DISClaimer Single Reviews: Old Dominion ‘Live & Breathe Hooks’

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Old Dominion. Photo: Dove Shore

It’s the battle of the country groups today in DISClaimer.

Vying for preeminence are the Zac Brown Band, The War and Treaty, Old Dominion and the combination of Home Free with Chapel Hart. It’s anybody’s race. In a toss-up decision, Old Dominion wins the Disc of the Day award.

It’s also a group that takes home the week’s DISCovery Award—the duo of  Thelma & James. 

There’s plenty to enjoy in this review playlist. Dive in and create your own sounds of summer.

ASHLAND CRAFT / “Dive Bar Beauty Queen”
Writer: Ashland Craft; Producers: Ashland Craft, Jess Grommet, Lee Starr; Label: Leo33
– Craft celebrated the release of her album last week at—where else?—The American Legion Hall on Gallatin Pike. Its title tune is a snappy, rowdy country rocker packed with steel and twang guitar. This gal has guts and glory in her voice.

ZAC BROWN BAND / “I Ain’t Worried About It”
Writers: Channing Wilson, Chris Gelbuda, John Driskell Hopkins, Zac Brown; Producer: Zac Brown; Label: Warner Music Nashville/Home Grown Music
– What a groove, a splash-country, mellow, multi-rhythmic wave of audio delight. Vocal harmonies? Check. Merry attitude? Check. Relaxing vibe? Check. Summertime anthem? Double check.

THE KENTUCKY GENTLEMEN / “To the Moon”
Writers: Brandon Campbell/Derek Campbell/Jessica Cayne/Matthew Morrisey; Producers: David Mescon; Label: River House Artists
– The twin-brother duo celebrates the release of its Rhinestone Revolution album tomorrow evening at The Blue Room in Jack White’s complex. The collection contains this slow-jam ballad begging for one last shot at ecstasy. The female voice at the top of the harmony stack in the mix belongs to Brittney Spencer. A delicious change of pace for the party guys. 

BEN FULLER & CARRIE UNDERWOOD / “If It Was Up To Me”
Writers: Ben Fuller/Ben Glover/Jeff Sojka; Producer: Sam Martinez; Label: Essential Records
– Christian/country singer-songwriter Fuller surprised the Opry audience on Tuesday evening when Underwood appeared to duet with him on this breezy, rushing, inspirational outing. The rhythm track chugs and strums in ear tickling fashion while the two singers swap leads and harmony vocals. Loved the line about “blisters on my soul.” An excellent production. You’ll find it on Fuller’s album Walk Through Fire, which drops tomorrow.

AMYTHYST KIAH / “Empire of Love”
Writers: Amythyst Kiah/Sean McConnell; Producer: Butch Walker; Label: Rounder Records
– Kiah espouses her love of Appalachia and spirituality on this pop-rocker. The genre-resistant East Tennessean has it on her eclectic current collection, Still + Bright, recorded in Music City. Her alto voice sounds stronger than ever, and she demonstrated it on Wednesday at the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) when she sang “Bad Case of the Blues” at the event celebrating the 79th birthday of Black female country pioneer Linda Martell.

OLD DOMINION / “Water My Flowers”
Writers: Jerry Flowers/Jordan Reynolds/Matthew Ramsey/Trevor Rosen; Producers: Old Dominion, Shane McAnally; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Ridiculously hooky and a complete audio addiction. But what else is new? This band seems to live and breathe hooks. The restless tempo and haunting melody pull you into the swirl of questing, loneliness and doubt in the lyric. Massively wonderful.

ANA CRISTINA CASH / “Cheap Margaritas”
Writers: Erika Ender/Frank Ray/Jess Cayne/Willie Breeding; Producers: John Carter Cash, Willie Breeding; Label: Avondale Records
– Kinda flirty, kinda sensuous and easy going. This goes down as smoothly at its titular mixed drink on a steamy summer night. Cash is of Cuban descent, so there is a Spanglish version available as well.

THE WAR AND TREATY / “Feels Like Home”
Writers: Michael Trotter Jr./Tanya Trotter; Producers: none listed; Label: World Entertainment
– Utterly captivating. The rollicking folkie track with its rippling banjo and slapped snare quickens your pulse. Their voices are thrilling and urgent as they unspool the love lyric. A dazzling single, putting their awesome vocals in an exciting new production setting. Put this magical sound on your playlist at once. The duo performs at CMA Fest tomorrow at Riverfront. Standing ovations predicted.

SCOOT TEASLEY / “Whiskey Burns”
Writers: Jon Stark/Scoot Teasley/Valerie Broussard; Producer: Nicholas Sainato; Label: Amigo Records
– Booze will destroy your relationship and numb the pain when it does. Teasley continues to impress with his youthful, powerfully sung, update on country traditions.

BAILEY ZIMMERMAN / “Comin ‘In Cold”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Warner Music Nashville/Elektra Entertainment
– Packed with energy. Zimmerman sounds eager and ready as he sees a heartbreaker headed his way. Highly personable. Highly listenable. Highly recommended.

HOME FREE & CHAPEL HART / “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Writers: Beyoncé Knowles/Brian Bates/Elizabeth Lowell Boland/Megan Bülow/Nathan Ferraro/Raphael Saadiq; Producer: Darren Rust; Label: Home Free Records
– The five-man a cappella group Home Free joins forces with the Chapel Hart female trio to craft an irresistible cover of the Beyonce smash. Harmony vocal nirvana, plus snappy beats and whistling. This one’s a total blast.

SCOTTY McCREERY & HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH / “Bottle Rockets”
Writers: Bobby Hamrick/Brent Anderson/Darius Rucker/Dean Felber/Derek George/Frank Rogers/Jeremy Bussey/Jim Sonefeid/Mark Bryan/Monty Criswell/Scotty McCreery; Producer: Frank Rogers; Label: Triple Tigers
– Remembering a summer beach romance. He can still see and hear her in his mind, especially when he hears “their song.” It’s the Blowfish chanting their mega hit “Hold My Hand.”

THELMA & JAMES / “Happy Ever After You”
Writers: Jake Etheridge/MacKenzie Porter; Producers: Lonas/Jake Etheridge/MacKenzie Porter; Label: Big Loud Records
– Married singer-songwriters MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge bill themselves as “Thelma & James” on their Big Loud releases. Whatever you call them, these guys are like harmonizing songbirds on their tunes “First Love,” “Chainsmokin’ Memories” and this lovelorn lament. Fresh, folkie and fine, fine, fine.

Robert K Oermann
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