DISClaimer Single Reviews: Keb’ Mo’ & Darius Rucker, Abbey Cone, Rod + Rose

/by

Keb’ Mo’, Darius Rucker

Country newcomers shine brightly today in DisClaimer.

Vying for our attention are Rod + Rose, Dalton Dover and our DisCovery Award winner, Abbey Cone.

Mind you, there are plenty of old friends to greet as well, notably William Lee Golden, Reba, Dolly, Maria Muldaur and the enduringly brilliant Lyle Lovett. Listen right now to Lyle’s “Teach Me About Love.” You can thank me later.

The Disc of the Day belongs to the duo of Keb’ Mo’ and Darius Rucker, with Vince Gill behind the board. It’s a pure delight.

ROD + ROSE / “Put Me Back Together”
Writers: Caitlyn Smith/Trevor Dahl/Brenton Duvall/Johnny Price/Kiara Saulters; Producer: Rodney Atkins/Seth Mosley; Label: Curb
— Country hitmaker Rodney Atkins and his bride, pop princess Rose Falcon, shimmer as a duo on this dreamy love ballad. It’s a seductive swirl of vocal harmonies, electronic loops, echoey percussion and electric guitar. Yes, it’s pop. But it sure is pretty.

REBA McENTIRE & DOLLY PARTON / “Does He Love You”
Writers: Sandy Knox/Billy Stritch; Producer: Dave Cobb/Reba McEntire; Label: MCA
— This revisitation of the 1993 Reba & Linda Davis Grammy and CMA winning duet works. The new arrangement is more acoustic and less bombastic. Both Reba and new partner Dolly breathe new life into the lyric, each adding fresh vocal embellishments and emotional nuances. In a word, classy.

WILLIE JONES / “Get Low, Get High”
Writers: Willie Jones/Cary Barlowe/Brandon Day; Producer: Willie Jones/Brandon Day; Label: Sony/Penthouse
— Jones applies a low baritone vocal to ride atop the beats on this rousing, uplifting outing about overcoming. The track builds to a catchy, quasi-shouted anthem, complete with massed male & female gang sings and a bright touch of brass. The song is pretty much a continually repeated snippet that wears out its welcome about 2/3 of the way through.

JAKE OWEN/ “Best Thing Since Backroads”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Geoff Warburton/Hunter Phelps/Jordan Minton; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud
— This jolly thumper is churning up the charts for this perennial favorite. He’s so smitten with her that he thinks she’s prettier than a summer day or a country landscape. Everything about this smiles.

MARIA MULDAUR/ “I’m Vaccinated and I’m Ready for Love”
Writers: Maria Mudaur/Craig Caffal; Producer: none listed; Label: Stony Plain
— The “Midnight at the Oasis” charmer is back with a pandemic ditty. Musically, it’s a straightforward blues bopper with plenty of vintage ambiance and a back-alley guitar solo. Lyrically, it’s as cute as the dickens.

BLANCO BROWN / “Nobody’s More Country”
Writers: Bennie Amey III/Jordan Schmidt/Quintin Amey/Tyler Hubbard; Producer: Blanco Brown/ Jordan Schmidt; Label: BBR
— Delightful. Sung to a chirping, electro-embellished, banjo-and-handclaps track, Brown’s ode to the pleasures of country living is marvelously catchy. “The Git Up” star has reemerged, rehabbed from a near-fatal motorcycle crash and sounds as hearty as ever.

WILLIAM LEE GOLDEN & THE GOLDENS / “Jambalaya”
Writers: Hank Williams; Producer: Ben Isaacs/Michael Sykes/Chris Golden/Rusty Golden; Label: Copperline
— The “mountain man” of the Oak Ridge Boys kept his family’s spirits up during the pandemic by having recording sessions. The Country Hall of Famer and his three sons (Rusty, Chris & Craig) give this Hank Williams classic a Louisiana backbeat and some zippy guitar and piano work to make it a contemporary dance tune. Lotsa fun. Also check out their exquisite family harmonies on the Jim Reeves standard “Four Walls.”

KEB’ MO’ & DARIUS RUCKER / “Good Strong Woman”
Writers: Kevin Moore/Jason Nix/Jason Gantt; Producer: Vince Gill/Keb’ Mo’; Label: Rounder
— Nashville’s Grammy-winning bluesman goes all-the-way country on this toe-tapping ditty duet with Darius Rucker, coproduced by Hall of Famer Vince Gill. Crisp, clear and totally joyous.

DALTON DOVER / “You Got a Small Town”
Writers: Adam Craig/Jamie Paulin/John Pierce; Producer: Matt McVaney; Label: Droptine
— Blake turned his chair around for this youngster on The Voice a few years back and here’s why. Dover is a forceful, confident singer with plenty of grit and swagger in his delivery. The small-town Georgian displays impressive range and volume on this salute to rural roots. The production is needlessly busy and rock electrified, but he rises above it. An impressive debut, reminiscent of the titanic Luke Combs.

LYLE LOVETT / “Teach Me About Love”
Writers: Walter Hyatt; Producer: none listed; Label: Omnivore
— Drawn from an Austin City Limits tribute show to the late singer-songwriter Walter Hyatt, this sensational little acoustic swinger slides into that sweet spot between country and jazz. And nobody has the vocal “cool” to bring this off better than Lyle Lovett. Stay tuned for the finale yodel. “Groovy” doesn’t even begin to describe it.

MATT STELL / “Boyfriend Season”
Writers: Matt Stell/Zach Abend/Seth Ennis/Geoff Warburton; Producer: Matt Stell/Ash Bowers; Label: RECORDS/Arista
— The single continues to be “That Ain’t Me No More,” but this newly released track is almost as hooky. Advice for a broken hearted lady from her former lover.

ABBEY CONE / “Rhinestone Ring”
Writers: Abbey Cone/Heather Morgan/Nathan Spicer; Producer: Nathan Spicer/Abbey Cone; Label: Valory
— This youngster debuts with a sweet tune about wedding dreams. You don’t need all the fancy trimmings to make nuptials perfect, just true love. She doesn’t miss church bells, a veil, a white dress and all that: A jukebox dance in his arms wearing a little black dress in a neon-let barroom is just fine.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Luke Bryan, Zac Brown Band, Morgan Wade

/by

Luke Bryan. Photo: Jim Wright

This productive listening session perfectly mixed country newcomers and stars.

In the latter category are fresh offerings from Blake Shelton, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, the Zac Brown Band and Dierks Bentley (with the James Barker Band). Also, our Disc of the Day winner, Luke Bryan.

Vying for newcomer attention are Walker County (again), Georgia Webster (again), Misty River, the James Barker Band and our DisCovery Award honoree Morgan Wade. Some folks might need to get over her tats-and-piercings visual presentation, but the proof is in the listening. The gal is gifted.

GEORGIA WEBSTER / “Box of Memories”
Writers: Georgia Webster; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: Sony/River House
— Audio heartbreak. Over steady, slow piano chords, she delivers a trembling, cracked, lovely ballad of loneliness and reflection. Promising.

