Luke Combs. Photo: David Bergman

The opposing forces of pop and country are lined up in this week’s playlist.

On one side are Adam Hambrick and Cole Swindell, polishing their pop sides. On the other side are Trace Adkins and Canaan Smith, proudly parading their country bona fides.

The Disc of the Day contest boils down to Trace, Brantley Gilbert and the winner, Luke Combs.

Shy Carter has penned hits for the likes of Rob Thomas, Sugarland, Charlie Puth, Tim & Faith, Kane Brown and more. He sounds an awful lot like a bright, shiny, new pop star on his “Good Love.” He also wins this week’s DisCovery Award.

ADAM HAMBRICK/Between Me and the End of the World
Writer: Adam Hambrick; Producer: Andrew DeRoberts; Publisher: Capitol/Buena Vista
– His wife is a physician’s assistant working on the front lines of the pandemic. This heart-tugging pop ballad is an ode to her courage.

BRANTLEY GILBERT/Hard Days
Writers: Brantley Gilbert/Brock Berryhill/Jay Brunswick/Logan Wall; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– I have always said this guy has one of the most underrated singing voices in country music. He is super expressive on this power ballad of survival and perseverance. The gist of it is that experiencing bad times can strengthen your character. Highly relatable.

CANAAN SMITH/Colder Than You
Writers: Canaan Smith/Corey Crowder/Jared Mullins; Producers: Canaan Smith/Tyler Hubbard/Brian Kelley; Publisher: Georgia Song Vibez Administered by Warner Chappell; Georgia Song Vibez/ Big Crowd Publishing Administered by Warner Chappell; Tree Vibez Music/ Mullins It Over Music Administered by Warner Chappell; Round Here Records
– Solidly country, with a wry wink in the lyric and some deep twang in the production. Round Here Records is FGL’s label.

LUKE COMBS/Lovin’ On You
Writers: James McNair/Luke Combs/Ray Fulcher/Thomas Archer; Producer: Scott Moffatt; Publishers: Sony-ATV/Warner Chappell/Words & Music/Big Deal, no performance rights listed; River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
– Thank goodness. At least one star is still rocking out. This upbeat rump shaker hollers “Good times!” loudly, and it’s a welcome sound. Bellow on, bro.

SHY CARTER/Good Love
Writers: Shy Carter, James Slater, Carlo Colasacco, & Micah Carter; Producer: David Garcia; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
– He’s achieved massive success as a Nashville songwriter. This sounds like a strong bid for recognition as a pop prince. Yummy ear candy.

COLE SWINDELL/Single Saturday Night
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Mark Holman/Michael Hardy; Producer: Michael Carter; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
– Disposable, tuneless pop-country. The florid production works overtime to dress it up into something presentable.

ERIN ENDERLIN/Fishin’ in the Dark (to be released June 19)
Writers: Jim Photoglo and Wendy Waldman; Producers: Alex Kline & Erin Enderlin; Publisher: none listed; Blaster
– Enderlin slows down the 1987 Dirt Band oldie, transforming it into a sultry, smiling, swooning, simmering outing with an emphasis on the dreamy lyric. The languid groove is irresistible.

ERIC PASLAY/On This Side of Heaven
Writers: Eric Paslay/Jordan Minton/Jordan Reynolds; Producers: Eric Paslay/F. Reid Shippen; Publisher: none listed
– Absolutely lovely and immensely heart tugging. Loss and devastation have seldom sounded more beautiful. This guy is so gifted.

TRACE ADKINS/Mind on Fishin’
Writers: Aaron Raitiere/Wynn Varble; Producer: Bart Butler; Publisher: none listed; Verge
– Beyond cute. The swampy groove and Trace’s always-cool singing voice are reasons enough to tune in. Here’s a reason that’s just as good: The song has wonderful hillbilly lyric: I’d rather be on the lake with my mind on God/Than in church with my mind on fishin’. Can I get an “Amen?”

