DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/1/10)

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You say you want some tempo tunes? Well, step right up.

This week’s stack of platters contains a bevy of boppers. Marty Stuart, The McClymonts, Blaine Larsen, Mason Douglas and Eric Heatherly are all tapping their toes. Margaret Durante and Jewel are both breezy, too.

Eric, Marty and Blaine were the competitors for Disc of the Day. By virtue of his superbly phrased vocal, Blaine Larsen wins the prize.

Who is Mason Douglas, and where has he been all my life? I don’t know when I have heard a more accomplished debut single. And he wrote it all by hisself. Give that man a DisCovery Award.

MARK COOKE/Can’t Cheat In A Small Town
Writer: Don Goodman/Abby Boyken/Brad Wolf; Producer: J. Gary Smith & John Smith; Publisher: Rainy Graham/Big Hitmaker’s/Little Tornadoes, BMI; Cotton Valley (www.markcooke.com)
—His phone starts ringing the minute another man’s car pulls into her driveway. Now that’s what I call a tiny hamlet. An energetic production, loaded with guitar licks.

MARTY STUART/Little Heartbreaker
Writer: Marty Stuart/Ralph Mooney; Producer: Marty Stuart; Publisher: Marty Stuart, BMI; Sugar Hill/Superlatone (track) (www.martystuart.net)
—Itchy, twitchy neo rockabilly that’s splendidly written and sung. An awesome return to form. And given Marty’s co-writer, would you be surprised to learn that it is blessed with some of the greatest chiming steel playing I’ve heard all year? Play this.

CLINT MARTIN/The Lady She Is
Writer: none listed; Producer: Tommy Detamore & Clint Martin; Publisher: none listed; CM (www.clintmartinband.com)
—The track is big and beefy. His vocal is not.

JEWEL/Ten
Writer: Jewel/Dave Berg; Producer: Nathan Chapman & Jewel; Publisher: Wiggly Tooth/EMI April/Cal IV/Stupid Boy, ASCAP; Valory Music
—The percussion is mysteriously overbearing, particularly considering her whispery soprano performance. The song is cleverly penned, revolving around a couple counting to ten to avoid conflict. You guessed it. By the time she gets to “10,” she’s in his arms again.

CRAIG CAMPBELL/Family Man
Writer: Craig Campbell/Jon Henderson/Joel Shewmake; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publisher: Melodies of Bigger Picture/Acoustic Peanut/Murrah/Bug/Michael Murrah/Katank/Warner-Tamerlane/Big Hits of Amylase, SESAC/BMI; Bigger Picture (ww.craigcampbell.tv)
—There’s nothing especially distinctive or memorable about his singing. But the song is sturdy, and the track gets the job done.

BLAINE LARSEN/Leavin’
Writer: Paul Brandt; Producer: Jimmy Ritchey; Publisher: Rio Bravo/Foothillbilly, BMI; Treehouse/Stroudavarious  (www.blainelarsen.com)
—Blaine’s welcome comeback continues with this superbly produced tempo tune. His dynamic vocal dips into a lower register, has hushed passages and soars upward as he heads to the title. Terrific work by all concerned. I hung with it right to the ringing finale, and then I played it again.

MASON DOUGLAS/Anything Can Happen
Writer: Mason Douglas; Producer: Greg Strizek; Publisher: Wild Cateclysm/Little Biscuit/Chobe, BMI; Rural Rhythm (track) (www.masondouglasmusic.com)
—Wow. This guy’s wedding song takes off like a rocketship and blazes across your brain with its jets firing wide open. Power and drive to spare. The CD is titled My Wild Heart, and you can bet I’ll be playing the rest of it.

ERIC HEATHERLY/Mona Lisa
Writer: Eric Heaatherly; Producer: Eric Heatherly; Publisher: Psychobilly, ASCAP; EH (track) (www.myspace.com/ericheatherly)
—Eric new CD is called Painkillers, and it’s available online for just ten bucks. He continues to be one of the most brilliantly catchy songwriters around. This single from it rocks so fiercely that it just might give you whiplash. Spin this and prepare to grin from ear to ear while you bop around the room.

MARGARET DURANTE/Mississippi’s Crying
Writer: Shelly Fairchild/Stephony Smith; Producer: James Stroud & Stephony Smith; Publisher: Silvery Dog/Souljet, BMI; 9 North/emrose/Stroudavarious (www.margaretdurante.com)
—You might recall Ms. Durante as the lady who had out that cool country cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” a few months ago. She’s back with a new label and production team. “Mississippi’s Crying” was previously on an Emily West project. I thought it sounded like a hit when I heard it then, and I still think it does.

THE McCLYMONTS/Save Yourself
Writer: none listed; Producer: Adam Anders; Publisher: none listed; EMG/Fontana/
Universal (track) (www.themcclymonts.net)
—This femme trio harmonizes perfectly on the choruses. The track bops relentlessly. The song does nothing for me.

A Big Week For Little Big Town

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With a No. 1 album and a CMA Awards nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, Capitol Nashville’s Little Big Town has a lot to celebrate this week. The vocal quartet’s new album, The Reason Why, debut this week at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart across all genres with 41,940 albums sold, making The Reason Why the highest debuting album of their career. Little Big Town’s Vocal Group nomination marks their eighth nomination and fifth in that category.

“This will be a week we never forget, and we owe that to the incredible fans, country radio, and our new label Capitol Records,” says LBT’s Karen Fairchild.

“We are so blessed to have our album debut at the top of the charts, and to have news of this nomination in the same week is just amazing,” adds band member Kimberly Schlapman.

The group, which consists of Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Schlapman and Jimi Westbrook, co-produced the The Reason Why alongside Wayne Kirkpatrick and co-wrote eight of the 12 tracks.