LUKE BRYAN / “Up”
Writers: Jeremy Bussey/Taylor Phillips/Bobby Pinson; Producer: Jeff Stevens/Jody Stevens; Label: Capitol
—Beautifully produced, with airy, echoey space around Luke’s vocal. The melodic song holds snapshots of simple country living. Faith is the key. An endearing single with a new sonic direction for this superstar.

JAMES BARKER BAND & DIERKS BENTLEY / “New Old Trucks”
Writers: James Barker/Casey Brown/Hunter Phelps/Jordan Minton; Producer: Todd Clark; Label: Sony
—Rust, scratches, dents and debris are the patina that makes his ride special. A mid-paced country rocker with heart. Both artists sing with conviction here.

BLAKE SHELTON / “Come Back as a Country Boy”
Writers: Jordan Schmidt/Josh Thompson/Michael Hardy; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Label: Warner
—This redneck rocker is a stomping manifesto in that proud-to-be-country mode. Did I miss the chapter where it says that hillbillies believe in reincarnation?

MISTY RIVER / “Rain”
Writers: Carmen Phelan; Producer: Adam Morley; Label: MR
—This U.K. singer-songwriter-fiddler sings of better days to come on this sweet-sounding ditty. Her vocal is pitched too high, making her sound childlike and frilly.

ZAC BROWN BAND / “The Comeback”
Writers: Zac Brown/Wyatt Beasley Durrette III/Ray Fulcher/Ben Simonetti/Jonathan Singleton; Producer: Zac Brown/Ben Simonetti; Label: Warner
—I love how these guys are out there in their own musical space. Their harmonies slay me every time, as does Zac’s drawled countryboy phrasing. The band is enduringly great, and this uplifting anthem is directed at our collective love of our land.

MORGAN WADE/ “Wilder Days”
Writers: Morgan Wade/Sadler Vaden; Producer: Sadler Vaden & Paul Ebersold; Label: Arista
—A force to be reckoned with. I love the smoky quality in her voice and the smoldering ember of rock in the track. I wish she wasn’t compressed and double tracked, but this is a stunning debut nonetheless. There is a lot of truth in her younger-woman-older-man relationship lyric. She definitely has the “wow” factor and totally deserves instant stardom.

DUSTIN LYNCH & RILEY GREEN / “Huntin’ Land”
Writers: Dustin Lynch/Andy Albert/Hunter Phelps/Will Weatherly; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: Broken Bow
—Really? He only loves her because her daddy has thousands of acres of hunting land in Kentucky? “Humor” delivered without humor.

WALKER COUNTY / “Liar”
Writers: David Garcia/Hillary Lindsey/Ivy Walker/Sophie Walker; Producer: David Garcia; Label: Warner
—This sassy sister duo (Ivy Dene and Sophie Dawn) is feisty and fierce on this cleverly written power waltz. She’s being saucy and devil-may-care, but it’s all an act because she’s still stuck on him. I love the rousing, in-your-face choruses. This rocks.

JUSTIN MOORE / “With a Woman You Love”
Writers: Justin Moore/Paul DiGiovanni/Chase McGill/Jeremy Stover; Producer: Jeremy Stover/Scott Borchetta; Label: Valory
—Delightfully country. Singing the praises of true love with twang to spare.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson

/by

Pictured (L-R): Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp. Photo: Taryn Weitzman

There’s more than a touch of Americana influence in today’s country edition of DisClaimer.

Frankly, it’s what is needed to keep the country format from becoming completely boring. Charley Crockett, Rodney Crowell, Willie Nelson and son Lukas Nelson all did their part to spice up this listening session.

So did the titanic John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen, who easily earned the Disc of the Day award.

Jessie James Decker stages her debut in the column this week and wins the DisCovery Award. A TV personality, fashionista, NFL wife and social media influencer, she seems like a real go-getter.

NIKO MOON / “Paradise to Me”
Writers: Niko Moon/Anna Moon/Joshua Murty; Producer: Joshua Murty/Niko Moon; Label: RCA Nashville
— It’s a mellow party vibe with a beach-y groove. Relaxing and smiley.

KANE BROWN & H.E.R. / “Blessed and Free”
Writers: David Biral/Denzel Michael-Akil Baptiste/Gabriella Wilson/Ilsey Juber/Kane Brown/Russ Chell; Producer: Russ Chell/Take A Daytrip/Kuk Harrell; Label: RCA Nashville
— Brown takes aim at the pop charts and misses. Tuneless and lifeless.

OMER NETZER / “Country Boy”
Writers: Omer Netzer/Moran Ifragan; Producer: Omer Netzer/Moran Ifragan; Label: ON
— It says here that Omer is “Israel’s hottest country music entertainer.” He has a gritty vocal quality that’s ear catching, and the guitar noodling sounds good. The songwriting could use some work.

LUKAS NELSON & PROMISE OF THE REAL / “Wildest Dream”
Writers: Lukas Nelson; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Fantasy
— Jaunty, welcoming country-rock that rolls along an open sonic highway. This has verve to spare.

JOHN MELLENCAMP & BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN / “Wasted Days”
Writers: John Mellencamp; Producer: John Mellencamp; Label: Republic
— As fiddles, accordions and guitars bob and weave in a dizzy swirl, these two music masters muse on the fleeting nature of life. They swap verses, and Bruce takes the high harmony vocal on the choruses. The resulting sonic tapestry is more “country” than 90% of what you hear on country radio.

EDDIE MONTGOMERY / “Alive and Well”
Writers: Eddie Montgomery/Ira Dean/Chris Wallin; Producer: Noah Gordon/Shannon Houchins; Label: Average Joes
— Rousing and uplifting. The lyric is lifted from his life: It reflects on the tragic losses he has endured (the deaths of his son in 2015 and his music partner Troy Gentry in 2017) and his ultimate will to live that they led to.

WILLIE NELSON / “Family Bible”
Writers: Willie Nelson; Producer: Willie Nelson/Steve Chadie; Label: Legacy
— Sister Bobbie Nelson provides the eloquent piano accompaniment, while children Paula, Amy, Micah and Lukas softly harmonize behind papa’s sturdy, sure and soulful lead vocal. Band mainstays Mickey Raphael and the late Paul English are here as well. It’s one of Willie’s finest early songs, and it still sounds brilliant.

JENNY TOLMAN / “I Know Some Cowboys”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: JT
— Nashville’s finest unsigned talent sings the praises of Texas gentlemen in this instantly catchy, sprightly, clever country rocker. An irresistible toe tapper.

CHARLEY CROCKETT / “Music City USA”
Writers: Charley Crockett/Mark Neill; Producer: Mark Neill; Label: Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers
— This prolific Texas honky tonker has issued 10 albums during the past six years and won the Emerging Artist of the Year honor at this month’s Americana Music Awards. The title tune of his latest skewers the star-making machinery of Nashville. “I shouldn’t have come here in the first place,” he sings to the accompaniment of a classic ‘60s, steel-soaked track, “’cause folks in here don’t like my kind.” He’s retro and proud of it.

