DISClaimer Single Reviews: Two Duets Share Disc Of The Day

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We’re all over the musical map today in DISClaimer.

For your listening pleasure we have jazzy cabaret with Lisa Stewart, bluegrass message music via The Grascals/Dolly Parton collaboration, country rock from Karley Scott Collins, a folkie outing from the late John Prine, Latin romance with a Carin León & Kacey Musgraves duet, Jake Worthington’s hardcore honky-tonk and whatever-he-is Americana legend Todd Snider.

The Disc of the Day is a tie between two duets—the Carin León & Kacey Musgraves and the Dierks Bentley & The Band Loula collabs.

Give Texans Jerry DeLeon & Southbound a DISCovery Award.

KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS / “Easy to Leave”
Writers: Aaron Zuckerman/Karley Scott Collins/Nathan Chapman; Producers: Karley Scott Collins, Nathan Chapman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– The grit and velvet in her voice are super compelling. She’s a multi-hyphenate who plays and writes as well as she sings. Collins and Nathan Chapman play all the instruments and co-produce her sounds. Her Flight Risk album is due Sept. 26. Sounds like it will be fierce.

THE GRASCALS & DOLLY PARTON / “Broken Angels”
Writers: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson; Producer: Kent Wells; Label: Billy Blue Records
– “One day at a time,” rings out as the message on this exquisite ballad about addiction and recovery. The three-part vocal harmonies lift this to hillbilly heaven.

K. MICHELLE / “Jack Daniel’s”
Writers: ERNEST/Jordan Dozzi/Kimberly Michelle Pate/Rocky Block; Producers: Jeff Balding, Kristian Bush; Label: BBR Music Group
– In this barroom wailer, she avers that Jack is the only man she trusts. Lotsa guitar and percussion in the busy production. She’s a former pop hit maker who sounds completely at home in country music.

DIERKS BENTLEY & THE BAND LOULA / “Get Down on Your Knees and Pray”
Writer: Bill Monroe; Producer: Ben Helson; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Swampy and moody and totally cool. Deep twang guitar, multi-part harmonies, searing fiddle and bluesy mandolin cut through a swirling cloud of haunting atmosphere. Fabulous listening. It’s recorded live, and it drives the audience absolutely wild. Me, too.

JAKE WORTHINGTON / “When I Write the Song”
Writer: Jake Worthington; Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Jon Randall; Label: Big Loud Texas
– Worthington’s sophomore album drops next week. Its title tune is a honky-tonk ballad that he invests with heart and a beautifully phrased, bent-note vocal. This Texas traditionalist is “keeping it country,” and I’m all ears. Bravo.

EMILY ANN ROBERTS / “Jack & Jill Daniel’s”
Writers: Emily Ann Roberts/Jeremy Spillman/Ryan Beaver/Trent Willmon; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: RECORDS/Sony Music Nashville
– Very clever. It has a “Jack and Jill” plotline, but with a load of extra information. Like, Jack drinks because Jill broke his heart. The sunny mood and sweetly bopping track support a shiny-bright vocal performance. Nicely done. Roberts successfully competed on The Voice when she was still in high school. This single marks her Sony debut.

JOHN PRINE / “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody”
Writer: John Prine; Producer: Howie Epstein; Label: Oh Boy Records
– This is an alternative performance of Prine’s 1995 favorite, and it’s even cooler than the jaunty original. It lopes along with the wry attitude and easy-going charm that endeared him to millions. You’ll find it on a new posthumous album that combines the original tracks of his Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings album with unearthed demos, previously unreleased tracks and alternative song versions. The whole thing is a 20-track masterpiece.

COLBIE CAILLAT & LEE BRICE / “Kinda Single”
Writers: Colbie Caillat/Eric Arjes/Jimmy Robbins/Lee Brice; Producers: Eric Arjes, Jimmy Robbins; Label: Blue Jean Baby Records
– A deliciously melodic, cocktail-lounge pickup tune, dressed up in hearty harmonies and layered production. Both artists sing their faces off on this rippling toe tapper that treats romance as revolving door of push and pull. A winner.

LISA STEWART & TOMMY EMMANUEL / “The Man You Are Today”
Writers: Lisa Stewart/Rodney Crowell/Tommy Emmanuel; Producer: Kevin McKendree; Label: Qualified Records
– Stewart adopts a classic chanteuse vibe on this jazzy outing enlivened by Emmanuel’s sterling guitar work. Bass player Casey Abrams and drummer Chester Thompson complete the trio lineup backing her on this playful lyric. Sultry, slinky and soothing.

CARIN LEÓN & KACEY MUSGRAVES / “Lost in Translation”
Writers: Amy Allen/Kacey Musgraves/Oscar Armando Diaz de Leon/Shane McAnally; Producers: Julian Bunetta, Matt Zara; Label: Socios Music
– Mexican-style instrumental flourishes embellish this lilting, lively duet that describes a romance that’s trying to navigate a language barrier. León’s rapid-fire Spanish delivery contrasts with Musgraves’ languid style beautifully, and he harmonizes with her with immense verve. Wonderfully refreshing…and sexy, too.

TODD SNIDER / “While We Still Have a Chance”
Writers: Chris Robinson/Todd Snider; Producers: Aaron Lee Tasjan, Joe Bisirri, Robbie Crowell; Label: Aimless Records
– Americana legend Snider croaks out this plea for romantic reconciliation at a drawled, deliberately slow pace. The stripped-down, minimalist accompaniment wisely stays out of the way of his gripping, tuneless delivery. It’s an advance track from a collection titled High, Lonesome and Then Some, due for release on Oct. 17. I remain a fan.

RONNIE McDOWELL, RODNEY COLLINS & JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ / “Thing About Texas”
Writer: Ronnie McDowell; Producers: Mike Schrimpf, Ronnie McDowell; Label: Lanier Records
– McDowell wrote and produced this. He kicks it off with a lead vocal backed by lilting twin fiddles, but then he steps back and lets Collins and the late Johnny Rodriguez take the vocal spotlight. The breezy ode to the Lone Star State was Rodriguez’s last studio performance, and the single is dedicated to him.

JERRY DeLEON & SOUTHBOUND / “Cold One”
Writers: Alyssa Micaela/Chris Rafetto/Jeff Middleton; Producers: Stormy Cooper, Will Braun; Label: Azteca Ranch Music
– Kick back, put your feet up, relax and treat yourself to a brew at the end of a hard-working day. It’s a simple idea, but DeLeon’s earnest delivery and Southbound’s country-rock chops make it sound uttering inviting. A late afternoon groove that goes down smooth, thank to these San Antonio talents.

Robert K Oermann
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