• 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: When The Stars Come Out To Shine

October 2, 2013/by Robert K Oermann

little big town featured slider

Little Big Town


I like any listening session when the stars come out to shine, and we have no shortage of them today. On hand is new music from Gary Allan, Neal McCoy, Florida Georgia Line, Little Big Town, Josh Gracin and Susan Ashton, among others. Many of their singles are quite good, but no one shines brighter than Little Big Town. Give those sure-’nuff singers the Disc of the Day prize.
Warner Music Nashville has been making a habit of introducing excellent new talents in recent seasons. Brett Eldredge, Charlie Worsham, Ashley Monroe, Frankie Ballard, Hunter Hayes and Jana Kramer would be welcome additions to any company’s artist roster. This week, you can add Dan + Shay to that list and give them a DisCovery Award to boot.
JOSH GRACIN/Drink It Gone
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Private Label
-This rocks. And here’s what the well-written party tune says: surrender yourself to the weekend and live for today. After all, tomorrow could go wrong. So drink it gone. Eminently playable.
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Stay
Writers: Joey Moi/John Fred Young/Chris Robertson/Jon Lawhon/Ben Wells; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: Moi/Hyvetown/Robot of the Century/WB, SOCAN/BMI/ASCAP; Republic Nashville
-There are five writers on this. No wonder it seems so word-y.
CHRIS JANSON/Cut Me Some Slack
Writers: Chris Janson, Kelly Roland, Tiffany Goss; Producer: Keith Stegall; Publishers: © 2013 Red Vinyl Music (BMI) / Buckkilla Music (BMI), Curb Songs (ASCAP) / Kelly Roland Music (admin. By Curb Songs) (ASCAP), Curb Congregation Songs (SESAC); Bigger Picture
-In this amiable, harmless bopper, all he’s asking for is a chance, lady. Give the boy a break.
LITTLE BIG TOWN/Sober
Writers: Lori McKenna/Hillary Lindsey/Liz Rose; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Hoodie/Raylene/BMG Rights Management/Liz Rose/Songs of Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville
-The harmonies are beyond delicious. The production throbs and sparkles. The lyrics are terrific. Is there anyone today making better contemporary country records than these folks? I think not.
KAYLA CALABRESE/Kiss Me
Writers: Kayla Calabrese/Tami Hinesh; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: Kayla Calabrese, BMI; GTR
-It’s not the most original song idea, but the conviction in her straight-arrow vocal gives it plenty of oomph nonetheless.
NEAL MCCOY/Kaw-Liga
Writers: Fred Rose/Hank Williams; Producer: Garth Fundis; Publisher: Sony-ATV; ASCAP/BMI; Slate Creek (track)
-McCoy’s tribute album to Charley Pride has lots of memorable moments. He’s singing in a lower register to match his idol’s baritone keys, and as a result the performances are among the most natural sounding of his career. The selection of this track as its single is a bit of a head scratcher, since Pride cut it as a tribute to Hank Williams and now McCoy is reviving it as a tribute to Pride. Setting aside the layers of meaning, the crisp production is totally cool and McCoy’s vocal is right on the money. Definitely play it.
dan+shay11DAN + SHAY/19 You + Me
Writers: Dan Smyers/Shay Mooney/Danny Ortin; Producers: Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney & Scott Hendricks; Publishers: WB/Beats and Banjos/Shay Mooney/Danny Ortin, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-Soaring summer romance, accompanied by lilting vocals, precision percussion, fizzy guitars, rippling mandolin and delicate piano work. A lovely confection.
GARY ALLAN/It Ain’t The Whiskey
Writers: Greg Barnhill/Jim Daddario/Cole Degges; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Second Note/ION/Green City/Green Wilderness/Calhoun/Jim Daddario/Songs of Universal/Specklebelly, SESAC/BMI; MCA Nashville
-Hillbilly heartache, done to perfection. On this ballad, Allan’s downcast rasp tells the tale of a man who’s dying over a lost love, instead of from booze or cigarettes. Let the sadness wash over you.
THE LACS/She’s Runnin’
Writers: Clay Sharpe/Brian King/Jared Sciullo/Justin Spillner; Producers: J. Sciullo & Justin Spillner; Publishers: Average ZJS/Riley Payton/DJKOPhivestarr, BMI/SESAC; Average Joes
-These drawling fellows alternate singing a laid-back country melody — “she’s running with a piece of my heart” — with spoken-word passages about how she made off with everything else, too. I ordinarily don’t like country rap, but I have to admit that this has an undeniable backwoods charm.
SUSAN ASHTON/Moonshine
Writers: Susan Ashton/Wayne Kirkpatrick/Gordon Kennedy; Producer: Wayne Kirkpatrick; Publishers: Susan Ashton/Be Original/GlennJoy/Mad Mother, ASCAP/BMI; Be (CDX)
-In this case, the title actually refers to the light from the moon, rather than to illegal hooch. Amid minor-key acoustic picking, she moans of being irresistibly drawn into the dark side of romance. Atmospheric and artsy.

  • 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)
  • Widely Admired Bass Player Dave Roe Passes - September 22, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: ‘A Lot To Fall In Love With’ This Americana Week - September 21, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Colbie Caillat & Sheryl Crow Bring Breezy New Tune - September 14, 2023
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/little-big-town-featured-slider.png 260 390 Robert K Oermann https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Robert K Oermann2013-10-02 09:22:362013-10-02 09:22:36DISClaimer: When The Stars Come Out To Shine
You might also like
CMA Awards Final Nominees Revealed
Chris Young and Cassadee Pope Provide In-flight Entertainment on Southwest
Martina McBride To Release “Eleven”
CountryBreakout No. 1 Song
DISClaimer: Who Has New Music For CRS Gatekeepers To Hear?
The Judds and Garth Bid Farewell To Larry King
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

  • Parker McCollum Celebrates Three No. 1 Hits September 22, 2023
  • Frank Ray Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month With New Spanish EP September 22, 2023
  • Cody Johnson Announces Third Studio Album ‘Leather’ September 22, 2023
  • Dalton Dover Delivers New Project, ‘Never Giving Up On That’ September 22, 2023
  • Kane Brown Releases Phil Collins-Inspired Track ‘I Can Feel It’ September 22, 2023
  • Widely Admired Bass Player Dave Roe Passes September 22, 2023
  • Zach Bryan Releases Five-Track ‘Boys Of Faith’ EP September 22, 2023
  • Dustin Lynch To Kick Off His ‘Killed The Cowboy Tour’ In April September 22, 2023
  • Bill Anderson Named First Recipient Of Dr. David Godbold Lifetime Achievement Award September 22, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Takes ‘Everything I Love’ To Top Of MusicRow Chart September 22, 2023
  • Megan Moroney Drops Deluxe Edition Of Debut Album ‘Lucky’ September 22, 2023
  • Oliver Anthony Signs With UTA September 22, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: ‘A Lot To Fall In Love With’ This Americana Week September 21, 2023
  • CMA Foundation Honors Music Teachers Of Excellence September 21, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Stephen Wilson Jr., Anne Wilson, BMI, ACM September 21, 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