DISClaimer: The Enduring Greatness Of Tanya Tucker

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Greetings, and welcome to an all-female DisClaimer column.

If the boneheads at country radio won’t give you a fair shot, ladies, I certainly will. Especially when there’s this much talent to showcase.

Among those leading the charge today are Lauren Alaina, Mandy Barnett, Maddie & Tae, Allie Colleen and Kalie Shorr, all with worthy new tracks.

But I am completely awestruck by newcomer Caroline Watkins, who easily claims the DisCovery Award. If the rest of her songs are as strong as this, she’s a humongous talent.

I’m sure all of the women here will join me in bowing down to the enduring greatness of Tanya Tucker. She’s the Disc of the Day…..today and every day.

CAROLINE WATKINS/Drunk Girls in Bathrooms
Writers: none listed; Producer: Jason Massey; Publishers: none listed; CW
– “Where everybody’s your new best friend.” Gals cheer up one another, talk clothes and shoes, dry your tears, hold your beer while you fix your makeup. What a wonderful place the Ladies Room is. This song is genius. I totally love it.

 

TANYA TUCKER/Bring My Flowers Now
Writers: Tanya Tucker/Brandi Carlile/Tim Hanseroth/Phil Hanseroth, Producer: Brandi Carlile/Shooter Jennings; Publisher: none listed; BMI; Fantasy
– If this doesn’t tug at your heart, you haven’t got one. A magnificent, meaningful ballad from one of the greatest country voices in history. I say, yes, bring this woman the accolades and praise she deserves RIGHT NOW. I say, yes, let’s give her a Grammy Award NOW. I say, yes, let’s put her into the Country Music Hall of Fame NOW.

ALLIE COLLEEN/Along The Way
Writers: Allie Colleen/Stephen McMorran; Producer: none listed; Audiam
– The percolating rhythm anchors a sweet vocal that urges you to climb your mountains and dream, but with love by your side. Very uplifting.

MADDIE & TAE/Everywhere I’m Goin’
Writers: Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye/Josh Thompson/Jimmy Robbins; Producer: Derek Wells; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
– I so much welcome the return of these two. The title tune of the duo’s new EP has a similar feisty/sunny quality as their earlier work, but with added maturity and confidence. The vocal blend is as perfect here as it is on their excellent single “Die From a Broken Heart.”

 

CLARE DUNN/Gold to Glitter
Writer: Clare Dunn/Ben West/Jamie Moore; Producer: Ben West/Clare Dunn; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
– Her husky, powerful voice is in full flight here, as are her electric guitar chops. I still think she has a solid shot at pop stardom, because both this and her other new track, “Money’s All Gone,” rock a little too hard to qualify as “country.”

MANDY BARNETT/The End of the World
Writer: Arthur Kent/Sylvia Dee; Producer: Fred Mollin; Publisher: none listed; Melody Place/BMG
-Luminous. She towers over most of the competition as a Nashville Sound chanteuse. The song is a gorgeous Skeeter Davis classic from 1963. No current country stylist could bring it back more beautifully. The strings are super, too.

LAUREN ALAINA/The Other Side
Writers: Lauren Alaina/Jon Nite/Zach Kale; Producer: David Garcia; Mercury Nashville
– Lauren introduced this echoey ballad during her Dancing With the Stars spotlight earlier this week. It is a touching, spiritual ode to her late stepfather, whom she believes is her Guardian Angel watching her from the Other Side.

EmiSUNSHINE & THE RAIN/Crimson Moon
Writers: none listed; Producers: EmiSunshine/Tony Brown; Publisher: none listed; EmiSunshine
-She’s only 15, but she’s growing in leaps and bounds. The vocal performance and the songwriting are still on the juvenile side. I’d keep an ear on her future.

 

LAINEY WILSON/Dirty Looks
Writers: Brent Anderson/Lainey Wilson/Smith Ahnquist; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: none listed; BBR
– There’s something uncomfortably compressed about this audio. It makes her sound artificial. She clearly has ability, but I don’t think this is a career-launching recording.

KALIE SHORR/Lullaby
Writers: Kalie Shorr/Robyn Collins/Will Stone; Producers: Skip Black/Kalie Shorr; Publisher: none listed; KS
– She’s getting over a relationship and sleeping alone with her own lullaby to soothe her. The mix is loaded with dynamics, ranging from hushed intimacy to full-on rocking. Tougher sounding than she used to be, this young woman is going places.

DISClaimer: Luke Combs Tops New Tracks

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Luke Combs. Photo: David Bergman.

It’s Diversity Day here at DisClaimer.

I have always said that country music is a bigger tent than most people realize. Gathering under the Big Top today are representatives from New Zealand, Norway and Ireland. Two of the genre’s emerging African-American stars are here. The gay country community is represented, too. Exactly half of our entries today are by women, which is as it always should be.

There’s no denying the mighty Luke Combs as our Disc of the Day winner. The newly-minted Opry star is a worthy standard bearer for the entire genre.

Former New Zealand pop star Jamie McDell has migrated both geographically and stylistically. She’s now living in Toronto and is making country music in Nashville. Give her a DisCovery Award.

ERIN ENDERLIN/Whatever Gets You Through The Night
Writers: Erin Enderlin/Jimmy Melton; Producer: Jim “Moose” Brown/Jamey Johnson; Publisher: none listed; Blaster
– This indie artist is definitely picking up steam. Her Faulkner County CD includes a bevy of high-profile supporters in its cast — Alison, Vince, Jon Randall, Terri Clark, Cody Jinks, Melonie Cannon and co-producer Jamey Johnson, for starters. The collection’s lead-off single is a midnight ballad of loneliness and longing. Dillon Carmichael provides a perfectly shaded harmony vocal as she recites a litany of cold comfort — bourbon, Haggard songs, the motel Bible, TV, lousy coffee, a truck stop. Languid and poetic.