Some days, your favorite music comes from the most unexpected places.

This week, we have great new tunes from such proven winners as Trace Adkins, Jamie O’Neal, Easton Corbin and Lee Brice. Not to mention a terrific track by the redhot Morgan Wallen.

But over there in the corner, slyly working his audio magic is newcomer Troy Cartwright with a super hooky Disc of the Day.

Jameson Rodgers has previously been in this column as a collaborator with Luke Combs. Now he has a chance to shine as a solo. In so doing, he wins a DisCovery Award.

MORGAN WALLEN/More Than My Hometown
Writers: Ernest Keith Smith/Michael Hardy/Morgan Wallen/Ryan Vojtesak; Producer: Joey Moi; Publisher: Universal/Kobalt/Sony-ATV; BMI; Big Loud
– His vocal is kinda processed and compressed, but there’s no covering up his soulful warmth and personality. The track rolls along nicely, like a drive in the sticks in your dad’s comfy, air-conditioned sedan. The lyric is a country boy pledging his love to the gal who wants to leave him behind so she can see the bright lights.

JANA KRAMER/Untouchable
Writers: Emily Shackleton/Jana Kramer/Nicole Witt; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Warner Chappell; Sophie Dog
– She has always been underrated. The plaintive ache in her vocal on this yearning, mid-tempo outing is terrific. She’s asking for something more than a one night stand. The whole world is searching for True Love, so here’s a song that everyone can relate to.

TRACE ADKINS/Better Off
Writers: Hillary Lindsey/Corey Crowder/Liz Rose; Producer: non listed; Publisher: none listed; Verge
– Her shoes, her clothes, the bed pillows, her lipstick and the lights are all “Better Off” because he’s got a sexy, one-on-one night in mind. Big Trace’s throaty, come-on voice is appropriately miked up close and personal. Cool tune.

JAMIE O’NEAL/The World Goes On
Writers: Shaye Smith/Jamie O’Neal/Ilya Toshinsky; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; JO
– The crunchy, punchy track is dynamite. As always, this total pro delivers the goods as a vocalist, offering conversational advice as well as wailing, soprano celebration. It’s about finding inner power when you’re feeling down, which is the kind of inspirational message we can all use right now. Turn it up.

EASTON CORBIN/Turn Up
Writers: Easton Corbin/Jessi Alexander/Wade Kirby; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Honkytonk Land
– He’s still country and I still like him. This is a hillbilly romper with charm and rhythm to spare. Lotsa fun.

HONEY COUNTY/Woke Up Tired
Writers: Danielle Rosner/Devon Eisenbarger/Kalie Shorr/Katie Stump; Producer: Maks Gabriel/Kenneth Belcher; Publisher: none listed; Sounds Like Nashville
– Creamy harmonies. Lilting melody. Wistful and attractive.

JAMESON RODGERS/Some Girls
Writers: C.J. Solar/Jake Mitchell/Michael Hardy; Producers: Chris Farren/Mickey Jack Cones; Publisher: none listed; Columbia/River House
– Strongly sung. It’s a bitter swipe at a no-good gal who has busted his ticker. The snarling electric guitar work and pounding rhythm in the production match the “edge” in his performance. I think this youngster might be headed for big things.

CLARE DUNN/Salt and Lime
Writers: Clare Dunn/Jeff Trott; Producer: Jeff Trott; Publisher: none listed; Big Yellow Dog
– First of all, the song sounds like an ultimate summer anthem. Second of all, her liquid-alto singing voice is a sultry delight. Third of all, it’s a lot more country than her previous releases. Go for it.

LEE BRICE/Hey World
Writers: Adam Wood/Dallas Davidson/Lee Brice; Producer: Lee Brice; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– This man always seems to hit an emotional bullseye. We have all felt the heartache and anguish that assault us every day. This man’s supremely soulful performance of this ballad is an everyman masterpiece. It hits your heart hard with its conviction and eloquence.

