Hot enough for ya?

To match the weather, the country artists are heating up your summer playlist this week. Kat & Alex, Tiera Kennedy, a reggae-fied Dolly, Dylan Scott and Charley Crocket lead the way with fine new sounds.

The Disc of the Day belongs to the always effervescent Shania Twain. Check out her new bio documentary. It’s a winner, too.

The DISCovery Award is a toss-up between two duos–BoomTown Saints and O.N.E The Duo. Lend both teams your ears. You won’t be sorry.

CHARLEY CROCKETT / “I’m Just a Clown”
Writer: Charley Crockett; Producer: Bruce Robison; Label: Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers
–Currently wowing crowds opening for Willie Nelson, the prolific Crockett is set to drop The Man From Waco as the latest of his 10+ albums in September. This advance single is a bluesy, horn-punctuated outing with a mid-tempo groove. The band cooks with gas.

DYLAN SCOTT / “Amen to That”
Writers: James McNair/Morgan Wallen/Mark Holman/Micheal Hardy; Producers: Will Weatherly/Matt Alderman/Mark Holman; Label: Curb
–Scott rumbles through this ode to the power of love with honky-tonk confidence and beats to spare. It’s the title tune of his current tour.

O.N.E THE DUO / “Stuck in the Middle”
Writers: Nash Overstreet/Shane Stevens/Tekitha Washington/Prana Supreme Diggs; Producer: Nash Overstreet; Label: Visionary Media Group
–Diggs and Washington are a Black, mother-daughter act who display immense verve on this fiddle-and-guitar ditty. The highly imaginative production pairs their sunny, trippy vocals with acoustic riffs and catchy, clicky percussion. Very ear grabbing.

SHANIA TWAIN / “Not Just a Girl”
Writers: Mark Ralph/Wayne Hector/Shania Twain; Producer: Mark Ralph; Label: EMI
–Twain’s new documentary is currently on Netflix, and it’s an excellent depiction of how gifted and important she is, plus a reminder of why she’s a nominee for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The film’s title tune begins in her low-alto register, then romps into multi-harmonized choruses. As is characteristic of her work, it is also a wildly hooky earworm with girl-power attitude.

WARREN ZEIDERS / “Up to No Good”
Writers: Lindsay Rimes/Russell Sutton/Warren Zeiders; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: Warner/717 Tapes
–His raspy, drawling delivery and the riff-heavy, rocking choruses give this its outlaw edge.

KAT & ALEX / “We Bought a House”
Writers: Alex Georgia/Josh Osborne/Lindsay Rimes/Kat Georgia; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: Sony
–Lovely and lilting. Amid an airy audio atmosphere, they sing of settling into domesticity as young lovers with more passion than money. Sweetly heartfelt.

ALEX WILLIAMS / “No Reservations”
Writers: Alex Wiliams/Mando Saenz; Producer: Ben Fowler; Label: Big Machine/Lightning Rod
–Swaggering and darkly rocking, he stomps and snarls his way through this ode to a musician’s life on the road while guitars scream in accompaniment.

KELLY LANG / “Midnight Train to Georgia”
Writers: Jim Weatherly; Producer: none listed; Label: KL
–On this revival, Lang doesn’t stray too far from the arrangement immortalized by Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1973. Above the horns and backing voices, her silky lead is full of warmth and yearning. A classy performance of a classic song.

POSITIVE VIBRATIONS & DOLLY PARTON / “Two Doors Down”
Writers: Dolly Parton; Producer: The Berman Brothers; Label: BMG Nashville
–Country Goes Reggae is a new album pairing of top Jamaican musicians with such iconic country voices as Toby Keith, Jimmie Allen, Rascal Flatts, Alabama and Randy Houser. The divine Dolly is along for the ride on a bouncy treatment of her upbeat 1978 hit. “Everybody wanna party!” she chirps enthusiastically while the distinctive backbeat lopes along.

BOOMTOWN SAINTS / “All Trucks Go To Heaven”
Writers: Taylor Phillips/Ben Stennis/Jeremy Bussey; Producers: Noah Gordon/Gary Kraen; Label: 8 Track Entertainment
–Tuneful and charming, the song laments the time when you have to give up your beloved but worn-out vehicle. The production is a delight, mixing burbling percussion with pristine guitar lines and tasteful strings. Brilliantly accomplished. BoomTown Saints is a duo comprised of Chris Ramos and Ben Chism.