SAM HUNT/Kinfolks
Writers: Sam Hunt/Zach Crowell/Jerry Flowers/Josh Osborne; Producer: Zach Crowell; Publisher: Universal/Between the Pines/Spirit Two Nashville/Miller Crow/Kyler’s Kinda Night/Twelve6 Dogwood/JFlo Records & Tapes/Downtown DLJ/Sony-ATV Accent/Smackborne, ASCAP; MCA
– Welcome back. This pretty much picks up where he left off — the whispery, semi-spoken verses with a hip-hop flavor followed by a hooky, sung chorus. Also as before, it’s a come-on, this time to a gal he likes so much that he wants her to meet his family.

MALIN PETTERSEN/Alonesome
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Die With Your Boots On (track)
– It says here that she is, “widely known for possessing one of Norway’s greatest country voices.” Okay, you’ve got my attention. Truth to tell, this newcomer has already won the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy. Her six-song EP’s title and lead-off track is a lilting heartbreak tune. It’s quite spare, featuring only her catch-in-throat soprano and an acoustic guitar. Somebody hook her up with a producer.

LUKE COMBS/What You See Is What You Get
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; River House/Columbia
– Luke’s sophomore CD drops on Nov. 8. This is its title tune and the theme song of his road tour. It’s a solid thumper with plenty of grinding guitar. But what stays with you is his extraordinarily relatable singing. Vocalists that sidle up next to you and get under your skin are so rare, and this guy is one of ‘em. I remain a gigantic fan.

JAMIE MCDELL/Botox
Writer: Jamie McDell; Producer: Nash Chambers; Publisher:peer, no performance rights listed; Essence
– I have to admit, I was immediately intrigued by the title, alone. The back story here is that she is an award winning New Zealand pop star who has fallen under Nashville’s spell. She and Oz producer Nash Chambers have crafted a three-song EP with this as its title track. It’s kinda wordy, and the garage-country track crowds the vocal. But the gist of it is that she’s willing to do Botox or whatever it takes, “so you can get your manhood back.” Yikes.

BLANCO BROWN/Honeysuckle & Lightning Bugs
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BBR/BMG
– I loved his dancefloor sensation “The Git Up.” Now to prove he’s not a novelty, one-hit wonder comes this genuine heartache lament with cool looped audio effects. It takes him awhile to get to the full production, but the wait is worthwhile. Super soulful.

LANCO/What I See
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista
– I dig Brandon Lancaster’s whole thang — the always-melodic hooks, the plaintive vocal, the crunchy band. I love the way this new single builds from simplicity to epic grandeur. Ear candy.

KAREN & THE SORROWS/Guaranteed Broken Heart
Writer: Karen Pittelman; Producer: Pittelman; Publishers: Ocean Born Mary, ASCAP; KS (track)
– They’re billed as “queer country trailblazers…creating space for people who love country music, even if country music doesn’t always love them back.” The band runs the Gay Ole Opry festival and the Queer Country Quarterly in New York. The title tune of their album, which drops tomorrow, is a twangy ditty featuring Karen’s twee, Dolly wanna-be voice backed by steel guitar and plenty of reverb.

MATT STELL & JIMMIE ALLEN/Home in a Hometown
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Pubisher: none listed; RECORDS/Arista Nashville
– Very sweet. It’s lovely word portrait of contented, small-town life with nostalgia and gentility to make you smile. Their voices brush up against each other comfortably, sounding terrific at every turn of phrase.

MAGS/Emotional Honesty
Writers: David M. Ross/Steve O’Brien; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mags
– Mags is an Irish fiddler/singer who resides and records in Music City. Her throaty, clear delivery of this love plea is spot-on. “Emotional honesty” isn’t a phrase that “sings” easily, but she pulls it off.

DISClaimer: Brantley Gilbert Brings “Great Country Craftmanship” To “Bad Boy”

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Brantley Gilbert.

There’s an awful lot of pop music being marketed as “country” in today’s listening session.

But there are roses among the thorns. Chief among these is Brantley Gilbert. The “outlaw” star achieves new heights with “Bad Boy” and easily claims the Disc of the Day prize.

The DisCovery Award goes to Kentucky mountain boy Ian Noe. This is a singer-songwriter to be reckoned with as a true troubadour of working-class, small-town woes. Embrace his music at once.

RYAN GRIFFIN/Right Here Right Now
Writers: Ryan Griffin/Josh London/Jason Massey; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– His plaintive tenor soars over a lively rhythm track augmented by electric guitars in an echoey sonic bed. The song is a “live-for-today” romantic come-on that’s attractive and hooky.

DAN + SHAY & JUSTIN BIEBER/10,000 Hours
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– A sugary sweet pop confection that’s a lot more Bieber than backroads.

 
IAN NOE/Between The Country
Writers: none listed; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publisher: none listed; Silver and Gold
– He’s an Appalachian troubadour from East Kentucky with a gripping way with a song. The slight echo on his voice and the stark production throw a spotlight on his storytelling skill on this dramatic murder ballad. A superb disc debut. By the way, Noe is showcasing tonight at the Exit/In. Seek an invitation from Sacks & Co.

THE MAVERICKS/Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way
Writers: Waylon Jennings; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, Thirty Tigers
– The band slightly slows down this Waylon Jennings classic, adding harmonica, horns and some extra guitar jangle to the arrangement. The 1975 original has more snarl and snap.

TREA LANDON/What Feelin’ Good Feels Like
Writers: Landon/Danny Myrick/Bryan West; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Rural imagery abounds in this wistful, airy ode to letting the silence in and slowing life down. The details in the lyric are just dandy.

 

MAREN MORRIS & HOZIER/The Bones
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, Columbia
– Even without Hozier, it was a pop performance. To his credit, his vocal sounds as “country” as hers does.

RUNAWAY JUNE/Head Over Heels
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BBR/Wheelhouse
– “I Can Buy My Own Drinks” has been one of the breakout, against-all-odds country success stories of 2019. The follow-up is a chronicle of a dating misadventure that’s frothy and cheeky.

