DISClaimer Single Reviews: Randy Houser Offers A ‘Joyous Listening Experience’

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Randy Houser. Photo: Logan Vollmers

Giants walk among us in this edition of DISClaimer.

Country titans Vince Gill, Paul Overstreet, Radney Foster and Dolly Parton are on hand to remind us of their greatness. Also vying for our attention are such big hit makers as Luke Combs and Midland.

Roaring Randy Houser wins the Disc of the Day prize with his mighty voice.

Fugitive rocker-gone-country Andrew Farriss is the DISCovery winner.

EMILY SCOTT ROBINSON / “Hymn for the Unholy”
Writer: Emily Scott Robinson; Producer: Josh Kaufman; Label: Oh Boy Records
– This extraordinary troubadour crafts lyrics that apply poetry to the human soul. Her heartbreaking vocal has ear-tickling breaks and soprano lilts that are captivating. As she sings of “the quiet of the New Year,” she needs only that instrument and her acoustic guitar to charm us with hushed power.

LUKE COMBS / “Sleepless in a Hotel Room”
Writers: Luke Combs/Randy Montana/Jonathan Singleton; Producers: Luke Combs, Jonathan Singleton & Chip Matthews; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– As the wind blows outside and the night drags on, he sings of abject loneliness. The passion in the performance is palpable.

ANDREW FARRISS / “Mending Fences”
Writers: Andrew Farriss/Stephen Wilson Jr.; Producer: Andrew Farriss; Label: AF
– Farriss is the co-founder of the million-selling ‘80s Aussie rock band INXS. During a songwriting sojourn in Nashville, he crafted this folkie ballad about the hard life of a farmer. Gently persuasive and an impressive country debut.

RADNEY FOSTER & KELLY WILLIS / “The One They Call”
Writers: Matthew Chapman/Debbi Chapman/Radney Foster; Producer: Jay Clementi; Label: RF
– Stately and strong, this ballad features two outstanding country singers emoting on a powerful lyric of lovers who marry so that if anything bad happens, “I want to be the one they call.” The song comes from the Songwriting with Soldiers program.

KASHUS CULPEPPER / “Cherry Rose”
Writers: Kashus Culpepper/Mikky Ekko/Brian Elmquist; Producer: Brian Elmquist; Label: Big Loud
– Strings sigh and a keyboard chords along while he explores a complex romance. His aching, vulnerable vocal breaks beautifully into falsetto highs. Touches of blues and folk shade the ballad performance.

DOLLY PARTON, LAINEY WILSON, MILEY CYRUS, QUEEN LATIFAH & REBA McENTIRE / “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: none listed; Label: Butterfly Records
– Enduring superstar Parton marks her 80th birthday on Monday (Jan. 19). To celebrate, she’s giving us a gift. I have always loved this song, a 1977 anthem of deliverance that was the centerpiece of her New Harvest LP and a theme song of her 1992 Straight Talk movie with James Woods. Now, it’s a powerhouse, female, all-star monument, complete with Christ Church Choir backing vocals. This message of hope and healing is a benefit single for pediatric cancer research at Vanderbilt. It is also essential listening.

PAUL OVERSTREET, ROGER CREAGER & KEVIN FOWLER / “Doin’ It to Country Songs”
Writers: Paul Overstreet/Jacob Lyda/Marty Dodson; Producer: none listed; Label: PO
– The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer is joined by rollicking Texans Creager and Fowler on this snappy rocker. Blake Shelton cut it in 2017, but this version is even more smokin’ hot. Get up and dance.

VINCE GILL / “Brown’s Diner”
Writer: Vince Gill; Producer: Vince Gill; Label: MCA
– Living legend Gill takes on a nostalgic trip to Brown’s Diner. I totally got into this, because Brown’s was the first place I ever ate in Music City, sitting between Don Everly and John Prine. I felt there was something magical about that serendipitous occasion. Gill’s memories in this song are similarly vivid. Brown’s is still there, and it’s still serving great cheeseburgers. Vince Gill is still here, and he’s still serving superb country music.

ADDIS LUV / “Born to Roam”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Angel Eyes Music
– This Trinidad native is a former DisCovery Awardee in this column. He’s kicking off 2026 with an open-road rocker that soars with the sounds of freedom. His torrid tenor vocal is thrilling. I remain a big, big fan.

MIDLAND / “Marlboro Man”
Writers: Dean Dillon/Tim Nichols/Josh Thompson; Producer: none listed; Label: Big Machine
– This slow-burn track seethes with barroom heartache. Deep-twang guitar, rumbling bass and lonesome steel set the mood for a lyric that bemoans the life of a wandering drifter.

RANDY HOUSER / “Back in the Bottle”
Writer: Randy Houser; Producers: Randy Houser,Blake Chancey; Label: Magnolia Music
– He possesses one of the most magnificent voices in contemporary country music. This punchy rocker wails with regret over a night spent too wildly. But he’d do it all over again if he could put that experience back in the bottle. A totally joyous listening experience.

BRENDAN WALTER / “Teenage Dirtbag”
Writer: Brendan Brown; Producer: none listed; Label: Sony
– She doesn’t give a damn about him, because she thinks he’s the title of this song. His pleading tenor describes the angst of high-school while the loud production rocks around him. Don’t worry, at the prom she finally decides to cozy up to him.

Robert K Oermann
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