MICKEY GUYTON / “All American”
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Victoria Banks/Emma-Lee/Karen Kosowski; Producer: Karen Kosowski; Label: Capitol Nashville
— After a decade in Nashville, Mickey at last has an album. It is a 16-track dandy that is aptly titled Remember Her Name. This track from it is a soaring anthem of inclusion and togetherness. This lady can flat-out SING.

RODNEY CROWELL / “Something Has to Change”
Writers: Rodney Crowell; Producer: Rodney Crowell/Dan Knobler; Label: RC1/Thirty Tigers
— This timeless treasure offers introspection and social commentary in his new songs on an album titled Triage. His current Americana hit resonates with conviction and rhythmic thump, not to mention a striking trombone solo. Rodney’s singing is simultaneously conversational and soaring as he delivers this lyric asking for some social justice.

JESSIE JAMES DECKER / “Not In Love With You”
Writers: Sam Ellis/Jordyn Shellhart; Producer: Sam Ellis; Label: Big Yellow Dog/Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville
— Decker delivers the goods here, singing powerfully about moving on from a failed relationship. She deploys vocal breaks, sustained notes, vulnerable aches and whisper-to-a-shout range while the production chimes around her. Tuneful. Well done.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Jameson Rodgers, Marty Stuart, Lily Rose

/by

Jameson Rodgers. Photo: Matthew Berinato

The vets outshine the shiny new stars today.

Asleep at the Wheel, Lyle Lovett, José Feliciano, Dolly Parton and Marty Stuart sound a whole lot better than most of the major-label country contenders do. One exception is Sony’s Jameson Rodgers, who earns the Disc of the Day award.

Also check out the worthy new efforts by Lily Rose, David Nail and Scotty McCreery.

We have no newcomers in this edition of the column, hence no DISCovery Award.

AARON VANCE / “Five Bucks Says”
Writers: Aaron Vance/Rich Karg; Producer: Aaron Vance/Rich Karg; Label: Windy Holler
— Vance strips it down to an acoustic track for this ballad. The song contemplates what Lincoln would say if he could see where we are as a country today. The singer-songwriter added “producer” to his resume for his current Cabin Fever album. I loved the innovative sounding title track. This single continues his creative forward motion.

BRANTLEY GILBERT / “Gone But Not Forgotten”
Writers: Brantley Gilbert/Brock Berryhill/Jason Blaine/Jay Brunswick; Producer: Brantley Gilbert/Brock Berryhill; Label: The Valory Music Co.
— He’s still a cool singer, and the message is admirable, but this production is muddy and muffled.

DREW GREEN / “Cold Beer and Copenhagen”
Writers: Drew Green/Smith Ahnquist/Brent Anderson; Producer: Mark Trussell; Label: Villa 40/RCA
— He loves everything that’s bad for him—beer, snuff and her. Is this vocal double tracked or is every sound here just processed to death?

SCOTTY McCREERY / “Damn Strait”
Writers: Trent Tomlinson/Jim Collins; Producer: Frank Rogers/Derek Wells/Aaron Eshuis; Label: Triple Tigers
— Very well written. The lyric weaves the titles of George Strait hits into a tale of heartbreak and nostalgia. McCreery is on a definite roll.

COLE SWINDELL / “Some Habits”
Writers: Scooter Carusoe/Josh Miller/Chris LaCorte; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— It’s a lilting love lyric about living right by breaking bad habits, except for his habit of romance. He sounds like any generic male country singer, so the star here is the song.

JOSÉ FELICIANO & DOLLY PARTON / “Eagle When She Flies”
Writers: Dolly Parton; Producer: Rick Jarrard/John Willis/Gilles Godard; Label: Anthem Entertainment
— Now this is what a real country duet sounds like. The voices challenge and lift one another, collaborating equally and powerfully throughout the performance. Dolly originally wrote it as a theme song for Steel Magnolias, but the film never used it. She scored a modest sized hit with it in 1991. This new interpretation brings out the real strength of her lyric and underscores the song’s anthem qualities.

DAVID NAIL / “St. Louis”
Writers: David Nail; Producer: David Nail/Reed Pittman; Label: DN
— The Missouri native muses beautifully in this enchanting ballad about love and loss, using his state’s most iconic city as a memory trigger. I have always been a major fan of this guy, and this indicates that he still has the goods. The gentle, echoey, super tasteful production is a major plus, too.

MARTY STUART / “Poor Side of Town”
Writers: Lou Adler/Johnny Rivers; Producer: Marty Stuart; Label: MS
— The sixth release from Marty’s 20-tune digital collection Songs I Sing in the Dark is a flawlessly rendered revival of a 1966 Johnny Rivers chart-topping classic. The country star’s vocal “owns” the song with nuances and subtle phrasing that the pop singer didn’t match. A gem of a performance.

CASSADEE POPE / “Tomorrow Night”
Writers: Cassadee Pope/Devin Guisande/Aaron Chafin; Producer: Cassadee Pope/Nickolas Wheeler/Karen Fairchild; Label: CP
— Pope tries a pop/grunge approach here. It fails. She doesn’t have the voice for it.

JAMESON RODGERS / “Bet You’re From a Small Town”
Writers: Jameson Rodgers/Smith Ahnquist/Will Bundy/Lynn Hutton; Producer: Chris Farren/Jake Mitchell; Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
— This is a well-worn (worn out?) country-song topic, but the craftsmanship in the writing here is unmistakable. Rodgers really knows how to communicate as a singer, and with a lyric this strong, he is unstoppable. It’s the title tune of his fine debut album.

LILY ROSE / “Stronger Than I Am”
Writers: Griffen Palmer/Geoff Warburton; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud/Back Blocks/Republic
— Terrific. Rose goes for the jugular on this heartbreak power ballad. This artist has the vocal talent to speak directly to the listener on an extraordinarily personal level. I am in thrall every time she sings.

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL & LYLE LOVETT / “There You Go Again”
Writers: Ray Benson; Producer: Ray Benson/Sam Seifert; Label: Home/Thirty Tigers
— The shimmering, shoulder-shaking groove doesn’t let ya go for a second as these country jazzbo’s slink their way through this feel-good, audio delight. The New Orleans horns push it on home. The track is drawn from Half a Hundred Years, an album celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wheel making western-swing magic. The 19-track collection also features guests Willie, Emmylou, Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Johnny Gimble and many former Wheel bandmates. The concert celebrating the album and the anniversary is scheduled for Oct. 15 in Austin.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Cody Johnson, Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde, Tylar Bryant

/by

Pictured (top row): Tylar Bryant, Cody Johnson; (bottom row): Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde

Summer may be winding down, but the country stars are still cranking out plenty of sunshine.

In this week’s edition of DisClaimer, we have terrific tunes by Old Dominion, Sam Hunt, Mitchell Tenpenny & Chris Young, Walker Hayes, Kacey Musgraves and more. We have a tie in the race for the Disc of the Day award. I can’t decide between the sizzling Cody Johnson single and the scintillating duet by Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde. Honor them both with your spins.