BRANTLEY GILBERT/Bad Boy
Writers: Brantley Gilbert, Andrew DeRoberts, Josh Phillips; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Valory
– Exquisitely well written. I have repeatedly raved about his distinctive, haunting vocal tone. This illustrates what an underrated songwriter he is. The brushed-velvet ballad tells the story of a girl in love with a supposed delinquent as told from the point of view of her concerned mother. This is what great country craftsmanship sounds like. Brantley’s new Fire & Brimstone collection is out now. Get it.

 

BRANDON LAY/Still Rock and Roll
Writers: Brandon Lay/Shane McAnally/JT Hodges; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; EMI
-He’s carrying a torch for a hottie who can still captivate with just a glance. It must be that insistent beat and impossibly catchy tune, because they wind up back together as the night winds down. Tap your toes and sing along.

KRISTIN CHENOWETH, JENNIFER HUDSON & REBA McENTIRE/I’m A Woman
Writers: none listed; Producer: Steve Tyrell; Publisher: none listed, Concord
-Chenoweth is a Tony winning Broadway star (You’re a Good Man Charley Brown, Wicked, etc.) and an Emmy winning TV actor (Glee, Pushing Daisies, etc.). Her new CD is For the Girls, and it salutes Patsy Cline, Barbra Streisand, Lesley Gore, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and other women who have influenced her. She’s joined on this update of a feisty Peggy Lee classic by Reba and Oscar winner Hudson, and the result is delightful. Dolly is her duet partner on “I Will Always Love You.”

DISClaimer: Collaborations Abound On Duo Day

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It’s Duo Day here at DisClaimer.

This week is a bountiful harvest of collaborations — Tim McGraw & Shy Carter, Colt Ford & Mitchell Tenpenny, Carly Pearce & Lee Brice, Maddie & Tae, Logan Ledger & Courtney Marie Andrews. Gone West & Colbie Caillat sounds like a collab, but it’s really the name of a lovely new four-person harmony ensemble.

But all of them take a back seat to our Disc of the Day. It belongs to Craig Morgan, and it is a breathtaking reminder of just how moving great country singing and songwriting can be.

The DisCovery Award goes to Lower Broadway vet Logan Ledger. I am enthralled by his sound.

JUSTIN MOORE/Why We Drink
Writers: Justin Moore/Casey Beathard/David Lee Murphy/Jeremy Stover; Producer: Stover; Publisher: none listed; Valory
– Romping and rollicking, this is a boatload of boozy fun. Plus, the boy can sing.

CARLY PEARCE & LEE BRICE/I Hope You’re Happy Now
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– I’m a big fan of both of these artists, so I was tickled to see them as a duet. The song is about being completely devastated in a breakup, and they’re both singing their faces off in it. The thumping rhythm is just right. The harmony vocals are mixed a mite soft, as though each one wants to let the other have the total spotlight when it’s their turn to sing lead. A sterling single.

 

GONE WEST & COLBIE CAILLAT/What Could’ve Been
Writers: Gone West/Jamie Kenney; Producer: Kenney; Publisher: none listed; Triple Tigers
– Lustrous. I fell hard for the stacked vocal harmonies and the swirling melody. Heartache has seldom sounded as glorious as this. Top pop Grammy winner Caillat has moved to Music City and formed Gone West as a four-part, two-couples vocal fiesta. This is its captivating, stunning debut disc. What a treat.

MADDIE & TAE/Everywhere I’m Goin’
Writers: Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye/Josh Thompson/Jimmy Robbins; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
– Shimmering and sparkly, this twirls and spins like a glittering dancefloor ball. The sound of falling in love.

COLT FORD & MITCHELL TENPENNY/Slow Ride
Writers: Colt Ford/Taylor Phillips/Josh Mirenda/Jared Sciullo/Justin David Bertoldie; Producer: J. Sclullo; Publishers: Average ZJS/Warner-Tamerlane/Mirendawrites/Reservoir Media Management/Riley Payton/Lacey Branch, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC
-Hick-hop rides again. It’s a slow groove with a languid vibe alternating with rapid-fire white-boy rap. It loops back on itself over and over again. Colt’s new CD is We the People, and his other guests on it include Jimmie Allen, Michael Ray and Eddie Montgomery.

TIM McGraw & SHY CARTER/Way Down
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– It has a gritty, funky, crunchy guitar/percussion track topped with a spoken-sung vocal about getting Southern-fried in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and other Dixie locales. Carter provides a brief rapped breakdown. Repetitive, but ear-wormy.

 

LOGAN LEDGER & COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS/Oh Sister
Writers: none listed; Producer: T Bone Burnett; Publisher: none listed; Rounder
– Drenched in steel and oozing barroom authenticity, this is utterly mesmerizing. Is it about incest? Logan is following the Nashville path of Margo Price and Joshua Hedley, taking a left-field route to remind us what real country music sounds like. His I Don’t Dream Anymore EP drops tomorrow. Sign me up for the fan club.

CRAIG MORGAN/The Father, My Son and the Holy Ghost
Writer: Craig Morgan; Producer: Craig Morgan; Publisher: none listed; BBR
– Powerful. He has always shaken and moved me as a vocalist. Never more so than now, as he pours out his heart in memory of his late son. I was sobbing by the time he hit the finale. So grateful for this artist’s honesty and bravery.

 

CAYLEE HAMMACK/Just Friends
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– I still say she’s a pop act.

ZAC BROWN BAND/The Woods
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BBR/Wheelhouse
– As cool and listenable as ever, these guys continue with their one-of-a-kind sound. This tickles the ears with non-stop rhythm, soulful singing and mega-hooky melody. Love them to pieces.

DISClaimer: Irene Kelley Is Tops With “Bluegrass Radio”

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Photo: Jadon Lee Denton

This is bluegrass-music week.

