DISClaimer Single Reviews: Zach Top Kicks Off Summer

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Zach Top. Photo: Citizen Kane Wayne

The country stars make the summer season official this week.

In this edition of DISClaimer, you’ll find a number of sounds crafted to accompany fun in the sun. To varying degrees, Kane Brown, Brett Eldredge & Pedro Capo, Ketch Secor, Kameron Marlowe and Disc of the Day winner Zach Top are all conjuring warm weather.

Of the non-summer offerings in this week’s column, the strongest one belongs to the waltz-time duet by the brilliantly talented Kashus Culpepper and Sierra Ferrell, both of whom deserve far more renown than they have been given to date.

This week’s DISCovery Award goes to Mae Estes. She sounds like a singer-songwriter to reckon with.

AVERY ANNA / “Cheerios”
Writers: Andy Sheridan/Avery Anna/Ben Williams/David Fanning; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Avery Anna has two new videos. “Cheerios” is a deceptively jaunty song about a struggle with alcohol addiction. “Grave” is a harrowing ballad about domestic violence. I caught her set on the Opry TV show last weekend and was reminded how talented this lady is. If you need proof of her country bona fides, check out her superb heartache two-step “It’s Just Rainin’” from late last year.

ZACH TOP / “Good Times & Tan Lines”
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wyatt McCubbin/Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Label: Leo33
– Stuttering twang guitar, happy fiddle, singing steel and a bopping breezy beat — what more could you ask for in a summer single? As always, Top sings his face off. The ACM New Male Vocalist winner strikes again.

MAE ESTES / “Mr. Fix It”
Writers: Alex Kline/Jaida Dreyer/Mae Estes/Marti Dodson; Producer: Paul Sikes; Label: Big Machine Records
– Sweetly sexy, in praise of her guy who can fix anything, including her heart. Upbeat and endearing.

LAUREN ALAINA / “Heaven Sent”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Lauren Alaina/Michael Hardy; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– Motherhood heals her after the passing of a loved one. She imagines that her father sent her a baby down from heaven in order to get her past her grief. The mid tempo production builds from quiet strength to pounding drama.

KASHUS CULPEPPER & SIERRA FERRELL / “Broken Wing”
Writers: Brian Elmquist/Kashus Culpepper; Producer: Brian Elmquist; Label: Big Loud Records
– This acoustic waltz strums along on the simple strengths of gut-string guitar and their two compelling voices. His gravel delivery and her hillbilly soprano work surprisingly well together. This, my friends, is Pure Country.

JORDAN DAVIS / “Jesus Wouldn’t Do”
Writers: Jacob Davis/Jordan Davis/Joshua Cole Jenkins/Matt Jenkins; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: MCA Nashville
– He’s “Giving grace to folks like me, doin’ things that Jesus wouldn’t do.” A sinner reflects on his path and seeks absolution in this lovely, yearning sentiment. I remain a major fan of this troubadour.

KETCH SECOR / “Dickerson Road”
Writers: Jody Stevens/Ketch Secor; Producer: Jody Stevens; Label: KS
– Secor departs from the old-time string band sound of Old Crow Medicine Show to take a solo, hip-hoppy stroll down East Nashville’s most blue-collar street. His half-spoken lyric details the scenes along the way.

BRETT ELDREDGE & PEDRO CAPO / “St. Tropez”
Writers: Brett Eldredge/Mark Trussell/Pedro Capó/Yoel Enriquez; Producer: Mark Trussell; Label: Warm and Cozy Records
– An audio trip to the Riviera, spiced just right with Latino rhythms. Capo’s tenor voice weaves in and out of Eldredge’s solid delivery, alternately echoing lines and providing  lilting, high harmonies. This is a summertime sound if I’ve ever heard one. Essential listening.

DON LOUIS / “For The Broken”
Writers: Don Louis/Jon Kraft/Serg Sanchez; Producer: Serg Sanchez; Label: Money Myers Entertainment/EMPIRE
– I don’t like the way his fine baritone voice is mixed to sound muffled and buried. The production is too rock oriented. However, the song is cool, an uplifting message for folks facing tribulations.

KAMERON MARLOWE / “Seventeen”
Writers: Austin Goodloe/Bruce Springsteen/Joybeth Taylor/Kameron Marlowe/Tucker Beathard; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Columbia Nashville
– This summer country rocker praises the joys of being young and innocent. Electric guitars scream and drums pound while he shouts the news. Echoes of Seger and Springsteen.

VINNY TOVAR / “Call It A Night”
Writers: Christopher Mora/Miguel Angel Aguilar/Vicente Andres Tovar; Producers: Christopher Mora, Humberto Novoa, Julian Escamilla, Vinny Tovar; Label: Azteca Ranch Music
– Easy going and gently persuasive with steel-guitar licks. His languid vocal sounds resigned and kinda defeated as he suggests they stop fighting and quit for the day. His album is titled From San Antone, With Love. Tovar was previously noted as Aubry Rodriguez’s duet partner on her “Pass Me By” salute to her late father, Johnny.

KANE BROWN / “2 Pair”
Writers: Andrew Haas/Gabe Foust/Ian Franzino/Jacob Hackworth/Jaxson Free/Kane Brown; Producer: Jordan Schmidt; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– He’s crazy in love with his boots. The stomping, chanting, gang-bang, drum-line chorus sounds like a party in progress. Silly fun.

ASHLEY MONROE & BRITTNEY SPENCER / “Bitter Swisher Sweet”
Writers: Ashley Monroe/Emily Landis/Logan Wall; Producers: Ashley Monroe, Gena Johnson; Label: Mountainrose Sparrow
– Stoner country. This has a drowsy vibe and a smoky atmosphere as the two divas relax together in the echoey mix. Fire one up, take a deep hit, close your eyes and nod along.

Robert K Oermann
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