THE SIX ONE FIVE COLLECTIVE / “Blinding Lights”
Writers: Abel Tesfaye/Ahmad Balshe/Jason Quenneville/Max Martin/Oscar Holter; Producers: Gabe Klein/Gideon Klein; Label: 615
–The group is made up of singer-songwriters Nicole Witt, Jamie Floyd, Michael Logan and Sarah Darling. The song comes from The Weeknd. The four-part harmony work is outstanding, as is the strummy, acoustic, folksy arrangement. Can’t wait to hear what else this combo has up its talented sleeves.

TIERA KENNEDY / “Found It In You”
Writers: Cameron Bedell/Tiera Leftwich; Producer: Cameron Bedell/Dann Huff; Label: Valory
–This was originally released last year when she was billed as simply “Tiera.” Now she has a label deal and is being re-introduced with the lustrous, blissful country love song. Enchanting is the word.

There is an abundance of great listening in today’s DISClaimer.

That’s because this edition explores what’s new in Americana. Which as a genre is so much more interesting than most of what Nashville generates.

And it doesn’t get much more “interesting” than our Disc of the Day winners. The Male prize goes to Lyle Lovett. The Female winner is Brandi Carlile. The duo/group honor belongs to Fancy Hagood & Kacey Musgraves.

This week’s DISCovery Award goes to Jake Blount. Explore his work, because he is really tapping into something cool.

JIM LAUDERDALE / “That Kind of Life”
Writer: Jim Lauderdale; Producers: Jim Lauderdale/Jay Weaver; Label: Sky Crunch
–The longtime host of the Americana Music Awards, Lauderdale is also impressively prolific. He has 34 albums under his belt and is announcing Game Changer as his next with this romping, lead-off track. As always, he respects country tradition by drenching the tune in Telecaster and steel, not to mention his Dixie drawl. The mood is upbeat, peppy and ultimately hopeful. Somewhere, Buck Owens is smiling.

ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS / “Go Your Way”
Writer: Anne Briggs; Producer: T Bone Burnett; Label: Rounder
–The team’s current Raise the Roof collection was No. 1 on the Americana charts for months. This brilliantly produced single from it grows from a stately guitar strum to an epic, throbbing ballad of farewell. It’s beyond gorgeous, although I yearned for more from Krauss than soft backup harmonies.

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY & RYAN MURPHEY / “El Dorado”
Writers: Michael Martin Murphey/Ryan Murphey; Producer: Michael Martin Murphey; Label: Wild Fire
–The title tune of a duet album by Michael Martin Murphey and his son Ryan is the wafting Road Beyond the View. On this new track from it, the pastoral western imagery we associate with this artist remains in place, but on this outing it’s a spiritual, space-cowboy thang in a burbling, guitar-jazz setting. Plucked notes ripple and ring throughout the gentle production. Captivating.

BRANDI CARLILE / “You and Me on the Rock”
Writers: Brandi Carlile/Phil Hanseroth/Tim Hanseroth; Producers: Dave Cobb/Shooter Jennings; Label: Low Country Sound/Elektra
–Here’s a new single/video from Carlile’s chart-topping In These Silent Days album. I hear the influence of Joni Mitchell in the rapid-fire soprano lilts of the tune. The choppy tempo and stacked vocal harmonies are a delight. This lively, sweet ode to domesticity and steadfastness just might be her strongest performance to date.

LYLE LOVETT / “12th of June”
Writers: Lyle Lovett; Producers: Chuck Ainlay/Lyle Lovett; Label: Verve
–This is the title tune of Lovett’s first new album in 10 years. Part wistful folkie, part heartfelt country and all magnetic meditation, it unspools as an acoustic watercolor of nostalgia, family and love. The eclectic collection also includes jazzbo oldie faves like “Straighten Up and Fly Right” and “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to You.” He’s an essential artist, and this is an essential record.

MARCUS KING / “Hard Working Man”
Writers: Marcus King/Angelo Petraglia/Dan Auerbach; Producer: Dan Auerbach; Label: American Recordings/Republic
–This Nashville guitar-slingin’ hotshot has a new album, Young Blood, coming next month (Aug. 26). This advance single is a barn burner showcasing his bluesy, Southern-rock vocal phrasing as well as his fiery, searing, sensational string licks. Get on board.

