DISClaimer Single Reviews: Trisha Yearwood Delivers A ‘Deliciously Bluesy Rocker’

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Trisha Yearwood

It might be rainy in Music City these days, but the country stars are bringing summer sunshine in this edition of DISClaimer.

Bailey Zimmerman & Luke Combs, Dale Ann Bradley, Maddie & Tae, Parker McCollum and Cole Swindell lead an upbeat parade of shiny new sounds for the season.

Setting the pace is superstar Trisha Yearwood, who nails down a Disc of the Day prize.

This week’s DISCovery Award winner is Zandi Holup.

SOMETHING OUT WEST / “Bipolar Heart”
Writers: Brendan Cooney/Drew Arthur/TJ Courtney; Producer: Julian Raymond; Label: Big Machine Records
– Probably the first country song to use the term “bipolar” as its chorus hook. Otherwise, it’s a fairly straightforward gathering of routine heartbreak couplets. The act is a duo composed of Chet Hanks and Drew Arthur. Hanks, who sings lead, is the son of Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson.

BAILEY ZIMMERMAN & LUKE COMBS / “Backup Plan”
Writers: Jimi Bell/Jon Sherwood/Tucker Beathard; Producer: Austin Shawn; Label: Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville
– This one’s a righteous outlaw stomper that advises you believe in yourself and your ambitions. Both men sing with chesty authority. If life knocks you down, “Gettin’ back up is the only backup plan you need.”

KAREN WALDRUP / “Blue Cowboy Boots”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: KW
– It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from this former contender on The Voice. This outing is a frothing country rocker with a band kicking butt behind her frisky vocal. The lyric is about getting over him by having a big night on the town in her feel-good footwear.

COLE SWINDELL / “We Can Always Move On”
Writers: Kyle Fishman/Michael Tyler/Thomas Archer; Producers: Jimmy Robbins, Kyle Fishman; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– A gently rhythmic track gives this a breezy vibe. Swindell’s vocal sounds kinda processed as he offers an aching invitation to have one last night together before breaking up for good. Very, very listenable.

GILLIAN WELCH & DAVID RAWLINGS / “What We Had”
Writers: David Rawlings/Gillian Welch; Producer: David Rawlings; Label: Acony Records
– The esteemed Nashville duo appeared on Stephen Colbert’s show on Tuesday night performing music from Woodland, which won a Best Folk Album Grammy in February. This wistful track augments the team’s guitar-and-voice sonic palate with a lovely wash of echoey strings. Dreamy. Sublime.

THOMAS RHETT & TUCKER WETMORE / “Small Town Girls”
Writers: Andrew Haas/Ian Franzino/John Byron/Josh Kerr/John Ryan/Julian Bunetta/Rocky Block/Thomas Rhett; Producers: Dann Huff, Josh Kerr, Julian Bunetta; Label: The Valory Music Co.
– Sounds like summer to me. The steady, thumpy groove is punctuated by echo-twang effects and country-rap passages. The title phrase is repeated and repeated and repeated.

PHIL VASSAR / “All American Summer”
Writers: Phil Vassar/Tony Mullins; Producer: Dean Sams; Label: American Soul
– Vassar is singing in a striking, throaty lower register on this galloping rocker. Rather than his trademark piano playing, the track is dominated by electric guitar.

MADDIE & TAE / “Chasing Babies & Raising Dreams”
Writers: Anna Vaus/Josh Kerr/Maddie Font/Taylor Kerr; Producer: Josh Kerr; Label: Mercury Nashville
– This vibrant, vivacious team released Love & Light as its new album last week. Now there’s a sweet CMT music video for this enchanting ditty about family love. Swirly, shiny and sunny.

SAPPHYRE BLU / “Burn Me”
Writer: Arielle “Sapphyre Blu” White; Producer: James “Xzaviar” Ashcroft; Label: HRDRV
– Okay I get it: You have blue hair and blue flowers and your name is Sapphyre Blu. Raised in Nashville, this L.A. artist gives this slow bluesy number some vocal fire with soprano soaring and dramatic alto dips. She cites country stars as her inspirations, but this leans much more toward R&B.

PARKER McCOLLUM / “Big Sky”
Writers: Charlie Magnone/Jarrod Morris/Parker McCollum; Producers: Eric Masse, Frank Liddell; Label: MCA Nashville
– The rocking “What Kinda Man” remains the single, but this new track from his forthcoming album has a lot to recommend it. His vocal performance is first-rate on the rolling melody and the traveling track moves right along. He loves the wide open spaces but is a lonely, wandering man.

ZANDI HOLUP / “Mountain Man”
Writers: Daniel Leathersitch/Zandi Holup; Producers: Ryan Hadlock, Zandi Holup; Label: Big Loud Records
– She has an attractive rasp in her drawling delivery. In the lyric of this languid, folk-y song, she’s smitten with an outdoorsy guy who won’t stick around long. Interesting sound. I’m intrigued. Send more.

TRISHA YEARWOOD / “The Wall or the Way Over”
Writers: Emma-Lee/Maia Sharp/Trisha Yearwood; Producers: Chad Carlson, Trisha Yearwood; Label: Virgin Music Group/Gwendolyn Records
– Produced with crystal clarity and dynamic tension, this exudes energy. As usual, this goddess has few peers as a supreme vocalist. The deliciously bluesy rocker is drawn from Yearwood’s upcoming The Mirror, her first self-penned collection. I love this. Can’t wait to hear the rest.

DALE ANN BRADLEY / “Uncle Jake”
Writer: Dale Ann Bradley; Producer: none listed; Label: Pinecastle Records
– Bradley is a six-time winner as Female Vocalist of the Year of the IBMA. This just-released story song tells the tale of a Kentucky fellow who lives “off the grid” and has  a loving, blessed, simple life as an Appalachian wood carver. The track is an acoustic delight of rippling guitar and mandolin. Beautifully written and performed.

Robert K Oermann
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