One of the most noteworthy trends in country music during the past three years is the unprecedented explosion of Black artists in the genre. Country hopefuls Willie Jones, Chapel Hart, Breland, Karen McCormick, Ashlie Amber, Blanco Brown, Brittney Spencer, Tony Evans Jr., Camo Brian, Priscilla Renae, Shy Carter, Tiera, Kyshona, Charlie Crockett, Norman North, Wendy Moten, Reyna Roberts and Charles Gallaspy have joined an influx from the previous decade—Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen, Miko Marks, Simba Jordan, Vickie Vann, Kane Brown, Rissi Palmer, Kamara Thomas, Joy Styles, Tony Jackson, Rhonda Townes, Darius Rucker, Kaia Kater, Aaron Vance, Daniel Houze, Amber Gerard, John Amos and Erika Dunlap.

In this column, we add three more names to the list, Brei Carter, Danielia Cotton and our DISCovery Award winner, Tylar Bryant.

SAM HUNT / “23”
Writers: Sam Hunt/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne/Chris LaCorte; Producer: Chris LaCorte; Label: MCA Nashville
— Wistful nostalgia for a youthful love. His warm, burnished delivery is enthralling, and the well-crafted lyric is a gem. Check out the acoustic version, too.

DANIELIA COTTON / “(I’m So) Afraid of Losing You Again”
Writers: Dallas Frazier/Doodle Owens; Producer: none listed; Label: DC
— This New Jersey native has dabbled in r&b and rock during the past 15 years. This country-soul tribute to Charley Pride finds her in excellent voice. She could use better production support on her revival of his 1969 classic.

WALKER HAYES & KESHA / “Fancy Like”
Writers: Walker Hayes/Cameron Bartolini/Shane Stevens/Josh Jenkins/Kesha; Producer: Walker Hayes, Shane McAnally & Joe Thibodeau; Label: Monument/RCA
— Nashville native popster Kesha adds her saucy verve to this Platinum-selling song of the summer. Melodically, it has nothing to do with country music. Lyrically, however, it’s a hillbilly delight. And the whole thing is still one nutty ear worm. If Ruby Tuesday, Ocharley’s, T.G.I. Friday, Chili’s, Logan’s or Zaxby’s pay to advertise on the radio station, don’t they object to giving free airtime to an Applebees commercial?

ADAM DOLEAC / “Somewhere Cool With You”
Writers: Adam Doleac/Josh Jenkins/Matt Jenkins/Jared Keim; Producer: Jared Keim; Label: Arista Nashville
— Adam was in the news this week when his sound-equipment trailer was stolen, then recovered. His new track yearns for a romantic getaway. Lulling and gentle, if not exactly memorable.

KACEY MUSGRAVES / “Justified”
Writers: Kacey Musgraves/Ian Fitchuk/Ilsey Juber/Brandon Joyner Burton; Producer: Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian; Label: MCA Nashville/Interscope
— This sweet/sad heartbreak ballad has a spare, echoey production swirling around her tender soprano. Listenable, meandering and atmospheric. As light and lovey-dovey as Golden Hour was, the new LP Star-Crossed represents the darker side of love.

SAM WILLIAMS & DOLLY PARTON / “Happy All the Time”
Writers: Mary Gauthier/Sam Williams; Producer: Bobby Holland/Sean McConnell; Label: Mercury Nashville
— “Glasshouse Children,” the title tune of this guy’s debut album is a very slow dreamy ballad with strings. He picks up the pace a little on the collection’s collaborations with Keith Urban (”Kids”) or, in this case, Dolly. It’s still a ballad, but their voices brush against each other in a way that creates emotional intimacy and intensity. Sam is Hank Jr.’s boy—and the half brother of music makers Hank III, Hillary and Holly—but he is definitely his own man. Highly recommended.

BREI CARTER / “Gave Him a Girl”
Writers: Brei Carter/Mason Douglas/Jason Wyatt; Producer: none listed; Label: BC
— This Louisiana native is a PhD, the author of three books and a veteran Army officer. She’s also a feisty, sprightly country singer-songwriter. In this ditty, she flattens a bully with a right hook and announces that she can catch a bass, change a tire, skin a coon, drink, handle a gun and drive a tractor. Cute and catchy.

MITCHELL TENPENNY & CHRIS YOUNG / “At the End of a Bar”
Writers: Chris DeStefano/Chris Young/Mitchell Tenpenny; Producer: Chris Young/Chris DeStefano; Label: RCA Nashville
— Nobody sings a country song with as much power as Mr. Young, but Tenpenny gives it his all on this chesty, passionate, anthemic collaboration. These are two mighty worthy men.

CARLY PEARCE & ASHLEY McBRYDE / “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”
Writers: Carly Pearce/Ashley McBryde/Shane McAnally; Producer: Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Label: Big Machine/Warner
— In a word, sensational. The dobro-laced production, both women’s harmony voices, the story song, the swapped verses, the interwoven solo vocals …. everything works here. Ashley starts off, portraying the mistress. Carly picks up the tale, enacting the betrayed wife. They soar on the choruses together in dual heartache. For the love of country music, play this.

CODY JOHNSON / “Til You Can’t”
Writers: Ben Stennis/Matt Rogers; Producer: Trent Willmon; Label: Warner/COJO
— Cody has been delighting our ears by releasing track after track from his upcoming double album, Human (”Sad Songs and Waltzes,” “God Bless the Boy,” “Let’s Build a Fire,” etc). Now at last that collection has a single, and it is a dandy. It begins as a contemplative look at life and love, then evolves into a roaring barn burner about seizing today, living with gusto and chasing your dreams no matter how big. This is the sound of a superstar.

OLD DOMINION / “All I Know About Girls”
Writers: Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne/Trevor Joseph Rosen/Matthew Thomas Ramsey/Brad Francis Tursi/Whit Sellers/Geoffrey Sprung; Producer: Old Dominion/Shane McAnally; Label: Arista Nashville
— Softly jaunty and airy. The simplicity and open production of this are pleasantly ear-cleansing. As you might expect, the punch line is “I don’t know nothin’ at all.”

TYLAR BRYANT / “Stay Wild”
Writers: Bobby McLamb/Blaine Younger; Producer: Bryan Cole; Label: Riser
— No matter how work and life wear you down, remember to stay free and full of fire. Hang on for the processed-vocal chorus toward the finale. Engaging, energetic and promising.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Keith Urban, Hannah Dasher, Laci Kaye Booth

/by

Hannah Dasher, Keith Urban, Lacy Kaye Booth

This is a star-packed edition of DisClaimer that features a dazzling number of country A-listers.

Leading the pack is Keith Urban, who wins the Disc of the Day award with fantastic competition from Kane Brown, Kenny Chesney, Chris Janson, Morgan Wallen and Cody Johnson. All are worth your spins.

We also have two splendid duets today. They come from spouses Rose Falcon & Rodney Atkins and from old buddies Jeannie Seely and Willie Nelson. The female vocal performance du jour is unquestionably by Hannah Dasher.

The DisCovery Award goes to BMLG newcomer Laci Kaye Booth.