The band launched their new album in Chicago with a sold-out album release party at Joe’s Bar and then in New York City with performances on ABC’s Good Morning America and FOX News Channel’s Fox and Friends “All American Concert Series,” with additional appearances throughout the week. LBT will play the New York State Fair on Sept. 2 before rejoining Sugarland on The Incredible Machine Tour on Sept. 3 at State College, PA’s Bryce Jordan Center.

For additional information and appearances, visit www.littlebigtown.com.

Lo Cash Cowboys Play “Double Header”

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Stroudavarious Records artists LoCash Cowboys will play a double header on Thursday night (9/2). The country duo – Preston Brust and Chris Lucas – will first perform the National Anthem at LP Field as the Tennessee Titans take on Super Bowl XLIV champions, the New Orleans Saints, and then immediately depart for their 10:00 PM performance that same evening at the Duquoin State Fair in Duquoin, IL.

“To sing the Anthem in front of 70,000 football fans in Music City will be an incredible moment for us,” commented Lucas.

Brust added, “And to be performing for a packed Duquoin State Fair audience just a few hours later where we can rock out on our full show will be a great way to cap off a most memorable day.”

LoCash Cowboys have been busy on the road and are currently in the midst of a nationwide radio tour supporting their new single, “Keep In Mind.” Penned by Jeffrey Steele and Shane Minor, the single has just shipped to country radio in advance of its September 20 add date. The song is culled from the band’s forthcoming Stroudavarious debut, This Is How We Do It,  which was produced by Steele.

Upcoming LoCash Cowboy performances:

9/2/2010    DuQuoin, IL    DuQuoin State Fair    10:00 PM
9/3/2010    Chicago, IL    Joe’s Bar    8:30 PM
9/4/2010    Philippi, WV    Barbour Country Fair    8:00 PM
9/6/2010    Independence, MO    Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival    2:30 PM
9/11/2010    Grandview, MO    KFKF Show – Gail’s Harley Davidson    12:00 PM
9/16/2010    Covington, KY    B-105 Show for the USO – Madison Theater    7:30 PM
9/17/2010    Pine Bluff, AR    Smoke on the Water AR BBQ & Music Festival    7:00 PM
9/18/2010    Beaumont, TX    Starvin’ Marvin’s Bar & Grill    8:00 PM
9/24/2010    Jackson, OH    Jackson Apple Festival    8:00 PM
9/25/2010    Hebron, OH    Hebron Music Festival    6:00 PM

Brooks Takes “Country Countdown” On The Road

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Brooks & Dunn’s Last Rodeo Tour will come to a close tomorrow night (9/2) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. While it may be the duo’s last concert together, this will not mark the end of life on the road for Brooks, who hosts the nationally syndicated American Country Countdown for Citadel Media.

Throughout 2011, Brooks will broadcast the weekly show at least once each month from the studio of a different radio affiliate. With more than 350 stations airing the popular music program, there will be no shortage of choices. Also planned for 2011 is the American Country Countdown Concert Series. In six markets between May and October, Brooks will serve as master of ceremonies for live shows featuring an array of established country artists as well as talented newcomers. The concerts are scheduled to be held in Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle and Washington, DC.

“I’m looking forward to taking our radio show on the road next year and spending more time with the local affiliates that broadcast American Country Countdown each weekend,” said Brooks. “This will be a fantastic opportunity to create some unique listener events and have direct contact with devoted country music fans. The concert series will showcase several of our industry’s top names and also introduce some of its rising stars.”

In addition to his long list of chart-topping hits with Brooks & Dunn, Brooks has also been recognized as one of radio’s top broadcasting talents. In 2009, he was named National Radio Personality of the Year by the Country Music Association – the first time the award has been won by a performing artist. He has also been nominated as National On-Air Personality by the Academy of Country Music.

“Having Kix in our portfolio provides our network a true leadership position in country syndication,” said Carl Anderson, SVP of Programming and Distribution for Citadel Media. “His level of dedication to the show and our affiliates is unmatched and has taken ACC to new heights. Partnering with him to take the program on the road while also delivering a magnificent concert series for our listeners will drive 2011 success for our advertisers and our stations.”

Details on where and when the American Country Countdown tour bus will be rolling will be available at www.ACCTop40.com beginning in 2011.

Dierks And Miranda Reveal Final Five CMA Categories On GMA

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On Wednesday, Sept. 1, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert announced the final nominees in five CMA Awards categories live from the “Good Morning America” studios in the heart of New York City’s Times Square on the ABC Television Network. The nominees were available on the Good Morning America website after they were announced in the 7:30am ET hour.

Yesterday (8/31), the finalists in seven categories were announced in Nashville from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium by Justin Moore, Chris Young and Steel Magnolia.

“The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” known as “Country Music’s Biggest Night(TM),” will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday,  Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM ET) on ABC. The show is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
ABC News’ “Good Morning America” is anchored by Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion, and Juju Chang. The Emmy Award-winning morning news broadcast airs live Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 AM/ET on the ABC Television Network. Jim Murphy is the senior executive producer and Tom Cibrowski is the executive producer of ABC News’ “Good Morning America.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
Need You Now
Lady Antebellum
Producers: Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum

Play On
Carrie Underwood
Producers: Mark Bright and Max Martin

Revolution
Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke

Twang
George Strait
Producers: Tony Brown and George Strait

Up on the Ridge
Dierks Bentley
Producer: Jon Randall Stewart

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to each Artist)
“Bad Angel” — Dierks Bentley featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson

“Can’t You See” — Zac Brown Band featuring Kid Rock

“Hillbilly Bone” — Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins

“I’m Alive” — Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews

“Till the End” — Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack