Hot enough for you?

Several of DISClaimer’s country records this week turn up the heat. Whether it’s smoldering ballads like those of Kenny Sharp, Carly Pearce, and Randy Travis or dance floor groovers like those of Corey Kent & Jason Aldean, Vince Gill, and Miranda Lambert, these tracks are sizzlers.

The Disc of the Day goes to another bopper, the Koe Wetzel & Ella Langley duet.

Our DISCovery Award act is Jason Scott & The High Heat, who underscore our temperature theme.

ADRIEN NUNEZ / “Wrong Way”
Writers: Adrien Nunez/Grant Averill/Jackson Foote/Joshua Murty/Peter Fenn; Producers: Joshua Murty, Peter Fenn; Label: Warner Records Nashville/Warner Records
– Thematically similar to “Bless the Broken Road,” but melodically wildly different due to the breezy tempo, gang-sung choruses and rippling production. His tenor voice has warmth and confidence.

LEE BRICE / “Me and Whiskey”
Writers: Lee Brice/Matt Alderman/Nate Kenyon; Producers: Cody LaBelle, Jerrod Niemann, Lee Brice; Label: Curb Records
– Structured like a Humpty Dumpty kiddie song. He’s lost his love, so instead of “k-i-s-s-i-n-g in a tree,” he’s “d-r-u-n-k in a bar.” Cleverly crafted.

GHOST HOUNDS / “Something Wicked”
Writer: Thomas J Tull; Producer: Thomas J Tull; Label: Maple House Records
– Intriguing, dramatic and eerie, it’s a country-rock look into the dark side. The band recently showcased on Kelly Clarkson’s TV show, has its Justified album release on Aug. 21, and is booked at 3rd & Lindsley on Sunday, Aug. 23.

MIRANDA LAMBERT / “Sunset Marquis”
Writers: Ashley Monroe/David Garcia/Jesse Frasure/Miranda Lambert/Waylon Payne; Producers: Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert; Label: MCA
– Lambert is the co-writer and co-producer of Ella Langley’s massive “Choosin’ Texas.” She’s also still a superstar country recording artist, herself. Her new single is a wafting, bright-sounding, disco-ish, pop tune about getting away from it all. A decided change of pace for the Texas traditionalist.

KENNY WHITMIRE & VINCE GILL / “Movin’ On’s Movin’ In”
Writers: Carson Peters/Dan Alley/Kenny Whitmire; Producer: Lee Starr; Label: MCA
– Cool guitar licks. Snappy, bluesy, bopping tempo. Groovy heartache duet vocals. What’s not to love?

CARLY PEARCE / “Happy for Myself”
Writers: Carly Pearce/Emily Weisband/Jordan Reynolds/Lauren Hungate; Producers: Ben West, Carly Pearce; Label: Stoney Creek Records
– It’s a slow, mournful, beautifully produced waltz. She sees the wedding of another and sadly wonders when it’s going to be her turn to find True Love. A lovely little single.

RANDY TRAVIS / “I Don’t Care”
Writers: Michael Curtis/Randy Travis; Producer: Kyle Lehning; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– Producer Kyle Lehning has been digging around old audio tapes and has found a cache of previously unreleased Randy Travis tunes. They’ll become a new Randy album, and until they do, here’s a sample of what we can expect. This ballad spotlights what an awesome honky-tonk singer he is. In the lyric, he explores the pain of betrayal and broken trust. You’ll hang on every line.

VINCE GILL & CYNDI THOMSON / “Eighteen Summers”
Writers: Cyndi Thomson/Vince Gill; Producers: Vince Gill; Label: MCA
– Rollicking and dance-happy in a Cajun-flavored kinda way. Get up and bop around the room while you marvel at a superstar in full command of his gifts.

JASON SCOTT & THE HIGH HEAT / “Fast as I Can Crawl”
Writers: Jason Scott/Scott Emerick/Trent Tomlinson; Producers: Chad Copelin, Jason Scott, Taylor Johnson; Label: Leo33
– Punchy and percolating. A stuttering banjo introduces a thumpy track that captivates the ear and tickles the toes. Scott’s laconic delivery depicts a toxic relationship that he’s addicted to. This Oklahoma band has the goods.

TYLER HUBBARD / “902180”
Writers: Chase McDaniel/Emily Reid/Paul DiGiovanni/Travis Wood; Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks; Label: MCA
– He loses her because she loves the West Coast more than him. A downbeat lyric nestled in an upbeat musical setting.

