DISClaimer Single Reviews: Three Tunes Share Disc Of The Day

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Pictured (top row): Morgan Wallen & Kacey Musgraves. (bottom row): Carly Pearce, Dan Tyminski & Molly Tuttle.

This is a week of stunningly good new country sounds.

There is so much quality music in this stack that DISClaimer is issuing best-of honors in categories. The Male artist Disc of the Day is earned by Morgan Wallen. Give Kacey Musgraves the Female prize. The Group-performed Disc of the Day is the heavenly harmonized trio single by Carly Pearce, Dan Tyminski and Molly Tuttle.

The DISCovery Award goes to Mr. Wyatt McCubbin. Happy listening.

WYATT McCUBBIN / “Andy Griffith”
Writers: Ben Hayslip/Conner Smith/Rhett Akins/Wyatt McCubbin; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Lucille Records
– Simply and beautifully eloquent. The acoustic instrumental bed sets a captivating mood, while the lyric paints a picture of country innocence. Lucille is producer Dave Cobb’s label, and McCubbin is an established Music Row tunesmith. It turns out that he is a gently charismatic singer as well. I love this record.

KACEY MUSGRAVES / “Mexico Honey”
Writers: Kacey Musgraves/Luke Laird/Steph Jones; Producers: Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird; Label: Lost Highway
– Sultry and sensual. A warm, languid groove caresses her dream-like vocal performance. Sexy and summer-y.

ELIZABETH COOK / “Girls of Atomic City”
Writer: Elizabeth Cook; Producer: Shooter Jennings; Label: Agent Love Records
– This snappy country rocker salutes the war-era female factory workers who experienced financial independence and social freedoms their mothers couldn’t have. As always, Cook delivers the goods vocally. She is currently starring in the film The Easy Kind, a fictionalized version of her life story.

MORGAN WALLEN / “Been By Now”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/Charlie Handsome/John Byron/Morgan Wallen/Rocky Block/Taylor Phillips; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud/Mercury Records
– Commendable work in every way. The poetic lyric finds new angles to heartache. Wallen’s performance is electrifying, stretching his upper vocal range to new heights of intensity. A winner, for sure.

WAYLON PAYNE / “Weed By the Wall”
Writer: Waylon Payne; Producers: Eric Masse, Frank Liddell; Label: Big Loud Texas
– Evocative, reflective, and enthralling. A series of poetic images float through the echoey accompaniment, ending with the nakedly honest, “I’m a songwriter.” Drawn from Payne’s excellent new album, Wayward.

LAUREN ALAINA & KANE BROWN / “Never Been In Love”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ben Johnson/Lauren Alaina; Producer: Ben Johnson; Label: Big Loud Records
– These two artists were childhood friends. On this burbling, pop-music bopper they swap verses in between electro beats and plucked strings. Then they sing in unison rather than in harmony.

DEVON GILFILLIAN & MADELINE EDWARDS / “You Can Hate Me Now”
Writers: Devon Gilfillian/Jeremy Lutito/Madeline Edwards; Producers: Devon Gilfillian, Jonathan Smalt; Label: Fantasy
– Former Warner country artist Edwards resurfaces on Time Will Tell, the new Devon Gilfillian r&b album, via this bluesy duet. The end of a relationship is depicted in a slow, dragging ballad that somehow holds together thanks to their aching vocals.

JULIA COLE & BRELAND / “Loving Someone Like That”
Writers: Daniel Breland/Julia Cole/Mason Sacks; Producers: Josh Ronen, Julia Cole; Label: broke
– Hooky and catchy as all get out. The singers’ voices blend flawlessly, with Breland’s heartbreak harmonies keeping Cole’s soprano down to earth. Effortlessly appealing.

LUCIE TIGER / “Last Call for Trouble”
Writer: Lucienne Tiger O’Connor; Producers: Charles Holloman, Lucie Tiger; Label: 2120 Music
– Tiger has placed a long series of indie singles on the MusicRow charts. The latest from this Aussie-turned-Nashvillian finds her warbling amid shuffling, moody beats, choppy production, and ghostly guitars. The honky-tonk story depicts her after-midnight temptation. The track feels like it could use some meat on its spare bones.

CARLY PEARCE, DAN TYMINSKI & MOLLY TUTTLE / “What If You Loved Me”
Writers: Jordan Reynolds/Lauren Hungate/Parker Welling; Producers: Ben West, Carly Pearce; Label: Stoney Creek Records
– This trio performance took the top of my head off. Dan’s mandolin and low harmonies, plus Molly’s banjo and soprano notes are coupled with Carly’s lead vocal and guitar to create audio heaven. Utterly exquisite.

AVERY ANNA / “Blood Runs Thicker”
Writers: Andy Sheridan/Avery Anna/David Fanning; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– The ACM New Female Vocalist winner rocks out on this bluesy stomper. Alas, she is not a rock singer.

BRAD PAISLEY / “Home Sweet Hotel”
Writers: Brad Paisley/Lee Thomas Miller; Producers: Brad Paisley, Luke Wooten; Label: BP
– She told him to go to hell, which rhymes with hotel. Brad’s rippling guitar riffs and lonely vocal are just right on this midtempo outing. I like the way the track begins and ends with just his bereft voice and stark acoustic guitar. Brilliantly produced and performed.

ANA CRISTINA CASH / “How Do I Live / Como Vivir Sin Verte”
Writer: Diane Warren; Producer: John Carter Cash; Label: Avondale Records
– Cash has issued two revivals of this 1997 classic, one in English and one in Spanish. Both of them easily measure up to the hit performances by Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes. In fact, she sounds a little more “country” than either of those stars. Well worth your spins.

Robert K Oermann
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