Happy Leap Year Day.

This only happens every four years, but thank goodness Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Jordan Davis and Kameron Marlowe don’t wait that long between releases. All of them shine on this week’s playlist.

So do such and up-and-comers as Erin Kirby and Emily Ann Roberts. Along with Brice, they were contenders for the Disc of the Day award. But it goes to a woman who has always been a superstar in my eyes, Ashley McBryde.

This week’s DISCovery Award winner is new Nashvillian Thunderstorm Artis. Welcome, bro.

ERIN KIRBY / “Pick My Own Flowers”
Writers: Erin Kirby/Phil Barton/Thomas Finchum; Producer: Frank Legeay; Label: InDent
– I encountered this youngster’s music at a Song Suffragettes showcase this week. Her new single is a slap of country soul. Her fiery vocal essays an independent-woman lyric that hits a homerun. This scores huge in both the writing and the performance departments.

DIERKS BENTLEY / “American Girl”
Writer: Tom Petty; Producer: Jon Randall; Label: Valory
– This is the lead track from Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty. Unlike so many country “tributes” to pop acts, this one makes a great deal of sense. Petty was always kinda “country” to my ears, and Bentley’s rocking, fiddle-and-banjo bedecked arrangement of this 1994 classic supports that opinion. The sound and the song are splendid.

GEORGE BIRGE / “Cowboy Songs”
Writers: Michael Tyler/George Birge/Lalo Guzman/Matt McGinn; Producers: Lalo Guzman/Matt McGinn; Label: RECORDS Nashville
– Birge has landed a slot on this year’s CRS New Faces showcase, thanks to his breakout hit “Mind On You.” That song’s follow-up is a moody, mid-tempo swirl of sound. He yearns for a gal who only dances to hardcore country tunes, especially Waylon. The mix wisely underplays the electric-rock instrumentation in favor of his earnest vocal.

LEE BRICE & FOR KING & COUNTRY / “Checking In”
Writers: Garrett Jacobs/Kenneth Cooper Hart/Michael Farren; Producer: Ben Glover; Label: Curb Records
– Heart-tugging and tearful, this beautifully written ballad explores the pain and regret of a father-son relationship. They leave phone messages for one another, but don’t connect often enough. Now it’s too late, because the dad has passed and the son aches for that communication. From the soundtrack of an upcoming movie titled Unsung Hero.

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS & MIRANDA LAMBERT / “Space In My Heart”
Writers: Simon Wilcox/Carlos Paucar/Enrique Iglesias/Nolan Lambroza/Ross Golan; Producers: Carlos Paucar/Mark Taylor; Label: Sony Music Latin
– The King of Latin Pop meets the most awarded ACM artist in history on this gorgeous, romantic, lilting little piece of heaven. The love song’s airy production is just beautiful, and their two voices sound like a country match of perfection. “There’s a space in my heart, and it’s just your shape,” they sigh together. Absolutely play this.

KENNY CHESNEY / “Thinkin’ Bout”
Writers: Kyle Fishman/Tucker Beathard; Producers: Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney; Label: Blue Chair Records/Warner Music Nashville
– It’s time to let go of the relationship, but it sure is hard. Chesney dips into his baritone register for most of the outing, which gives this a smooth, dreamy and contemplative vibe. Drowsy listening.

EMILY ANN ROBERTS / “Devils Wears Denim”
Writers: Autumn McEntire/Emily Ann Roberts/Trent Willmon; Producer: Trent Willmon; Label: Starstruck Records
– I love country story songs, especially the dark ones. She falls for a devastatingly handsome cowboy who turns out to be a venomous bigamist. When she discovers his duplicity, he mysteriously vanishes. Daddy taught her how to bury a snake, it seems. Roberts delivers it in her east Tennessee drawl that is utterly captivating. This charmer is a richly deserving addition to this year’s CMT Next Women of Country cast.

KAMERON MARLOWE / “Quit You”
Writers: James McNair/John Pierce/Kameron Marlowe; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Columbia Nashville
– He kicks cigarettes and cuts back on his drinking because now he’s addicted to her. His hearty voice exudes love and warmth throughout this performance. Yet another demonstration of why Marlowe remains one of my ultra favorite young male country voices.

THUNDERSTORM ARTIS / “Don’t Let Me Let You Go”
Writers: Dakota Striplin/Phoebe Kathleen Scott/Thunderstorm Artis; Producer: Mykyl; Label: Thunderstorm Artis
– His gripping, passionate, raspy tenor voice is instantly ear catching. There’s an R&B flavor to this conflicted-love ballad that builds from a light whisper to a searing, powerful shout. Promising in the extreme. Please send more. Artis is a veteran of The Voice TV competition.

