produced by Jack Riley, and released on September 26, 2025, via Atlantic Records. The album includes the singles "Quitter", "Medusa", and "Options", as well as the promotional singles "Hundred Mile High", "Fragile", and "The Hard Way". Whitcomb is supporting the album with his headlining "I've Got Options Tour" across the United States in the fall of 2025, and his headlining "The Hard Way Tour" in Australia and New Zealand in early 2026.
Background
The album explores Whitcomb's battle with addiction at a young age, his recovery, and the mental health struggles that accompanied his journey getting sober. Whitcomb co-wrote every song on the album, with the majority of the songs being writing collaborations with Jack Riley, Cal Shapiro, and Nolan Sipe.Critical reception
Victoria Goodwin of Melodic Magazine called The Hard Way a "great first album". She described it as "raw", "vulnerable", and "hopeful", adding that it " like a journey through mind or a roadmap for anyone who's had to fight to find themselves again."Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.- Cameron Whitcomb – vocals, guitar
- Mitch McCarthy – mixing
- Nathan Dantzler – mastering
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Cal Shapiro – background vocals, vocals
- Jack Riley – background vocals
- Nolan Sipe – background vocals
- Shilo Preshyon – engineering
- Gabe Gladstein – strings
- Donald Whitcomb – vocals
- Addie Levy – mandolin
Charts