COREY KENT & JASON ALDEAN / “Rather Be Here”
Writers: Daniel Ross/James McNair/Josh Miller/Michael Hardy/Morgan Wallen; Producers: Austin Goodloe, Corey Kent; Label: Sony Music Nashville/RCA Records Nashville
– They are both honky-tonk happy. Gritty guitars grind away while they wail this Southern rocker.

KOE WETZEL & ELLA LANGLEY / “Jaded”
Writers: Ella Langley/Ernest Keith Smith/Jordan Schmidt/Ropyr Wetzel; Producers: Gabe Simon, Jordan Schmidt; Label: Columbia Records
– Wetzel rolls into this tempo tune with aplomb, but it really takes off when Langley leads the choruses. The lyric asks a lover what happened to make them so cold, lonely, and broken hearted. It’s pretty dang irresistible

KENNY SHARP & DALONA / “Limbo”
Writers: Dalona Jones/Kenneth M. Sharpless/Lorenzo Piccone; Producers: Zakkary Garner; Label: Brown Liquor Music
– Nashville’s Kenny Sharp opens for Gladys Knight tonight (Aug. 13) at the Ryman. On this slow-burn bluesy outing, he showcases his neo-soul vocal bona fides to the max.

Variety is the spice of life, which explains the striking audio diversity in this edition of DISClaimer.

For your listening enjoyment, we have blues, disco, honky-tonk, r&b, folk, and more today. Country and Americana have seldom sounded better.

Reba McEntire is a bona fide superstar, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, a TV sit com star, and a still-vivacious contributor to her genre. Give the woman some R-E-S-P-E-C-T with a Disc of the Day award.

Warner/Reprise newcomer Theo Lawrence takes home this week’s DISCovery Award.

MEGHAN PATRICK / “I Sure Hope So”
Writers: Joe Clemmons/Karen Kosowski/Meghan Patrick; Producers: Karen Kosowski, Meghan Patrick; Label: Riser House Records
– Patrick rocked this year’s CRS New Faces show and is a two-time CCMA Female Vocalist of the Year (2017, 2018). This echoey country rocker kicks up dust as she unspools a message of resilience. In a potent backwoods soprano, she tells us that there’s life on the other side of a breakup. A solid winner.

LITTLE BIG TOWN / “We Could Have It All”
Writers: Ashley Monroe/Jimi Westbrook/Karen Fairchild; Producers: Gena Johnson, Karen Fairchild; Label: MCA
– Jimi takes the lead on this deliciously melodic power ballad, and then the group unfurls its perfect four-part harmony and sends the song soaring.

PYNK BEARD / “Mine, Lord Willing”
Writers: Coleridge Tillman/Trevor Brown/Warren Okay Felder/Zaire Koalo; Producer: Oak for The Orphanage; Label: Red Bull Records
– Pynk Beard triumphed when he auditioned last week on America’s Got Talent with this joyous, high-energy bopper. This week, he advanced into the next round, still bounding with infectious enthusiasm. Give him some timely spins, because he’s got the goods.

JASON ALDEAN / “Anytime Soon”
Writers: John Edwards/John Morgan/Kurt Allison/Tully Kennedy; Producer: Michael Knox; Label: Broken Bow Records
– The big, oomphy production is the star here. His vocal, deeply embedded in the mix, takes a back seat. The song is forgettable.

DASHA / “Memo”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ben Johnson/Dasha/Shane McAnally; Producer: none listed; Label: Warner Records
– A kiss-off tune with a kick of rhythm and a shot of attitude. She’s a dancing queen.

RILEY GREEN / “Imagine That”
Writers: Jonathan Singleton/Ray Fulcher/Riley Green; Producer: none listed; Label: Big Machine Records/Nashville Records Harbor & Entertainment
– Moody, yearning and broken hearted.

BUDDY MILLER & DAN PENN / “Don’t Look Back”
Writers: Ronald White/Smokey Robinson; Producer: Buddy Miller; Label: New West Records
– A revelation. These two take the 1966 Temptations golden oldie to an unexpected country place. Penn’s effortlessly soulful voice and Miller’s hillbilly croon make the lyrics sound utterly fresh.

CARTER FAITH, LACI KAYE BOOTH & BABY NOVA / “Pearl Handled Pistol”
Writers: Carter Faith/Chris Tompkins/Laci Kaye Booth/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: Tofer Brown; Label: MCA/Gatsby Records
– A bluesy, haunting, minor-key warning with an atmosphere that swirls like lazy cigarette smoke. She is not a gal to be messed with. Carter Faith’s debut collection, Cherry Valley, made news as an ACM Album of the Year nominee. You’ll find this darkly listenable track on its deluxe edition, Cherry Valley Forever.