ASHLEY McBRYDE / “The Devil I Know”
Writers: Ashley McBryde/Bobby Pinson/Jeremy Stover; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– I reviewed this nearly a year ago as the title tune of her album. Now it is her new single, so those words bear repeating: “Snarling electric guitar, slapped percussion, nervous acoustic strumming, chant-like support vocals and wild audio frothing make this a heart-stopping listening experience. The lyric is just as riveting—she’s a bar fly who resists changing her wayward ways. This woman rules.” I love it that she was introduced at Warner’s CRS showcase yesterday as, “The incomparable Ashley McBryde.” Amen to that.

DOLLY PARTON & MELISSA MANCHESTER / “Midnight Blue”
Writers: Melissa Manchester/Carole Bayer Sager; Producer: Melissa Manchester; Label: Green Hill Productions
– Manchester’s 1975 classic gets a fabulous revival thanks to extraordinary harmonic embellishments by Parton. Enchanting from first note to last. There’s also a music video. Miss this audio delight at your peril.

JORDAN DAVIS / “Good News Sold”
Writers: Cole Taylor/Jacob Davis/Jordan Rowe; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: MCA Nashville
– Wistful and thoughtful. “If good news sold, things wouldn’t seem so bad,” he sings in a hushed, sweet manner. This award-winning man always turns in quality work.

Country music is rocking this week.

Hardy, Kylie Frey, Chase Matthews, Anne Wilson, Nate Smith and Darci Lynne are amping up the volume. And from their ranks come both of this week’s award winners.

Nailing down her first Disc of the Day award is Anne Wilson, who combines her Christian music background with country storytelling on “God and Country.” The DISCovery Award goes to Kylie Frey.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that both performers have been named to this year’s class of CMT’s Next Women of Country. Carter Faith was in last year’s class, and she is represented this week by her fine duet with Sam Williams on a Tammy Wynette classic.

DARCI LYNNE/ “Push Our Luck”
Writers: Darci Lynne/Maggie McClure/Shane Henry; Producers: The Imaginaries/Maggie McClure/Shane Henry; Label: DL
– Muddy production and compressed vocals do her no favors. Her singing is sprightly and assured on the country-rock number. This youngster won as a ventriloquist on America’s Got Talent in 2018 and has been touring successfully ever since. She reportedly has more than seven million followers on social media.

SAM WILLIAMS & CARTER FAITH/ “’Til I Can Make It On My Own”
Writers: George Richey/Billy Sherrill/Tammy Wynette; Producers: Nathan Sexton/Ben Roberts; Label: Mercury Nashville
– It’s a magnificent country classic. These two youngsters bring complimentary vocal personalities to their duet performance of it. Both ache with believability. The song was originally a No.1 hit for its co-writer Tammy Wynette in 1976. Its revival is well-timed since Wynette was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award this month.

ANNE WILSON/ “God And Country”
Writers: Anne Wilson/Jeff Pardo/Matthew West/Trannie Anderson; Producers: Jeff Pardo/Jonathan Smith; Label: Sparrow (SPR)
– The single might be “Rain in the Rearview,” but this advance track from the Christian-music star’s country album debut is a spectacular show-stopper. The production rocks splendidly, she sings her face off and the lyric is a beautifully written series of contrasting images. Absolutely play this. Wilson is in this year’s class of CMT’s Next Women of Country.

BLAKE SHELTON & GWEN STEFANI/ “Purple Irises”
Writers: Gwen Stefani/Jakob Hazell/Niko Rubio/Svante Halldin; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– This is pop music, but whenever Blake’s voice is emphasized it comes back down to earth. Mind you, that isn’t often enough.

DYLAN MARLOWE/ “You Did It Too”
Writers: Dallas Davidson/Dylan Marlowe/Joe Fox; Producer: Joe Fox; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– The dobro-laced track is spare and empty, which places the focus firmly on his country boy vocal. The autobiographical lyric defends his wrong-side-of-the-tracks lifestyle against haters who talk trash about his hillbilly culture.

KACEY MUSGRAVES/ “Deeper Well”
Writers: Daniel Tashian/Ian Fitchuk/Kacey Musgraves; Producers: Daniel Tashian/Ian Fitchuk/Kacey Musgraves; Label: Interscope Records/MCA Nashville
– Her lilting, double-tracked vocal explores a failed relationship while acoustic guitars ripple around her. Echoey and enchanting. Different sounding, and different is good.