What’s that you say? You don’t hear much bluegrass in the clubs right now? That’s because Nashville let the genre’s annual convention slip through its fingers in 2013. It now takes place in Raleigh, NC.

So that’s where you’ll hear wall-to-wall, real country music all this week, and the IBMA’s annual awards show takes place there tonight.

In this column’s roundup of current bluegrass CDs. Irene Kelley takes home a Disc of the Day award, and the DisCovery prize goes to Mickey Galyean & Cullen’s Bridge.

MERLE MONROE/This Town
Writer: Roger Miller; Producers: Tim Raybon, Daniel Grindstaff & Stephen Burwell; Publisher: Sony/ATV Tree, BMI; Pinecastle (track)
– Ya gotta love the band name. The wry, downbeat song is taken at a lightning tempo, but somehow all five members keep pace, both instrumentally and vocally, complete with harmonies. The banjo and fiddle playing are exemplary, in particular. What the group lacks in vocal distinctiveness is compensated by crisp perfectionism. Vocalist/bassist Tim Raybon is the brother of Shenandoah’s lead singer Marty Raybon, and the two formerly performed as a country duo (1997’s “Butterfly Kisses”).

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN & RICKY SKAGGS/Dive
Writer: SCC; Producers: Brent Milligan/Steven Curtis Chapman; Publishers: Primary Wave Brian/BMG Rights/Sparrow Song/CapitolCMG, BMI; SCSEE (track)
– CCM superstar Chapman hails from Kentucky, and he saluted his rural roots with a 2013 collection titled Deep Roots. The bluegrass community welcomed him by making it a No. 1 album in the genre. Deeper Roots is the follow-up, and this lead-off single enters the bluegrass top-20 this month. He’s aided on the choppy, uptempo, inspirational tune by Bluegrass and Country Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs.

LARRY STEPHENSON & RONNIE BOWMAN/Two Ol’ Country Boys Like Us
Writers: Stephenson/Bowman; Producers: Ben Surratt/Stephenson; Publishers: Lee Dawn/Eclipse Music/Whenever You’re Around, BMI; Whysper Dream
– The Larry Stephenson Band is storming the bluegrass charts with this, a vocal and songwriting collaboration with stellar ‘grass vocalist Ronnie Bowman. It’s a light-hearted, midtempo jaunt about downhome friendship. The other songs are equally topnotch, since they boast authors such as Boudleaux & Felice Bryant, Ernest Tubb, Randy Van Warmer, Kostas and Donna Ulisse. The album is titled 30, because this year marks the band’s 30th anniversary.

DALE ANN BRADLEY/Hard Way Every Time
Writer: Jim Croce; Producer: Dale Ann Bradley; Publishers: BMG Gold, no PRO listed; Pinecastle
– Bradley is a five-time Female Vocalist IBMA winner, and she’s competing for that prize again this year. She’s also a member of the Grammy-nominated, all-female band Sister Sadie, which is nominated for IBMA Vocal Group and Album of the Year. Her new solo album’s title tune and lead single enters the top-10 on the field’s popularity chart this month. It’s a rippling, lilting, folkie tune that looks back at tough times as learning experiences. It comes from the pen of one of the great pop troubadours of the 1970s.

MICKEY GALYEAN & CULLEN’S BRIDGE/No Candy In My Bluegrass
Writers: Rick Pardue; Producers: Mickey Galyean/Cullen’s Bridge; Publisher: Mitchell River, BMI
– These mountaineers have the goods. This is hard-core, straight-from-the-heart, unapologetic, pure bluegrass. The single has blasted into the top-5 on the Bluegrass Unlimited Chart, and it is a defiant, statement-of-purpose anthem for traditionalism. I am completely into these guys. The album is appropriately titled Songs From the Blue Ridge, and I heartily recommend it.

IRENE KELLEY/Bluegrass Radio
Writers: Irene Kelley/Jerry Salley; Producer: Kelley; Publisher: Shiny Stuff/Very Jerry, BMI/SESAC; Mountain Fever
– This Nashvillian is the hottest bluegrass act heading into this week’s IBMA convention. Her album, Benny’s TV Repair, sits at No. 1. This single has already topped the chart in Bluegrass Today and seems poised to repeat the feat in Bluegrass Unlimited (where it currently sits at No. 3). She’s also the subject of a laudatory feature in the new issue of BU. “Bluegrass Radio” sounds so sweet and Appalachian that she might as well be a mountain angel. Heavenly, heavenly, heavenly.

LONESOME RIVER BAND/Little Magnolia
Writers: Adam Wright/Milan Miller; Producer: Lonesome River Band; Publishers: Songs From the Stillhouse/Wrightone, SESAC/BMI; Mountain Home
– It’s an upbeat waltz, so I was hooked from the opening notes of this heartache tune. The twin-brother harmonies of Brandon Rickman and Jesse Smathers are electrifying. The song is at No. 14 and is taken from the Lonesome River Band’s current Outside Looking In CD. Group leader Sammy Shelor is the key to the band’s flawless grooves and is a five-time winner of IBMA Banjo Player of the Year honor.

GENA BRITT/Over and Over
Writers: Eli Johnson/Kevin KcKinnon; Producer: Gena Britt; Publisher: Top O Holston, BMI; Pinecastle (track)
– Chronicle is the solo debut of this sweet-singing banjo player. On it, Britt collaborates with such top talents as Brooke Aldridge, Alecia Nugent, Marty Raybon, Charli Robertson (of Flatt Lonesome) and her Grammy and IBMA nominated Sister Sadie bandmates Dale Ann Bradley, Deanie Richardson and Tina Adair. The set kicks off with this zippy, high-lonesome, heartbreak train tune. Promising.

UNSPOKEN TRADITION/Dark Side of the Mountain
Writers: paula Breedlove/Brad Davis: Producers: Unspoken Tradition/Scott Barnett; Publishers: PaulaJon, Brad Davis, ASCAP/BMI; Mountain Home
– This spent six months on the bluegrass charts this year. It’s a haunting, graveside tune bolstered by slightly gritty, bluesy vocals and a minor-key melody. With their edgy vocals and passionate instrumental attack, Unspoken Tradition is a band to watch. The CD is titled Myths We Tell Our Young.

