DISClaimer Single Reviews: Sheryl Crow Delivers ‘Dreamy Soundscape’ On New Ballad

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Sheryl Crow. Photo: Dove Shore/Courtesy of BMI

Hot enough for you?

Try cooling down with some of these Nashville sounds. Jordan Davis, Luke Bryan, Justin Moore, Shaboozey, and Stephen Wilson Jr. have some of the most refreshing tracks for your listening pleasure.

Topping my list for the week is Sheryl Crow, who has the Disc of the Day. New Warner artist Wesko earns the DISCovery Award.

WESKO / “By Way of Alabama”
Writers: Joe Kirkland/KK Johnson/Sam Backoff/Wesko; Producer: Ryan Gore; Label: Warner Records
– Completely captivating, refreshingly different and totally country. His downhome baritone voice, the catchy acoustic production and the overall jaunty attitude are all winners. Plus, Wesko (Wesley Keith Holmes) name-checks “Dixieland Delight,” “Paint Me a Birmingham,” and “Angel From Montgomery” in the lyric. Play this.

STEPHEN WILSON JR. / “Cørnerman”
Writer: Stephen Wilson Jr.; Producers: Ben West, Stephen Wilson Jr.; Label: Big Loud Records
– Dark and dramatic, this is a moving tribute to his late father. Wilson’s fierce artistic commitment and charismatic delivery shine through a slow, echoey track. With CMA nominations in the Song, Video, Male and New Artist categories, this man is rising like a rocket.

SHERYL CROW / “Freight Train”
Writers: Jeff Trott, Sheryl Crow; Producers: Jeff Trott, Sheryl Crow; Label: Old Green Barn Productions
– There was a lot of love in the room when BMI presented Crow with its Troubadour Award on Monday (Sept. 14). Jason Isbell, Olivia Rodrigo, Chris Stapleton, Melissa Etheridge and Eric Church sang her songs and video greetings came from The Chicks, Brandi Carlile, Jesse Welles, and prior Troubadour honorees Lucinda Williams, John Oates and Robert Earl Keen. This ballad from Crow’s forthcoming 12th album demonstrates that she is far from being finished. With its liquid, dreamy soundscape it explores loneliness with a gentle lilt. Massively wonderful and an instant AAA playlist add.

JORDAN DAVIS / “Mess”
Writers: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Paul DiGiovanni, Travis Wood; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: MCA
– He invites his ex to come over and make him a mess, again. He knows he’ll regret it, but he can’t help himself. This guy’s music never disappoints.

SIERRA FERRELL / “Pair of Dice”
Writers: Melody Walker/Sierra Ferrell; Producer: Gabriel Kelley; Label: Rounder Records
– A woosey fiddle and plunking guitar and mandolin strings underscore her meandering spiritual ruminations. Oblique yet fascinating.

SHABOOZEY & LEON BRIDGES / “Burn It Down”
Writers: Collins Chibueze/Connor Sullivan/Stephen Musselman/Todd Michael Bridges; Producer: Connor Sullivan, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook, Shaboozey, Stephen Musselman; Label: American Dogwood/EMPIRE
– Shaboozey’s album The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales is highlighted by this rolling, rumbling country-rock duet. He vows to get even with whoever hurt her. Open-air, Big-Sky music. Shaboozey’s tour arrives at Ascend Amphitheater tomorrow evening (Sept. 18).

THE TALKING HEARTS / “Out of the Frying Pan (Into The Fire)”
Writers: Lori Conley/Rachel Rosenberg; Producer: Zach Meyer; Label: TH
– This Boston band performs what it has dubbed “psychoanalytic country.” I call it merry rockabilly with a charmingly amateur, garage-country, d.i.y. vibe.

JUSTIN MOORE / “Missing You Night”
Writers: Jeremy Stover/Josh Phillips/Justin Moore/Mark Holman; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Label: Blue Highway Records
– This hooky thumper finds him on the mend from heartache until something (a jukebox song, a drink of whiskey) reminds him of her and he’s right back where he started. Well produced and very catchy.

VALERIE PONZIO / “American Smoke”
Writer: Valerie Elice Ponzio; Producer: Mike Minjarez; Label: VP
– This former contestant on The Voice is determined to carve out a renewed space for her Mexican-American heritage in country music. This open-road celebration finds her singing to the stratosphere while guitars chime around her.

WARREN ZEIDERS & BELLAH MAE / “Overrated”
Writers: Evan Blair/Jesse Fink/Sean Douglas/Warren Zeiders; Producer: Evan Blair; Label: Warner Records
– Zeiders has been promoting this bouncy, peppy country-pop ditty with appearances on Jimmy Fallon and America’s Got Talent. On disc, it’s a sprightly, toe tapping duet with British bopper Bellah Mae.

K. MICHELLE / “Yodel”
Writers: David Mescon/K. Michelle/Kelly Sheehan/Thomas Edwards/Tomy Ge; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: BBR Music Group/BMG
– She’s on the hunt for the perfect cowboy in this uptempo romp, punctuated by, yes, yodeling. K. Michelle continues her journey into country music, having already achieved stardom on the r&b charts.

LUKE BYRAN / “I Liked Loving You”
Writers: Jimi Bell/Jimmy Robbins/Kyle Sturrock; Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Tuneful and upbeat, with a searing heartache lyric. The hearty, rippling production is flawless.

SAM WILLIAMS / “Queen of Tennessee (Dolly’s Song)”
Writers: Bobby Tomberlin/Mark Narmore/Sam Williams; Producers: Bobby Tomberlin, Mark Narmore, Sam Williams; Label: Get it Done
– Willaims wrote this five years ago as a tribute to Dolly, and she reportedly loved it. In the wake of her passing, the lovely piano ballad has become his new release and a heartfelt homage. Essential listening.

Robert K Oermann
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