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW / “Used to Be a Mountain”
Writers: Ketch Secor/Trey Hensley; Producers: Matt Ross-Spang/Old Crow Medicine Show; Label: ATO
–Drawn from its ninth bluegrass-chart topping LP, Paint This Town, the Opry-star band ventures into social commentary with this cautionary environmental song. The tempo rocks furiously and the percussive sound is far removed from the act’s old-timey, string-band roots. Group vocal chanting, frothing fiddle licks and drums abound.

RISSI PALMER / “Best Day Ever”
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Label: Boldilocks
–Palmer is doing such important work with her Color Me Country podcasts. She also remains an outstanding artist. How outstanding? I hate children’s music, but fell totally in love with her new kiddie ditty. It’s irresistibly sunny without being saccharine. It sings to children without pandering. Its language is simple without being simplistic. The acoustic production is lilting and lovely. The video is adorable, too.

STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES / “Wheel”
Writers: Jerry Jeff Walker; Producer: Steve Earle; Label: New West
–Earle’s new album, Jerry Jeff, is a salute to Jerry Jeff Walker, one of his main musical mentors. He aims to remind us that the late Walker was more than just “Mr. Bojangles.” This stark, dusty, drawled, existential ballad is an example.

MARGO PRICE, MAVIS STAPLES & ADIA VICTORIA / “Fight to Make It”
Writers: Margo Price/Jeremy Ivey; Producer: none listed; Label: MP
–It’s girl-group heaven, summoning the spirit of Martha & The Vandellas at their most rocking. It’s also a hand-clapping, joyous female anthem with these three Americana queens taking turns in the verses and joining voices on the choruses. Proceeds from the single benefit Noise For Now, an organization supporting reproductive rights. “

JAKE BLOUNT / “Didn’t It Rain”
Writers: Brian Francis Slattery/Jake Meserve Blount; Producers: Jake Blount/Brian Slattery; Label: Smithsonian Folkways
–This classic gospel song was popularized by Sister Rosetta Tharp and Mahalia Jackson. Blount’s version is part of his Afro-futurist new concept album The New Faith. It’s also a shoulder-shaking, rhythm-happy audio pleasure, bopping with clinking/thumping/snappy percussion, hand claps, group call-and-response and artsy electric-guitar interludes. Blount is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist who specializes in the banjo and other African American folk traditions. The New Englander is also a published scholar and music journalist.

FANCY HAGOOD & KACEY MUSGRAVES / “Blue Dream Baby”
Writers: Fancy Hagood/Karen Fairchild/Alysa Vanderheym; Producer: Alysa Vanderheym; Label: FH
–Hagood’s latest is a dreamy pop confection with built-in dancefloor potential. Musgraves’ verses underscore the spacey, ethereal, romantic mood. The animated video imagines him being abducted by stud “gayliens.”

”Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.”

With apologies to the Gershwins and Porgy & Bess, the country stars are making that sentiment a reality with a picnic of sunshine-y sounds this week.

Leading the way is Miranda Lambert, who wins the Disc of the Day honor. The column is full of “name” attractions, so no newcomer DisCovery awardee this time around.

NICOLLE GALYON / “Boy Crazy”
Writers: Nicolle Galyon/Kelsea Ballerini/Hillary Lindsey; Producers: King Henry/Jimmy Robbins; Label: Songs & Daughters
–Sharply observed lyrics, a tart/wise vocal and a stark, spare imaginative production make this a hang-on-every-line listening experience. Co-writers Ballerini and Lindsey provide harmony support. I can’t wait for Galyon’s upcoming album debut. Based on what I’ve heard, it’s going to be an Event.

KEITH URBAN / “Brown Eyes Baby”
Writers: Will Bundy/Rodney Clawson/Josh Thompson/Morgan Wallen; Producers: Dann Huff/Keith Urban; Label: Capitol Nashville
–This casts Urban as The Comforter, here to brighten your dark day with some mid-tempo sunshine. Introduced on Thursday morning’s Today show, it goes down super smoothly.

