DISClaimer Single Reviews: Three Acts Share Disc Of The Day

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Megan Moroney, Kip Moore and Jason Scott & The High Heat.

There’s an abundance of riches in this week’s DISClaimer round-up of country sounds.

So much so that we have to “share the wealth” by dividing up our honors. The Female Disc of the Day is Megan Moroney’s ballad, while the Male Disc of the Day goes to Kip Moore’s rocker and the Group prize belongs to Jason Scott & High Heat and their let-the-good-times-roll outing.

With a tuneful and warmly sung ditty, Conor Clemmons wins the DISCovery Award.

JENNA PAULETTE & JAKE WORTHINGTON / “Chasin’ Whiskey”
Writers: Joe Fox/Tony Lane; Producer: Will Bundy; Label: Leo33
– Fiddles and steel draw out the regrets in this classic-sounding barroom weeper. Two superb country singers are at work here, and the result is honky-tonk heaven.

TUCKER WETMORE / “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”
Writer: Dan Baird; Producer: Chris LaCorte; Label: Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records/MCA
– Wetmore revives a Georgia Satellites goldie, retaining the rock swagger of the 1986 original while infusing it with his countryboy vocal whine. Energetic and charming.

CONOR CLEMMONS / “Nothin’ Like Love”
Writers: Conor Clemmons/Griffen Palmer/Mitch Clark; Producer: Kevin Rooney; Label: CC
– The warmth in his voice is engaging, and the highly melodic, country-pop arrangement propels the whole audio package forcefully forward. Sunny and positive and refreshing. Clemmons stages his Nashville debut as a headliner this evening (Oct. 23) at The Back Corner in Germantown (1411 Fifth Ave. N.)

MEGAN MORONEY / “Beautiful Things”
Writers: Connie Harrington/Jessi Alexander/Jessie Jo DillonMegan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Columbia Records
– From a broken-hearted place come words of comfort and hope. She reassures the hurting one that, “You’re pretty and you’re smart….The world is hard on beautiful things.” A tender ballad with a healing balm.

THE RED CLAY STRAYS / “People Hatin’”
Writers: Andrew Bishop/Brandon Coleman/Dave Cobb/John Hall/Matthew Coleman/Zach Rishel; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Red Clay Strays/RCA Records
– A blues-rock slow jam with anguished vocals and attitude. Way out on the edge of what is “country.”

ZAC BROWN BAND / “The Sum”
Writers: Lukas Nelson/Zac Brown; Producer: Zac Brown; Label: Master of None
– Uplifting and wise. “You need the dark to see the stars.” The track builds from a stark, solo sound to a nearly shouted, anthem-like chorale of echoing voices. Classy stuff.

VALERIE JUNE / “Maybellene”
Writer: Chuck Berry; Producer: Lawrence Rothman; Label: One Riot Records
– Last weekend in St. Louis was “Chuck Berry’s Birthday Bash” to celebrate what would have been the rockabilly legend’s 99th birthday (Oct. 18). The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra collaborated with a number of vocalists over a two-night extravaganza. One of them was Memphian Valerie June, whose new single reimagines Berry’s 1955 breakthrough hit as a horn-punctuated bopper with tickling ivories and soulful backing vocals. Lively and fun.

KIP MOORE / “The Crown”
Writers: Andrew DeRoberts/Kip Moore/Luke Preston; Producers: Andrew DeRoberts, Kip Moore; Label: KM
– In a career that’s been built on barn-burning performances, this one truly scorches. Moore’s gripping rasp advises us to live life to the fullest, but be wary of crashes. His most fiery and fearsome single to date. This deserves massive exposure. Turn it up.

CLAY STREET UNIT & LINDSAY LOU / “Choctaw County”
Writers: Sam Walker/Scottie Bolin; Producer: Chris Pandolfi; Label: Leo33
– Pining for lost love and reminiscing with sadness while steel, mandolin and guitars chime along in sympathy. A promising debut.

CHASE RICE / “ELDORA”
Writers: Chase Rice/Oscar Charles/Wyatt McCubbin; Producer: Oscar Charles; Label: Dack Janiels Records
– Echoey, wafting and lovely, the atmospheric title tune of Rice’s new collection is a reflection on the peace of the Colorado Rockies. The record marks his reinvention as an indie-label troubadour and is a completely ear-opening experience. Well done.

KASHUS CULPEPPER / “Mean to Me”
Writers: Diego Urias/Kashus Culpepper/Matt Warren/Oscar Charles; Producer: Brian Elmquist; Label: Big Loud Records
– She’s really mean and hateful, but the track is so doggone catchy and tuneful that you can’t keep still. Beautifully produced, this soars while it aches. I didn’t want it to end.

TY MYERS & MARCUS KING / “Two Trains”
Writers: Lowell George; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: RECORDS Nashville/Columbia
– Myers takes on a vintage Little Feat tune with an ably rocking assist from King. The two guitarists trade licks and fluidly as they trade lines. Myers’ star continues to rise—he sold out The Pinnacle for his Nashville concert last Friday night (Oct. 17).

JASON SCOTT & HIGH HEAT / “Too Good, Too Bad”
Writers: Jason Scott/Taylor Johnson; Producers: Jason Scott, Taylor Johnson; Label: Leo33
– Rollicking and rootsy. As we bop along, we’re doing all kinda stuff that really isn’t good for us. But ain’t it fun? A good-time, feel-good single.

Robert K Oermann
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