DISClaimer Single Reviews: Riley Green Is ‘Intensely Moving’

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Riley Green. Photo: Jeremy Cowart

We’re ending 2024 on a country-music high note.

Eight of them, actually, as we celebrate the hardcore country sounds of Zach Top, Nu-Blu, Kashus Culpepper, Riley Green, The War & Treaty, The Boykinz, Redferrin and Alex Miller. The pop-country outings in this week’s column decidedly take a backseat to these fine folks.

Heart-touching ballads are the order of the day with the moving tracks by Green, Nu-Blu and Hueston. In fact, Riley’s Green’s powerful “Jesus Saves” is the Disc of the Day.

The DISCovery Award goes to the sister act The Boykinz. I was charmed. You will be, too.

ALEX MILLER / “She Makes Dirt Look Good”
Writers: Dusty Drake/Kerry Kurt Phillips/Phil O’Donnell; Producer: Jerry Salley; Label: Billy Jam Records
– Country as grits, plus lyrics that put a smile on your face. Hillbilly lovable.

THE WAR AND TREATY / “Carried Away”
Writers: Michael Trotter Jr./Tanya Trotter; Producers: Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter; Label: UMG Nashville
– Honky-tonk nirvana. This powerhouse vocal duo takes on a country love ballad, demonstrating a mastery of the genre that hasn’t been heard since the classic days of Ray Charles. Joyously sexy.

DYLAN SCOTT / “Country Till I Die”
Writers: Benjamin Joel Johnson/Charlie Handsome/John Byron/Taylor Phillips; Producer: Joe Fox; Label: Curb Records
– The lyric proclaims his country bona fides. The track is pounding hard rock. Whatever…

HUESTON / “Pour Me Another”
Writer: Brandon Sammons; Producer: BSAMZ; Label: Silver Wings Records
– Cory Hueston comes to us from the world of alt-rock. On this stark, stripped down ballad, he dips deeply into authentic country, complete with echoey twang guitar and a vocal performance of grit and anguish. Ear catching, to say the least. Send more.

RILEY GREEN / “Jesus Saves”
Writer: Riley Green; Producers: Dann Huff, Jimmy Harnen, Scott Borchetta; Label: Nashville Harbor
– Intensely moving. Green tells the tale of a homeless, jobless veteran on the street and the circumstances that brought him to a place of destitution. A simple guitar accompaniment and some soft strings frame the poetry. Brilliantly done.

KASHUS CULPEPPER / “Pour Me Out”
Writers: Ben Burgess/Diego Urias/Kashus Culpepper; Producer: Brian Elmquist; Label: Big Loud/Mercury Records
– In this barroom ballad, Kashus compares himself to a drink that she holds in her hand. He begs her to either drink him or pour him out. A barrelhouse piano, a sighing organ and a sympathetic steel guitar echo every soulfully sung note. A solid winner.

NEIL PERRY / “Easy Love”
Writer: Neil Perry; Producers: Nathan Chapman, Scott Thomas Robinson; Label: NP
– First known as one-third of The Band Perry, this guy’s second solo single that has an enchanting production of ghostly, echoey guitars and electronic washes. This underscores a gentle, pop vocal that goes down smooth and easy. Exquisitely listenable.

THE BOYKINZ / “Fell In Love With A Cowboy”
Writers: Alona Lebray Boykin/Anale Lasha Boykin/Kylan Lantress Boykin/Nathan Chapman/Nytere Lona Boykin; Producer: Nathan Chapman; Label: QCLG
– The sister quartet turned heads opening for Shania Twain. This wildly catchy bopper is a sensational disc debut. An ultra-cute video, also their first, features them dancing in sync, flirting with cowpokes and trading lead vocals with verve. Spectacularly promising and essential viewing.

NU BLU, SHARON WHITE & RICKY SKAGGS / “The Will”
Writers: Dennis Morgan/Rockie Lynne; Producer: Nu Blue; Label: Turnberry Records
– The Nu-Blu band is celebrating its 20th anniversary in bluegrass this year. Lead singer Carolyn Routh shares a microphone for a flawless trio harmony performance with these two Grand Ole Opry stars on a ballad that describes a father’s last wishes. By the time they get to, “see you on the other side,” you’ll have a lump in your throat. The group’s Where You’ve Been album that contains this performance also features guests Jim Peterik (Survivor, The Ides of March) and Jody McBrayer (Avalon).

REDFERRIN / “Ruin My Night”
Writers: Blake Redferrin/Jackson Foote/Jake Saghi; Producers: Jake Saghi, Redferrin; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– This is a rolling bopper with a dandy backbeat and an earnest, country-boy delivery. It’s come-on to a gal who’s as bad for him as whiskey is. It rides like a road song, for sure.

JERRY DOUGLAS / “The Fifth Season”
Writers: Christian Sedelmyer/Jay Kimbro/Jerry Douglas/Mike Seal; Producer: Jerry Douglas; Label: Many Hats Distribution
– The dobro master is gearing up for a massive tour with Alison Krauss & Union Station next year. In the meantime, his new solo album The Set is claiming attention and praise. Its single is a dazzling, multi-textured instrumental that showcases his superb band in all its fleet-fingered glory. Close your eyes and take a trip.

ZACH TOP / “Cold Beer & Country Music”
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Label: Leo33
– What a year this fellow has had—a CMA award nomination, a New Faces CRS slot and universal applause for his back-to-country sound. The title tune of his album says it all. He bends notes in honky-tonk splendor, picks hot licks and describes a solo night in a beer barroom. Slap him on the back and yell, “Yee-haw!” to heaven. Thank God for this man’s music.

Robert K Oermann
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