DISClaimer Single Reviews: Keb’ Mo’ & Taj Mahal Celebrate Friendship & Community

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Keb’ Mo’ & Taj Mahal. Photo: David McClister

Country music gets folkie this week in DISClaimer.

Crowe Boys, Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson, Dylan Gossett and Hailey Whitters lead an acoustic-music parade that also includes our Disc of the Day winners Keb’ Mo’ & Taj Mahal (with an assist from Ruby Amanfu).

For those of you wishing for mainstream country sounds, look no further than the new releases by Midland, Dierks Bentley and Sacha.

Kaitlin Butts stages her debut in the column via her duet with Tyler Braden. She shares a DISCovery Award with fellow newcomer Alexandra Kay.

HAILEY WHITTERS & CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN / “I Don’t Want You”
Writers: Gordie Sampson/Hailey Whitters/Jon Nite; Producer: Jake Gear; Label: Pigasus Records/Big Loud Records
– They are both fine country singers, but neither one sings harmony. As usual, she is a heart-piercing stylist, and this is her show all the way. The dobro-dominated track is simply lovely. Whitters will celebrate the release of her new Corn Queen album at Grimey’s on June 6.

DIERKS BENTLEY / “Standing in the Sun”
Writer: Kyle Sturrock; Producers: Jon Randall, Mary Hilliard Harrington, Ross Copperman; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Stirring, radiant and deeply involving. The well-written song draws on vivid weather imagery to portray love and devotion, and Bentley sings it with a full heart.

TAMI NELSON, ASHLEY McBRYDE & SHELLY FAIRCHILD / “Borrow My Boots”
Writers: Ashley McBryde/Shelly Fairchild/Tami Neilson; Producer: Steven Schram; Label: Outside Music
– This rousing, female-empowerment number is a trio-harmony blast. Guitar prodigy Grace Bowers contributes a blistering solo that amps up the already ample energy.

CLAY WALKER / “Cowboys in Heaven”
Writers: Clay Walker/Jaron Boyer/John Stephens/Matt Gorman; Producers: Jaron Boyer, Tony Brown; Label: Maven Records
– A simple sentiment, simply performed.

TYLER BRADEN & KAITLIN BUTTS / “Might Be Dangerous”
Writers: Heath Warren/Kyle Sturrock/Micah Carpenter/Zach Kale; Producer: Sam Martinez; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– There aren’t many singers who can stand toe to toe with the superb Braden. Butts is up to the challenge, with open-throated harmonizing and expressive solo turns. This duet performance is loaded with fire and passion. By all means, play this.

KEB’ MO’ & TAJ MAHAL & RUBY AMANFU / “Room on the Porch”
Writers: Ahmen Mahal/Henry St Claire Fredericks, Jr./Kevin R. Moore/Ruby Amanfu; Producers: Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal; Label: Concord Records
– This is the title tune of the second TajMo collaborative album. The gifted Nashville diva Ruby Amanfu is their guest vocalist on the rolling, swaying, relaxing, welcoming, sweet-sounding, acoustic outing that celebrates friendship and community. This is absolutely essential listening. The Grammy winning blues masters are booked to appear on the Opry tomorrow (May 23), which is also their album-release day. I bet they’ll bring the house down.

GRAHAM BARHAM / “WTH Just Happened?”
Writers: Beau Bailey/Cole Miracle/Gabe Foust/Graham Barham/Sam Bergeson; Producers: Gabe Foust, Sam Bergeson; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– The broken-hearted ballad verses abruptly contrast with the loud, rollicking, goofball choruses. Weird but charming.

RHIANNON GIDDENS & JUSTIN ROBINSON / “Going to Raleigh”
Writers: none listed; Producers: Joseph “joebass” DeJarnette, Rhiannon Giddens; Label: Nonesuch
– Giddens returns to her string-band roots with the new collection, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, a reunion with Robinson, her former Carolina Chocolate Drops partner. The album features him fiddling and her banjo frailing on a number of old-time tunes, including this mesmerizing 1939 instrumental oldie. Rootsy and righteous.

CROWE BOYS / “Brother Song”
Writer: Ocie Crowe; Producer: Andrew Campanelli; Label: MCA
– Brothers Ocie and Wes Crowe croon gently on this poetic, acoustic, vulnerable meditation. It’s an advance track from their album Made to Wander, which drops next month. Promising.

MIDLAND / “Glass Half Empty”
Writers: Cameron Duddy/Jeff Hyde/Jess Carson/Ryan Tyndell; Producer: Trent Willmon; Label: Big Machine Records
– This is a rhythm-happy, barroom honky tonker that’s Country with a capital “C.” Big fun in every groove.

SACHA / “Nice Girl”
Writers: Emma-Lee/Karen Kosowski/Sacha Visagie/Victoria Banks; Producer: Paul Sikes; Label: Sony Music Canada
– ‘If you wanna pave a road, gotta get down in the dirt/If you wanna make your mark, gotta hit ‘em where it hurts.’ Also: Kiss that “nice girl” image goodbye. This lively bopper scores points on all fronts — saucy vocal, cool production, dandy lyrics. Sacha is a solid country star in Canada, and I see no reason why she shouldn’t be one in the U.S. as well.

ALEXANDRA KAY / “The Last”
Writers: Alexandra Kay/Andrew DeRoberts/Jon Green; Producer: Andrew DeRoberts; Label: BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville
– Lovely, lovely work. Her soprano tickles the ears, and the songwriting is topnotch. He might not be her first lover, but she sure as heck wants him to be her last. The sweetly rolling production wafts the whole thing along. A delightful listening experience.

DYLAN GOSSETT / “American Trail”
Writers: Colton Forrest Hardy/Dylan Gossett; Producer: Dylan Gossett; Label: Big Loud Texas/Mercury Records
– Kinda artsy. Acoustic-based, troubadour music with a folkie tinge.

Robert K Oermann
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