K. MICHELLE / “Jesus & Whiskey”
Writers: Ernest Keith Smith/Jordan Dozzi/Kimberly Michelle Pate/Rocky Block; Producers: K. Michelle, Kristian Bush; Label: BBR Music Group
– This is the title tune of an album that will drop on Oct. 16. K. Michelle is an r&b star and a standout on TV’s Real Housewives of Atlanta and Love & Hip Hop. Her move to Nashville was a re-boot, and her transition to country music rings with authenticity. Bush’s production is marvelously supportive of her earnest, plaintive delivery of the heartache tune. She even yodels a bit. Applause, applause.

REBA McENTIRE / “Ring, Ring”
Writers: Bob DiPiero/Karyn Rochelle/Kellie Pickler; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Rockin’ R Records/MCA
– Reba’s calling. She’s in police custody and in a heap of trouble because of rowdy behavior involving clocking a rival in a honky-tonk. The track rocks, the lyric is clever as hell, and the superstar’s vocal is packed with personality.

LANCE COWAN / “The Air That You Breathe”
Writers: Karen Leipziger/Lance Cowan; Producer: Scott Paschall; Label: Lantzapalooza Müzik
– Sensitive, engrossing and intimate. This touching world portrait is the title tune of the new album by this folkie Americana artist. The entire acoustic collection is gentle audio seduction.

MORGAN FREEMAN & KEB’ MO’ / “Cadillac Assembly Line”
Writer: Mack Rice; Producers: Eric Meier, Howard Stovall, Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, Martin Gellner, Morgan Freeman, Neale Murray, V.G. Jairam, V.G. Jaishankar; Label: Decca Music Group
– Smoldering and fevered. Oscar-winning actor Freeman shows an impressive grasp of electric blues with Nashville’s own Keb’ Mo’ providing the voice for his Symphonic Blues Experience. The backing musicians are The Ground Zero Blues Club Band, who perform at Freeman’s Mississippi night spot.

THEO LAWRENCE / “I Love You, Bartender”
Writers: Bill Anderson/Theo Lawrence; Producer: Chris Scruggs ; Label: xxx
– Wry and winking. The lightly Latin rhythm is sweet and steel-soaked. His softly crooning singing style tackles the lyric with complete seriousness. Ya gotta love this guy: He issued his song on a 45 r.p.m. vinyl record.

Country music is experiencing a tidal wave of new artists these days as the genre shifts into a new audio era.

We have several of these promising baby acts in the column today, including NEEDTOBREATHE, Ryan Langdon with Randy Savvy, Mae Estes and our DISCovery Award winner, Wyatt Flores.

Among the established artists, Joe Nichols, Jordan Davis, Ne-Yo and Trace Adkins all posted worthy new sounds. By harking back to classic country, Lee Brice earns a Disc of the Day honor.

MAE ESTES / “The 90s Called”
Writers: Aaron Raitiere/Benjy Davis; Producer: Paul Sikes; Label: Blue Highway Records
– The nostalgia for ‘90s country now has an official theme song. The sprightly country rocker has dance-floor beats and witty lyric that references Brooks & Dunn, Billy Ray and the hats, jeans, mullets, boots, pickup trucks and other touchstones of the era. Cute & catchy.

MARSHMELLO & KELSEA BALLERINI / “Another Drink”
Writers: Alysa Vanderheym/Earwulf/Jessi Jo Dillon/Joel Castillo/Kelsea Ballerini/Marshmello; Producers: Alysa Vanderheym, Earwulf, Marshmello; Label: Mercury Records
– Electronic gobbledygook clatters and clutters around Ballerini’s exhausting repetition of the same phrase over and over again.

WYATT FLORES / “Scared of Heights”
Writers: Charlie Handsome/Gian Stone/Jacob Kasher Hindlin/Wyatt Flores; Producers: Charlie Handsome, Gian Stone, Jacob Kasher Hindlin; Label: Island Records/MCA
– He screws up every potential romance because he’s terrified of  commitment. The echoey production is lovely, and his vocal performance has great dynamics, from husky whispering to plaintive tenor soaring.

JORDAN DAVIS / “Let It Go”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: MCA
– No, it’s not the Frozen movie anthem with this title. Quite the contrary, the moody tune is about the crumbling of a relationship and the resigned realization that it’s time to leave the past behind. As always, Davis is a superb communicator. I remain a huge fan.