LONELY HEARTSTRING BAND/The Other Side
Writers: Lonely Heartstring Band; Producer: Bridget Kearney; Publishers: Lonely Heartstring, BMI; Rounder (track)
– This Boston band definitely pushes at the bluegrass boundaries. It is an acoustic act, but draws from pop, folk, jam-band and even classical influences. The vocals here are soft and mesmerizing. The instrumentation is accomplished, improvisational and experimental. The lyric expresses youthful hope in a time of political distress. Challenging, beautiful and altogether wonderful. The CD that contains this is titled Smoke & Ashes. It will dazzle and delight you. It’s definitely going into my repeat-play stash.

DISClaimer: Sister Hazel, Niko Moon Top New Releases

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As we continue to slog through the dog days of summer (even though it’s September), country music is doing its best to keep our spirits up.

Dolly and Vince are here with touching inspiration. Trisha and Garth are bringing the romance. FGL has family values in mind.

The Disc of the Day goes to the enduringly great Sister Hazel. These guys are bona fide survivors who have sold millions on their independent road.

Give Niko Moon a DisCovery Award. I don’t know much about him, except that he shows real promise.

SISTER HAZEL/Raising a Rookie
Writers: Andrew Copeland/Darius Rucker/Barry Dean; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Country Paper/Pulse Nation/Creative Pulse, no performance rights listed; Rock Ridge
– This five-piece Florida band has been at it for 25 years and continues to gather momentum since its move into country music in 2015. This lead track from its new EP finds the vocal harmonies in fine fettle. Lead singer Ken Block delivers with immense heart and charisma, and the power ballad about raising a boy to manhood is infused with truth and tenderness.

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Blessings
Writers: Tyler Hubbard/Brian Kelley/Tom Douglas/Jessie Frasure/Jordan Schmidt/Keith Urban; Producer: Joey Moi & FGL; Publishers: Big Loud Mountain/T Hubb/Pranch Ringle/Round Hill Works/Sony-ATV Tree/Sony-ATV Countryside/Tomdouglasmusic/Warner-Tamerlane/Telemitry Rhythm House/Songs of Roc Nation/WB/Freshy/We-Volve, BMI/ASCAP; BMLG (track)
– I’ve been liking these guys more and more since they simplified things and got back to their country roots. The song is a lilting ode to home and family that glows with fireside comfort.

NIKO MOON/Good Time
Writers: Niko Moon/Anna Moon/Josh Murty; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Kobalt; RCA
– I like his country drawl laced with some r&b tones. The relaxed, back-porch vibe of this lazy-bones track is a little different, but decidedly ear catching. I could have done without the electronic loops.

KELSEA BALLERINI/Homecoming Queen?
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Black River
– All teens suffer from self-doubt and pain. Even homecoming queens. The new Opry member’s aching delivery of the ballad is perfect.

SEAN STEMALY/Back on a Backroad
Writers: Michael Hardy/Josh Kerr/Cole Taylor; Producer: Joey Moi, Lex Liptiz; Publisher: noen listed; Big Loud
– Processed vocal. Wall-of-electronics track. Cliche-cluttered, generic backroad lyric. This is contemporary “country” music.

JASON ALDEAN/We Back
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed: Publisher: none listed; Broken Bow
– His superstardom continues to mystify me. With its irritating rock instrumentation, his back-of-throat singing and the blue-collar lyric, this sounds like just about everything else he has put out. Very successfully, I might add.

CHELY WRIGHT/Say The Word
Writers: none listed; Producers: Jeremy Lister and Dustin Ransom; Publishers: none listed; Painted Red
– As refreshing as a splash of cool water. The echoey track swirls around her minor-key melody while she sings in a dreamy, distant whisper. Americana programmers take note.

FOR KING & COUNTRY WITH DOLLY PARTON/God Only Knows
Writers: Josh Kerr/Jordan Reynolds/J. Smallbone/L. Smallbone/Tjornhom; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Curb/Word
– I know, I know, it’s Christian pop. But I was overcome with curiosity to hear what Dolly sounded like with the Smallbone brothers. Guess what? She can be just as pop, pop, popping as those CCM rockers. In that genre, this has already been an award-winning No.1 smash in 2018. With her extraordinary voice on it now, I predict a revival.

TRISHA YEARWOOD & GARTH BROOKS/What Gave Me Away
Writers: none listed; Producer: Garth Fundis; Publisher: none listed; Gwendolyn
– Trisha’s new CD includes her newest collaboration with her hubby. It has a sexy, after-midnight, groove-soaked vibe. The stinging r&b guitar solo and simmering organ notes in the background give it some extra juice. It’s really Trisha’s performance, but Garth’s supportive harmony vocal shadows her at every turn.

VINCE GILL/Nothin’ Like A Guy Clark Song
Writer: Gill; Producers: Gill/Justin Niebank;Publishers: none listed; MCA Nashville
– Over a rippling guitar track, he quotes Guy’s song titles, even sounding a little like his hero as he sing-speaks the verses. The choruses drive home the homage eloquently. On the last verse, he asks, “What do you do when your heroes die?” and answers again in Guy’s “voice.” Vince’s new Okie CD also includes “A World Without Haggard,” which is another elegy gem that’s well worth your attention.

DISClaimer: Sarah Potenza, The Marcus King Band Top New Americana Releases

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It’s Americana week here in Guitar Town, and there’s non-stop music in nightspots all over the city.

There’s non-stop music on disc, too. Of the hundreds of hopefuls lined up for a listen, I chose these 10 for your edification.

The Disc of the Day belongs to that force-of-nature, body-positive and completely fabulous Sarah Potenza. She is one incredible piece of work.