HANNAH DASHER / “You’re Gonna Love Me”
Writers: Hannah Dasher/Thomas Archer/Andy Albert/Gordie Sampson; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: Sony Nashville
— She says it best, “I’m a bad Mamajamma,” on this feisty, hooky, rhythm-happy slab of sound. She drawls in all the right places, the thumpy backbeat is killer and the lyric is a stone delight. A fiery hillbilly romp that deserves a place in the sun.

KANE BROWN / “One Mississippi”
Writers: Kane Brown/Jesse Frasure/Levon Gray/Ernest K. Smith; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: RCA Nashville
— His vocal is warm and intimate on the verses, then shouted and urgent on the soaring choruses of this rocking anthem of tipsy passion. Breezy and engaging.

TRAVIS DENNING / “Dirt Road Down”
Writers: Will Weatherly/Cole Taylor/Taylor Phillips/Travis Denning; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Label: Mercury Nashville
— Somewhat tuneless, over produced, thematically backroads generic.

KENNY CHESNEY / “Beautiful World”
Writers: David Lee Murphy/Tom Douglas/Tony Lane; Producer: Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney; Label: Blue Chair/Warner Nashville
— Relaxed and laid back, this settles into his sunny-outlook vibe with all the ease of a swaying hammock. It has a simple, catchy melody that I can imagine his stadium crowd singing along to.

CODY JOHNSON / “Let’s Build a Fire”
Writers: Chris Janson/Mitch Oglesby; Producer: Trent Willmon; Label: CoJo/Warner Nashville
— Furiously rocking, but his solid, Texas-accented country singing remains the big draw. A wild ride with plenty of heart.

KEITH URBAN / “Wild Hearts”
Writers: Keith Urban/Eric Paslay/Brad Tursi/Jennifer Wayne; Producer: Keith Urban/Mitch Furr; Label: Capitol Nashville
— His best in ages. It has a steady groove that is undeniable and an uplifting lyric about chasing your dreams, no matter what. Wonderful listening. This is exactly why he is a superstar.

JEANNIE SEELY & WILLIE NELSON / “Not a Dry Eye in the House”
Writers: Dallas Wayne; Producer: Don Cusic; Label: Curb Records
— What’s not to love? Steel soaked, with beautifully accented keyboard notes and an eloquent, fiddle-accompanied Willie guitar solo. Slow and sad, this classic-sounding weeper features both veterans singing splendidly.

ROSE FALCON & RODNEY ATKINS / “Being Here, Being There”
Writers: Rose Falcon/Rodney Atkins/Phil Barton/Seth Mosley; Producer: Seth Mosley/Rodney Atkins; Label: Curb Records
— His gritty country voice contrasts nicely with her lilting pop soprano on this charming outing. The crunchy, bopping track is delightfully ear catching and the reassuring, romantic lyric is heart warming. I totally dig this. It’s about time this doubly talented married couple became a recording duet. I would welcome an entire album with songs this dandy.

LACI KAYE BOOTH / “Shuffle”
Writers: Derrick Southerland/Laci Kaye Booth/Sam Ellis; Producer: Dann Huff/Jimmy Harnen; Label: BMLG Records
— Attractive and clever. She has a slightly hushed, sensual vocal style that is wed to a steady thumping track. She name-checks country oldies since her heart’s playlist is on “shuffle” because she’s so smitten.

CHRIS JANSON / “Bye Mom”
Writers: Chris Janson/Brandon Kinney; Producer: Zach Crowell/Chris Janson; Label: Warner
— Achingly lovely. We all know that one day we will lose our moms, but that doesn’t make it any less painful when we do. Always a masterful communicator, Janson taps into this universal truth with this lump-in-throat song. A lilting, gentle production lifts the whole thing upward. I remain an immense fan.

MORGAN WALLEN / “Sand In My Boots”
Writers: Ashely Gorley/Joshua Shaun Osborne/Michael Wilson Hardy; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud/Republic
— He’s such a terrific singer. This heartbroken ballad is a mini country masterpiece, packed with evocative images and intense emotion. Performed solo on piano with fierce conviction, this works on every level.

RANDY TRAVIS / “Ain’t No Use”
Writers: Randy Travis/John Lindley; Producer: Kyle Lehning; Label: Warner
— The 35th anniversary of the landmark Storms of Life LP is being celebrated with a deluxe reissue featuring tracks originally recorded for the collection, but never released before this. This peppy toe tapper is one of them, and it’s a face-slap reminder of what a great country vocalist this Hall of Famer is.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Larkin Poe, The War And Treaty

/by

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. Photo: Frank Melfi

The duos have the goods in Americana-land this week.

All four of our contenders for Disc of the Day are from twosomes. They are The War and Treaty, David Olney & Anana Kaye, Larkin Poe, and our winners Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.

The Americana DisCovery Award goes to AHI. He initially didn’t put his face on his records because he wanted his music to speak without visual cues. He also doesn’t use his full name, which is Ahkinoah Habah Izarh. He might be somewhat mysterious, but there is no disguising his talent, which is immense.

JORDAN LEHNING / “Drunk Dreaming”
Writers: Jordan Lehning; Producer: Jordan Lehning; Label: Tone Tree
— This is a trippy pop sound, but the synth track is embellished with rootsy touches like whistling. Lehning’s breathy vocal wafts along gently, but the beats are relentless. Haunting and psychedelic.

MARTY STUART / “Fault Lines”
Writers: Tom Petty/Mike Campbell; Producer: none listed; Label: MS
— Stuart transforms this Tom Petty rock tune into an acoustic, mandolin-backed performance and the result is packed with energy and tension. Stark but effective.

ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS / “Better Day A-Coming”
Writers: Linda Williams/Robert Williams; Producer: Kevin McNoldy, Robin & Linda Williams; Label: Oakenold
— The durable duo stripped things down for its 24th album. Its title tune has a jaunty, warm, living-room sound with a completely acoustic arrangement. Linda takes the lead on the lyric with an uplifting message. Robin and the band add hearty harmonies. I remain a lifelong fan.

DAVID OLNEY & ANANA KAYE / “Margarita”
Writers: none listed; Producer: Irakli Gabriel, Anana Kaye & Brett Ryan Stewart; Label: Schoolkids
— Magical. People forget that the late, brilliant songsmith Olney had a tender, soft, romantic side. That’s what is on display here. It’s a bonus track on the newly issued vinyl version of his acclaimed finale LP Whispers and Sighs, and it’s an awesome sound. Elsewhere on the album, Kaye provides smokey, evocative vocals and tasteful keyboards. It’s a remarkably diverse collection, with textures ranging from experimental rock to stark folk. I miss him so, so much.

ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS / “Can’t Let Go”
Writers: Randy Weeks; Producer: T-Bone Burnett; Label: Rounder
— No sense rushing things: Fourteen years after the duo’s Raising Sand won the Grammy as Album of the Year, the follow-up is now upon us. It will be titled Raise the Roof and will arrive on Nov. 19. In the meantime, we have this advance track, a song originally recorded by Lucinda Williams. Plant and Krauss give it a twangy, rockabilly vibe with twin-like vocal harmonies. Audio dynamite.

