DISClaimer Single Reviews: Carly Pearce Is ‘Delightfully Snarky & Sassy’

/by

 

Carly Pearce. Photo: Luke Rogers

Ballads dominate this edition of DISClaimer, but a few of the country stars are making toe-tapping sounds as well.

Our balladeers include Riley Green, Reba McEntire and Braxton Keith. Willie & Shooter are emoting so mellow that they’re nodding off.

For tempo tunes, turn to Shaboozey, Vincent Mason and the team of Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen. Not to mention feisty Carly Pearce, who wins the Disc of the Day award.

Returning to ballad mode, we welcome Steven McClintock as our DISCovery Award winner this week.

VINCENT MASON / “Don’t Ask Me”
Writers: Hillary Lindsey/Jack Rauton/Luke Laird/Vincent Mason; Producers: Brett Truitt, Jake Gear, Vincent Mason; Label: MCA Nashville/Music Soup/Interscope Records
– Nominated as New Male Artist by the ACM, Mason has a new uptempo ditty that exudes boyish charm. The acoustic-based track bubbles along with jaunty innocence while the lyric paints a picture of a heartbroken fellow who has no one to blame but himself.

KIP MOORE / “Faith in the Wind”
Writers: Andrew DeRoberts/Kip Moore/Luke Preston; Producers: Andrew DeRoberts, Kip Moore; Label: KM
– A solitary soul sings of his journey into a mystery future while a lustrous, echoey track surrounds his meditation. He’s on a quest, but does not know his destination in life. Haunting and highly listenable.

ASHLEY McBRYDE / “Lines in the Carpet”
Writers: Caroline Watkins/Lauren Hungate/Lori McKenna; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– “What If We Don’t” remains the single. But McBryde continues to tease her forthcoming album Wild (due May 8) with this driving, urgent cry of the heart. A woman continues doing her day-after-day domestic chores feeling trapped and miserable, but her husband is oblivious. McBryde continues her unbroken reputation for quality country.

SHABOOZEY / “Born to Die”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: American Dogwood
– Shaboozey’s next album will be a concept collection that tells a tale of western revenge. Its lead single rushes forward with rhythmic energy. “Raise a glass to always living life like we ain’t born to die,” he sings in the dark party anthem. Arguably the most innovative and creative sonic personality in contemporary country music. Long may he sing.

ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN / “I Can’t Love You Anymore”
Writer: Ella Langley; Producer: none listed; Label: Columbia/SAWGOD
– These two red-hot stars team up for a stirring, breezy, rhythmic duet with swapped verses and Wallen harmonizing nicely on the choruses.

RILEY GREEN / “My Way”
Writer: Riley Green; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– Anticipating his role on TV’s Marshals (airing this Sunday), Green issues a baritone ballad of sad resignation over a failed romance. His fluid, intimate, expressive delivery is framed by gently plucked guitar, bass, dobro and strings. Country eloquence. The song will be featured during Green’s episode of the CBS-TV hit.

STEVEN McCLINTOCK / “To You From Me”
Writers: Richard Addrisi/Steven McClintock; Producer: none listed; Label: SM
– Record promo veteran Bill Wence has been boosting indie artists for 52 years. His latest discovery sings this sweet, melodic love song in a soft tenor that is earnest and sincere. Piano and steel accompaniment add to the romantic mood. Co-writer Addrisi (1941-2025) was best known for penning the evergreen “Never My Love.”

CARLY PEARCE / “You Can Have Him”
Writers: Carly Pearce/Carter Faith/Lauren Hungate/Tofer Brown; Producer: none listed; Label: Blue Highway Records
– Delightfully snarky and sassy. Addressing the gals around her, Pearce tells them they’re welcome to a dude with loose morals and a wandering eye. Packed with attitude and personality, not to mention twangin’ steel.

BRAXTON KEITH / “Don’t No More”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– She’s left him behind. Evidently, she’s quite good at completely blocking out their past, and he reports it all in this yearning ballad. Pristinely produced, well written and sung with heart.

SHOOTER JENNINGS & WILLIE NELSON / “When I’m Stoned”
Writer: Jason Phillip Boland; Producer: Shooter Jennings; Label: HELL PONY ARCHIVES
– These two celebrated 4/20 this week as the annual weed-awareness date with this ditty. It’s way beyond “laid back” and sounds like they recorded it in an oil drum. Both vocalists seem to be meandering around looking for the melody. The band is Jason Boland & The Stragglers, whose original version is better.

CORB LUND & HAYES CARLL / “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”
Writers: Garth Brooks/Randy Taylor; Producer: none listed; Label: New West Records
– These two Americana stars have a strikingly effective arrangement of the Garth Brooks classic. It’s just their voices, an acoustic guitar and a cello, and it is absolutely brilliant and stunning. The broken rodeo man in the lyric comes truly alive here. Open your ears for something utterly refreshing, and play this.

REBA McENTIRE / “One Night In Tulsa”
Writers: Kylie Frey/Neal Coty/Thom McHugh; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Rockin’ R Records/MCA
– Country heartbreak in the throat of a Great. Every singer in this industry needs to listen to this ballad for a lesson in excellence.

SHAWN CAMP / “Sis Draper”
Writers: Guy Clark/Shawn Camp; Producer: Shawn Camp; Label: Truly Handmade Records
– Shawn is at No. 1 on the bluegrass chart this month with the title tune of his The Ghost of Sis Draper concept album. Draper was a fiddle hero of Camp’s when he was growing up in Arkansas. His homage to her is a ethereal, bluesy lament with fiddle notes weaving in and out of the mix. His misty, moody vocal is exquisitely dramatic. Essential listening.

Robert K Oermann
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)