For our DISCovery Award, I turn to a youngster I only learned about this week. And, boy, am I glad I did. The Marcus King Band makes me hopeful about the future of rock & roll.

MANDOLIN ORANGE/Belly of the Beast
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Yep Roc
– This compelling North Carolina folk duo (Andrew Marlin & Emily Frantz) captivates audiences at sold-out venues like the Ryman. This new single casts its spell with weaving, wandering banjo droplets and dreamy vocals. Haunting.

DELBERT McCLINTON/Let’s Get Down Like We Used To
Writers: none listed; Producers: McClinton/Bob Britt/Kevin McKendree; Publishers: none listed; Hot Shot/Thirty Tigers
– Loose limbed and funky, this is a gently rocking, swaying, romantic come-on for couples of a certain age. Senior citizenry sounds sexy here. Delbert showcases on Saturday at 11:30 pm at 3rd & Lindsley.

AUBRIE SELLERS/Drag You Down
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Thirty Tigers
– Sassy and ferociously rocking. She lays down the law on this searing, roaring outing, promising doom and despair to her paramour. Aubrie’s fusion of country singing with alternative-rock bashing is completely unique. Also check out her new duet with Steve Earle on “My Love Will Not Change.” Her crystalline country soprano and his backwoods growl are terrific contrasting textures. Coupled with a dark, pounding track they are gripping, essential and utterly magnetic. Both tunes are previews of an album that drops early next year. Catch Aubrie at 8:00 pm Saturday in Mercy Lounge.

CORB LUND & HAYES CARLL/The Cover of Rolling Stone
Writers: none listed; Producer: Corb Lund/John Evans; Publisher: none listed; New West
-This always-welcome Canadian troubadour drops his new, 8-song CD tomorrow. Titled Cover Your Tracks, it is a set of reinvented oldies by everyone from Marty Robbins to AC/DC. Also represented are classics popularized by Billy Joel, Willie Nelson & Ray Charles, Nancy Sinatra, Bob Dylan and The Eagles. And then there’s this, a delightfully rumpled, rollicking duet with Hayes Carll on the 1973 Dr. Hook hit. The original version actually did get Dr. Hook on the cover of Rolling Stone. Can lightning strike twice in the same place? Lund is on Saturday’s bill of the all-day “Under the Sun” show at the Rooftop Lounge of the Westin Hotel.

JOHN HIATT/Cry To Me
Writer: John Hiatt; Producer: Kevin McKendree; Publisher: So Not That, BMI; New West
– Hiatt is in the spotlight this week as the 2019 winner of BMI’s Troubadour Award. His current album is titled The Eclipse Sessions and includes this strummy, rootsy, midtempo shuffle. His national-treasure strangled rasp promises to never oppress a lover, even though he might not be all that reliable. Rolling, strolling brilliance.

SARAH POTENZA/Diamond
Writers: Potenza/Ian Crossman/Justin Wiseman; Producer: Jordan Brooke Hamlin; Publishers: none listed; Snax
– This former contestant on The Voice is a take-no-prisoners artist. Cross this bodacious, soulful, brassy, in-your-face dame at your own peril. Drawn from her Road to Rome CD, this stormy, fierce, edgy, roaring number is a powerful self-love anthem. The whole album is anchored by this East Nashvillian’s colossal, bluesy voice and her lyrics of determination, self-worth and empowerment. A feminist battle cry. Her live performances are super theatrical, and she’s showcasing at 10:30 pm Friday at Analog in the Hutton Hotel.

THE MARCUS KING BAND/Goodbye Carolina
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Easy Eye Sound
– He’s a young pup of 23, but King is a full-grown guitar slinger. Blessed with a rock-star’s soulful shout as well as instrumental chops to spare, he gets down to basics on this deliciously moaning ode. He has, indeed, said farewell to South Carolina and now calls Music City home. You’ll be tempted to call his sound throwback Southern rock, but he’s a lot cooler than that. The Marcus King Band showcases at 8:15 pm tonight at Musicians Corner in Centennial Park. Expect to have your socks rocked.

STURGILL SIMPSON/Sing Along
Writers: none listed; Producer: Sturgill Simpson/John Hill; Publishers: none listed; Elektra
– This dude simply refuses to fit in any musical category. Instead of a neo-classicist country guy, he’s now a ZZ Top techno stomper, at least judging by this throbbing track. Exciting, electronic and innovative.

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS/Up and Rolling
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; New West
-Despite the band name, these guys are Nashvillians. Their new album doesn’t appear until next month, but this advance single/video of the title track is out now. As the lyrics indicate, the vibe is Delta-dirt hippies tripping on LSD to a languid, bluesy accompaniment. Mellow and groovy. The group will be at the “Music City Roots” broadcast from Yee Haw Brewing Company tonight at 7:00 pm.

GARY NICHOLSON  & THE McCRARY SISTERS/Hallelujah Anyhow
Writers: none listed; Producer: Gary Nicholson; Publisher: none listed; Blue Corn
-This esteemed, hit-machine, Music Row tunesmith has crafted a semi-political collection titled The Great Divide. Its songs contemplate our nation’s troubled state and search for understanding and cooperation. On this bluesy, ragtimey hand clapper Gary offers a tuneful prescription to your “blues watching the evening news.” He’s helped along in no small measure by our city’s favorite soul siblings and some get-happy piano tickling by Catherine Marks. Catch Gary on Friday at 8 pm at 3rd & Lindsley and the McCrarys on Friday at 9:30 pm at Analog in the Hutton Hotel.

DISClaimer: Ashley McBryde, Little Big Town, Alex Hall Lead New Releases

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Is it just me or is the country industry in the midst of a huge, new-talent drive?

There are a number of stars-in-waiting on tap today, including Parker McCollum, Adam Hambrick, new hitmaker Morgan Wallen and our DisCovery Award winner, Alex Hall.

There is only one female solo record in this week’s column. It’s by Ashley McBryde, and it wins the Disc of the Day award.

