DISClaimer Single Reviews: Chris Young ‘Swoons With Emotion’

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Chris Young. Photo: John Shearer

You might have springtime in your step, but the sounds in this week’s DISClaimer are dominated by downbeat ballads.

By far the best of them belongs to Chris Young, who easily nails down the Disc of the Day award.

The DISCovery Award goes to Wayland. I believe this used to be a rock band, but now seems to be a country duo. In any case, lend these guys your ears.

WAYLAND / “Way Back When”
Writers: Mitch Arnold/Phill Vilenski/Sam Varga/Caleb Oczkowski; Producers: Phillip Vilenski/Kate Malone; Label: Ironworks
– It’s a big-sounding, oomphy power ballad with hooks a-plenty. Lead singer Mitch Arnold has an endearing, youthful warmth and Phill Vilenski’s lead guitar work and harmony vocal are both razor sharp. Highly listenable.

CHRIS JANSON / “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”
Writers: Blake Hubbard/Chris Janson/Jarrod Ingram/RaeLynn/Tyler Hubbard; Producers: Scott Borchetta/Julian Raymond; Label: Nashville Harbor
– Fishin.’ Deer huntin.’ Drivin’ trucks through mud. Wearin’ camo. Drinkin’ beer. Ho hum.

MICKEY GUYTON / “Woman”
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Victor Franco/Oliver Frid/Kameron Glasper/Tayla Parx; Producers: Tayla Parx/Oliver Frid/Victor Franco; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Her piercing singing is absolutely gripping on this empowering female anthem. The echoey production underscores the drama.

LONESTAR / “You Make Loving Fun”
Writer: Christine McVie; Producer: Dean Sams; Label: Band Cave Records
– The 1977 Fleetwood Mac hit gets a dandy countrified remake with a solid beat and some snappy picking. I don’t usually go for this kind of thing, because bands ordinarily mimic the original. But this is a marvelous reinterpretation that turns a classic inside out, splendidly.

SARAHBETH TAITE / “Pretty Good Living”
Writers: Sarahbeth Taite/Jason Gantt/Scott Stepakoff; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Parker Welling; Label: ST
– It says here that this single is “resonating with Taite’s Suburban Country Lifestyle fan base.” I wasn’t aware that there was a “suburban country lifestyle” demographic, but apparently there is. The lyric is about contented living in a little house with babies and a hubby. So there you have it.

CHRIS YOUNG / “What She Sees In Me”
Writers: Chris Young/Christian Stalnecker/Josh Hoge/Kyle Fishman/Ray Fulcher; Producer: Chris Young; Label: RCA Records Nashville
– His country baritone grabs you from the first note. The ultra-romantic ballad swoons with emotion. Love this. Love him.

DAVID MALLOY / “A Brand New Day”
Writer: David Malloy; Producers: Paul Lancaster Childers/David Malloy; Label: Creative People Music LLC
– Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Malloy has been producing hits for others for decades. His solo album Mirror drops on April 26. It contains this jaunty pop bopper that is as sweet as soda pop. Be sure and check out its candy-colored,  surrealistic video costarring his black German shepherd doggie, DJ.

T.G. SHEPPARD & KELLY LANG / “You’re Still The One”
Writers: Robert John “Mutt” Lange/Shania Twain; Producers: T.G. Sheppard/Kelly Lang; Label: Leopard Entertainment
– These vets turn the monumental 1998 Shania Twain ballad into a romantic duet. Kelly takes the soaring lead with T.G. shadowing her in harmony.

CHARLEY CROCKETT / “Hard Luck & Circumstances”
Writer: Charley Crockett; Producers: Charley Crockett/Billy Horton; Label: Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers
– The prolific Mr. Crockett will issue another new album next month. In advance of it is this lonesome lament about the weary life of a wanderer. He’s been dubbed “one of the modern kings of country traditionalism,” and this certainly sounds apt.

SARA EVANS / “Pride”
Writers: Sara Evans/Sean McConnell/Madi Diaz; Producers: Jeff Trott/Sara Evans; Label: Melody Place/Born To Fly
– He mistreats her, but can’t understand why she’s leaving. Evans delivers the ballad with tension and tear stains. Well worth your spins.

CATIE OFFERMAN / “Barely A Two Lane Road”
Writers: Catie Offerman/Rodney Clawson/Ryan Beaver; Producer: Dan Huff; Label: MCA Nashville
– Sweet heartache colors this nostalgic recollection of first love. Fiddles saw and mandolins ripple to drive the no-regrets ballad forward.

DILLON JAMES / “My Shadow”
Writers: Dillon James/Marty James/Matthew Joseph Geroux/Frank Romano; Producer: Paul Sikes; Label: UMG/Buena Vista Records/19
– He’s living an anguished, lonely, rolling-stone life, but the ballad hopes for redemption. Even with four writers on board, this needs some help in the melody department.

Robert K Oermann
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