TROY CARTWRIGHT/Round and Round
Writers: David Garcia/Hillary Lindsey/Troy Cartwright; Producer: David Garcia; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– The loose-limbed, head-bobbing rhythm track is pretty irresistible. His drawling delivery, a catchy tune and the groovy, repetitive-romance lyric are all on the money, too.

Mo Pitney

It sounds to me like Music Row has springtime on its mind.

Jordan Davis, Eric Paslay and Sam Hunt (with Breland) have sunny sounds. The songwriting community is also on hand with fresh, breezy audio — check out the offerings by Corey Crowder and Nicolle Galyon.

Crowder, Galyon, Chrissy Metz, Breland and Chevel Shepherd are all making their DisClaimer debuts today. The guy who tops ’em all and gets the DisCovery Award is Jesse Keith Whitley.

In a highly competitive contest, I’m going with Mo Pitney for the Disc of the Day prize. His single drops tomorrow.

JESSE KEITH WHITLEY/Try To Change My Ways
Writers: Kirk Roth/Robert Kemp; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; JKW
– Jesse snarls like a country outlaw in this defiant anthem. The well-produced track mixes fierce electric guitars with rippling banjo notes, stirring up a hot, frothy cauldron of sound. He gives a shout-out to his late, legendary dad in the lyric. Mom Lorrie Morgan should be proud.

ERIC PASLAY/Heartbeat Higher
Writers: Eric Paslay/Zach Crowell/Sarah Buxton; Producer: Paslay/F. Reid Shippen; Publisher: none listed; EMI
– Driving and propulsive, yet unmistakably romantic, this has the lush melodic qualities I have always liked in this artist’s work. Hushed verses burst into open throated, rocking choruses about “taking my heartbeat higher” and trying to “turn this sunset kiss into a midnight choir.” That’s co-writer Sarah Buxton providing harmony vocals and step-out vocal lines.

CHRISSY METZ/Talking To God
Writers: Connie Harrington/Jake Mitchell/Nicolette Hayford/Ashley McBryde; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Goes Something Like This/One Tooth Productions/Super Los Publishing/Make It Matter/Smackworks/I love Rha, no performance right listed; EMI
– The This Is Us TV star has found an outstanding Nashville song for her debut country single. Her vocal is kinda compressed, but she still conveys conversational intimacy as well as a certain soaring sincerity. It’s one cool lyric. Give it a listen.

JORDAN DAVIS/Almost Maybes
Writers: Jordan Davis/Jesse Frasure/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Publisher: ole Red Cape/Jordan Davis/Anthem Entertainment/Songs of Roc Nation/Telemitry Rhythm House/Warner-Tamerlane/BIRB/BMG Gold, ASCAP/BMI; MCA Nashville
– Barroom bopping, with a loosey-goosey rhythm track and a lackadaisical vocal delivery that are highly engaging. It has a relaxed, congenial vibe that sounds perfect for summertime Happy Hours.

CHEVEL SHEPHERD/Everybody’s Got A Story
Writers: Kacey Musgraves/Shane McAnally/Brandy Clark; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CS
– All of the ingredients are here. The song is superb. The rolling, country-rock production is ear candy. Her voice is pristine perfection. But like many teenagers, she seems to have no idea how to get inside a lyric. She won on The Voice in 2018, and that’s what she sounds like, a voice. The lyric is so excellent, but she might as well be singing foreign-language words, and that’s what makes this so frustrating sounding.

RITA WILSON/Where’s My Country Song?
Writers: Rita Wilson/Lee DeWyze; Producers: Rita Wilson/Mikal Blue; Publisher: none listed; Sing it Loud/The Orchard
– A hard-working, tough-life gal listens to the radio, but doesn’t hear her experience reflected in any of the lyrics she hears. Instead of male fantasy, she’d like to hear her blue-collar reality. This well-known actor shows real talent as a songwriter, and her lilting, folkie soprano is lovely.