ADAM HAMBRICK/Forever Ain’t Long Enough
Writers: Adam Hambrick/Joe Ginsberg/Kelly Archer; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Capitol/Buena Vista
– It ain’t all that “country.” But it has a teeny-bopper, cutesy-poo charm.

 

OLD DOMINION/Young
Writers: Katelyn Tarver/Shane McAnally/Old Dominion; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA
– Love the throbbing rhythm track and the celebratory, joyous melody. Matthew’s lead vocal soars with sincerity and heart. Song was a product of the TV songwriting-contest show Songland and is now featured in a national Jeep commercial.

THOMAS WESLEY/DIPLO & MORGAN WALLEN/Heartless
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– The song is completely disposable, but Morgan’s excellent country voice is in fine form. He is one groovy dude.

LITTLE BIG TOWN/Over Drinking
Writers: Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley/Steph Jones/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Little Big Town; Publishers: W.C.M./Songs of Rhythm House Black/Bennett’s Dad’s/Roc Nation US Music/Warner-Tamerlane/Telemitry/Round Hill/Caleb’s College Fund/Vistaville/Steph Jones Who/Big Deal Hits/410/BMG Rights Management, SESAC/BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville
-This solid, stompin’ honky tonker is a super change of pace for these folks. As heartache country as it gets. Turn it up. Make it a smash.

ALEX HALL/Half Past You
Writers: Alex Hall/Shane McAnally/Pete Good/AJ Babcock; Producers: Alex Hall/Shane McAnally/Pete Good/AJ Babcock; Publishers: none listed; Monument
– The bopping. processed track has a slight ‘80s vibe. But his confident, clear performance is right up to date. Super tuneful, irresistibly rhythmic and highly listenable. Sign me up. Send more soon.

 

RANDY TRAVIS/Lead Me Home
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
– The Warner archives continue to unearth previously unreleased performances by this Hall of Famer. The dobro-fiddle-steel-mandolin acoustic track creates a magical mood, and then his awesome voice sweeps your heart away. A love song — and a performance — for the ages.

PARKER McCOLLUM/Pretty Heart
Writers: Parker McCollum/Randy Montana; Producer: Jon Randall; Publishers: none listed; MCA Nashville
– The crisp, dynamic production draws you in. Parker’s cry-at-midnight vocal is a pristine piece of brilliance. The accusatory song is superbly written. Everything about this works for me. I loved him when he was an indie Texas act, and I love him even more now.

 

THE MAVERICKS/Swingin’
Writers: none listed; Producers: Niko Bolas/Raul Malo; Publishers: none listed; Mondo Mundo/Thirty Tigers
-The Mavericks take this 1983 John Anderson classic out for a spin, applying their trademark, churnin’-burnin’ rhythm might to the tune. A groove-soaked delight.

WATERLOO REVIVAL/Like I Miss You
Writers: George Birge/Cody Cooper/Scotty Emerick/Casey Beathard; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Show Dog
– The duo switches gears here, adopting a softly wistful tone on this lovelorn ballad. Lulling and lovely.

ASHLEY MCBRYDE/One Night Standards
Writers: Nicollette Hayford/Ashley McBryde/Shane McAnally; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
-She is such a special artist. This stunning song accepts the reality of a one-night stand with a shrug and a willing heart. The track drives forward relentlessly while her penetrating delivery delivers the superbly written lyric with effortless finesse.

 

DISClaimer: Lady Antebellum Offers “Uniform Excellence” On New Song “Pictures”

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Everybody is batting a thousand today.

Knock-it-out-of-the-park entries by Eric Church, Luke Combs, Cam, Chris Young and Ingrid Andress are the order of the day. Plus, we have breath-takingly great collaborations between Miranda and Maren, as well as Taylor and the Chicks.

Give a Disc of the Day to Lady Antebellum for uniform excellence on every level with “Pictures.”

The DISCovery Award goes to the FGL-found Dylan Schneider. I believe you’re gonna like this guy.

NOAH SCHNACKY/I’ll Be The One
Writers: Noah Schnacky/Seth Ennis/Jordan Schmidt; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: WB/Sony-ATV Countryside/Sony-ATV Accent/Songs From the Rose Hotel/Wc/We-volve/Georgia Song Vibez/Smacknacky, no performance rights listed; Big Machine
– The performance has a slight blue-eyed-soul quality. His jaunty, youthful tenor seems sincere. For all those dewy-eyed, tween-country gals out there.

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Pictures
Writers: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Sarah Buxton/Corey Crowder; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine
– Very nice. The mellow melodic vibe pushes a wafting breeze over the wistful, downbeat lyric that is mighty, mighty pleasing. The relationship is over, but the sentimental photos remain. Love the guitar work. Love the harmonies. Love the songwriting.

 

DYLAN SCHNEIDER/How To Country
Writers: Dylan Schneider/Mark Holman/James McNair/Justin Wilson; Producer: Mark Holman; Publisher: none listed; Interscope/Round Here
– The “I’m-so-country” lyric territory is well worn. Practically worn out, in fact. But the funky production, processed audio effects and his strong vocal make the whole thing sound super fresh. The four-song EP is called Whole Town Talk, and it is an introduction to a fine talent.

LUKE COMBS/Even Though I’m Leaving
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; River House/Columbia Nashville
– The newest member of the Grand Ole Opry proves again how much he deserves his stardom. Life might be fleeting, but those who depart from us never really do. The feelings conveyed here are authentic, and his vocal is country perfection. Say “Amen,” somebody.

 

CAM/La Marcheuse
Writers: none listed; Producer: Jokke Pettersson; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– It’s a lilting Nashville cover of a pop song by the Euro act Christine & The Queens. Cam sings it entirely in French. It is simply beautiful, even if you don’t understand a word. I remain a huge fan of this sublimely creative and individualistic artist.

CHRIS YOUNG/Drowning
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA
– He’s lost in waves of misery and mourning. Chris sings for all of us who have lost someone way too soon. And he does it with a true country heart.

