DISClaimer Single Reviews: Midland & Clint Black Team For Disc Of The Day

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Midland & Clint Black

DISClaimer features an invasion of Texans this week.

The listening session featured Angel White, the late Waylon Jennings, La Energia Nortena, Sammy Sauceda, Keith Nieto, and Rico Gonzalez. And then there’s Houston homeboy Clint Black collaborating with Midland on our Disc of the Day, the Lone Star State salute “Up In Texas.”

The DISCovery Award goes to native North Carolinian Blake Proehl. He’s a former NFL player and American Idol contestant who now calls Nashville home.

JASON SCOTT & THE HIGH HEAT / “Shit Show”
Writers: Jason Scott/Taylor Johnson; Producer: Chad Copelin, Jason Scott, Taylor Johnson; Label: Leo33
– Raucous, rowdy and rocking, this record froths and foams like a mad dog on the loose. The wildly energetic Oklahoma City band has a video for this that is most definitely PG rated.

THE WAR AND TREATY / “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore”
Writers: Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman/Jessi Alexander/Jon Randall/Kenneth B. Edmonds/Tanya Trotter; Producers: Babyface, Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, The War And Treaty; Label: War and Treaty/ATL Outpost
– Country heartbreak lyrics masterfully married to an old-school r&b ballad track. Righteous singing, as usual. This couple is the best thing that has happened to roots music in years.

DYLAN SCOTT / “Dear Big City”
Writers: Jamie Paulin/Matt Alderman/Nate Kenyon; Producers: Matt Alderman, Will Weatherly; Label: Curb Records
– A country boy leaves home and heads for the bright lights of town. His folks are worried about what will become of him, so they write a letter asking the big bad world to treat him gently. The letter is signed, “sincerely, Small Town.” Stirring, sweet, and plaintive.

THE JACK WHARFF BAND / “Lowlife”
Writers: Evan Novoa/Jack Wharff/Joe Clemmons/Neil Medley; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: Big Machine Records
– Strummy acoustic guitars, sawing fiddle, and jaunty, youthful vocal harmonies. He’s a nobody in love with a hot babe. “I might be a lowlife, but I’m on a high road tonight,” he warbles.

MACKENZIE CARPENTER / “Heart That Don’t Break”
Writers: none listed; Producer: Jimmy Robbins; Label: Big Machine Records
– With all the wonders we have created, why can’t we invent a heart that doesn’t break when he says goodbye? The tune is a juicy one, and she sings the heck out of it. This recent ACM nominee also has a current track called “High Pony” that bops smartly. Stardom awaits.

MIDLAND & CLINT BLACK / “Up in Texas”
Writers: Bryan Simpson/Cameron Duddy/Jess Carson/Josh Osborne; Producers: Cameron Duddy, Jess Carson, Mark Wystrach, Trent Willmon; Label: Blue Highway Records
– Now this is what I call country music. Texans love to brag, but it’s hard to argue with the assertion that the Lone Star State has “the best songs, the best bars.” Highly engaging and sung with enormous aplomb.

ANGEL WHITE / “LONESTAR GIRL”
Writers: Angel White/Charlie Heat/Jeffrey East; Producers: Angel White, Joseph Holguin; Label: American Dogwood / EMPIRE
– This fifth-generation Texas cowboy struts his way through this back-to-basics blues stomper. It is the theme song for Wrangler’s new line of shirts, and White stars in the ads. American Dogwood is Shaboozey’s new label.

CARLY PEARCE / “She Don’t”
Writers: Bryan Simpson/Matt Rossi; Producers: Ben West, Carly Pearce; Label: BBR Music Group/BMG
– Her Riley Green duet is still rocking the charts, but Carly’s Honest Woman album-release announcement this week is accompanied by this lilting portrait of a femme free spirit. The upbeat sound of blissful innocence.

EXILE / “Look Out, Heart”
Writer: JP Pennington; Producers: JP Pennington, Sonny LeMaire; Label: StarVista
– This veteran band still knows how to craft a hook-y performance. This country rocker  is ridiculously catchy, from the guitar riffs to the harmonized choruses. Tap yer toes and sing along.

BLAKE PROEHL / “She Got It”
Writers: Blake Proehl/Connor McCutcheon/John Spencer Jordan/Joseph Tounge/Lydia Sutherland/Todd Tran; Producer: Todd Tran; Label: MCA
– He can’t put his finger on whatever it is that makes her so lovable. But he’s rocking out while trying. Bopping and summer-flavored.

GABBY BARRETT / “In On It”
Writers: Jimi Bell/Jimmy Robbins/Jon Nite; Producer: Ross Copperman; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– Nicely done. It has just the right amount of thump and drive as she conveys hope and perseverance. As it heads into the home stretch, her performance gets kinda triumphant sounding.

WAYLON JENNINGS / “Diamonds”
Writers: Glen Campbell/Waylon Jennings; Producers: Richie Albright, Shooter Jennings, Tony Joe White, Waylon Jennings; Label: Son of Jessi
– This is the title tune of an album of previously unreleased tracks by Country Music Hall of Fame member Jennings. It’s a basic, too-simple country rocker that rumbles along, but pauses for two sizzling guitar solos by Glen Campbell.

LA ENERGIA NORTENA / “Friends in Low Places”
Writers: Dewayne Blackwell/Earl Bud Lee; Producers: Adrian Zamarripa, Carlos H. Alvarez; Label: Azteca Records
– This rollicking norteno production features scampering, sizzling squeezebox licks. The vocals are appropriately hearty and the track is much more peppy than Garth’s original. While you’re exploring this, you might also want to sample “Dios Bendijo Texas (God Blessed Texas)” in a bi-lingual “Texican mix” by Sammy Sauceda, Keith Nieto and Rico Gonzales. Both of these zippy tracks are big fun.

Robert K Oermann
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