LEE BRICE / “Dogs Are Barking”
Writers: Jeff Hyde/Jimi Bell/Rodney Clawson; Producers: Cody LaBelle, Jerrod Niemann, Lee Brice; Label: Curb Records
– Very cool. I love a good country murder ballad, and this one’s a dandy. The trucker returns from his run a day early and realizes that she’s been having an clandestine affair. The Cadillac-driving town banker mysteriously disappears after our boy catches the cheaters red handed.

NE-YO / “Up Out & Gone”
Writers: David Tomasek/Louis York/Milan Modi/Shaffer Smith; Producers: Curtis “Sauce” Wilson, Yung Lan; Label: Compound Ent/HSG
– The r&b hit maker has been spending time in Nashville’s songwriting community, and the result is his first “country inspired” album, Highway 79. This single from it is a bright, good-timey ode to an all-night party on the town. It’s already an r&b hit, and I hear to reason why this couldn’t enliven a country playlist as well. Well done.

NEEDTOBREATHE / “Last Drink”
Writer: William Rinehart; Producers: NEEDTOBREATHE, Phillip Smith; Label: NEEDTOBREATHE
– I dig the shuffling, shambling rhythm pattern and the drowsy instrumental accompaniment. The mix is a bit muddy, but this midtempo groover has definite charm.

SHANIA TWAIN & JOSH HOMME / “Faded Blue Jeans”
Writer: Shania Twain; Producer: Zach Dawes; Label: Republic Records
– Between the beats, the audio mush and the background noise, I can’t tell you what this lyric actually says. I can tell you this: It’s her bopping performance all the way, and Queens of the Stone Age member Homme adds nothing to the proceedings.

CRYSTAL SHAWANDA / “Come Unto Me”
Writers: Allen Miller/Raul Malo; Producer: none listed; Label: New Sun Music
– The Canadian native-American pays homage to the late Raul Malo with an able assist from Mavericks guitarist Eddie Perez. She wails with power and bluesy grit while a Tex-Mex flavored track rumbles around her. Twang abounds.

TRACE ADKINS / “American Made”
Writers: Johnny Cummings/Krista Marie/Trace Adkins; Producer: Mickey Jack Cones; Label: TA
– Adkins premiered this during the Capitol Fourth PBS-TV celebration. It salutes the hard-working everyday people who have built the nation. The vibe is positive and uplifting.

RYAN LANGDON & RANDY SAVVY / “Bring It”
Writers: Andrew Martino/Brian Rivlin/Dan Bewick/Jason Paul Bonilla/Leonard Ian Dalsemer/Nicholas James Maker/Randy Savvy/Ryan Langdon/Stephen Molella; Producers: Andrew Martino, Brian Rivlin, Stephen Molella, TEMLO; Label: The Elements Music
– Ever since Crown Royal whiskey introduced this number in its new ad campaign a couple of weeks ago, I have been unable to get the insanely catchy tune out of my head. It turns out that it’s by two Canadian country artists, Langdon and Compton Cowboys member Savvy. The original track rocks just as splendidly as the ad snippet does. And, yes, there is an official line dance, just like in the ad.

JOE NICHOLS / “Say La V”
Writers: Brett Warren/Jason Sellers/Lance Miller; Producers: Jason Sellers, Joe Nichols; Label: Quartz Hill
– Sunny, shiny brass notes herald a feel-good, sing-along bopper featuring some background revelers and a dance-along tempo. A beefy, twangin,’ bass guitar solo, merry-making kiss-off lyrics, plus a woh-oh-oh finale are the ingredients of this audio pleasure. It goes without saying that Nichols sings the tongue-in-cheek ditty like a honky-tonk angel.

PHIL MADEIRA / “Hippie Chick Singer”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: PM
– This abundantly talented songwriter, singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist is a longtime veteran of Emmylou Harris’s band. With harmony vocals by The McCrary Sisters and Vince Gill, Madeira unspools a happy ode to a musician’s life on the road. Steel guitar and fiddle romp along on this snappy country rocker.

This week’s country-music stew is about groups and collaborations.

One of those groups, Brothers Osborne, nails down a Disc of the Day prize. Matt Stell & Ne Yo, LoCash & Parmalee, Brad Paisley & Miranda Lambert, Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen and Elizabeth Cook & Evan Felker (of the Turnpike Troubadours) are also vying for your ear attention today.

Hand a DISCovery Award to Julianna Rankin.

ELIZABETH COOK & EVAN FELKER / “Razorwire Wall”
Writer: Elizabeth Cook; Producer: Shooter Jennings; Label: Agent Love Records
– Snarling, Dixie-fried country rock, complete with super-twang guitar grinding. Whiplash energy and down-home outlaw charm. Cook plays at The Hermitage on June 26 in an Americana-artists’ salute to the music of Steve Earle.