COREY CROWDER/My Poor Mama
Writers: Corey Crowder/Jaren Johnston/James McNair/Jordan Schmidt; Producer: Corey Crowder; Publisher: none listed; Round Here
– This successful Music Row songwriter (FGL, Lady A, Jake Owen, etc.) and producer (Chris Young, LOCASH, RaeLynn, etc.) steps behind the mic for a delightfully loping, rocking ode to a mom who bailed him out and saved his butt more than once. Charming.

BRELAND & SAM HUNT/My Truck
Writers: Daniel Breland/Troy Taylor/Kalvin Austin/Devon Barton/Edrick Miles/Tatiana Zeigler/Sam Hunt; Producer: Kal V and Troy Taylor; Publisher: Daniel Breland/NoQuincydence/Kalvin Austin/Devon Barton/Emilesmusic/Songs of Universal/Tatiana Zeigler/Sam Hunt/Universal, BMI/ASCAP; Bad Realm/Atlantic
– Of all the hip-hop/country fusion records, this one stands out for sheer goofy smiles. Breland’s vocal actually sounds just as “country” as Hunt’s does (okay, except for the falsetto bits). Like “Old Town Road,” it is mindlessly repetitive (it took seven writers to come up with this?), but that’s part of its appeal I guess. Sam Hunt has always had rap tendencies, anyhow.

NICOLLE GALYON/All The Things
Writers: Nicolle Galyon/Lori McKenna; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Songs & Daughters
– This award-winning hit songwriter (“Tequila,” “Automatic,” etc.) has always possessed a winning vocal presence. This lightly wafting tune showcases her sweet soprano beautifully. Sunny, lovey-dovey and super positive, but never cloying. A treat.

MO PITNEY/Mattress on the Floor
Writers: Matt Alderman/Billy Montana/Randy Montana; Producer: Jim Moose Brown; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Sultry and sensuous. Pitney continues to be an outstanding vocal communicator on this slow-burning ballad about sharing love and poverty. A track to get lost in.

Ray Wylie Hubbard. Photo: Alan Messer

Nostalgia for ’90s country seems to be everywhere.

Let’s not forget that many of those legacy acts are still making music today. This special edition of DisClaimer collects some of their efforts. With concert, nightclub and casino bookings kaput while we all social distance, some of these artists have lost their day-to-day livelihoods. So lend them all the support that you can.

Leading the way with the Disc of the Day is Ray Wylie Hubbard. But there are several other worthy candidates, namely Dolly, Billy Ray, Rosanne and Mark Chesnutt.

Joe & Martina have been in this column before, under their old billing of Terra Bella. Since this is their first appearance using their own names, give ’em a DisCovery Award, as well as a tip of the hat for throwing a spotlight on veteran John Berry.

BILLY RAY CYRUS, AKA MAMA KUSH/Ballad of Jed
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: WMG/BMG Rights Management, no performance rights listed; BRC
– Wonderfully wacky. It’s a rewrite of the theme song of “The Beverly Hillbillies” with references to Granny firing up some weed. This is tied in with the fact that Billy Ray now has his own pot blend, “Midnight Special.” Ya gotta love this guy.

RAY WYLIE HUBBARD/Bad Trick
Writers: none listed; Producer: Ray Wylie Hubbard; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– Dark, bluesy and smoky….. and way, way cool. The hypnotic, minor-key groove is great enough, but the dancing-with-the-devil lyric is just as good. Texas legend Hubbard is best known for “Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother,” but his songwriting and stage presence have always been light years better than that timeless gem. His profile was raised recently by his songwriting collaborations with Eric Church (“Desperate Man,” etc). His backup band here consists of Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Don Was and Chris Robinson of The Black Crows. Are those credentials good enough for ya? Play and believe.

MARK CHESNUTT/I Found Another You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Nada Dinero
– Chesnutt remains one of our most underrated honky-tonk vocal stylists, and this audio delight demonstrates that he has lost none of his talent. A country-rock tempo churns this tune relentlessly while a chicken-pickin’ guitar stutters and a steel sizzles along. The punch line is hilarious: “I found another you, and she hates me, too.” Keepin’ it country, bro.