BILL MILLER / “Stone Tree”
Writers: Bill Miller; Producer: Tony Harrell; Label: MV2
— This is an essential listening experience. Native American troubadour Miller has returned to making music following a 10-year silence brought on by severe physical and emotional trials. The triple Grammy honoree offers this as a prayer of rebirth with his his native flute, chanting and high, lonesome yodel. In a word, gorgeous.

LARKIN POE / “Every Bird That Flies”
Writers: Rebecca Lovell/Megan Lovell/Pat McLaughlin; Producer: Rebecca Lovell/Megan Lovell; Label: LP
— The Nashville sister duo teams with the Nu Deco Ensemble orchestra on its live album, Paint the Roses, which drops Sept. 17. The result is fascinating—this advance track sports cascading strings, a bluesy melody, haunting poetry and soulful singing. Can’t wait for the rest of the record.

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL / “Half a Hundred Years”
Writers: Ray Benson; Producer: Ray Benson/Sam Seifert; Label: Home/Thirty Tigers
— Ray Benson and his western swing band are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a star studded collection. Willie, Emmylou, Lyle, Strait, Lee Ann and more are on board. The record’s title tune is a horn-punctuated bluesy bopper featuring wry, drawling lyrics with lots of numeral wordplay. Very merry.

THE WAR AND TREATY / “Take Me In”
Writers: Michael Trotter Jr.; Producer: Michael Trotter Jr./Tanya Trotter/Max Brown; Label: Rounder
— Michael Trotter and Tanya Blount, who comprise this act, are among the greatest vocalists in the entire Americana genre. Their new single/video is a thrilling, gospel-drenched summons to unity and brotherhood in these divisive times. If this doesn’t move you, you are made of stone. Or deaf.

DOLLY PARTON / “In the Sweet By and By”
Writers: Joseph P. Webster/S. Fillmore Bennett; Producer: Jerry Salley; Label: Billy Blue
— Joined by the heavenly country choir of Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley and Bradley Walker, Dolly takes this traditional church hymn out for a soft, gentle, languid, whispery bluegrassy spin. It is an advance track from the album Country Faith Bluegrass, due on Sept. 17.

AHI / “Danger”
Writers: Ahkinoah H. Izarh; Producer: Paul Mabury; Label: Thirty Tigers
— AHI is a Canadian singer-songwriter of West Indian descent. This is the lead single from his album Prospect (due Nov. 5). It has throbbing rhythm and guitar strumming underpinning his pleading tenor voice and an echoey backing choir. The goose-bump lyric decries a senseless gun killing. He’s an award winner north of the border, and I can certainly hear why. Distinctive and creative. More, please.

CALEB LEE HUTCHINSON / “Slot Machine Syndrome”
Writers: Caleb Hutchinson/ Brent Cobb; Producer: Brent Cobb; Label: CLH
— What a voice. This Nashville guy has a classic country baritone that producer Cobb has surrounded with slow, deliberate twang on this stately ballad of addiction. Hutchinson formerly competed on Season 16 of American Idol. He’s booked at Brooklyn Bowl on Aug. 29 for his first headlining show.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Mickey Guyton, Carly Pearce, Lauren Alaina

/by

Mickey Guyton. Photo: Phylicia Munn

Today’s contenders in DisClaimer are equally divided between males and females.

Despite strong efforts by Scotty McCreery, Tim McGraw, Travis Tritt and the all-star team of Dierks Bentley, Breland and HARDY, the gals have the edge. Lauren Alaina, Lily Rose and the team of Carly Pearce and Patty Loveless have must-hear performances this week. So does Mickey Guyton, who takes home the Disc of the Day prize.

It’s a listening session that was packed with headliners, so we have no DisCovery Award to give.

DAN + SHAY / “Lying”
Writers: Andrew Paul Albert/Bill Withers/Dan Smyers/Jordan Kyle Reynolds/Shay Mooney; Producer: Dan Smyers; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— This has a seductive, old-school, r&b groove that is delicious. It ain’t all that country, but it is as polished as brass buttons.

LAUREN ALAINA / “It Was Me”
Writers: Lauren Alaina/Hillary Lindsay; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: Mercury Nashville
— This languid waltz lays the blame on herself for their breakup. Alaina takes it slowly and deliberately, giving her voice lots of space for phrasing, range and nuance. A refreshing change of pace, produced with taste, finesse and restraint.

DIERKS BENTLEY, BRELAND & HARDY / “Beers on Me”
Writers: Dierks Bentley/Ross Copperman/Luke Dick/Ashley Gorley/Michael Hardy; Producer: Ross Copperman/Dierks Bentley; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
— Charming. It’s a lightly bopping drinking ditty with all three vocalists exuding personality, friendliness and warmth. Set ‘em up, boys, I’m in.

LILY ROSE / “Know My Way Around”
Writers: Lily Rose/Julian Bunetta/Savana Santos; Producer: Joey Moi/Julian Bunetta; Label: Big Loud/Back Blocks/Republic
— The droning, echoey guitar hook and percussive backup take up a lot of space, but they sure are hooky. There is just enough room for her folksy vocal to squeeze into the mix. She’s drawling a pick-up line, and it’s mighty inviting.

TIM McGRAW / “7500 OBO”
Writers: Jennifer Schott/Matthew McGuinn/Nathan Kyle Spicer; Producer: Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw; Label: Big Machine Records
— The truck is in great condition with leather seats, a sunroof and a new transmission. But it reminds him of her, so he’s letting it go for just $7,500. The track is wafting and airy. McGraw’s vocal is smooth and easy. The song is a nice piece of craftsmanship.

MICKEY GUYTON / “Remember Her Name”
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Parker Welling/Black Hubbard/Jarrod Ingram; Producer: Karen Kosowski; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
— She’s soaring and flying on wings of eagles on this empowering title tune of her new album. It’s about having strength and perseverance to endure difficulty, and it contains the finest vocal performance of Guyton’s career to date. Turn it up.

THOMAS RHETT / “Redneck Be Like”
Writers: Jordan Reynolds/Josh Miller/Parker Welling/Rhett Akins/Thomas Rhett; Producer: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Label: The Valory Music Co.
— Small town, muddy river, beer, bonfire, fishing, pickup truck, back road, summer fun, proud to be country. Did we miss any cliches? Well, there’s no skinny dipping or hot babe in cutoff jeans, but other than that, we’re good to go. Wake me when it’s over.

INGRID ANDRESS & SAM HUNT / “Wishful Drinking”
Writers: Ingrid Andress/Jonny Price/JP Saxe/Lucky Daye/Rykeyz; Producer: Ingrid Andress/Jordan M. Schmidt; Label: Atlantic/Warner Music Nashville
— Andress gives it an oomphy, piercing delivery. But Hunt’s hushed, furry-soft phrasing steals the show on this wistful, lovelorn barroom outing.

TRAVIS TRITT / “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That No More”
Writers: Travis Tritt/Dillon Carmichael; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Big Noise
— This stuttering, twanging country-rocker has a classic whiplash hillbilly sound that begs for a “Yeee-Haw!” Whether it’s a hot ‘67 Chevy, a vintage jukebox, a rodeo queen or a Haggard song, “newer ain’t better.” Tritt spits and sasses. Cobb’s production rocks. Toss that cowboy hat in the air.