MIRANDA LAMBERT / “Strange”
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Luke Dick/Natalie Hemby; Producers: Miranda Lambert/Luke Dick/Jon Randall; Label: RCA
–It takes a little while to take off, but once it does, it’s a dandy ride. Lambert takes a look at these crazy times and suggests a few ways to liven the mood. “Do anything to keep you sane,” she sings. Amen, sister: You’re coming in loud and clear.

JOE NICHOLS / “Good Day For Living”
Writers: Bobby Hamrick/Dave Cohen/Neil Mason; Producers: Mickey Jack Cones/Derek George; Label: Quartz Hill
–The title tune of Nichols’ new album bubbles with energy. He lit up the Opry stage with it recently, and it sure sounded fresh. Upbeat, uplifting, bright, delightfully positive and just the thing to add some zip to your playlist.

MORGAN WALLEN /”You Proof”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ernest Keith Smith/Morgan Wallen/Ryan Vojtesak; Producers: Joey Moi/Charlie Handsome; Label: Big Loud
–All the whiskey in the bar can’t get her off his mind. The track burbles along with droplets of cool guitar notes, finger snaps and jaunty undertow rhythm. As usual, he sings with immense personality and verve.

INGRID ANDRESS / “Pain”
Writers: Ingrid Andress/Laura Veltz/Sam Ellis; Producers: Ingrid Andress/Sam Ellis; Label: Warner
–Her vocal performance is quite range-y and accomplished. The overall vibe is pop power ballad with strings and steel.

RANDY HOUSER / “Workin’ Man”
Writers: Randy Houser/Randy Montana; Producers: Randy Houser/Blake Chancey; Label: Magnolia Music Group
–The excellent “Note To Self” remains the single, but this track from his forthcoming album with that title also contains this rousing blue-collar anthem. Houser sings it with a barn-burner baritone that dips and growls in all the right places. He’s such an amazing vocalist, and this is a classic country message.

MADDIE & TAE / “Every Night Every Morning”
Writers: Maddie Font/Taylor Kerr/Jonathan Singleton/Brock Berryhill; Producers: Derek Wells/Jimmy Robbins; Label: Mercury
–Breezy, tuneful and youthful. Giddy in love, and full of sunshine. Well worth your spins.

KIP MOORE / “Fire on Wheels”
Writers: Kip Moore/Jaren Johnston; Producers: Kip Moore/Jaren Johnston; Label: MCA
–It’s a fiery rocker that journeys through the American heartland with hoarse exhortations. Scream and dance along.

JAKE HOOT / “Had It To Lose”
Writers: Jake Hoot/Matt Warren/Matt Nolan; Producer: Danny Myrick; Label: JH
–This winner of The Voice is a commanding vocal presence on this blue-collar country rocker with an Everyman message. Potent, penetrating and ultimately relatable.

Sunday is Father’s Day, and the country acts are making sure you don’t forget it.

Greg Freeman, Tyler Booth, Porter Howell, Sarantos and Gary Quinn all have timely “dad” tunes this week, of which Porter’s and Tyler’s are the best.

That said, the Disc of the Day unquestionably belongs to Toby Keith. He’s battling the Big C this summer, but is still keeping us company with his excellent “Oklahoma Breakdown.”

Warner newcomer Bailey Zimmerman takes home this week’s DISCovery Award.

PORTER HOWELL / “I Thought About You Today”
Writer: Porter Howell; Producer: Ian Steward; Label: PHM
–Have a box of tissues handy for this one. The heart-tugging ballad is for all of us whose fathers are no longer with us. Howell sings it with a touch of lump-in-throat hoarseness, adding to its emotional impact.

TYLER BOOTH / “Hey Dad”
Writers: Tyler Booth/Dave Turnbull/Jimmy Yeary; Producer: Phil O’Donnell; Label: Sony/Villa 40
–His resonant baritone and a lustrous production propel this reflection on the life lessons his father imparted. Booth muses on how he pursues his career without letting go of the values dad raised him with. The chorus is a dandy.

GARY QUINN / “He’s My Dad”
Writer: Gary Quinn; Producer: Richard Alex; Label: GQM
–His father isn’t a superhero in a cape, but Quinn aspires to be like him nonetheless. Sung in a plaintive tenor, this is a gentle, lightweight, somewhat forgettable meditation. The singer is a pretty big star in the U.K. country scene.

