DISClaimer Single Reviews: Jelly Roll Gives ‘Stunning Vocal Performance’

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Jelly Roll. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson

With the fresh fall season comes a fresh crop of country newcomers to the DISClaimer column.

Making their debuts today are John Morgan, Pitney Meyer, Chappell Roan, Colt Graves, Shelley Rena and this week’s DISCovery Award winner Maoli.

Among the column regulars, Chris Janson has the song and Karley Scott Collins has the vocal performance. But the Disc of the Day belongs to Jelly Roll. This makes two wins in a two for the big guy.

VINCENT MASON / “Speak Of The Devil”
Writers: Aaron Armstrong/Sutton Smith/Vincent Mason; Producer: Brett Truitt; Label: MCA Nashville/Music Soup/Interscope Records
– The hussy in the red dress turns out to be a one-night stand instead of true love, which breaks the country boy’s heart. The jaunty, bouncy track backs a bopping vocal performance that’s earnest and charming.

SAM HUNT / “Liberty”
Writers: Chris LaCorte/Josh Osborne/Sam Hunt/Shane McAnally/Zach Crowell; Producers: Charlie Handsome, Chris LaCorte, Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell; Label: MCA Nashville
– Tuneless babbling set to a dull, plodding, somnambulant beat.

KAYLEY GREEN / “Catching Up”
Writers: Emma-Lee/Karen Kosowski/Kayley Green; Producer: Ross Copperman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– The heartbreaker gets his comeuppance when she walks out. It’s his turn to be miserable, now. Sung with conviction over a supportive mid tempo track.

PITNEY MEYER / “Trail Of Tears”
Writers: John Meyer/Mo Pitney; Producers: Daniel Kohavi, Eric Quinlan, John Meyer, Mo Pitney; Label: Curb Records
– Mo Pitney and John Meyer got together at jam sessions during bluegrass conventions. This song came about when both artists discovered they were simultaneously having the same thoughts although miles apart. It is a bluegrass toe-tapper propelled by banjo licks and fiddle flourishes. The lyric is about ‘the thanksgiving table of redemption’ and the quest for reconciliation between “the pioneers” and the indigenous people they wronged.

JELLY ROLL / “Liar”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ben Johnson/Jason DeFord/Taylor Phillips; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: BBR Music Group
– This man is going from strength to strength. This pulse-quickening country-rocker is brilliantly produced with pounding rhythm, stuttering guitar and inspirational choir. But the star attraction here is a stunning vocal performance, full of fire, fury and passion. He has had six No. 1 records in succession, and I see no reason whatsoever that this shouldn’t be number seven.

COLT GRAVES / “Burning House”
Writers: Colt Graves/Dan Pellarin/Jake Parshall/Nathan Keeterle; Producer: Jake Parshall; Label: Mosley Music LLC
– This is rather scary and unsettling. It seems to be about heading for death because of the grip of alcohol. Electric guitars stir a boiling pot of sound while he hollers urgently.

SHELLEY RENA & DOLLY PARTON / “Not Bad”
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producers: Dolly Parton, Richie Owens; Label: Owepar Music
– This rousing country rocker spotlights Parton’s alto-voiced cousin with the superstar adding her customary charismatic vocal harmony. The screaming-electronic production is somewhat cluttered sounding, but there’s admirable energy here. The track is drawn from the new collection Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA.

MAOLI & BRETT YOUNG / “Broke Heart Break”
Writers: Brett Young/Jesse Frasure; Producers: Dann Huff, David Lyndon Huff, Jesse Frasure; Label: Maoli Music
– Delightful listening. Maoli is a Hawaiian country singer who has acquired a following on the West Coast and the Pacific Rim by covering Young’s songs. Young reached out to him, traveled to Maui and presto a collaboration was born. Maoli’s heartfelt singing rides atop a bubbling, cheerful track that tickles the ears. Press “repeat” on this one.

CHAPPELL ROAN / “The Giver (She Gets The Job Done)”
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Label: Island Records
– Current pop-music “it girl” Roan introduced this previously unreleased number on Saturday Night Live last weekend. Surprise: It’s a county tune, punctuated by scampering fiddle notes and a gal-power chorus. Double surprise: It’s a rollicking, catchy, lesbian anthem.

CHRIS JANSON / “Cheap”
Writers: Brian White/Chris Janson/Keesy Timmer/Mitch Oglesby/Will Nance; Producers: Chris Janson, Michael Wayne Wilkes, Mitch Oglesby; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– ‘When you’re down to your last heart beat/Time makes money look cheap.’ A breezy, shuffling track backs a wonderfully written lyric about making more of your life than just amassing cash. Janson’s delivery is spot on. This absolutely deserves to be a hit.

JOHN MORGAN & JASON ALDEAN / “Friends Like That”
Writers: Brent Anderson/John Morgan/Lydia Vaughan/Will Bundy; Producers: Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy; Label: Broken Bow Records
– Upbeat and jaunty. She’s left him, but he doesn’t care because he has his buddies around him, whiskey to drink and a warm fireplace. This is Morgan’s record all the way. Aldean adds a little shadowy vocal coloring.

KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS / “Religion And Politics”
Writers: Alex Kline/Joybeth Taylor/Karley Scott Collins; Producers: Karley Scott Collins, Nathan Chapman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Cool song, in the same vein as Sammy Kershaw’s 1997 hit “Politics Religion and Her.” Super, super cool vocalist, with an ear-grabbing, rich, husky alto and a catch in her throat that makes you hang on every line. I remain a huge fan of this lady.

Robert K Oermann
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