LARRY CORDLE/ “How Could I Love Her So Much”
Writer: Hugh Mofatt; Producer: Larry Cordle; Label: Mighty Cord Records
– Cordle is a Kentucky Music Hall of Fame member who has made his mark as a hit country songwriter and a hit bluegrass artist. This 1983 Johnny Rodriguez oldie has long been one of my favorite country songs. Its revival as a bluegrass track is an audio delight. Twin fiddles, rippling banjo, fleet-fingered guitar picking, sizzling mandolin, and high-lonesome vocal harmonies—what’s not to love?

SCOTTY McCREERY/ “Love Like This”
Writers: Aaron Eshuis/Frank Rogers/Scotty McCreery; Producers: Frank Rogers/Aaron Eshuis/Derek Wells; Label: Triple Tigers
– The ode to fatherhood is right on the money in every department. Great production of its shifting tempos. Tight songwriting. And, as always, he sings flawlessly.

KYLIE FREY/ “Miss Thang”
Writers: Adam Hood/Brent Cobb/Kylie Frey; Producers: Trent Willmon/Paul Worley; Label: Deep Frey’d Music
– Rampaging and rocking, yet country to the core. The new Next Women of Country participant bites into this lyric with fierce commitment while the track froths and foams around her.

NATE SMITH/ “Bulletproof”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Hunter Phelps/Ashley Gorley; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: RCA Records Nashville
– “World on Fire” was No. 1 for eight weeks. “Whiskey on You” sold Platinum. Smith’s new single moans about heartbreak, noting that booze doesn’t help a bit, because her memory is “bulletproof” despite the “shots.” Electric guitars grind and scream in the background.

CHASE MATTHEW/ “Small Town Shit”
Writers: Daniel Ross/Jessie Jo Dillon/Jaxson Free/Taylor Phillips; Producers: Alex Maxwell/Daniel Ross/Jake Angel; Label: Chase Matthew Music/Warner Music Nashville
– Hip-hop beats infuse his recitation of backwoods country cliches. It wears out its welcome pretty quickly.

HARDY/ “Rockstar”
Writers: Michael Hardy/Jacob Durrett/Blake Pendergrass; Producers: Joey Moi/Hardy/Jacob Durrett; Label: Big Loud Records/Big Loud Rock
– Zesty, hard rocking and delightfully tongue-in-cheek. I love his wry, wise-ass attitude.

We have fresh faces and fresh sounds in DISClaimer today.

Vying for the DISCovery Award were first-timers Kashus Culpepper, Karley Scott Collins and Lizzie No. Right alongside them are new tunes from such marvelous “baby acts” as Tigirlily Gold, Zach Top, Sierra Ferrell, and Jordyn Shellhart. Give ‘em all a hand, and hand the prize to Lizzie No.

There’s not much competition for the Disc of the Day award. Not when you have a titan like Morgan Wallen in the mix. He wins, hands down.

KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS / “Marlboro Reds”
Writers: Karley Scott Collins/Alex Kline/Scott Stepakoff; Producers: Karley Scott Collins/Nathan Chapman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Cool, minor-key and moody sounding. The bluesy outing is a recollection of hanging out with grandma when she steps outside for her smoke breaks. Very ear-catching and kinda haunting.

MORGAN WALLEN / “Spin You Around”
Writers: Morgan Wallen/Paul Trust/Sergio Sanchez; Producers: Joey Moi/Morgan Wallen/Bryan Sutton/Paul Trust; Label: Big Loud
– I just love the warmth in his singing voice. While Bryan Sutton’s acoustic guitar strums beautiful filigrees, Wallen pleads for favors from the one who stole his heart away. Supremely excellent work.

SIERRA FERRELL / “Dollar Bill Bar”
Writers: Melody Walker/Sierra Ferrell; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: Rounder Records
– She has the greatest stone-country voice, is a brilliant writer and packs a wallop as a show-woman. Put simply, this is one of the most creative artists in this genre today. Her jaunty kiss-off single is delightfully innocent and saucy at the same time. Also, check out the YouTube video of Ferrell making her national TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live with her barn-burning “Fox Hunt.” The new album isn’t due until March. Put me on the waiting list.

TYLER HUBBARD / “Turn”
Writers: Tyler Hubbard/Casey Brown/Josh Miller; Producers: Jordan Schmidt/Tyler Hubbard; Label: EMI Nashville
– She’s so special that she can turn bad to good in a heartbeat. Romantic hillbilly sincerity in every note. A thumping backbeat and some dandy guitar don’t hurt a bit. This dude never disappoints.