SARANTOS / “Father’s Day”
Writer: Sam Speron; Producer: none listed; Label: Sarantos
–Where to begin? He wobbles off pitch in every line. The production is a big, sour cheeseball. The lyric seems to be in an alien dialect. It’s a wonder his father didn’t disown him.

THOMAS RHETT & RILEY GREEN / “Half of Me”
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Rhett Akins/William Bundy/Josh Thompson; Producers: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Label: Valory
–Now here’s a real Father’s Day gift, an artist who co-writes hit songs with his daddy. This time, Rhett and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Akins have collaborated on a super fun summertime anthem, “Half of me wants a cold beer…and the other half wants two.” In this heat, I say, “Amen” to that.

LILY ROSE / “I’d Be You”
Writers: Hillary Lindsey/Mark Holman/Morgan Wallen/Michael Hardy; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud/Republic
–Things go along okay with this pop track until you get to the chorus, which is completely muddy, cluttered and barely intelligible.

CHRIS LANE & LAUREN ALAINA / “Dancin’ in the Moonlight”
Writers: Jesse Frasure/Sherman Kelly/Brett Tyler; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud
–Songwriter Sherman Kelly is the author of the uber catchy 1972 King Harvest pop/rock hit with this title. This tuneful track amends it into a country delight.

TOBY KEITH / “Oklahoma Breakdown”
Writer: Michael Hosty; Producers: Toby Keith/Kenny Greenberg; Label: Show Dog
–So soulful and so cool. The thumping track makes your rump shake, Toby’s mighty vocal is a listening delight and the whole bluesy thang cooks with gas. Get well, buddy, we’ll spin this turned up extra loud while we pull for your recovery.

HANK WILLIAMS JR. / “Fireman Ring the Bell”
Writer: R.L. Burnside; Producer: Dan Auerbach; Label: Easy Eye
–The legendary Mississippian Burnside is one of many great bluesmen whose songs infuse the new Bocephus collection Rich White Honky Blues, which drops tomorrow (June 17). Auerbach’s production keeps things simple, focussing on the repeated blazing guitar licks and Hank’s always expressive voice. The album also features the superstar taking on raw, rootsy tunes by Robert Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Turner and himself (”Call Me Thunderhead” refers to his survival after falling off a mountain in 1975). File this one under “Honest.”

BILL ANDERSON & DOLLY PARTON / “Someday It’ll All Make Sense”
Writers: Bill Anderson/Bobby Tomberlin/Ryan Larkins; Producers: Bill Anderson/Thom Jutz; Label: MCA Nashville
–An instant classic. Produced with crystalline acoustic perfection, the ballad is a country-gospel jewel and the two legends harmonize exquisitely. We are so blessed to have these gifted living legends among us.

BAILEY ZIMMERMAN / “Fall in Love”
Writers: Austin Shawn/Bailey Zimmerman/Gavin Lucas; Producer: Austin Shawn; Label: Warner/Elektra
–His passionate tenor singing has a raspy urgency that is quite winning. The power ballad is somewhat wordy, but gets the heartbreak job done. Send more.

GREG FREEMAN / “When Dad and I Went Fishin’”
Writer: Greg Freeman; Producer: Art Bain; Label: Diving In Entertainment
–Sincere, but shakey. His vocal has a mite too much vibrato and the ballad is rather simplistic. But he means well, and it shows.

June is Pride Month, and for the first time in its history, country music can fully participate.

If you had told me even five years ago that there would be enough gay country artists to fill a DISClaimer column, I would have said, “No way, ever.” Today, there are hugely more than enough. And that’s not even including such high-profile folks as T.J. Osborne and Brandy Clark.

The Disc of the Day award goes to pioneering “out” star Ty Herndon. The DISCovery honoree is Brandon Stansell.

GINA VENIER / “Nora Jane”
Writers: Gina Venier/Savana Santos/Summer Overstreet; Producers: Gina Venier/Rian Ball; Label: GV
–Gina introduced this compelling ballad of loving another woman at a Song Suffragettes show this year, and the performance is now on YouTube. Next, Hunter Kelly featured her on his Proud Radio show on Apple Music Country. She is also among the performers at this year’s Pride Fest in Nashville (June 22-23).

