DISClaimer: Newcomers Dylan Scott, Patrick Thomas Seize The Day
We say hello to a lot of old friends this week, yet it’s the newcomers who seize the day.
Teea Goans, Mac McAnally, Kelly Lang, Terry McBride and Dan Tyminiski are all here with splendid new discs. But listen to the youngsters, too.
Chief among these is Patrick Thomas. This Nashvillian’s breathtaking performance easily earns him a DisCovery Award.
The Disc of the Day belongs to Dylan Scott. His fifth single, “My Girl,” finally got him on everbody’s radar. His sixth, “Hooked,” sounds like an even bigger winner.
PATRICK THOMAS/Katy
Writers: none listed, Producer: Mark Bright/Will Bowen; Publishers: none listed; PT (track)
– This former competitor on The Voice recently made news as the composer and lyricist of the Civil War musical The Battle of Franklin. His debut EP kicks off with this monumental power ballad that begins with his voice and piano, then builds to a crashing, thunderous shout of regret and heartbreak. A mighty, mighty sound. This man gleams with star potential.
TYMINSKI/Bloodline
Writers: Dan Tyminski/Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure; Producer: Jesse Frasure; Publisher: none listed, Mercury (track)
– This gifted singer/songwriter has been hiding his light under a bushel for far too long — as a sideman for Alison Krauss, as the heard-but-not-seen lead voice of the Grammy winning “Soggy Bottom Boys” and as a singer on Avicii’s international pop hit “Hey Brother.” His Southern Gothic solo debut CD drops next month. In advance comes this saga of a lifetime of music making backed by an imaginative electronic soundscape of washes, echoes and layered vocal phrasing. Ear opening.
LAURA LEIGH JONES/Love Bird Can’t Find Love No More
Writers: Jones/Ronnie Bowman; Producers: Brent Rader/Laura Leigh Jones; Publishers: Laura Leigh Jones/Ronnie Bowman/RaeLynn/Never Wanted Nothing More, BMI; LLJ (track)
– Snappy and scrappy. The fiddle-dominated acoustic bed is quickly joined by a rumbling, rapid rhythm track. She sings with fiery, feisty personality, and co-writer Bowman shadows her with flawless harmony singing on the choruses. Highly recommended.
KELLY LANG/My New Obsession
Writer: Kelly Lang; Producer: Kelly Lang; Publishers: none listed; Leopard
– Perennial “DISClaimer” fave Kelly Lang returns with a new collection titled Obsession. Its lead track has a retro-vibe, doo-wop flavored feeling with instantly-catchy hooks. Her throaty alto, as usual, is captivating.
MAC McANALLY/Southbound
Writers: Mac McAnally; Producer: Mac McAnally; Publishers: Beginner, ASCAP; Mailboat (track)
– Mac’s revival of the lovely 1995 hit he wrote for Sammy Kershaw has a lush, full-bodied, beautiful, symphonic backing track. That’s because his new CD by the same name is subtitled “The Orchestra Project.” This is an album to savor at leisure with your favorite smoke and libation.
TY THURMAN/East Tennessee Girl
WRiters: Gregory Tyson Thurman/Cory Young; Producer: Dave Demay; Publishers: Leap The Creek/Life Looks Best, ASCAP; Leap the Creek
– It’s a plinky-plunky ditty with a simple melody and even simpler lyrics. Pass.
TEEA GOANS/Go Down Swingin’
Writers: Sandy Ramos/Jerry Vandiver; Producer: Terry Choate; Publishers: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/BMG Gold/Miller’s Daughter/R2M, ASCAP; Crosswind (track)
– Our western-swing heroine returns with a CD titled Swing, Shuffle & Sway. This swingin’ little tune kicks if off with steel bopping smartly, fiddle sawing sprightly and toes tapping all around. Other tracks sample the catalogs of Mel Tillis, Don Gibson, Rory Bourke & Mike Reid, Richard Leigh & Gary Nicholson, Cindy Walker, Hank Cochran and the like, which should give you some idea of how classy this set is. And let me assure you, she absolutely knows how to sing them. I love her all to pieces. Always will.
DYLAN SCOTT/Hooked
Writers: Lindsay Rimes/Seth Ennis/Morgan Evans; Producers: Matt Alderman, Curt Gibbs, Jim Ed Norman; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; Curb (CDX)
– He’s a somewhat everyday contemporary country male vocalist. But with a song this tough and a production this exciting, he sounds like so much more. A star-confirming disc. Play it again.
TONY JACKSON/Old Porch
Writers: Tony Jackson/Cole Capshaw; Producer: Donna Dean Stevens/Jim Della Croce; Publishers: none listed, BMI; DDS (CDX)
– His revival of “The Grand Tour” captured 20 million Facebook views. His self-penned follow-up is a gentle, breezy, summery slice of nostalgia. It name checks a teenage repertoire that included Hank, Garth, Stevie Ray and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
TERRY McBRIDE/Hotels & Highways
Writers: Terry McBride/Matt Rogers/Tommy Cecil; Producer: Terry McBride; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; MV2 Entertainment
– It has been awhile since we heard from Mr. McBride. This big, heart-in-throat performance makes me realize how much I’ve missed him. A welcome return.
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