WARREN ZEIDERS / “Days of My Life”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ben Johnson/Jon Robert Hall/Warren Zeiders; Producer: Ben Johnson; Label: Warner Records
– Swirling, giddy romance with a frothy, churning rhythm track. An ultra-hooky song.

RYAN BINGHAM & THE TEXAS GENTLEMEN / “Let the Big Dog Eat”
Writer: Ryan Bingham; Producers: Grant Jackson Wilborn, Ryan Bingham; Label: The Bingham Recording Co.
– Loads of rocking energy. The song is just barely there.

BRAD PAISLEY & MIRANDA LAMBERT / “Someone Else’s Arms”
Writers: Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois; Producer: Brad Paisley, Luke Wooten; Label: BP
– Both stars excel on this instant-classic honky-tonk cheatin’ song. The twist is that the cheaters can’t bear the thought of being cheated on themselves.

DAVID NAIL / “Riverbank”
Writers: Anderson East/David Nail/Lori McKenna; Producer: none listed; Label: DN
– Soothing, sensuous and soft, this ballad of enduring love lingers long after the final notes echo away. Nail has always been an exquisite country voice. Co-writer McKenna provides gentle harmony on the poetic choruses.

LOCASH & PARMALEE / “Let the Country Music Play”
Writers: Brinley Addington/Matt Thomas/Rupert Holmes/Tommy Cecil; Producers: Jacob Rice, Tommy Cecil; Label: Galaxy Label Group
– Bopping and joyous. The song’s hook salutes ‘90s country by replacing the original lyrics of the 1979 pop smash “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” with the names of country stars and songs. A must listen.

JACKSON DEAN / “My Cross to Bear”
Writer: Julian Raymond; Producer: Julian Raymond; Label: Blue Highway Records
– This is the theme song of a new documentary film about Rock Hall of Famer Gregg Allman. Dean’s vocal on the ballad is appropriately wailing, soulful and bluesy. The string arrangement is gorgeous, as is the entire production. Greg Allman: The Music of My Soul was released to theaters this week. Dean’s current single remains the dynamic “Make a Liar,” whose video also dropped this week.

BROTHERS OSBORNE / “Runnin’ Down a Dream”
Writers: Jeff Lynne/Mike Campbell/Tom Petty; Producer: none listed; Label: Big Machine
– The brothers rock out on their cover of this Tom Petty classic. Robust, roaring, ripping and rambunctious. Toss out your energy drink and play this instead.

RAELYNN / “Come On Cowboy (Giddy Up)”
Writers: Geoff Warburton/Racheal Lynn Davis/Zach Abend; Producer: Zach Abend; Label: Red Van Records
– Get out on the dance floor and stomp those boots. This flirty, fun tempo tune features her saucy vocal over a monster-propulsive percussion track that screams summer party.

CHARLIE WORSHAM / “Powers That Be”
Writers: Charlie Worsham/James McNair/Jaren Johnston; Producers: Charlie Worsham, Jaren Johnston; Label: CW
– This brilliant, guitar-slinging troubadour is one of Nashville’s greatest hidden treasures. His new single is a poly-rhythmic delight with a personable vocal and some stinging, six-string work. Stay tuned for a star-studded new album in August.

JULIANNA RANKIN / “XYZ71s”
Writers: Chase McGill/John Pierce/Jon Decious/Micah Wilshire; Producers: Jon Randall, Miranda Lambert; Label: Big Loud Texas
– Don’t let the drawling, laid-back vibe fool you: She’s a habitual heartbreaker on a Chevy-truck roll. Highly promising. And dig those celebrity producers.

MATT STELL & NE-YO / “Better Angels”
Writers: Brett Aaron Truitt/Erik Dylan/Matt Stell/Shaffer Smith; Producer: Anthony Olympia; Label: Black River Entertainment
– These guys both sing up a storm on this r&b heartbreak tune. Stell’s robust baritone contrasts nicely with Ne-Yo’s falsetto.

BILLY RAY CYRUS / “You’re Not Here”
Writer: Billy Ray Cyrus/Braison Cyrus; Producer: Braison Cyrus; Label: Billion Streams Entertainment
– Billy Ray is the cover boy of this week’s People magazine. The article within describes the life-threatening health condition that took his voice. He now sings in a dramatically lowered range, somewhere between spoken-word and melodic. The dark, foreboding song features sighing steel over a deep-blue ambiance that mourns a dearly departed one. Haunting and poetic. It is drawn from his new album, The Hill, which dropped this week.