DISClaimer Single Reviews: Dierks Bentley & Stephen Wilson Jr. Team Up For Disc Of The Day

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Dierks Bentley & Stephen Wilson Jr. Photo: Houston Cofield

There’s some definite stretching of country music’s boundaries today in DISClaimer.

Proven country winner Don Louis is pushing in an R&B direction. Madeline Edwards & DJ Logan Garrett are taking country music onto the EDM dancefloor. Willie Jones continues to agitate for some kind of hip-hop fusion sound. Americana favorite Valerie June takes a simple country ditty and dresses it up in her kookie, delightful sonic weirdness.

Despite competition from Blake Shelton, Warren Zeiders, Caylee Hammack and Mitchell Tenpenny, Dierks Bentley & Stephen Wilson Jr. emerge holding aloft the Disc of the Day prize thanks to their “Cold Beer Can.”

Stephen Wilson Jr. had a big week. He also had credits in this stack with his oldie revival of “Stand By Me” and his songwriting collaborations on the Caylee and Dierks tracks. Is it any wonder that he claims a DISCovery Award?

STEPHEN WILSON JR. / “Stand By Me”
Writers: Ben E. King/Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller; Producers: Adam Blank, Ben West; Label: Big Loud Records
– This beloved oldie was immortalized by Ben E. King in 1961 and has been performed by many others since. This dark-voiced, dramatic, bluesy fan-favorite performer offers a soulful, gripping, ear catching revival that compels you to hear it in a brand-new way. Recorded live with just plucked acoustic-guitar accompaniment, the performance shows you why this guy has 20 million social views and a sold-out string of tour dates this year.

KASSI ASHTON & PARKER McCOLLUM / “Sounds Like Something I’d Say”
Writers: Barry Dean/Jon Randall/Kassi Ashton; Producers: Kassi Ashton, Luke Laird; Label: MCA Nashville
– This is a drowsy, morning-after ballad of fuzzy memories and a dreamy hook-up. Ashton’s bruised alto brushes up against McCollum’s dusky drawl nicely.

DON LOUIS / “Look What You Made Me Do”
Writers: David Ray Stevens/Don Louis/Kipp Williams; Producer: Kipp Williams; Label: Money Myers Entertainment/EMPIRE
– His cool baritone voice has previously proven itself as an able honky-tonk instrument. On this sultry, mid-tempo, hooky toe tapper, Louis stirs a big helping of R&B into his audio stew. It’s terrifically catchy, although not all that “country” sounding.

WARREN ZEIDERS / “Relapse”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/Justin Ebach/Warren Zeiders; Producer: Mike Elizondo; Label: Warner Records
– Zeiders rocks out on this summertime jam. The “relapse” he’s talking about isn’t about substance abuse. It’s about re-living a faded romance and wanting it back. As always, he brings earnest passion to the performance.

CROWE BOYS / “Bootstraps”
Writer: Ocie Crowe; Producer: Andrew Campanelli; Label: UMG Nashville
– These New Orleans brothers have an acoustic-based, strummy, folkie style that is utterly captivating. Snappy percussion slaps around a rousing, tuneful, sing-along track. The duo (Wes and Ocie Crowe) is graduating from indie, grassroots success with “Where Did I Go Wrong” to this major-label leap of faith.

BLAKE SHELTON / “Let Him In Anyway”
Writers: Carson Wallace/Kyle Clark/Michael Hardy/Zach Abend; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Label: Wheelhouse Records
– Still one of our finest country singers, Shelton brings some strong emotion to this ballad. He mourns the death of his best buddy and begs God to open Heaven’s doors. A tasteful, piano-based production frames his plea perfectly.

CAYLEE HAMMACK / “No I Ain’t”
Writers: Caylee Hammack/Mark Trussell/Stephen Wilson Jr.; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Capitol Nashville
– I’m always eager to hear anything this gifted lady does. She never disappoints. This time out, she’s resisting the invitations of a heartless beau who uses her but doesn’t love her. The lilting track and steady, subtle percussion carry along her intimate, pained delivery. I remain a massive fan.

MITCHELL TENPENNY / “Same Moon”
Writers: Dallas Wilson/Derrick Southerland/Mitchell Tenpenny/Paul DiGiovanni; Producers: Jordan Schmidt, Mitchell Tenpenny; Label: Riser House Entertainment/Columbia Nashville
– Smooth rolling pleasure. The terrific track drops dollops of chiming guitar, thumpy percussion, piano chords and a gorgeous echoey atmosphere into a gently swirling pool of sound. Amidst it all is Tenpenny’s soft, romantic tenor vocal. This is one  enchanting little record.

DYLAN MARLOWE / “Picture Perfect”
Writers: Dallas Davidson/Dylan Marlowe/Joe Fox/Seth Ennis; Producer: Joe Fox; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Dreaming of life together and of becoming successful down the road with a house, kids, land and years of memories. Sweetly sung.

DIERKS BENTLEY & STEPHEN WILSON JR. / “Cold Beer Can”
Writers: Dierks Bentley/Jon Randall/Luke Dick/Stephen Wilson Jr.; Producers: Mary Hilliard Harrington, Jon Randall, Ross Copperman; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Wilson’s bluesy drawl and strong guitar work strongly color this duet performance. It salutes blue-collar friendship, family ties, romantic events, brotherhood and life’s best moments. “Money can’t buy what a cold beer can,” they sing. Amen, bro’s. Sing on.

VALERIE JUNE / “Sweet Things Just for You”
Writer: Valerie June Hockett; Producer: M. Ward; Label: Concord Records
– This wonderfully unclassifiable stylist is jaunty, light-hearted and innocent sounding on this simple country love ditty. Ticklish-sounding acoustic guitar, childlike backing vocals and a double-tracked lead vocal that is not quite in sync add up to a quirky listening experience. There is something kinda joyful about her.

WILLIE JONES / “Silverado”
Writers: Brandon Day/Rufio Hooks/Willie Jones; Producer: Willie Jones; Label: Gravel Road
– Jones debuts on a new label with a good-time hip-hop banger with tiny flecks of actual instruments mixed in with the electronic beats. The minimalist lyric is repeated unceasingly. Beyond the reference to a truck, I fail to hear what is “country” about this.

DJ LOGAN GARRETT & MADELINE EDWARDS / “Take Me Down”
Writers: Kyle Featherstone/Logan Garrett/Madeline Edwards; Producers: Kyle Featherstone, Logan Garrett; Label: Background Energy
– Nashville native DJ Logan Garrett creates what he calls “country house” music. Teaming up ace vocalist Madeline Edwards he has a dance-addict’s dream in this rampaging bundle of beats. She says, “If this isn’t on the top of every hot girl’s Peloton playlist, I will rage.” Garrett was previously noted for his “I Had Some Help” Morgan Wallen remix.

Robert K Oermann
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