KASHUS CULPEPPER / “Who Hurt You”
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Label: KC
– The grit in his voice stopped me in my tracks. With just his acoustic guitar for accompaniment, he is thoroughly gripping. The well-written song has a philosophical bent in its description of a man with inner wounds. Somebody sign this guy pronto.

BRADY SEALS/ “My Love”
Writers: Brady Seals/Porter C. Howell/Thomas D. Barnes; Producers: Brady Seals/Christy Dinapoli; Label: Hillbilly
– This ultra-romantic charmer is being released in time for Valentine’s Day. It was previously a No.1 hit for Brady’s old band Little Texas in 1994. This new version, complete with stacked chorus vocal harmonies, is a welcome reminder of what a lovely song it is. Play it.

LIZZIE NO/ “Halfsies”
Writer: Lizzie No; Producers: Lizzie No/Graham Richman/Patrick Dillett; Label: Thirty Tigers/Miss Freedomland
– This is the title tune of Lizzie No’s debut album, which dropped last week. I love the way it builds from stark snare-and-guitar accompaniment to a full production soaked in steel and cascading strings and voices. What is equally cool is the way her dry soprano delivery remains on top of it all, delivering an intricate, poetic lyric of surviving pain. Wildly promising.

JORDYN SHELLHART & CHARLIE WORSHAM/ “A Nice Thing To Do”
Writers: Cameron Jaymes/Jordyn Shellhart; Producer: Cameron Jaymes; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Languid and dreamy, with both voices sounding intimate and comforting. The echoey track is gorgeously produced. A sublime listening experience. Need I add that I am a huge fan of both of these talents?

ZACH TOP/ “Sounds Like The Radio”
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wyatt McCubbin/Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Label: Leo33
– Top’s new radio single and video are a revelation. As if it wasn’t enough that he’s a hunk who sings like a honky-tonk hero, he also plays stinging lead guitar. The song is a hooky throwback to ‘90s country that is as refreshing as ice water on a summer day. This man is everything you could want in a country superstar.

LOGAN MIZE & JESSIE JAMES DECKER/ “If You’re Up”
Writers: Abe Stoklasa/Daniel Tashian/Sarah Buxton; Producer: Daniel Tashian; Label: Big Yellow Dog
– They’ve broken up, but not really because they still want to hook up. It might be late, late, late at night, but how about it, babe? Chiming, ringing guitars and oomphy percussion percolate behind their equally strong vocals. A righteous little record.

TIGIRLILY GOLD/ “I Tried A Ring On”
Writers: Josh Jenkins/Pete Good/Kendra Slaubaugh/Krista Slaubaugh; Producer: Pete Good; Label: Monument
– She jumped the gun and married the guy too soon. Now it’s over and she regrets it all. The churning, multi-textured, mid-tempo production is awesome and the two sisters have never sounded more vocally expressive. By far their best effort yet.

CHARLES ESTEN/ “Love Ain’t Pretty”
Writers: Charles Esten/Marshall Altman/Jimmy Yeary; Producer: Marshall Altman Label: CE
– His years on the Nashville TV show and multiple Opry appearances have made him familiar to millions. So it comes of something as a shock to learn that the collection that Esten released last week is his debut album. Its title tune is a troubadour gem that melds his soft vocal delivery with a beautifully mixed ballad track. “Love ain’t pretty,” he sings, “but it’s beautiful.” Amen.

Happy New Year from DISClaimer.

I can think of no better way to begin 2024 than with an overview of what’s current in the land of Americana music. Plenty, as it turns out.

Many of the biggest stars of the genre have offerings—Jason Isbell, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Sheryl Crow. But the Disc of the Day goes to a guy who’s been in the trenches for years, but never received their level of fame. It’s “Way Back When,” a marvelous outing from Drew Holcomb and his band The Neighbors. It’s bound to warm your spirits on a winter day.

The DISCovery Award goes to MAJOR. He’ll be spending part of this winter in Music City collaborating with our songwriters for the tracks on a new album. If the rest of his music is as fine as his excellent single, I offer a hearty welcome.

DR. JOHN & AARON NEVILLE / “End of the Line”
Writers: Bob Dylan/George Harrison/Jeff Lynne/Roy Orbison/Tom Petty; Producers: Malcom John Rebennack, Jr/Shane Theriot; Label: Rounder
– Country-loving Aaron Neville teamed up with the late Dr. John on this cover of The Traveling Wilburys tune. The good news is that the track sounds nothing like the Wilbury original version. The bad news is that the angelic-voiced Neville takes a definite back seat. The unusual listening experience is on the current, posthumously released Dr. John album Things Happen This Way.

