DISClaimer Single Reviews: Luke Grimes Releases ‘Relaxed, Thoughtful’ New Cover
There are some folk music vibes in this roundup of current country tracks.
Matt Schuster, Lizzie No and Luke Grimes all have acoustic-based tunes, shining brightly amid the rocking sounds of Eddie Montgomery, Caroline Jones, Kameron Marlowe, Bigg Vinny and Brian Kelley. Also here for your listening pleasure is country rap from C’ing Jerome as well as classy country pop from The Frontmen and straight-up, old-school R&B from Robert Finley.
But the folkies ruled the day. Luke Grimes has the Disc of the Day, and Lizzie No is taking home a DISCovery Award.
CAROLINE JONES / “Lawless”
Writers: Caroline Jones/Brandon Ratcliff/Pete Good; Producers: Caroline Jones/Brandon Hood/Ric Wake; Label: CJ
– A member of Zac Brown Band since last year, Jones also continues her solo career with a new album titled Homesite. It kicks off with this fiery country-rock blast. That’s Jones on lead guitar mixed in with her spitfire delivery. Exciting stuff.
BRIAN KELLEY / “How We’re Livin'”
Writers: Brian Kelley/Micah Carpenter/Jimmy Robbins/Mark Trussell; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Big Machine Records
– A big, loud, rompin,’ stompin,’ proud-to-be-country bore.
LIZZIE NO / “Annie Oakley”
Writer: Lizzie No; Producers: Lizzie No/Graham Richman/Patrick Dillett; Label: Thirty Tigers/Miss Freedomland
– Very cool. It begins with a folkie strum then builds into a crashing acoustic rocker with stacked vocal harmonies and a haunting refrain. It is a dusty, lonely-motel road song with a languid, philosophical vocal attitude. Every note fascinated me.
EDDIE MONTGOMERY & BRYAN MARTIN / “Cost of Being Me”
Writers: Bobby Pinson/Jami Grooms/Mark McGuinn/Rusty Tabor; Producer: Nick Gibbens; Label: Average Joes Entertainment
– He spends money foolishly, which mirrors his self-destructive lifestyle. As he fritters away his life and his funds, he takes stock of his situation while guitars crunch and crash around him. The powerful singing is amplified by a frothing, foaming arrangement that amps up the emotion. I’m in.
BIGG VINNY / “Battleground”
Writers: Vencent Hickerson/James McNair/Joe Ragosta/Marc Fortney; Producer: Skidd Mills; Label: BV
– Vencent Hickerson (Bigg Vinny), previously gained notoriety as a member of Trailor Choir and as a contestant on NBC’s The Biggest Loser (where he dropped from 426 to 242 pounds). Now returning to music, he rocks out while singing of perseverance and pride. It sounds ready-made for stadium sound systems.
ELI YOUNG BAND & GEORGE BIRGE / “Amy’s Back In Austin”
Writers: Brady Seals/Stephen Allen Davis; Producer: Duane Propes/Brandyn Steen; Label: Records Nashville
– There is a new tribute album to the music of Little Texas. These two Lone Star State artists pull their talents on a remake of this sad, breezy 1995 hit. Capable. Sturdy.
C’ING JEROME / “Countrified”
Writers: Chris Jerome Blanton/Virgule Marshall; Producer: Virgule Marshall; Label: Average Joes Entertainment
– It’s country rap with some goofy “wooooh” high notes wafting in the background. The slightly cheesy, relentless, spare rhythm track is also kind of quirky. Weirdly listenable.
DYLAN MARLOWE / “You See Mine”
Writers: Dylan Marlowe/Corey Crowder/Hunter Phelps; Producer: Joe Fox; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– His duet single with another Dylan (Scott) continues to climb. In the meantime, he has a new solo video of this track. It’s a mean-spirited ditty about him shadowing (stalking?) his old girlfriend when she’s out on a date with someone new. He hopes that seeing his truck will ruin her night.
KAMERON MARLOWE / “Tennessee Don’t Mind”
Writers: Charles Kelley/Daniel Tashian; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– A scampering rockabilly beat rolls beneath this tempo tune. As always, Marlowe is a sterling vocalist here, hitting high notes effortlessly and wailing with fervor.
ROBERT FINLEY / “Sneakin’ Around”
Writers: Robert Finley/Dan Auerbach/Kenny Brown/Eric Deaton/Patrick Carney; Producer: Dan Auerbach; Label: Easy Eye Sound
– Finley is a master R&B showman whose blues-soaked tunes are produced in Nashville by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. On this mid-tempo groove, he demonstrates how universal “cheatin'” songs can be. Also check out his ballad “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely” and his rocker “What Goes Around.” The blind, raspy-voiced songster is not a country artist, but his vivid storytelling on these tracks kind of makes you wish he was. Finley stages his Grand Ole Opry debut this Saturday evening (Dec. 9).
LUKE GRIMES / “Clay Pigeons”
Writer: Blaze Foley; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Mercury Nashville
– Yellowstone star Grimes continues his pursuit of country stardom with this brilliantly written folk-country outing. His relaxed, thoughtful reading of the lyric feels like he’s sitting right next you. The song comes from the late Texas tunesmith Blaze Foley. Essential listening.
THE FRONTMEN / “I Need You”
Writers: Lindsay Rimes/Matt Rogers; Producer: Mickey Jack Cones; Label: Broken Bow Records
– This is a supergroup fronted by Richie McDonald of Lonestar, Tim Rushlow of Little Texas and Larry Stewart of Restless Heart. The trio’s six-song EP begins with this full-throated power ballad. They tag-team lead vocals, then combine their charismatic singing on chesty harmony choruses. These are some mighty singing men. Thrilling listening.
MATT SCHUSTER / “Last Fall”
Writers: Matt Schuster/Abram Dean/Emily Falvey/John Newsome; Producer: Chris LaCorte; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Schuster continues to show immense promise. This aching, melancholy ballad of lost love hits an emotional bullseye thanks to his plaintive, penetrating tenor vocal underscored by sweetly sympathetic strings and steel. Heartbreak on the hoof.
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