DISClaimer Single Reviews: Megan Moroney Writes With ‘Creativity & Wit’
Megan Moroney. Photo: CeCe Dawson.
DISClaimer is running all the country-music bases this week—hip-hop, disco, bluegrass, rock, honky-tonk, alt-pop—you name it.
The most “country” thing in the line-up is, of course, the Randy Travis entry. But it’s rocker Dylan Taylor who has the DISCovery Award winner. The record to watch is Avery Anna’s “Blonde,” which drops tomorrow. Making it a female grand slam is Megan Moroney who wins Disc of the Day with the advance track from her upcoming sophomore album.
Having said all that, the single in this stack that is almost certainly going to be the smash hit is the Kane Brown collaboration with Marshmello.
CARSON PETERS / “Long Twin Silver Line”
Writer: Bob Seger; Producer: Randall Deaton; Label: Lonesome Day
– I have always thought that Bob Seger’s songs were somehow “country,” but I confess I never considered how cool one could sound as bluegrass track. Here’s the evidence, complete with Dobro, mandolin, fiddle, banjo and guitar. More, please.
RUSSELL DICKERSON / “Good Day To Have A Great Day”
Writers: Eren Cannata/Jesse Frasure/Justin Tranter/Russell Dickerson; Producers: Russell Dickerson/Josh Kerr; Label: Triple Tigers
– This one is a big ol’ smile. Designed to start your morning with a bopping good attitude, optimism, positivity and love. Euphoria on the hoof.
LAUREN WATKINS / “Mama, I Made It”
Writers: Lauren Hungate/Lauren Watkins/Rocky Block; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– The jaunty track ripples along, but it’s the lyric that captures your attention. Her relationship has gone south. It’s a mess, and “Mama, I made it.” Wonderfully catchy and cool. So nice I played it twice.
RANDY TRAVIS / “Where That Came From”
Writers: John Scott Sherrill/Scotty Emerick; Producers: Jerry Douglas/Kyle Lehning; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Country music’s first AI-generated single sounds like a miracle. Randy’s voice may be stroke-stilled, but here it is very much present and accounted for, thanks to technology. Heart-touching listening.
KEITH URBAN & LAINEY WILSON / “Go Home W U”
Writers: Breland/Keith Urban/Sam Sumser/Sean Small; Producers: Keith Urban/Sam Sumser/Sean Small; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– It’s closing time at the bar, and he’s too loaded to drive home. So maybe she should drive him to her place. The chorus is arranged with gang vocals like it is meant to be a rowdy roadhouse sing-along.
DYLAN TAYLOR / “Damn My Heart”
Writer: Dylan Taylor; Producer: RS Field; Label: Vertical Records
– It’s a spitfire country rocker with forward-motion propulsion and a saucy female vocal. A total summer jam. Highly promising. Taylor is a SESAC writer recently signed by Bluewater Music.
MEGAN MORONEY / “Indifferent”
Writers: Ben Williams/Mackenzie Carpenter/Megan Moroney/Micah Carpenter; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Columbia Nashville/Columbia Records
– The creativity and wit in this woman’s songwriting always delight me. This female-empowerment romp has oomphy stadium chords, but it’s the feisty attitude that keeps you hanging on every line. Love her. Love this.
MARSHMELLO & KANE BROWN / “Miles On It”
Writers: Castle/Connor McDonough/Earwulf/Jake Torrey/Kane Brown/Marshmello/Nick Gale/Riley McDonough; Producers: Marshmello/Digital Farm Animals/Earwulf/Connor McDonough; Label: RCA Records Label Nashville
– Brown’s ready to roll, with a Chevy truck bed eager to welcome him and his gal. He wants to, “Put some miles on it/If you know what I mean.” Disco mix master Marshmello puts some rhythmic thump on the track to help make it a road-worthy, wicked-good, summertime banger.
MONTE WARDEN & THE DANGEROUS FEW / “Waxahachie Hoochie Coo”
Writers: Brandi Warden/Montgomery Warden; Producers:Erik Telford/Mas Palermo/Tim Palmer; Label: Break A Leg Records
– It’s a groovy, good-time, R&B track with horns, topped by a country vocal. Warden is a two-time Texas Music Hall of Famer, once as a member of The Wagoneers and once as a solo artist. He has a longtime residency in the honky-tonks of Austin and periodically surfaces as a songwriter for George Strait, Patty Loveless, George Jones, Travis Tritt, Josh Turner and more.
GEORGIA WEBSTER & NIGHTLY / “This Ain’t A Breakup”
Writers: Georgia Webster/Conner Moye/Spencer Rabin; Producer: King Henry; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– “If this ain’t a breakup, then why am I broken?” they both ask. Beats burble around their echoey voices in a highly electronic track. Hooky and quite engaging. Nightly is a Nashville alt-pop band fronted by singer Jonny Capeci.
RVSHVD / “Dear Mama”
Writers: Bruce Hawes/Charles B. Simmons/Joe Sample/Joseph B. Jefferson/Terence Thomas/Tony D Pizarro/Tupac Amaru Shakur; Producer: Dream Addix; Label: Sumerian Records
– This country rapper’s name is pronounced Ra-Shad. His revival of the million-selling 1995 Tupac Shakur hip-hop hit is right on time for Mother’s Day.
AVERY ANNA / “Blonde”
Writers: Avery Anna/David Fanning/Andy Sheridan/Ben Williams; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– So excellent! She takes the cliches of being a blonde and turns them on their heads in this drawling, winking, snarky response to a condescending male. Anna’s vocal delivery is priceless. Absolutely play this.
