DISClaimer Singles Reviews: Trisha Yearwood, Chrissy Metz, Chapel Hart, And More

Trisha Yearwood

It’s a ladies’ day here at DISClaimer.

Both the Disc of the Day and the DISClaimer Award are claimed by female acts. Trisha Yearwood rules the roost with her gorgeous ballad “I’ll Carry You Home,” which she introduced on last night’s ACM telecast.

The DISCovery du jour is Chapel Hart. This is a trio of two sisters and a cousin who are from Mississippi, but began their career as street performers in New Orleans before heading to Music City. Their “Jesus and Alcohol” debut single is a sheer delight.

All of which is not to say that we don’t have worthy male contributors. In fact, Tyler Braden gave Chapel Hart excellent competition for the DISCovery honor. Elsewhere, we have dandy new sounds from Jerrod Niemann, Terry McBride, Brandon Ratcliff and Scotty McCreery.

CHRISSY METZ/Feel Good
Writers: Chrissy Metz/Nicolette Hayford/Connie Harrington/Aaron Raitiere/Jake Mitchell; Publisher: none listed; Producer: none listed; EMI
-This light, softly sung ditty is meant to empower women, to inspire positivism. It has a pleasant, wafting vibe that goes well with its message of looking up, taking care of oneself and getting happy. It goes along with her new Walmart clothing line.

RITA WILSON/What Would I Say
Writers: Rita Wilson/Jesse Frasure/Shane McAnally; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Jesse Frasure; Sling It Loud/Orchard
– Her alto vocal is compressed and muffled.

TRISHA YEARWOOD/I’ll Carry You Home
Writers: Gordie Sampson/Caitlyn Smith/Troy Verges; Publisher: Bughouse/Music of Stage Three/Songs of Cornman/Dash8/Songs of Universal; Producer: Garth Fundis; Gwendolyn/Pearl
-One of our greatest voices wedded to a truly inspirational song. I love how she begins this in a gentle, tender mode, then gradually builds to her magnificent, full-throated vocal majesty before ending in a soft, loving audio embrace. A brilliant piece of work.

SCOTTY MCCREERY/You Time
Writers: Scotty McCreery/Frank Rogers/Aaron Eshuis; Publisher: none listed; Producers: Frank Rogers/Aaron Eshuis/Derek Wells; Triple Tigers
-Upbeat and romantic, this has a lot going on for it. As always, he’s a country beacon.

JERROD NIEMANN/Tequila Kisses
Writers: Jerrod Niemann/Lee Brice/Jon Stone; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Jerrod Niemann; JN
-Kinda boozy, kinda drawling, kinda groovy. Especially with the multiple stacked vocal harmonies and the stratospheric, airy atmosphere. The Beach Boys have nothing on this little beauty. This guy always turns in quality work.

INGRID ANDRESS/Don’t Start Now
Writers: Emily Warren, Ian Kirkpatrick, Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Sam Ellis; Warner/Atlantic
-It’s a Dua Lipa pop cover. Nicely done, but what’s the point?

TERRY MCBRIDE/Callin’ All Hearts
Writers: Luke Laird/Terry McBride; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Luke Laird; INgrooves
-Look out, boys, she’s a heart breaker. The spare, bopping production puts the spotlight squarely on his country vocal and the solidly crafted lyric. Simple but highly effective.

TYLER BRADEN/Love is a Dead End Road
Writers: Tyler Braden/Chase Rice/Brock Berryhill; Publishers: Warner Chappell/Sony ATV, no performance rights listed; Producer; none listed; Warner
-A country boy gets his heart busted when the gal he thought was The One, turns out not to be. This newcomer sings with enormous feeling and just the right blend of power and ache. He sounds like writer to be reckoned with, too. I’m in.

KEITH URBAN & P!NK/One Too Many
Writers none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: none listed; Capitol Nashville
-There’s no denying the star power. But the pop song does nothing for me.

CHAPEL HART/Jesus and Alcohol
Writers: Danica Hart, Devynn Hart, Trea Swindle; Publisher: HyperPhlyy Music; BMI; Producer: Jeff Glixman; CH
-Fabulous. This ridiculously catchy item is loaded with humor and harmonies. The group is country’s first Black female trio. The lead guitar is provided by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. The ultra-cute video features cameo appearances by T. Graham Brown and Deborah Allen. Colorful and contagious, this is absolutely a 100% hillbilly winner.

BRANDON RATCLIFF/Sometimes Always Never
Writers: Brandon Ratcliff/A.J. Babcock/Walker Hayes; Publisher: none listed; Producers: Pete Good/Shane McAnally; Monument
-The title tune of Ratcliff’s debut EP is a light, poppy, choppy ditty held together by his highly engaging, youthful tenor-to-falsetto vocal delivery. Very, very listenable. It says here that he has accumulated over 50 million streams to date.