DISClaimer Single Reviews: Ashley McBryde Is ‘Utterly Magnificent’

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Ashley McBryde. Photo: Nathan Chapman

Country music displays some substance this week.

Romantic troubles are creatively explored by Parker McCollum, Mitchell Tenpenny and Meghan Patrick. Existential musing infuses the new sounds by The Jack Wharff Band, Mumford & Sons with Chris Stapleton and Jelly Roll. Tigirlily Gold turns country cliches upside down. Mike Parker’s single exudes production creativity.

Rising above them all is Ashley McBryde with a simply brilliant piece of songwriting that earns a Disc of the Day award.

Add Alison Nichols to the list of current creative country females. And give her a DISCovery Award while you’re at it.

THE JACK WHARFF BAND / “Strange”
Writers: Evan Novoa/Garrett Howell/Jack Wharff/Joe Clemmons/Ryan Atchison; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: Big Machine Records
– Drowsy and languid, with painful nostalgia for the man he used to be. A sonic stew of edgy rock, creamy harmonies and folkie sincerity. The band plays the Ryman next Wednesday (April 1).

TIGIRLILY GOLD / “Country & Midwestern”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Very cute. It bops along, name-checking all the northern things that are “country,” as opposed to the Southern cliches. Essential listening: “’Bless your heart’ don’t mean ‘Buck you’…When the Cowboys lose, we don’t shed a tear/It’s ‘Go, Pack, go’ ‘round here.”

PARKER McCOLLUM / “Killin’ Me”
Writers: Monty Criswell/Parker McCollum/Randy Rogers; Producers: Eric Masse, Frank Liddell; Label: MCA
– Echoey twanging guitars swirl around while she seduces him with every look and every move. Beautifully produced and sung.

ALISON NICHOLS / “Box Wine Problems”
Writers: Alison Nichols/Sherrie Austin/Will Rambeaux; Producers: Ilya Toshinski, Will Rambeaux; Label: BMG/BBR Music Group
– It seems that the “problems” in the title aren’t so bad. In fact, they’re a real good time. A saucy tempo tune delivered with moxie.

ASHLEY McBRYDE / “Bottle Tells Me So”
Writers: Ashley McBryde/Shelly Fairchild/Terri Jo Box; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– Chilling, stark, and utterly magnificent. Staring alcoholism in the face in the cold light of the morning after. The ballad and her performance seethe with authenticity. This is one of our finest singer-songwriters at the peak of her powers.

MIKE PARKER / “Bone Dry”
Writers: Dirty Rice/Jimmy Robbins/Mike Parker/Notelle; Producer: Jimmy Robbins; Label: Mailbox Money Records
– It’s over. She’s gone. He’s left high and dry. The choppy, percussive elements in the production are super catchy, and Parker’s vocal is doubled, tripled, stacked and layered in ear tickling complexity. Highly creative.

KELLY LANG / “I Reach For Red”
Writer: Kelly Lang; Producer: Kelly Lang; Label: Leopard Entertainment
– Country veteran Lang remains a stunningly effective, throaty alto. In this lustrous, sophisticated track, she’s in praise of the comforting presence of red wine when the mood is blue.

MUMFORD AND SONS & CHRIS STAPLETON / “Here”
Writers: Aaron Dessner/Ben Lovett/Marcus Mumford/Ted Dwane; Producers: Aaron Dessner, Mumford & Sons; Label: Glassnote Entertainment Group
– This group-sung anthem relates regrets and mistakes in a hooky, folkie track that grabs your ears and doesn’t let go. A slam-dunk Americana chart-topper if I’ve ever heard one.

BRANTLEY GILBERT / “Good Damn”
Writers: Brantley Gilbert/Brock Berryhill/Michael Hardy/Taylor Phillips; Producers: Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill; Label: Wheelhouse Records
– He runs into an ex. She still looks hot. He misses her. She misses him, too. The song meanders around in search of a melody.

MITCHELL TENPENNY / “Speed of Light”
Writers: Dallas Wilson/Jaten Dimsdale/Jesse Hampton/Mitchell Tenpenny; Producer: none listed; Label: Sony Music Nashville/Riser House Records
– A vow of devotion and fidelity. He’ll be there for her, no matter the time or place. The electronic, computer-enhanced production ranges from gentle to roaring as he unspools his passion. Recommended.

MEGHAN PATRICK / “Safe Place to Break”
Writers: Meghan Patrick/Shane Minor/Zach Kale; Producer: Karen Kosowski; Label: Riser House Records
– Gritty and soulful, this is a stately ode to the shelter of a lover. She wails righteously while a bluesy track builds tension. Patrick is a multiple Canadian country Female Vocalist of the Year who is working on stateside stardom in Music City. She and Tenpenny are spouses.

HUDSON WESTBROOK / “Hey Dallas”
Writers: Beau Bailey/Hudson Westbrook/Lukas Klingensmith/Reid Haughton; Producers: Lukas Scott, Ryan Youmans; Label: River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville
– Look out, Texas, there’s a female tornado headed your way. Boyish and earnest, Westbrook knows he’ll be helpless when she touches down.

JELLY ROLL & CARIN LEÓN / “Lighter”
Writers: Daniel Rondón/Edgar Barrera/Henry Walter/Jason Deford/Jessi Alexander/Jessie Jo Dillon/Jon Randall/Luke Dick/Manuel Lorente Freire/Óscar Armando Díaz de León Huez; Producers: Cirkut, Luke Dick; Label: Def Jam Records
– This is the FIFA World Cup soccer theme song. León is a huge Latin star. On this three-way international collaboration, he represents Mexico; producer Cirkut represents Canada; Jelly Roll represents the U.S. Cirkut’s stomping pop track is dominated by Jelly Roll’s rousing shouts of victorious liberation with León chiming in with similar Spanish lyrics. It’s a worthy accompaniment to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Robert K Oermann
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