DISClaimer Single Reviews: Morgan Wallen Delivers ‘Lovelorn Lament’

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Just when you thought it was safe to listen to country radio again, here comes some more bro country.

To varying degrees, that’s what Bailey Zimmerman, Timothy Wayne and Thomas Rhett are offering, as was last month’s Luke Bryan.

On the brighter side, we have forward-looking country singles this week by Caylee Hammack, Kelsea Ballerini & Noah Kahan, Fancy Hagood and Tanner Adell.  Not to mention Maren Morris’s pop outing with Julia Michaels. All of them were in contention for Disc of the Day.

But the Disc of the Day prize goes to Morgan Wallen, who is coming off what is shaping up to be the biggest single of the year, “I Had Some Help,” his No. 1 duet with Post Malone. His fine “Lies, Lies, Lies” performance will continue his unbroken string of authentic hits.

Our DISCovery Award winner is Daniel Jeffers, a North Carolinian with all his country bona fides in place.

MORGAN WALLEN / “Lies, Lies, Lies”
Writers: Chris Tompkins/Daniel Ross/Jessie Jo Dillon/Josh Miller; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records/Mercury Records/Republic Records
– If he tells himself, or her, that he is over the heartbreak, he is lying. The lovelorn lament is beautifully produced, and Wallen’s delivery, as usual, is hillbilly perfection. Essential listening, especially the live version recorded at Abby Road studios.

TANNER ADELL / “Cowboy Break My Heart”
Writers: Akil “worldwidefresh” King/Anthony Germaine White/Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor/Tanner Adell/Will Weatherly; Producers: Tanner Adell, Di Genius,Will Weatherly, Akil “worldwidefresh” King; Label: LVRN Records
– Bopping and frisky with a snappy electronic rhythm track underscoring her solid vocal. Adell is having a dandy year. She was chosen for CMT’s 2024 Next Women of Country tour, appeared on the Beyoncé album, has a track on the blockbuster Twisters soundtrack, signed a new record deal, appeared on Macy’s July 4th TV special and became the first female country act to perform on the BET Awards, where she introduced this audio delight on June 30.

KENNY CHESNEY / “Just To Say We Did”
Writers: Brett James/David Lee Murphy/Kenny Chesney/Matt Dragstrem; Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney; Label: Blue Chair Records/Warner Music Nashville
– Kids do crazy stuff. “No rhyme or reason why/It just seemed like the thing to do at the time.” The rollicking production is like an exciting surf-board ride, and Chesney’s vocal has immense verve. Made for summer.

FANCY HAGOOD / “Through”
Writers: Caitlyn Smith/Fancy Hagood; Producer: Jarrad K; Label: FH
– What a groove. Love the cool, crunchy bop tempo. The catchy, uplifting song is about getting through heartache and heading for a better place. “This is for the lost and the broken hearted,” he sings while tapping his toes. “One day you’ll just wake up laughing” as if the pain had never happened.

MAREN MORRIS & JULIA MICHAELS / “Cut!”
Writers: Caroline Ailin/Joel Little/Julia Michaels/Maren Morris; Producer: Joel Little; Label: Columbia Records
– She’s a flawless model of having it all together while out and about. Behind closed doors, however, she’s weeping and screaming. Wonderfully produced pop with loads of melodic hooks. So nice I played it twice. Programmer alert: There is a rather loud “f-bomb” in the lyric.

MORGAN WADE / “Moth To A Flame”
Writer: Morgan Wade; Producer: Clint Wells; Label: Ladylike Records/RCA Nashville
–  It’s a guitar ballad about lasting love that has a sensual vocal intimacy underscored by a sighing steel and piano chords. Riveting and hypnotic.

THOMAS RHETT / “Feelin’ Country”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Chase McGill/Chris LaCorte/Parker Welling/Thomas Rhett; Producers: Dann Huff, Julian Bunetta; Label: Atlantic Records
– Loads of rockin’ fun. He’s along for the ride as she beckons him to join her in a hick-time good time. Happy sounding, for sure. Drawn from the soundtrack of Twisters, which is packed with a country who’s who. Both the film and the soundtrack drop on July 19.

CAYLEE HAMMACK / “The Hill”
Writers: Caylee Hammack/Logan Wall/Tenille Townes; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Capitol Nashville
– A minor-key fiddle saws enthusiastically and a backbeat thumps righteously beneath her spectacular vocal delivery. Passion in every note. I remain an enormous fan. This lady is the for-real deal.

BAILEY ZIMMERMAN / “New To Country”
Writers: Austin Shawn/Bailey Zimmerman/Heath Warren/Jacob Hackworth/Tim Galloway; Producer: Austin Shawn; Label: Warner Music Nashville/Elektra
– This current country ‘it’ guy says he is still the same good ol’ boy as always. Truck, mud, whiskey and rowdy friends are all cited in this tuneless rock outing.

DANIEL JEFFERS / “Roll One With Willie”
Writers: Ben Chase/Chris Buck/Daniel Jeffers/Jake Parshall/Zach John King; Producer: none listed; Label: DJ
– This wailin’ North Carolina honky tonker knows that if he could just toke up with Willie, life’s problems and issues would all make sense somehow. The lyric name checks Waylon, Jones and Merle as it yearns for a time when “country was true to itself.”

KELSEA BALLERINI & NOAH KAHAN / “Cowboys Cry Too”
Writers: Alysa Vanderheym/Kelsea Ballerini/Noah Kahan; Producer: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym; Label: Black River Entertainment
– The delicate production is exquisite, and these two vocalists blend like they’ve been singing together all their lives. The swirly ballad is folkie, poppy and country simultaneously. Great listening.

TIMOTHY WAYNE / “God Made A Country Boy”
Writers: Brad Warren/Brett Warren/Lance Miller; Producer: Tim McGraw, Byron Gallimore; Label: UMG Nashville
– Well sung. But the song comes across as a series of routine, paint-by-numbers country-music cliches. Wayne is Tim McGraw’s nephew.

Robert K Oermann
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