• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album Releases
    • Single Releases
    • Industry Events
  • EVENTS
  • OBITS
  • REVIEWS
  • CHARTS
    • CountryBreakout Radio Chart
      • Current CountryBreakout Chart
      • CountryBreakout Chart Archives
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Top Songwriter Chart
      • Current Top Songwriter Chart
      • Top Songwriter Chart Archive
  • ROWFAX
  • NEWSLETTER
  • SIGN UP
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Eric Church, Josh Turner, Pryor & Lee, And More

June 25, 2020/in Featured, Reviews /by Robert K Oermann

Eric Church

Country music reasserts its potency in this week’s column.

Some of its finest exponents are here—Josh Turner & Chris Janson, Craig Morgan, Buddy Jewell, C.J. Solar and Rascal Flatts all have outstanding new sounds. Towering above them all is Eric Church. In fact, any time The Chief releases a new single, the rest of the field might as well pack it in. He wins his one billionth Disc of the Day award.

Two newcomer duos are vying for the DisCovery Award. Black River’s Pryor & Lee edge out the youthful Render Sisters to take the honor.

RYAN GRIFFIN/One Prayer Left
Writers: Camero Bedell/Jason Massey/Ryan Griffin/Thomas Finchum; Producer: Jason Massey; Publisher: none listed; Altadena/Warner
– It’s a sweet sentiment, and it’s plaintively well sung. Nothing about the faux r&b track sounds country.

RASCAL FLATTS/How They Remember You
Writers: Josh Osborne/Allen Shamblin/Marc Beeson; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– I like the drumming pattern that shuffles the tune’s tempo. The reflective lyric is way cool, and the harmony vocals are arguably the finest they’ve ever recorded. Well worth your attention.

DANIELLE BRADBERY/Never Have I Ever
Writers: Danielle Bradbery/Laura Veltz/David Hodges; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
– This former winner on The Voice displays her impressive range on this ballad. She begins in a warm, enveloping alto, but by the finale she is up in the soprano stratosphere. If only the song were stronger, this single would be undeniable.

ERIC CHURCH/Stick That In Your Country Song
Writers: Davis Naish/Jeffrey Steele; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: Hillbilly Science & Research/Do Write/Jeffrey Steele, BMI; EMI
– Eric brings country music back to what it does best, describing the reality of its listeners. It’s gritty, snarling and a little uncomfortable. But, man, is it ever powerful. The Chief tells it like it is. (I particularly liked the verse about our heroic school teachers.)

C.J. SOLAR/Watered Down Whiskey
Writers: Charlie Berry/C.J. Solar/Jeff Middleton; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Sea Gayle
– The production sounds bigger and beefier this time around, and he’s singing with renewed vigor. As we’ve come to expect from him, it’s also quite well written.

JOSH TURNER & CHRIS JANSON/Country State of Mind
Writers: Hank Williams, Jr./Roger Wade; Producer: Kenny Greenberg; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
– The title tune of Josh’s upcoming CD is a very cool reworking of Hank Jr.’s 1986 hit. Sung as a duet with Chris Janson, he revives the song’s steamy, bluesy, summer vibe. The whole project is a salute to country influences with Josh singing favorites as collaborations with the likes of Kris Kristofferson, John Anderson and Randy Travis. He also shares the golden tunes with such contemporaries as Allison Moorer, Runaway June and Maddie & Tae, as well as Janson. Above it all, Josh Turner reasserts himself as one of our finest current country singers.

PRYOR & LEE/Y’allsome
Writers: Rhett Akins/Marv Green/JT Harding; Producer: Doug Johnson/Chip Matthews; Publisher: none listed; Black River
– This frothing rocker drops tomorrow, so get ready. It’s a shout-out to country’s party-hearty fans who know how to get down. Pryor Baird and Kaleb Lee were both solo finalists on The Voice. Together, they sure can kick up some dust. This one’s a slam-bang jam.

THE RENDER SISTERS/Lost Boy
Writers: Mary-Keaton Render/Stella Render/Britton Cameron; Producer: Britton Cameron; Publisher: none listed; Render Sisters/Distro Kid
– These Arkansas siblings are still in their teens. Mary-Keaton Render is 16 and Stella Render is 14. Their talent is way beyond their years. The extremely well crafted lyric sounds exactly like the emotions of high school, and their Everly-Sisters vocal harmony blend is awesome. The duo’s striking abilities have attracted the attention of Pam Tillis, who co-directed the song’s video. Can’t wait to hear more.

CRAIG MORGAN/The Mask
Writers: Craig Morgan/Mike Rogers; Producer: Craig Morgan; Publisher: none listed; Broken Bow
– Morgan’s new song is a salute to our front-line first responders, doctors, nurses and other heroes who face this pandemic with such courage and heart. In the lyric, the “mask” is more than a physical object, it’s the brave, smiling face that they put on to hide the fear and heartbreak. It goes without saying that this mighty man sings the fire out of the song.

BUDDY JEWELL/I’m A Ramblin’ Man
Writer: Ray Pennington; Producer: Mitchell Brown; Publisher: none listed; Diamond Dust
– Buddy’s rootsy new CD is Bluebonnet Highway. It is a nice audio salad, combining his earlier hits with nods to oldies like “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “You’re the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had” and “Georgia on a Fast Train,” plus nifty new tunes like “Willie Gave Up Weed,” “Hillbilly Water” and “Teardrop in the Gulf of Mexico.” The set kicks off with this lively remake of Waylon’s chart-topping 1974 hit featuring a smoothly upped tempo and a focus on hot bluegrassy picking as well as this fellow’s always robust singing.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Robert K Oermann
Robert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Marty Stuart, Blake Shelton, Tiera, Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion - January 21, 2021
  • Country Entertainer Hugh X. Lewis Dies At Age 90 - January 19, 2021
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Rhonda Vincent, Sister Sadie, Carolina Blue, The Grascals - January 14, 2021
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Eric-Church.jpg 1877 2636 Robert K Oermann https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Robert K Oermann2020-06-25 11:13:062020-10-07 09:23:00DISClaimer Single Reviews: Eric Church, Josh Turner, Pryor & Lee, And More

RECENT NEWS

  • Off The Record: Is It Time To Cut The Net? January 22, 2021
  • Americana Meets Eastern Europe On David Olney’s Final Album January 22, 2021
  • Sundance ASCAP Music Cafe’ Returns To 2021 Virtual Festival With New Talent Added January 22, 2021
  • Thomas Rhett Reigns On ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Radio Chart January 22, 2021
  • Lainey Wilson Readies Studio Album, ‘Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’’ January 22, 2021
  • Adam Sanders Celebrates Milestones With New Live Album January 22, 2021
  • JUST IN: Lady A Invited To Become Members of Grand Ole Opry January 21, 2021
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Marty Stuart, Blake Shelton, Tiera, Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion January 21, 2021
  • Darryl Worley Returns To The Road For Country Rewind Tour January 21, 2021
  • CMA’s Sarah Trahern, Rascal Flatts To Receive CRB Honors at CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience January 21, 2021
  • JUST IN: Eric Church To Release Three-Album Project: Heart & Soul January 21, 2021
  • ASCAP Kicks Off 2021 Master Class Virtually January 21, 2021
  • ‘Dark Horse’ Devin Dawson Brings Out His Lighter Side With ‘The Pink Slip’ [Interview] January 21, 2021
  • New Concert Venue The Factory Opening In St. Louis January 21, 2021
  • Walker Montgomery Talks Heroes In New Digital Series ‘Influenced By’ January 21, 2021

Likes us on Facebook

Recently on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2020 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top