DISClaimer Single Reviews: Rodney Crowell Gives Hall Of Fame Worthy Performance
Rodney Crowell. Photo: Neilson Hubbard
Is everybody on vacation?
This week’s DISClaimer stack of sounds sure seems like it. Superstars are in short supply and the songwriting pickin’s are slim.
Mind you, there are still some highlights, namely Scotty McCreery, Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson, Tanner Adell, Billy Currington and our Disc of the Day winner, Rodney Crowell.
Shaylen stages her debut in the column and takes home a DISCovery Award.
BILLY CURRINGTON / “King of the World”
Writer: Troy Jones; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Label: Mercury Nashville
– An upbeat, bluesy celebration of summer, loaded with dobro and slide guitar licks. He’s got a boxed lunch, some weed, Merle’s tunes, a devoted dog, a fishing pole and a boat. Feelin’ fine.
MAE ESTES / “Mountain of a Man”
Writers: Jon Decious/Lauren McLamb/Liz Rose/Paul Sikes; Producer: Paul Sikes; Label: Big Machine Records
– A peppy, double-time beat drives this snappy ditty praising a 6’10” former boyfriend. A dobro solo, an echoing gang of backup singers and her pert soprano delivery are among the audio highlights.
GAVIN ADCOCK / “Last One to Know”
Writers: Erik Dylan/Gavin Adcock/Jack Rauton/Luke Laird; Producer: Jay Rodgers; Label: Thrivin Here Records/Warner Music Nashville
– This ACM New Male nominee takes a break from his rowdy, redneck-rebel image with a mournful lament. He’s still not much of a singer.
LUKE COMBS / “Back in the Saddle”
Writers: Dan Isbell/Jonathan Singleton/Luke Combs; Producers: Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton, Luke Combs; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– A roaring declaration of …. exactly what? He’s hollering powerfully about launching some kind of comeback. It’s a potent sounding track, if somewhat lyrically vague.
CALI TUCKER / “Last Name”
Writers: Cali Tucker/Derek Robertson/G’harah “PK” Deg/Tricia Battani; Producer: G’harah “PK” Degeddingseze; Label: Mother Tucker Music
– This former contestant on The Voice is the daughter of LaCosta Tucker and the niece of Tanya. Her new single addresses having a famous name, but needing to stand on her own. Cali’s nicely phrased vocal rides atop a burbling, multi-layered, heavily edited, electronic pop production.
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
– A tuneful recollection of teenage summer on a Carolina beach with his girlfriend. The bonfire night was perfect, especially when she asked him to sing “Hold My Hand.” At the mention of the title, the Blowfish chime in with glorious harmony singing. An irresistible single.
SHAYLEN / “Loneliest Man”
Writers: Andrew Baylis/Conor Matthews/Riley Thomas/Shaylen; Producers: Julian Raymond, Shaylen; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– He dumped her, but she’s okay with it, knowing he’s headed on a journey that will make him, “the loneliest man in the world.” Confidently sung and well produced. Languid and lovely, yet not especially compelling as a song.
RODNEY CROWELL / “Twenty-One Song Salute (Owed to G.G. Shinn and Cléoma Falcon)”
Writer: Rodney Crowell; Producer: Tyler Bryant; Label: Rodney Crowell
– Hidden in the lyric are the titles of 21 songs that helped to forge his musical life. The track rocks splendidly and Crowell remains a master at delivering a Texas-accented country performance. Tyler Bryant provides the harmony vocal. Highly recommended. This singer-songwriter belongs in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
TANNER ADELL / “Giddy Up Gorgeous”
Writer: Tanner Adell; Producers: Cambo, leelee, LOUALLDAY; Label: TA
– The titled tune of Adell’s current tour is the lead track on her new Don’t Pet EP. It’s a lilting statement that she won’t be a victim and aims to steer her own destiny. A tasteful, spare production has just the right touch for her personable vocal delivery.
CHRIS JANSON / “Wild Horses”
Writers: Chris Janson/Kelly Roland/Pat Bunch; Producers: Chris Janson, Michael Wayne Wilkes; Label: Harpeth 60 Records/Warner Music Nashville
– If she’s looking for a wild guy, he’s her man. The country-rock track thumps along with zest and Janson gives it his all. Highly listenable.
THE JACK WHARFF BAND / “Moonshine Man”
Writer: Jack Wharff; Producer: Charlie Worsham; Label: Big Machine Records
– His almost-shrieking tenor vocal fronts sawing fiddles, fleet mandolin picking, electric guitar bursts and furious Southern-rock drumming. Intriguing and worth some spins.
SHERYL CROW & THE REAL LOWDOWN / “The New Normal”
Writers: Audley Freed/Fred Eltringham/Jen Gunderman/Peter Stroud/Robert Kearns/Sheryl Crow; Producer: Sheryl Crow and The Real Lowdown; Label: The Valory Music Co.
– Collaborating with her longtime band, the new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee returns to her pop-rock roots with this snappy bopper. The outspoken lyric critiques AI/robot culture, “the leader of the free world,” fake news and more. A/C programmers take note.
JOSH ROSS / “Later Tonight”
Writers: Alexander Izquierdo/Ashley Gorley/John Byron/Ryan Vojtesak; Producer: Matt Geroux; Label: Core Entertainment
– His “Single Again” was a big ol’ hit. The follow-up is a finger-bopping ode to moving on after a breakup. Except when he gets back home, she’s still on his mind. The melody has all the complexity of a nursery rhyme. This one’s all about the percussive production.
