DISClaimer Single Reviews: Hudson Westbrook Claims Disc Of The Day
Hudson Westbrook. Photo: Ian Noh
Country music groups and collaborations vie for our attention today in DISClaimer.
The Red Clay Strays, Midland and 49 Winchester are representing country bands in this week’s column. Our collabs include Russell Dickerson with Fetty Wap, Rodney Crowell with the late Guy Clark, and this week’s DISCovery Award winners ALeeN Rose with Willie Nelson.
The Disc of the Day is “Backwards” by Hudson Westbrook.
Sunday is Mother’s Day. I have four suggestions for the holiday’s soundtrack. Danny Kensy offers “Mama’s Recipe.” Camille Harrison is issuing “I Miss You, Mother.” Alex Miller has “Just a Mom.” Canadian Abigail Lapell has an entire collection with the day’s theme. Her Shadow Child is “an album about motherhood whose nine songs each represent a month of gestation,” or so it says here.
McCOY MOORE / “Not Even Close”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/McCoy Moore/Sam Ellis; Producer: Will Bundy; Label: Sony Music Nashville/Cervidae Records
– Dishing out compliments to his lover. In his eyes, she’s the ultimate best.
THE RED CLAY STRAYS / “Demons In Your Choir”
Writers: Brandon Coleman/Dakota Coleman/Matthew Coleman; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: RCA Records
– It’s a slow-burn, gospel-flavored anthem with moody, minor-key drama about spiritual deliverance. An absolutely searing lead vocal, righteous piano chords and an uplifting church choir. Somebody say, “Amen.”
ALYSSA MICAELA / “Born In Boots”
Writers: Alyssa Micaela/Olivia Rudeen/Tori Tullier; Producers: Stormy Cooper, Will Braun; Label: Azteca Ranch Music
– Bouncing and bubbly. She’s a proud cowgirl who chose boots over dolls and never looked back. Innocent fun.
RODNEY CROWELL & GUY CLARK / “Are You One of Us?”
Writer: Rodney Crowell; Producers: Rodney Crowell, Steuart Smith; Label: New West Records
– Crowell explores the “us-versus-them” attitudes of today with the late Clark interjecting fatherly wisdom. It starts off with a hushed series of statements underscored by insistent electric guitar, then builds to a rocking crescendo. The whole thing is utterly haunting and poetic. The song (and the previously reviewed “Go Light a Candle”) will appear on Crowell’s long-lost Then Again LP, which drops June 26. I’m buyin’ a copy.
ALeeN ROSE & WILLIE NELSON / “They’re There”
Writers: Amy Lee Nelson/Tina Rose Bridges/Willie Nelson; Producers: ALeeN Rose, Jeff Klein, Matt Hubbard; Label: Luna Wolf
– This duo is comprised of Willie’s daughter, Amy Nelson, and Tina Rose Bridges, who is Leon Russell’s daughter. Their country ballad invokes Amy’s late brother Billy and Tina’s late father, stating that their spirits walk alongside them every day. Willie provides his distinctive guitar as the instrumental solo, then chimes in with a third harmony part. Lovely listening.
MIDLAND / “Shooting Memories With Tequila”
Writers: Joe Clemmons/Mike Walker/Ryan Beaver; Producer: Trent Willmon; Label: Blue Highway Records
– Give these guys a gold star for singing songs with actual melodies. Breezy heartaches, laced with creamy vocal harmonies and lilting steel guitar characterize this one. Riffs and lyrics in the production lend the track a Latin accent. Wonderfully tuneful and effortlessly engaging. By all means, play it.
JENNY TOLMAN / “Show Pony”
Writers: Dave Brainard/Jenny Tolman/Matt Willis; Producer: Dave Brainard; Label: Old Sol Records
– Tolman gallops a sprightly country rocker around the track at a lickety-split pace. The lyric warns a guy that his gal “ain’t nothin’ but a show pony you been trotting around” and not the thoroughbred he thinks she is.
DON WILLIAMS / “How Can I Miss What I Never Had”
Writer: Bob McDill; Producers: Garth Fundis, Tim Williams; Label: Craft Recordings
– Previously unheard performances by Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams will be issued next month on a collection titled Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes. This one is a sad, resigned ballad about a dead relationship that’s infused with his trademark vocal warmth. Tunesmith McDill was also behind such Don Williams classics as “Amanda,” “It Must Be Love,” “Love Me Tonight” and, unforgettably, “Good Ole Boys Like Me.”
HUDSON WESTBROOK / “Backwards”
Writers: Hudson Westbrook/Lukas Klingensmith/Nicolette Hayford/Reid Haughton; Producers: Lukas Scott, Ryan Youman; Label: River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville
– Her leaving turned his world upside down. ACM New Male Vocalist nominee Westbrook delivers the midtempo meditation in a plaintive, expressive, softly aching fashion that’s mighty affecting.
RUSSELL DICKERSON & FETTY WAP / “Boots”
Writers: Dylan Marlowe/Matt Dragstrem/Russell Dickerson; Producer: none listed; Label: Triple Tigers
– Top showman Dickerson lights up Ascend Amphitheater tomorrow (May 8). Don’t have tickets? Party-on anyhow by listening to his latest, a country-trap mash-up with million-seller Fetty Wap. The bopping singer sees a gal on the dance floor wearing boots and a sundress and is smitten. Beats abound.
49 WINCHESTER / “Slowly”
Writers: Chris Tompkins/Isaac Gibson/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: New West Records/Lucille Records/MCA
– I caught these guys on a recent Opry TV broadcast and was stunned by what a tight band they are. From organ sighs to steel-guitar pinpricks, from note-perfect harmony vocals to acoustic ripples and taut drumming, 49 Winchester has it all goin’ on. The band’s latest single is a strummy country toe tapper about moving forward despite feeling like crap. Highly recommended.
KACEY MUSGRAVES / “Middle of Nowhere”
Writers: Daniel Tashian/Ian Fitchuk/Kacey Musgraves; Producers: Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves; Label: Lost Highway
– Shifting time signatures, moaning steel and a male duet harmony vocal characterize the title tune of Musgraves’ new album. Like the rest of the collection, the wafting sound leans back toward her Texas country roots.
ERNEST / “What’s a Little Rain”
Writers: David Garcia/Ernest Keith Smith/Rodney Clawson; Producers: ERNEST, Jacob Durrett; Label: Big Loud Records
– An airy, beach-y production paints this as a watercolor wash while the singer exudes romance and dreamy relaxation. Irresistibly pretty.