CARLY PEARCE & PATTY LOVELESS / “Dear Miss Loretta”
Writers: Shane McAnally/Brandy Clark/Carly Pearce; Producer: Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne/Tony Brown; Label: Big Machine Records
— This wailing heartache honky tonker pushes all my buttons. Both singers are phrasing like classic country queens here. They’re calling on Loretta for words of wisdom to get through their miseries, and the harmonies are delicious. Country, country, country all the way.

SCOTTY McCREERY / “Same Truck”
Writers: Scotty McCreery/Ashley Gorley/Zack Crowell/Taylor Phillips; Producer: Frank Rogers/Derek Wells/Aaron Eshuis; Label: Triple Tigers
— Celebratory. The ringing guitars back an anthemic lyric of unity and brotherhood. No matter what path we’re on or what our backgrounds, we’re all in this thing together. Well written and performed with elan.

DANIELLE BRADBERY / “Stop Draggin’ Your Boots”
Writers: Josh Kear/Hillary Lindsey/Gordie Sampson; Producer: Nathan Chapman; Label: Big Machine
— “One day you’re whiskey hot and then you’re beer cold.” Get it together, brother. You’re either in or you’re not. It’s feisty in a Shania kinda way.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Brandi Carlile, Amythyst Kiah, Joy Oladokun, Allison Russell

/by

Clockwise: Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Joy Oladokun, Brandi Carlile

This is some kind of landmark day.

DisClaimer’s round-up of current Americana releases is completely dominated by Black Nashvillians. Three of them—Amythyst Kiah, Joy Oladokun and Allison Russell—are newcomers to the column, so they share the DisCovery Award.

Keb’ Mo’ has long been a community standout. He is an enduring DisClaimer column fave, as are Tiera, Yola and Gramps Morgan. By the way, former Memphian Valerie June is now a Nashvillian, and she is up for Album of the Year at next month’s Americana Awards.

Speaking of those awards, non-Nashvillians Brandi Carlile and Rhiannon Giddens are longtime AMA award favorites, and both are here with new music. Representing the alt-country side of things are Rodney Crowell, Grant Maloy Smith and John Scott Sherrill.

In this embarrassment of riches, Brandi Carlile gets the Disc of the Day, but it could have just as easily gone to any of her 11 Americana compatriots here.

YOLA / “Stand For Myself”
Writers: Dan Auerbach/Hannah Vasanth/Natalie Hemby/Yola; Producer: Dan Auerbach; Label: Easy Eye
— This British-born, Nashville-based troubadour reunited with Dan Auerbach to produce her sophomore CD. Yola has been showcasing its single “Diamond Studded Shoes” everywhere from the Newport Folk Festival to NPR’s “All Things Considered,” from a live stream today (www.momenthouse.com/yola) to her tour with Chris Stapleton. She recently performed “Stand For Myself,” the disc’s title tune (and her latest video), on Stephen Colbert (with Oscar winner Jon Batiste on piano, no less). The empowering ode reflects the album’s emphasis on nouveau funk-groove and stakes her claim as one of today’s greatest soul singers. This has intense fire.

BRANDI CARLILE / “Right On Time”
Writers: Brandi Carlile/Dave Cobb/Phil Hanseroth/Tim Hanseroth; Producer: Dave Cobb/Shooter Jennings; Label: Low Country Sound/Elektra
— This is the advance single from Brandi’s In These Silent Days, an album due Oct. 1. The six-time Grammy winner sounds even more lustrous and evocative on the gorgeous ballad of loss, regret and relief. Her alto shimmers and her Nashville production team shines in every note. Watch for her to rule the Americana Music Awards next month.

RHIANNON GIDDENS / “Si Dolce e’l Tormento”
Writers: Claudio Monteverdi; Producer: Francesco Turrisi/Rhiannon Giddens; Label: Nonesuch
— The song is a 17th-century Italian composition that is included on her latest album, They’re Calling Me Home. Her performance is a revelation and a tour de force of classical control. Giddens glides easily between genres as she explores everything from old-time music to blues, from opera to folk. Her exquisite phrasing here is a window into a continually creative spirit.

RODNEY CROWELL / “Triage”
Writers: Rodney Crowell; Producer: Rodney Crowell/Dan Knobler; Label: RC1/Thirty Tigers
— A dark, doomy percussive thump accompanies Rodney’s ruminations on love and wisdom. It’s the title tune of his new album, and is an absolutely hypnotic, riveting listening experience. His maturity as a composer and his weathered richness as a vocal stylist are both fabulously rewarding here as the song moves from somber musings to hopeful uplift. Essential.

ALLISON RUSSELL / “Nightflyer”
Writers: Allison Russell/Jeremy Lindsay; Producer: Dan Knobler; Label: Fantasy
— Outside Child, the debut solo album from this Our Native Daughters alumna is a singer-songwriter treasure. Its single is a fever dream of pain and glory that contrasts images of violence and peace in a swirl of airy harmonies and light acoustic instrumentation. It begs you to close your eyes and drift away to a better place. This is the birthplace of a major new voice in Americana music. Take heed, everyone.

KEB’ MO’ / “Sunny and Warm”
Writers: Keb’ Mo’/Steve Dorff; Producer: Tom Hambridge/Keb’ Mo’; Label: Rounder
— Nashville’s resident bluesman teamed up with established pop-country meister and new Music City resident Dorff to craft this lilting ditty. As its title implies, it’s a floating, gently wafting confection that sings the praises romance in the summer season. Mellow is the word.

JOY OLADOKUN / “Judas”
Writers: Joy Oladokun/James Droll/Steven Colyer; Producer: Joy Oladokun; Label: Amigo/Verve/Republic
— In Defense of My Own Happiness came out last year as the debut album by this Nigerian-American songsmith. Previously self released, it has been picked up by a major label and reissued in a deluxe edition featuring this new track. The East Nashville resident is a folkie at heart. Armed with her acoustic guitar, she touches your heart with its plain-spoken, soul-baring, confessional poetry. Classic sounding.

JOHN SCOTT SHERRILL / “Five Generations of Rock County Wilsons”
Writers: John Scott Sherrill; Producer: John Scott Sherrill/ Ronnie Bowman & Scott Paschall; Label: Lobo Libre
— This enduringly great craftsman is going into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this year in recognition of the zillions of hits he’s written for John Anderson, Brooks & Dunn, Strait, Wariner, Patty, Allison, Buffett and more. Scotty also makes consistently cool records, himself. His latest is titled Copper Tears, and its single is this terrific story song about the destruction of a boy’s countryside and its signal to escape on the next Grayhound Bus. The instrumentation is bluegrassy while his vocal is an effortless honky-tonk croon. This fellow is such a wonderful artist.

GRAMPS MORGAN / “If You’re Looking For Me”
Writers: Gramps Morgan/Johnny Reid/Morry Trent; Producer: Johnny Reid; Label: Halo/WAMA/Orchard
— The leader of the Grammy-winning reggae band Morgan Heritage has a new solo album titled Positive Vibration. The Jamaican-American artist demonstrates here the influences that living in Nashville have brought him. His reggae groove has acquired some production polish, extra melodic gloss and layered vocal harmonies. He’s such a marvelously expressive singer and the groove is so addictive that you don’t want it to ever stop. I’m a major fan.

