• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

DISClaimer Single Reviews (4/20/11)

April 20, 2011/by Robert K Oermann

Vince Gill


We have a nice mix of newcomers and established stars this week.
The three contenders for the DisCovery Award are Hunter Hayes, Russell Hitchcock and Jim Quick. Although Hitchcock might not be a household name, he has sold millions of records as a vocalist in Air Supply. So even though I heartily recommend his CD, it doesn’t seem fair to give the honor to him. Despite his tender age, Hayes is apparently already a vet, too. That leaves the much deserving Jim Quick, whose bruiser voice is a must listen.
Among our established hit makers this week are Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and Alison Krauss. But the most established one of them all is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame who wins the Disc of the Day prize. For enduring greatness, hearty applause for Vince Gill from this corner.
JIM QUICK/Down South
Writer: Gary Nicholson/Gary Nichols; Producer: Gary Nicholson; Publisher: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Gary Nicholson/Fame, ASCAP/BMI; iSuwanee (track) (www.isuwanee.com)
—Jim Quick’s CD is comprised entirely of Gary Nicholson songs. Its title tune and single is a grinding, gritty, swampy, bluesy rocker with groove to spare. Quick sings with Deep Dixie assurance and sass.
DIERKS BENTLEY/Am I The Only One
Writer: Jim Beavers/Jon Randall Stewart/Dierks Bentley; Producer: Jon Randall Stewart; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Beavertime/Reynsong/Wha Ya Say/Big White Tracks/Works & Music, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville (CDX)
—Twangy, romping, thumping and loads and loads of fun. Dierks is ready to party, but his buddies bail on him. Not to worry: He finds a babe who’s flying solo, too.
LUKE BRYAN/Country Girl (Shake It For Me)
Writer: Luke Bryan/Dallas Davidson; Producer: Jeff Stevens & Mark Bright; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill/EMI Blackwood/String Stretcher, BMI; Capitol Nashville (CDX)
—A little on the sleazy, trashy side, but not without its charms.
ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION/Paper Airplane
Writer: Robert Lee Castleman; Producer: Alison Krauss & Union Station; Publisher: Farm Use Only, BMI; Rounder (CDX)
—This hushed ballad wafts by like clouds, creating patterns of sunshine and shadow. The Jerry Douglas dobro notes are pure poetry.
VINCE GILL/Threaten Me With Heaven
Writer: Vince Gill/Amy Grant/Will Owsley/Dillon O’Brian; Producer: Vince Gill, John Hobbs & Justin Niebank; Publisher: Vinny Mae/Grant Girls/The Loving Company/Willie-O/Dillon O’Brian, BMI; MCA Nashville (CDX)
—This gorgeous meditation would be heart melting even acoustic and unadorned. As it happens, the production swells with inspiring choral backing, celestial guitar work and echoey ambiance. If it doesn’t produce a lump in your throat, you are made of stone.
SUNNY SWEENEY/Staying’s Worse Than Leaving
Writer: Jay Clementi/Radney Foster/Sunny Sweeney; Producer: Brett Beavers; Publisher: WB/Mountain Morning/House of Sea Gayle/Little Mojo/Big Music Machine/Three Minute Movie/Super 98, ASCAP/BMI; Republic Nashville
—This country gal’s voice delivers perfectly on this dandy tempo tune with rolling rhythm and steel embellishments. I remain an enormous fan.
HUNTER HAYES/Storm Warning
Writer: Gordie Sampson/Busbee/Hunter Hayes; Producer: Dann Huff & Hunter Hayes; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Happy Little Man/Dash8/Bughouse/Bug/BMG Platinum/Hello I Love You, BMI/ASCAP; Atlantic
—He looks and sounds quite young, but evidently already has an extensive, multi-album background as a Cajun artist in his native Louisiana. His bopping, pop-ish single bubbles right along and will doubtless play well to Taylor Swift’s audience as he opens dates on her Speak Now Tour.
BURNS & POE/Second Chance
Writer: Burns/Poe/Stipe; Producer: Mark Oliverius; Publisher: Morris Bedell/Poe Haus/Studio 33/Checks to Rex/Pen, SESAC/BMI; Blue Steel (track) (www.burnsandpoe.com)
—The conversational, swapped lines are expertly delivered in the verses. The ultra-hooky choruses find them harmonizing delightfully. It’s all about overcoming romantic misunderstandings, with deep-twang guitar in the background.
SEAN PATRICK McGRAW/My So Called Life
Writer: Sean Patrick McGraw/Bruce Wallace; Producer: Sean Patrick McGraw; Publisher: Seananigan, no performance rights listed; Little Engine (track)
—The title tune to Sean’s self-marketed CD is a raucous rave-up that wails the working-man’s blues with gusto. Perseverance is the name of the game, here.
RUSSELL HITCHCOCK/Far Enough Away from Colorado
Writer: Wes Hightower/Don Poythress/Rob Rappaport/Jimmy Ritchey; Producer: Rob Rappaport; Publisher: Sixteen Stars/Universal-MGB/Don Poythress/Canalco/Better Angels/Universal-Careers/Fox Ridge, BMI/ASCAP; Better Angels (track)
—In an unusual move, two singles are being released simultaneously from this fellow’s Tennessee double CD collection. One is a tender ballad called “Hold Me Like You Love Me.” The other is this a more countryfied story song about a man starting over by farming in Nebraska and trying to forget what he left behind in Denver. Gloriously melodic. If Aussie Hitchcock’s voice sounds familiar, it’s because you heard him in Air Supply during the ’80s (”Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “The One That You Love,” “Even the Nights Are Better,” “Making Love Out of Nothing at All,” etc.).

