DISClaimer Single Reviews: Colbie Caillat & Maren Morris Team For Disc Of The Day

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Colbie Caillat & Maren Morris

The ladies rocked this edition of DISClaimer.

With stellar work turned in by Priscilla Block, Tori Martin, The Castellows, Harper Grace and the scintillating Sister Sadie, how can you deny them? The Disc of the Day award goes to the female duet of Colbie Caillat and Maren Morris.

Mind you, male stars were not absent from the listening session—Jelly Roll & Bon Jovi, Luke Bryan, Rodney Atkins and Hunter Hayes saw to that. One of them, Shaboozey, introduces this week’s DISCovery Award winner, Kevin Powers.

TORI MARTIN / “Cowgirls Ride”
Writers: Bill DiLuigi/Kirsti Manna/Tori Martin; Producer: Bill Warner; Label: LuckySky Music
– Soaring and anthem-like, Martin wails above a femme harmony chorus, sometimes rapping, sometimes in a throaty alto. The twang production sits just right. The oft-repeated title words are pretty much the whole song. The video features cowgirls herding, barrel racing, doing equestrian show moves and saddling their steeds in the wide open spaces.

RODNEY ATKINS / “Helluvit”
Writers: Daniel Ethridge/Rodney Atkins/Rose Falcon/Seth Mosley; Producers: Jordan Schmidt, Rodney Atkins; Label: Curb Records
– Kinda funky, kinda groovy, kinda fun. Atkins romps through this ode to domestic bliss with a smile and a wink. The lighthearted ditty is immensely likeable. Listen with a smile and bop along.

THE MARCUS KING BAND & NOAH CYRUS / “The Shadows”
Writers: Madi Yanofsky/Marcus King/Nick Monson; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: American Records/Republic Records
– Nashville’s young guitar wonder King strolls into a retro soul/funk groove in this wafting, easy-going pop production. Cyrus slides up next him with her own brand of soulful singing. The whole thing is dreamy sounding. The track is drawn from his new album, Darling Blue, which drops tomorrow (Sept. 26). On it, you’ll also find King collaborating with Jamey Johnson, new sensation Jesse Welles, Noah Cyrus and newly crowned Bluegrass Entertainer of the Year, Billy Strings.

BON JOVI & JELLY ROLL / “Living Proof”
Writers: John M. Shanks/Jon Bon Jovi; Producers: John Shanks, Jon Bon Jovi; Label: Bon Jovi Profit Split
– This lively, grinding rocker kicks up plenty of dust. Both men are singing their butts off, with Jelly Roll being the surprising winner of the vocal duel. Audio energy rules here.

THE CASTELLOWS / “Heartland”
Writers: Ellie Balkcom/Jack Rauton/Lily Balkcom/Powell Balkcom; Producer: Rick Nowels; Label: Warner Music Nashville/Warner Records
– Airy, melodic and lilting, with just enough kick in the backbeats. As usual, the trio’s harmonies are flawless

SHABOOZEY & KEVIN POWERS / “Move On”
Writers: Alex Cabrera/Collins Obinna Chibueze/David Ray Stevens/Jake Torrey/Kevin Powers/Serg Sanchez/Whit Kane; Producer: Sean Cook; Label: American Dogwood/EMPIRE
– Shaboozey introduces his new American Dogwood label imprint with this catchy collaboration. It’s a rolling country rocker. Powers kicks it off, but the star’s jaunty vocal is just as endearing as they ask an ex how she was able to move on so effortlessly. Playlist ready, and then some. Shaboozey brings his “Great American Roadshow Tour” to the Pinnacle on Monday (Sept. 29).

SISTER SADIE / “All Will Be Well”
Writers: Daniel Dodd Wilson/Gabriel Barry Dixon; Producer: Deanie Richardson; Label: Mountain Home Music Company
– The all-female group’s title tune of its new album is a breezy, uptempo scamper through summer fields. Their ace picking is as sublime as their creamy vocal blend. The band and its members cleaned up at this month’s IBMA Awards, winning the bluegrass world’s Song, Instrumentalist, Collaborative Recording, Gospel Recording and Instrumental Recording of the Year prizes. The gals will be at the Franklin Theatre with The Travelin’ McCourys next Thursday, Oct. 2.

LUKE BRYAN / “Kansas”
Writers: Chase McGill/Hillary Lindsey/Matt Dragstrem; Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Nicely done. Bryan sings this power ballad with just piano accompaniment. It’s a plea for love delivered with country-boy sincerity.

PRISCILLA BLOCK / “Phones and Radios”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/David Garcia/Priscilla Block/Trannie Anderson; Producers: Dave Cohen, David Garcia; Label: MCA
– Block previews her Things You Didn’t See collection (due Oct. 10) with this heartache number. He breaks up with her — suddenly and unexpectedly — on a late-night drive in the country. She’s devastated, but remains clear eyed and relates the tale with plain-spoken honesty. Which is what we’ve come to expect from this talented tunesmith.

COLBIE CAILLAT & MAREN MORRIS / “Fallin’ For You”
Writers: Colbie Caillat/Rick Nowels; Producers: Eric Arjes, Jimmy Robbins; Label: Blue Jean Baby Records
– A rolling, rumbling, country-rock delight. The two women’s voices blend so seamlessly that it sounds like they’ve been singing together all their lives. It’s drawn from Caillat’s This Time Around, an all-duets collection that drops tomorrow (Sept. 26). The wildly catchy, rhythm-happy tune was a double-Platinum pop hit for her in 2009.

HARPER GRACE / “Take It to the Grave”
Writers: Harper Grace/Jimmy Thow/Michael De Lorenzis/Michael Paynter; Producer: Cooper Bascom/Michael De Lorenzis/Michael Paynter/Tedd T; Label: Curb Records
– Feisty, sassy and tart, this snappy little “attitude” tune warns the boys that she’s a heartbreaker. This lady never disappoints.

HUNTER HAYES / “Every Piece”
Writers: Hunter Hayes/John Mark Nelson/Sam Ellis; Producers: Alex Flagstad, Hunter Hayes; Label: LP Entertainment
– Hayes is hushed and intimate in this languid, soul-infused love song. His guitar work sparkles in between phrases. It ain’t all that “country,” but it sure is cool.

Robert K Oermann
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