CLINT BLACK/America (Still In Love With You)
Writers: Clint Black/Steve Wariner; Producer: Clint Black; Publisher: none listed; CB
– A snooze. The ballad’s tempo plods, and the message sounds instantly trite.

CLAY WALKER/Easy Goin’
Writers: Clay Walker/Adam Wheeler/Paul Sikes; Producer: Paul Sikes; Publishers: Espiritu de Leon Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Accent / Pedal Down Music (ASCAP), Oven Music, Inc. (BMI); CW
-It has the gently rolling atmosphere you might expect, given the title. The gal was here and gone on the highway, to his regret. Heartache with a breezy vibe.

ZACH WILLIAMS & DOLLY PARTON/There Was Jesus
Writers: Jonathan Smith/Casey Beathard/Zach Williams; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Little Louder/Be Essential/Seven Ring Circus, BMI; Provident/Essential
-Indomitable Dolly lets no grass grow under her feet. She won a Grammy last year for her “God Only Knows” collaboration with For King & Country and began 2020 singing a five-week No. 1 smash on the dance charts along with the Swedish electro-duo Galantis on a tune titled “Faith.” Now she is dueting with Dove and Grammy-winning CCM star Zach Williams. As fiery a singer as he is, she matches him lick for vocal lick until the two of them built to a goosebump-raising crescendo. This is audio superstardom.

JOHN PAUL WHITE & ROSANNE CASH/We’re All In This Together
Writers: John Paul White/Rosanne Cash; Producer: John Paul White; Publisher: none listed; Single Lock
– Set in an acoustic-guitar setting, this shimmering duet is an artistic lyric that reflects our pandemic-plagued world. The ballad’s proceeds benefit Music Health Alliance. Its video shows news footage of just how harrowing this all is.

TRACY LAWRENCE/When The Cowboy’s Gone
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wyatt McCubbin/Tracy Lawrence; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Sony/ATV; Steadfast
-We’ve heard this worn-out sentiment many times before, but Tracy refreshes it a little because of his still-distinctive voice.

HOT COUNTRY KNIGHTS & TERRI CLARK/You Make It Hard
Writers: Dierks Bentley/Brett Beavers/Jim Beavers/Mary Hilliard Harrington/Jon Randall/Luke Wooten; Producer: Dierks Bentley; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
-I guess the bordering-on-lewd lyric is supposed to be a so-bad-its-good parody. To me, it just sounds dumb. She deserves better.

JOE & MARTINA WITH JOHN BERRY/Give Me Back The ’90s
Writers: Joe Costa/Johnny Garcia; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; JM
-The video (shot outside the iconic Nashville Palace) has visual references to Wynonna, Alan, Strait and Yearwood. Joe Costa takes the lead with his wife Martina Costa providing harmony while they wax nostalgic for the ’90s. John Berry pops up about 2/3 of the way through. Pleasant. Jaunty.

Luke Combs. Photo: Jim Wright

The mighty Luke Combs strikes again.

He shines a pinpoint spotlight on our current crisis with a terrific tune titled “Six Feet Apart” and nails down another Disc of the Day award.

For more uplift in these troubled times, I recommend a dose of Mags doing Dolly Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” and Jake Owen singing “Made for You.” Feeling wistful? Check out Sam Hunt‘s “Young Once” and Brett Eldredge‘s “Gabrielle.”

The DisCovery Award goes to a promising youngster named Rachele Lynae.

BRETT ELDREDGE/Gabrielle
Writers: Eldredge/Daniel Tashian/Ian Fitchuk; Producer: Tashian/Fitchuk, Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
-Melodic and memorable. It builds from piano based simplicity to a denser, chunkier production, but Brett’s chesty vocal strength remains the focus throughout. Which is as it should be.

