DISClaimer Single Reviews: Jordan Davis’ ‘Emotionally Compelling Vocals’ Strike Again

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Country music gets back to its roots in today’s edition of DISClaimer.

Guitars, not synthesizers, are the lead instruments. Ballads with powerful lyrics take over from the rock and pop productions that have dominated the genre for too long. Leading the way are Riley Green, Walker Hayes, Old Dominion, Aubry Rodriguez, Carter Faith and our Disc of the Day winner, Jordan Davis. All of them deserve massive airplay and streams. 

The DISCovery Award goes to JoJo Mason.

JOJO MASON / “Gold”
Writers: Bonnie Baker/Cameron Bedell/Hunter Hayes; Producer: Ryan Stead; Label: 604 Records
– This rising Canadian star blends country and soul beautifully on this warm, radiant, luscious ballad. He likens his sunshine lover to gold while a wafting choir whispers and sighs along. A zephyr of sound.

JORDAN DAVIS / “Turn This Truck Around”
Writers: Devin Dawson/Jake Mitchell/Jordan Davis/Josh Thompson; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: MCA Nashville
– I am such a huge fan of this guy. His furry, throaty vocals are so emotionally compelling, and his songwriting is just terrific. On this outing, an insistent rhythm track beats like his broken heart while he heads for a destination unknown—unless her memory becomes so powerful that he heads back home. I hung on every line.

LAUREN WATKINS / “Marlboro Man”
Writers: Jeremy Spillman/Lauren Watkins/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Will Bundy; Label: Big Loud Records
– Watkins waxes nostalgic about an idealized, vanished macho cowboy on this languid track. Deep twang guitars and sighing steel accompany her as she muses about sharing horsebacks and smokes with him.

MORGAN WALLEN, LIL WAYNE & RICK ROSS / “Miami”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/Charlie Handsome/Chase McGill/Dean Dillon/Dwayne Carter/Ernest Keith Smith/Hank Cochran/Michael Hardy/Morgan Wallen/Royce Porter/William Leonard Roberts II; Producers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– There are faint echoes of Keith Whitley’s “Miami My Amy” in between Wallen’s plaintive singing and the stoned-out rapping. The track is a looped, electronic confection that will find more acceptance on pop playlists than on country ones. At least I hope so.

CARTER FAITH / “Bar Star”
Writers: Aaron Raitere/Carter Faith/Tofer Brown/Tyler Halverson; Producer: Tofer Brown; Label: MCA
– “Bless his liver and his honky-tonk heart, ‘cause my baby’s a bar star.” Instead of going for a stay-at-home straight arrow, she goes for the roadhouse boozer on this delightful two stepper. Ms. Faith delivers the tune like a modern-day Loretta and Russ Pahl’s steel guitar sizzles and stings to answer her every hillbilly phrase. This, my friends, is by-gawd country music.

WALKER HAYES / “17 Year Old Problems”
Writer: Walker Hayes; Producer: Billy Dawson; Label: RCA Records
– Fake IDs, curfews, flunking a class, losing football games, spring break issues, breakups, summer jobs and teen angst. These issues are long gone as he faces the deaths of loved ones, paying bills, going to rehab and the broken dreams of adulthood. Now he wishes all he had to worry about were those teenage problems. This is a tremendously effective single, produced sparingly, sung with heart and written with insight. Brilliant work.

LAUREN ALAINA & CHASE MATTHEW / “All My Exes”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Jimmy Gutch/Lauren Alaina/Whitney Phillips; Producers: Jacob Durrett, Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– Irritating and utterly tuneless. Both of them blathering about how hard they are to love. There’s no harmony singing, but how could there be when there’s no melody?

RILEY GREEN / “Bartender in Destin”
Writers: Nick Walsh/Sam Banks; Producer: Erik Dylan; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– I wish more country stars would release music like this—Green shines brighter than ever by singing with just an acoustic guitar accompaniment. The lyric deftly paints a laid-back romantic scene. Highly recommended listening.

AUBRY RODRIGUEZ / “Leaving Texas”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: AR
– She sings softly to convey the longing for a lost loved one and missing home. Simple bass and acoustic guitar gently support the lovely ballad. Aubry is the daughter of the late, great Johnny Rodriguez, whose Celebration of Life is scheduled for Aug. 11 at the Troubadour Theater in Music Valley at 5:30 pm.

OLD DOMINION / “Miss You Man”
Writers: Matt Jenkins/Matthew Ramsey/Ross Copperman/Trevor Rosen; Producers:Old Dominion, Shane McAnally; Label: Three Up Three Down/Columbia Nashville
– As always, brilliantly written. This is a powerfully touching ode to grief. It’s been six years, but he still misses his best pal. Echoing guitars swirl around the lead vocal in this exquisite production.

GABBY BARRETT / “The Easy Part”
Writers: Gabby Barrett/Jon Nite/Michael Hardy/Zach Abend; Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Abend, Zach Kale; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Tears turn to triumph in this breakup anthem. Piano and percussion drive the oomphy pop-country production.

THE BAND LOULA / “Sweet Southern Summer”
Writers: Gary Nichols/Greg Bieck/Logan Simmons/Malachi Mills; Producer: Greg Bieck; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Haunting and transfixing. The moody, minor-key track evokes a sultry, heat-soaked season in Dixie (which sounds pretty familiar these days). Logan Simmons sings the bluesy lead while Malachi Mills matches her with close harmony work. John Osborne of Brothers Osborne provides the yearning, dobro-centered production.

Robert K Oermann
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