 

INGRID ANDRESS/We’re Not Friends
Writers: Ingrid Andress/A.J. Pruis/Derrick Southerland/Nate Cyphert; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Atlantic
– This lady so beautifully captures how complicated relationships can be. It’s a complex song, full of twists and turns. But her assured performance and brilliant writing keep the whole thing wooshing down the tracks. Wonderfully involving, ear-catching and brain tickling. She’s a terrific music creator. Play her.

ERIC CHURCH/Monsters
Writers: Eric Church/Jeff Hyde; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Longer and Louder/Mammaw’s Friend Okra/Little Louder/Songs of Kobalt, BMI; EMI
– For my money, this is the greatest singer-songwriter currently working in country music. Every single line of this had me on the edge of my seat. It’s a cautionary ode of an unsettled heart, a loving father and soul sicknesses that stalk us all. And the rhythm track kicks ass.

 

TAYLOR SWIFT & THE DIXIE CHICKS/Soon You’ll Get Better
Writers: Taylor Swift/Jack Antonoff; Producers: Jack Antonoff/Taylor Swift; Publishers: none listed; Republic
– The softly melodic, heartfelt, hopeful ballad is reportedly about Taylor’s mother’s battle with cancer. The harmonies and banjo droplets by the Chicks are heavenly. This stop-the-world performance touches every corner of your heart. Awesome and gorgeous and real.

MIRANDA LAMBERT & MAREN MORRIS/Way Too Pretty For Prison
Writers: Lambert/Hillary Lindsey/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RCA/Vanner
– They’ve thought about “Goodbye Earl” and “Thelma and Louise” (not to mention Brandy Clark’s “Stripes”), but those prison jumpsuits just won’t do. These two Texas twisters define “feisty.” In a word, a hoot.

 

DISClaimer: Kip Moore, Kendell Marvell Come Out On Top

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Kip Moore takes home Disc of the Day for “She’s Mine.”

You take a week off, and you return to an “in” box crammed with tunes.

These 10 are just a fraction of the backed-up and piled-up releases waiting to be auditioned. As you might expect, there are both studs and duds.

Heading the “studs” column is Kip Moore. He has the Disc of the Day. But he’s not without plenty of competition, namely from Blake Shelton, Jon Pardi, Vince Gill and, especially, Tenille Townes.

The DisCovery Award this week goes to Kendell Marvel. He might look like a veteran to you, but to me he sounds shiny and new.

Kendell Marvel gets the DisCovery Award.

JON PARDI/Tequila Little Time
Writers: Jon Pardi/Rhett Akins/Luke Laird; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Jon Pardi, Bart Butler & Ryan Gore; Capitol Nashville
—I like the mariachi coloring—horns, squeezebox, rhythm—as well as the overall romantic beach vibe. Charming and hit bound.

 

TENILLE TOWNES/Jersey on the Wall
Writer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Jay Joyce; Columbia Nashville
—I’m completely on board with this singer-songwriter. “Somebody’s Daughter,” “White Horse” and “I Kept the Roses” were just the beginning. This track’s scintillating tempo underlies an extraordinary lyric about a boy who died too young and a heartbroken girl who asks, “Why?” Tenille Townes is the future. Get on board now.

 

VINCE GILL/Forever Changed
Writer: Vince Gill; Publisher: none listed; Producer: none listed; MCA Nashville
—Powerful and poignant. It’s a ballad about the scars that are permanent in the wake of child sexual abuse. His trembling, emotional delivery will shake you to your core. This is one more reason why the man is one of the all-time country-music greats.

 

TEMECULA ROAD/Never Knew I Needed You
Writers: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Producer: none listed; Buena Vista
—Quite polished and professional. Perhaps a little on the slick side, but these kids can really sing, and the tune is catchy. Promising. Next time, inject a bit more warmth and grit, please.

 

KIP MOORE/She’s Mine
Writers: Kip Moore/Dan Couch/Scott Stepakoff; Publisher: none listed; Producer: Kip Moore; MCA Nashville
—The edgy energy grabs you from the opening notes. When he swings into the chorus, it’s katy-bar-the-door. By the time he got to the finale, I was on my feet with my fist in the air. A superb blue-collar rocker with just the right touch of angst and questing.

 

CANAAN SMITH/Beer Drinkin’ Weather
Writers: Canaan Smith/Brian Kelley/Tyler Hubbard/Corey Crowder; Publisher: none listed; Producers: Canaan Smith, Brian Kelley & Tyler Hubbard; Round Here
—I’m certainly glad that he’s staging a comeback. I just wish it was with a stronger song than this routine boozer.

 

BLAKE SHELTON & TRACE ADKINS/Hell Right
Writers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
The ”Hillbilly Bone” team reunites for an attitude stomper about raising a ruckus the right way. Don’t look for meaning or melody—it’s the macho vibe that counts here.

 

KENDELL MARVEL/Hard Time With the Truth
Writers: Kendell Marvel/Dan Auerbach/John Anderson; Publisher: none listed; Producers: Dan Auerbach & Dave Ferguson; Easy Eye Sound
—Very cool. Marvel has an admirable track record as a songwriter for others. This slab of “outlaw” country proves he has the vocal chops for stardom, himself. He has a baritone for the ages.

 

MAREN MORRIS/The Bones
Writers: Maren Morris/Jimmy Robbins/Laura Veltz; Publishers: International Dog/Downtown DMP/Jimmy Robbins/Round Hill/Extraordinary Alien/Oh Denise/Warner-Tamerlane/Big Music Machine; BMI/ASCAP; Greg Kurstin; Columbia Nashville
—Attractive pop music.

 

RILEY GREEN/I Wish Grandpas Never Died
Writers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Producer: none listed; BMLG
—He sings wonderfully. The track is tasty. The lyric is dreadful: Even for a country music song, this is outstandingly emotionally manipulative.