The song that lends its title to this fifth studio album from Walker Hayes is a far cry from his biggest hit, the 2021 smash “Fancy Like.” Instead of living it up at Applebee’s, “17 Year Old Problems” finds Hayes navigating the pitfalls of middle age as he sings frankly about burying his late father and learning to care for his aging mother while lamenting the breezier days of his youth. It’s a heavy moment on an especially introspective project, though one Hayes is sure to balance with the kind of lighthearted, genre-blurring party anthems that first put him on the map. Opening track “Neon Lights” falls into that latter lighter category, with its poppy production and Hayes’ rap-sung delivery. Kane Brown joins Hayes on “Song for My Son,” another tender moment on which both singers consider their relationships to their fathers as they try to be parents themselves. Pop/R&B artist Nic D lends an assist on “Mayonnaise,” a slick come-on with banjo and a hip-hop beat, while Colbie Caillat duets with Hayes on “Adderall,” a deceptively sweet takedown of consumerism and hustle culture.