RACHELE LYNAE/Got It Bad
Writers: Rachele Lynae/Hannah Bethel/Jamie Good; Producer: David Dorn/Rachele Lynae; Publisher: none listed; RL (track)
– Breezy pop-country with some cool dynamics in a production that shifts from stripped down “open” verses to swirly, rushing, lush choruses. Highly listenable. This troubadour has it going on in both songwriting talent and vocal finesse

LUKE COMBS/Six Feet Apart
Writers: Luke Combs/Brent Cobb/Rob Snyder; Producers: none listed; River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
– This was on his live-feed stream last week. It is Luke’s contribution to the growing list of quarantine songs. It captures the uncertainty and discomfort of this era, but points to a future when we will hug, share concerts, go to ballgames and visit together again. “There’ll be light after dark/Someday when we aren’t/Six feet apart.” Catch Luke and Craig Morgan as the Opry’s unplugged stars this week. By the way, if you haven’t been tuning in to the Opry shows of the past six weeks, you have been missing some extraordinary music. The first was Brad/Vince/Marty, then Vince/Amy/Jenny/Corinna, Terri Clark/Lauren Alaina/Ashley McBryde, Trace/T. Graham/Jason Crabb and last week Ricky with Dailey & Vincent. Bobby Bones has been hosting. Great stuff.

MAGS/Light of a Clear Blue Morning
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; Emerald Field
– All artists should cover a Dolly song, and this is one of the living legend’s best. The Irish lass kicks up the tempo and rocks the inspirational song of freedom with fantastic energy. That’s Mags’ own fiddle in the background. Great job.

SAM HUNT/Young Once
Writers: Josh Osborne/Matt Jenkins/Miller Zachary Crowell/Sam Lowry Hunt; Producer: Zach Crowell; Publishers: Warner Chappell/Sony-ATV/Universal, no performance rights listed; MCA Nashville
– I was beginning to think of this guy as a one-trick pony, but this time he has ditched the white “rapping” and “hey girl” whispering to sing and deliver a lyric that brims with youthful optimism.

BAILEY CALLAHAN/Roll
Writers: Bailey Callahan/Nick DeLeo/Nick Halsted; Producer: Robbie Artress; Publisher: none listed; Pink Mustang
-Very cool. It has a dark, minor-key, rebel edge that is kinda gritty and smoldering. Searing electric-guitar lines shoot in and out of the mix, underscoring her get-out-of-my-way performance.

MORGAN WALLEN/More Than My Hometown
Writers: Morgan Wallen/Michael Hardy/Ernest Keith Smith/Ryan Vojtesak; Producer:Joey Moi; Publisher: none listed; Big Loud
– Wallen’s “Chasin’ You” is still storming the charts, but he’s giving us another tease from his upcoming album with this rollicking and warm love song. It’s not his strongest effort, but I remain a fan.

PARMALEE & BLANCO BROWN/Just The Way
Writers: Kevin Bard/Matt Thomas/Nolan Sipe; Producer: David Fanning; Publisher: none listed; Stoney Creek
– It goes without saying that it is extremely well sung. I just wish the material was stronger. A positive, uptempo country love song, doubtless written with the mentality of country radio at the forefront.

JAKE OWEN/Made For You
Writers: Benjy Lashar Davis/Joey Hyde/Neil Medley; Producer: Joey Moi; Publisher: Sony-ATV/Kobalt, no performance rights listed; Big Loud
– Very pretty. A sweetly romantic expression from a guy who still has plenty to give us. Jake is better known for party fare, but this demonstrates his equally strong balladeer side. I don’t watch the show, but the song evidently got a boost via his performance of it on The Bachelorette.

SHANE OWENS/Love Me To Death
Writer: Galen Griffin; Producer: Nick “Ace” Lutz; Publisher: none listed; Amerimonte
– One of our finest current hard-country singers takes on a sexy lyric cooked in an audio stew of twang, fiddle and backbeat. Kinda classic sounding.