AMYTHYST KIAH / “Black Myself”
Writers: Amythyst Kiah; Producer: Tony Berg/Amythyst Kiah/Will Maclellan; Label: Rounder
— Her vocal alto is a thing of wonder. Here, she applies it to an accusatory lyric addressing the hypocrisy of Christians who condoned slavery. The rocking track blends electronic thunder with acoustic punch and is way, way gripping. This Nashvillian is a gigantic addition to our songwriting community. Like Allison Russell and Joy Oladokun, Amythyst is nominated as Emerging Artist of the Year at next month’s Americana Awards. In addition, “Black Myself” is up for Song of the Year.

TIERA & BRASSVILLE / “Found It In You”
Writers: Tiera/Cameron Bendell; Producer: Cameron Bendell; Label: Songs & Daughters
— This fan-favorite track has a studio version, an acoustic version and now a live version featuring an eight-piece brass band. No matter how you frame it, the sweetly lilting tune is a highly successful fusion of her R&B and country influences. The Birmingham native is one of the flagship songwriters of Nicolle Galyon’s Songs & Daughters female collective in Music City, and this week she signed with Big Machine/Valory. Yippee.

GRANT MALOY SMITH / “I Found Faith”
Writers: Grant Maloy Smith; Producer: Jeff Silverman & Grant Maloy Smith; Label: Suburban Cowboy
— One of the year’s most ambitious productions is Smith’s Appalachia: American Stories. The vinyl version comes in a box with a 40-page color-illustrated book of lyrics, liner notes and background information on every song. He is accompanied by a who’s-who of acoustic musicians during its 43-minute running time. in addition to its “The Coal Comes Up” single, the set includes this searing gospel outing. Smith’s captivating tenor is joined by the soul harmonies of Kim Fleming and Kim Mount, plus a recitation by the Rev. Janice Brown, a Nashvillian famed for her smash “Rough Side of the Mountain.”

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Chris Young, Dylan Scott, Ashland Craft

/by

Ashland Craft, Dylan Scott, Chris Young

Here in Country Music Land, heartache is what we do best.

Nursing busted romances today are Dylan Scott, Ashland Craft, Cash Creek & Larry Stewart, Travis Denning and Chris Young. The Hobbs Sisters, Cadillac Three and Jake Hoot are trying to keep the country party going, but their efforts are drowned out by the more traditionalist crowd.

And it is from that crowd that all of our award winners are drawn this week. Ashland Craft lands the DisCovery Award, while Chris Young and Dylan Scott finish in a dead heat, tying for the Disc of the Day prize.

DUSTY BLACK & GARY LEVOX / “Somebody’s Mama”
Writers: Monty Criswell/Derek George/Houston Phillips; Producer: Colt Ford/Noah Gordon; Label: Black Label Country
— It’s an openly sentimental ode to a father’s love for his daughter. Very sweet and very country. Dusty delivers with restraint and nuance. Gary offers theatrical, high-tenor acrobatics.

CHRIS YOUNG / “Break Like You Do”
Writers: Anthony Smith/Chris DeStefano/Chris Young/Matt Rogers; Producer: Chris DeStefano/Chris Young; Label: RCA Nashville
— He’s such a superb singer. The rapid-fire construction of these lyrics doesn’t phase him one bit. Following their breakup, she’s doing fine. But he’s not, and he splatters his heartache all over this tempo tune. An unmistakable hit.

ASHLAND CRAFT / “Make It Past Georgia”
Writers: Ashland Craft/Reid Isbell/Willie Morrison; Producer: Jonathan Singleton; Label: Big Loud
— I saw her open for Ian Munsick, and she’s a real spitfire. She kicks up some serious dust with a sandpapery delivery of this fierce heartache-on-the-road scorcher. Crank it up, and let her wail.

DYLAN SCOTT / “New Truck”
Writers: Hardy/Hunter Phelps/Ben Johnson/Ashley Gorley; Producer: Will Weatherly/Matt Alderman/Curt Gibbs/Jim Ed Norman; Label: Curb Records
— This barn burner is a terrific showcase for this guy’s oomphy delivery. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with his vehicle, except for the fact that it reminds him of her every time he drives it. Dylan roars his way through the busted-heart lyric like a man possessed.

THE HOBBS SISTERS / “Turn It Up”
Writers: Hannah Hobbs/Lauren Hobbs/Joey Ebach; Producer: Ben Jackson/Joey Ebach; Label: THS
— They are twins, and the ultra close-knit harmonies sure reveal it. This fizzy, frothy ditty sounds exactly like a summertime party. Very tasty.

JASON ALDEAN & CARRIE UNDERWOOD / “If I Didn’t Love You”
Writers: Kurt Allison/Tully Kennedy/John Morgan/Lydia Vaughan; Producer: Michael Knox; Label: Broken Bow Records
— It’s a power ballad with all the boxes checked. Carrie’s harmony part is flawless, and both singers turn up the heat when they’re in solo spotlights.

RESTLESS ROAD / “Hometown Tonight”
Writers: Colton Pack/Garrett Nichols/Jacob Durrett/Zach Beeken; Producer: Jared Keim; Label: RCA Nashville/1021 Entertainment
— “Bar Friends” remains the single, but the trio has issued a new video to go with this romantic, zesty country rocker. All three men sing it with gusto.

THE CADILLAC THREE / “Get After It”
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Neil Mason/Zach Kale; Producer: Jaren Johnston; Label: Big Machine Records
— I still don’t hear this rock band as a “country” act.

JAKE HOOT / “Night Left”
Writers: Jake Hoot/Danny Myrick/Kylie Sackley; Producer: Danny Myrick; Label: INgrooves/Deluge Music
— The Voice winner tries on some Southern-rock duds, and they fit him just fine. Deep fried guitars and soulful shouting characterize this raising-hell party stomper.

CASH CREEK & LARRY STEWART / “Hard Time”
Writers: Larry Stewart/Michael Noble/Tim DuBois; Producer: none listed; Label: MCM
— I like the steady thump and the catchy melody of this, but the mix is weird with the vocals sounding strangely muffled.

TRAVIS DENNING / “Jack and Coke”
Writers: Travis Denning/CJ Solar/Chris Stevens; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Label: Mercury Nashville
— The lyric has fun mixing the name of a cocktail with a nursery rhyme (Jack and Jill). The track rolls along sympathetically while Travis emotes expressively about a failed relationship. The super clever “ABBY” remains the single, but if you want another sample of his fine upcoming album, here ya go.

CHARLEY CROCKETT / “I Need Your Love”
Writers: Charley Crockett/Mark Neill; Producer: Mark Neill; Label: Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers
— This could be from the soundtrack of American Graffiti. It’s an old-school r&b slow dance, complete with brass accents, bluesy guitar and triplet rhythms. All served up with a countrified Texas accent. This guy is the Real Deal.