WAYLON PAYNE / “7:28”
Writers: Angalenna Pressley/Wade Bowen/Waylon Payne; Producers: Frank Liddell/Eric Masse; Label: Carnival
–The son of the late country celebs Sammi Smith & Jody Payne came out several years ago and remains one of the country community’s most gifted songwriting voices. His current video is a stunning, devastating rumination on loss and grief. Also check out his excellent LP Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me.

JAIME WYATT / “Demon Tied a Chair to My Brain”
Writers: Dax Riggs/Matthew Sweeney; Producer: Shooter Jennings; Label: New West
–Wyatt isn’t in your face about her sexuality on her Neon Cross country-outlaw album. There’s a song called “Rattlesnake Girl” that makes reference to it, but most of the songs are just wildly wonderful honky tonkers. She has a piercing, stone-country voice that on this track she backs with wailing harmonica punctuations while her snarling band sizzles along. Also check out the rockabilly title tune.

HARPER GRAE / “I Like Ya Like That”
Writers: Forrest Finn/Harper Grae; Producer: none listed; Label: HG
–Her soulful soprano dances around jittery guitar and banjo notes on this sensuous rocker. Mighty fine listening. Grae’s EP is titled Confessions of a Good Southern Lady, and it is well worth your attention.

FANCY HAGOOD / “Bored”
Writers: Fancy Hagood/Alysa Vanderheym; Producer: Alysa Vanderheym; Label: Concord
–Don’t be put off by the acoustic, underproduced beginning. As the band kicks in, he muses about all the things we do to keep from facing our realities. We might lose our way, but there’s always a road to bring you back. Nashville has a large recovery community, and this could be its anthem.

BRANDON STANSELL / “Wild Ride”
Writers: Brandon Stansell/Mylen; Producer: Julian Hoffman Beechko; Label: PEG
–His husky tenor has an attractive intimacy that contrasts nicely with a percussive, country-rock production on his new single. The whole thing has an airy, open “California” vibe, although tradition-minded programmers might find the extended sax solo problematic. The former Taylor Swift backup dancer was previously noted for his Cam duet “Hurt People.”

CODY BELEW / “Crimes”
Writer: Cody Belew; Producer: Cody Belew; Label: Visionary Media
–This former DISCovery Award winner brings intense bluesy drama to this steeped-in-soul performance of a cry from the heart. It speaks out against the violence and injustice that has been so long been leveled at gay men. Belew has a series of upcoming dates at The Lipstick Lounge, the first of which is June 18.

BROOKE EDEN / “Got No Choice”
Writers: Brooke Eden/Jesse Frasure/Cary Barlowe; Producer: Jesse Frasure; Label: BBR
–Brooke features her partner Hilary Hoover in her videos, including this one with lots of romantic footage. It’s a merry, bopping, bright love song that’s on the pop side of pop-country.

BILLY GILMAN / “Soldier”
Writers: Adrianna Mondelli/Corey Britz/Travis Ference; Producer: none listed; Label: BG
–The former child star and The Voice alumnus is shouting and forceful on this stomper about perseverance and survival. Its video is being used in the promotional material on his current tour.

KATIE PRUITT / “Loving Her”
Writer: Katie Pruitt; Producers: Katie Pruitt/Michael Robinson; Label: Rounder
–Rippling with guitars and powered by her clear, achingly expressive soprano, this is a joyous, uplifting, sunny ode to same-sex love. Her debut album, Expectations, has met with great favor on NPR this year. Nashvillian Pruitt was previously noted in DISClaimer for her witty “Merry Christmas, Mary Jane” during the Yule of 2021.

TY HERNDON / “Till You Get There”
Writers: Ty Herndon/Jamie Floyd/Erik Halbig/Jimmy Thow; Producer: Jimmy Thow; Label: Pivotal
–He still sings so splendidly. This driving, uptempo outing has a cool, uplifting message as well as rampaging rhythm. Soaring, pulse-quickening and radio ready.

ORVILLE PECK / “Daytona Sand”
Writer: Orville Peck; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Columbia
–The guy with throaty, dramatic baritone and the fringed mask is back with a super exciting country rocker that rumbles and twangs in all the right places. It’s like a jacked up spaghetti-western soundtrack. It’s quite a ride, so hold on tight.