MAJOR. / “Joy in the Battle”
Writer: Joaquin Bynum; Producer: Joaquin Bynum; Label: MNRK Music
– One of the cool things about Americana is that it brings together all kinds of roots music styles—classic country, blues, Cajun, bluegrass, folk and, in this case, soul. The track is an uplifting shout of affirmation, driven by ebullient energy. It already has 105K streams on Spotify, and has picked up endorsements from Sting, Oprah, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder. I see no reason why it can’t go even further. Infectious and positive. MAJOR. showcases at The Basement on Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. It’s a free industry showcase, so get on board.

EMMYLOU HARRIS / “Love Wore a Halo”
Writer: Nanci Griffith; Producer: Buddy Miller; Label: Rounder
– More Than a Whisper is the tribute album to the late, great Nanci Griffith. Emmylou, the Queen of Americana, has its single, and it’s a beauty. Acoustic instruments swirl around a concertina, a twang guitar and a snare while the singer weaves her magic spell. Essential listening.

NOAH KAHAN / “Everywhere Everything”
Writer: Noah Kahan; Producers: Gabe Simon/Noah Kahan; Label: Republic
– This folkie is nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys. He’s been collaborating with Kacey Musgraves, Post Malone, Joy Oladokun, Hozier, Zach Bryan and more stellar people. This track is drawn from Stick Season, the breakthrough album that earned him his nomination. Things start off innocent and guitar strum-y then build into intense rocking choruses that describe young love in the most weirdly morbid way.

CHARLEY CROCKETT & WILLIE NELSON / “That’s What Makes the World Go Around”
Writers: Charley Crockett/Kullen Fox/Rich Brotherton/Taylor Grace; Producers: Charley Crockett/Billy Horton; Label: CC
– This is a loping, lightly swinging two stepper. Nelson, 90, matches Crockett vocal lick for vocal lick and adds his own Trigger guitar solo. All country music should sound this cool.

AMOS LEE / “Fruits of My Labor”
Writer: Lucinda Williams; Producer: none listed; Label: Thirty Tigers
– Amos Lee has one of Americana music’s great voices. He needs only it and some spare acoustic instrumentation to bring this languid, buoyant, silky tune to life. Absolutely love this. It comes from Honeysuckle Switches, his new tribute album to his songwriting hero, Lucinda Williams.

SHERYL CROW / “Alarm Clock”
Writers: Sheryl Crow/Mike Elizondo/Emily Weisband; Producer: Mike Elizondo; Label: Valory
– The 2023 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee returns to her pop-rock roots with this bopping, sunshiny winner. Back in 2018, she said she was done making albums. Which is why this advance track from her upcoming Evolution collection so surprising and so welcome. Can’t wait to hear the rest of it.

LORI McKENNA / “1988”
Writers: Brian McKenna/Lori McKenna; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: CN/Thirty Tigers
– This woman always captivates me. The title tune of McKenna’s current album celebrates her enduring marriage with simple acoustic guitar accompaniment. There are few songwriters alive who are so heartfelt and true and few singers who can grab you this tightly. She has won CMA Song of the Year twice, for ”Girl Crush” and “Humble and Kind,” both of which also won Country Song Grammy Awards, as did “Crowded Table.” Lori McKenna is the only woman to have been named Songwriter of the Year by the ACM. Listen and believe.

JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT / “White Beretta”
Writer: Jason Isbell; Producer: Jason Isbell; Label: Southeastern
– Wistful memories of regret and self recrimination color a rolling meditation. Mournful and utterly haunting. This track from Isbell’s Weathervanes collection has a new animated video that is as evocative as the abortion-themed song.

DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS / “Way Back When”
Writers: Drew Holcomb/Kevin Scott Rhoads; Producer: Cason Cooley; Label: Magnolia Music
– Over the course of two decades and nine albums, these folks have been a comforting constant on the Nashville music scene. The group’s current album, Strangers No More, has taken it to previously unscaled heights at festivals, on TV, in print and on the Americana charts. Holcomb’s warm baritone carries this warm, heart-tugging ballad accompanied by soft piano and strings. It’s about parenthood and the passage of time and is deeply, deeply affecting. I remain an immense fan. Always have been.

JIMMY BUFFETT / “Like My Dog”
Writers: Scotty Emerick/Harley Allen; Producers: Michael Utley/Mac McAnally; Label: Mailboat/Sun
– This is a face-filling grin from start to finish. Or at least a massive tail wag. All he wants is for his girl to love him like his dog does. The new video for this is a collaboration with the ASCPA to encourage doggie adoption, and the footage is adorable. Drawn from Buffett’s superb posthumous album Equal Strain on All Parts.