DISClaimer Single Reviews (5/23/12)
Here’s a brand-new reason why Kenny Chesney is a superstar.
It is called “Come Over,” and it is guaranteed to make every female who listens to it wishes that she could. It coasts to an easy victory as the Disc of the Day as Kenny Chesney rules anew.
I was polishing the DisCovery Award for Tommy Steele. Then I checked and found out that I reviewed two tunes from him in 2010. I liked him then, and I like him now.
So then I thought maybe Daniel Warren could be a contender. But it turns out that he, too, has been in this column previously.
That leaves us with a choice between one of our three genuine newcomers: Erica Nicole pops and bops her way into the winner’s circle.
DANIEL WARREN/Lullaby
Writer: Daniel Warren; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Chaprielle, BMI; Quarterback (www.danielwarrenband.com)
—Formerly a jazz artist, Warren makes the transition to country with this lilting, ultra-smooth outing lifted into the fluffy clouds with easy-on-the-ears vocal harmonies and some absolutely lovely instrumental work. Extremely accomplished.
CRAIG MORGAN/Corn Star
Writer: Shane Minor/Jeffrey Steele; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Sony-ATV/Code Six Charles/Jeffrey Steele, BMI; Black River ()
—This bobbing bopper will make you smile. She’s a total hottie, but strictly from the sticks, y’all.
TOMMY STEELE/My Side of the Street
Writer: Jack Williams/Travis Meadows; Producer: Dave Gibson; Publisher: Savannah/Universal, ASCAP/BMI; Triple Creek (www.tommysteeleband.com)
—Rugged and loaded with blue-collar attitude, this has plenty of chesty power. He sings with extraordinary conviction and finesse, the track throbs with suppressed energy and the song is an instant, everyman classic.
KENNY CHESNEY/Come Over
Writer: Sam Hunt/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Producer: Buddy Cannon & Kenny Chesney; Publisher: Twang Tractor/BPJ/Crazy Water/Little Blue Egg/Kobalt/Want a Fresh One/Black River, ASCAP; BNA ()
—A slowly simmering fever of desire. Guitars flicker and ripple while the melody draws you into its dream trance. Kenny’s vocal is full of caressing intimacy and gentle persuasion. Echoey background vocalizing completes the enchanting spell. A swoon of a single.
ALEXANDRA DEMETREE/Just Alone
Writer: Dean Scallan/Billy Atherholt/Jennifer Morrison; Producer: Dean Scallon; Publisher: Shootin’ Straight/Atherholt/Lillaly, BMI/ASCAP; SSM (615-254-2053)
—The production on this country rocker rumbles right along. The vocalist does an adequate job of keeping up, but never really takes command of the track.
MATT GARY/City Lights
Writer: Jared Crump/Trevor Rosen/Josh Osborne; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Brave Music/Resonate/Unfair Entertainment/Want a Fresh One, SESAC/ASCAP; 17/Quarterback (www.mattgary.com)
—I have liked this guy in the past, and his vocal performance here is able and assured. But the song meanders around too much and lacks a big hook.
SARA WATKINS & FIONA APPLE/You’re the One I Love
Writer: Boudleaux Bryant/Felice Bryant; Producer: Blake Mills; Publisher: House of Bryant, BMI; Nonesuch (track) (www.sarawatkins.com)
—Former Nickel Creek member Watkins teams up with pop diva Apple on this eccentric, quasi-rockabilly update of an obscure Everly Brothers tune. Full of nervous energy and echoey atmosphere, it is most definitely ear grabbing. The new CD is titled Sun Midnight Sun, and it is miles beyond its maker’s bluegrass roots.
DOUG BRINEY/More Than Just a Farm
Writer: Pat Kelley/Ed Leavitt; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; DB (track) (www.dougbriney.com)
—His singing voice is a little unsteady, and the track sounds like a demo. But his heart is the right place.
NATASHA BORZILOVA/Out of My Hands
Writer: Natasha Borzilova/Ilya Toshinsky/Sasha Ostrovsky/Lydia Salnikova/Alexander Arzamastsev/Sergei Olkhovskiy; Producer: Natasha Borzilova; Publisher: Uncle Hadley, ASCAP; Hadley Music Group (track) (www.natashaborzilova.com)
—This is the title tune of the second solo album from this former Bering Strait vocalist. She wrote or co-wrote all of its songs and as this mid-tempo meditation illustrates, she has evolved into a communicator of subtle strength and confessional intimacy. Her production skills are nothing to sneeze at, either. Highly recommended.
ERICA NICOLE/What You Think About Us
Writer: Biran Davis/Ashley Gearing/Ben Gloover; Producer: Michael Lloyd; Publisher: Curb/Melrose/W.B., BMI/ASCAP; Heaven (www.ericanicolemusic.com)
—It’s lively and bright, kinda like a teen-pop record from the 1980s. It think it’s a combination of that wooshing/zippy guitar sound and her Go-Go’s phrasing. Or maybe it’s that it is just so ridiculously catchy. Impossible to resist.
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