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Robert K Oermann
Robert K Oermann
Robert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
Robert K Oermann
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: The Late Jimmy Buffett ‘Encourages Optimism & Hope’ - September 28, 2023
  • All-Around Nashville Music Man Mike Henderson Passes - September 25, 2023
  • Ringo Starr Honored At Musicians Hall Of Fame - September 25, 2023
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/VinceGill42011.jpg 260 390 Robert K Oermann https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Robert K Oermann2011-04-20 09:01:292011-04-20 09:01:29DISClaimer Single Reviews (4/20/11)
You might also like
All For The Hall Concert Scheduled For April 12 At Bridgestone Arena
Alan Jackson Exhibit To Be Featured At Country Music Hall Of Fame
Country Music Hall of Fame Names New Class
Weekly Chart Report (7/8/16)
Now Open: Submissions For N.B.T. Music Industry Directory
Performers Revealed For 17th Annual MusicRow Country Radio Meet & Greet And CountryBreakout Awards
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • New IRS Rule Affects Concert Ticket Resellers September 29, 2023
  • Neil Medley Shares His Stories On Debut Project, ‘South End Kid’ September 29, 2023
  • Worldwide Stages Announces Investment Opportunity In Its Production Campus September 29, 2023
  • In Pictures: Coastal Country Jam Closes Summer With Star-Studded Lineup September 29, 2023
  • First-Ever ‘People’s Choice Country Awards’ Airs Live From Nashville [Recap] September 29, 2023
  • Fifth Annual Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards Raises $400K For U.S. Military Vets September 29, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Adds Multiple Nights In Several Markets For 2024 Tour September 29, 2023
  • Brittney Spencer Slates Debut Album ‘My Stupid Life’ For January September 29, 2023
  • Dylan Scott Earns MusicRow No. 1 With ‘Can’t Have Mine’ September 29, 2023
  • Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle Among Winners At 34th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards September 29, 2023
  • 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards Winners – Complete List September 29, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: The Late Jimmy Buffett ‘Encourages Optimism & Hope’ September 28, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Wasserman Music, Merle Travis, Equal Access, More September 28, 2023
  • Shania Twain’s Multi-Platinum ‘Greatest Hits’ Makes Vinyl Debut In November September 28, 2023
  • IBMA Honors 2023 Industry Awards Recipients September 28, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top