DISClaimer Single Reviews: Melissa Etheridge & Chris Stapleton Team For Disc Of The Day
Melissa Etheridge & Chris Stapleton.
Whether in romantic ballads or rollicking tempo tunes, there’s a definite summertime feel in this week’s country tracks.
The session was dominated by two outstanding duet performances. One unites Jamie Floyd and Jake Hoot, who sing their faces off in “The Blade.” The other pairs rock superstar Melissa Etheridge with country titan Chris Stapleton. Their electrifying combination as both writers and singers earns them the Disc of the Day award.
Texas strikes again as The Droptines earn a DISCovery Award.
BRETT YOUNG & COLBIE CAILLAT / “If the World Was Ending”
Writers: Jonathan Percy Saxe/Julia Michaels; Producer: Noah Needleman; Label: BMX
– Young and Caillat put their spin on this pop tune, and the result is elegantly listenable. It ain’t country, but it is quite lovely.
LAUREN ALAINA / “Raining Whiskey”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Big Loud Records
– There’s a little too much that’s computer generated in the production, but her performance is solid. The heartbreak lyric is clever.
TY MYERS / “Me Neither”
Writer: Ty Myers; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: RECORDS Nashville/Columbia/Outlier Recordings
– Gently persuasive. The pop groove swirls around his softly caressing vocal delivery. The airy track frames a romantic message. This teenage singer-songwriter has a definite heartthrob vibe going on.
MELISSA ETHERIDGE & CHRIS STAPLETON / “The Other Side of Blue”
Writers: Chris Stapleton/Melissa Etheridge; Producers: Melissa Etheridge, Shooter Jennings; Label: Sun Records
– Ultra dramatic, brilliant work. Both vocalists have off-the-charts vocal charisma, and together they are simply awesome. The song eloquently addresses the agony of grief and its ultimately spirit cleansing aftermath. You’ll find it on her essential new album, Rise.
GRAHAM BARHAM / “BREAKUP (DOWN)”
Writers: Cole Miracle/Graham Barham/Jared Cotter/Jay Sean/Jeremy Skaller/Lydia Vaughan/Robert Larow/Sam Bergeson; Producer: Sam Bergeson; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Welcome to “Club Country,” where dance beats meet honky-tonk heartache.
LUKE GRIMES / “Drink Drink Drink”
Writers: Dave Cobb/Jessie Jo Dillon/Luke Grimes; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: MCA
– A rousing barroom anthem, propelled by banjo and fiddle. Grimes hearty baritone is joined by a gang sing-along on the choruses. Pour me a double. The singer’s Marshals neo-western TV series airs on CBS on Sunday nights.
EMILY ANN ROBERTS / “My Future”
Writers: Emily Ann Roberts/Micah Wilshire/Shane Minor; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: RECORDS Nashville/Sony Music Nashville
– Sunny, jaunty, bopping and charmingly nutty. She takes one look and goes into a giddy fantasy of plunging into lasting love. Her saucy delivery has one built-in smile after another.
THE DROPTINES / “Snowed In”
Writer: Kenneth C Arthur; Producer: Taylor Tatsch; Label: Big Loud Texas
– Rootsy. The raspy vocal, haunting lyric and atmospheric production mark this Americana band as a force of the future. The hard-working Texas quintet has been doing things the old-fashioned way, grinding out gig after gig and winning fans one by one.
ASHLEY MONROE / “I Hate Nashville”
Writers: Ashley Monroe/Luke Laird; Producers: Ashley Monroe, Luke Laird; Label: Mountainrose Sparrow
– What’s there to say when you love country music, but it doesn’t love you back? Say it in this lovely, lilting song that’s both a love letter and an unrequited lament. As always, her voice is a beacon of honesty and her writing is three chords and the truth. Loving this.
JAMIE FLOYD & JAKE HOOT / “The Blade”
Writers: Allen Shamblin/Jamie Floyd/Marc Beeson; Producer: Jimmy Thow; Label: Jamie Floyd Music
– Originally popularized by Ashley Monroe, “The Blade” retains its haunting power in this duet between Floyd and The Voice competitor Hoot. They harmonize beautifully in their full-throated, chill-bump inducing arrangement. Echoey electric guitar and steel add the icing on this delicious masterwork.
JACKSON DEAN / “Hey Mississippi”
Writers: Jackson Dean/Jessie Jo Dillon/Luke Dick; Producer: Luke Dick; Label: Blue Highway Records
– He’s smitten with a Delta darlin’ in this magnolia-scented ditty. The understated production frames his relaxed vocal perfectly with its pristine guitar riffs. The softly swaying vibe sounds like languid Southern summer.
JO DEE MESSINA / “Don’t Let Them Hide Your Beautiful”
Writers: Blessing Offor/David Spencer/Jo Dee Messina; Producer: David Spencer; Label: Dreambound Records
– Sparkling and twinkling with upbeat positivity. Messina sings with immense verve here, and the track bops along smartly. A sweetly delivered feminist anthem.
WARREN ZEIDERS / “Drinking Game”
Writers: Elof Loelv/Evan Blair/J Kash/Jesse Fink/Michael Pollack/Warren Zeiders; Producer: Evan Blair; Label: Warner Records
– This takes off with a woosh and a rush as Zeiders tackles a tempo tune that barrels down the track with monster energy. A breezy carnival ride.
