DISClaimer: Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson Offer New Musical Gems

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This week, the Americana music winners come two-by-two.

In a DisClaimer first, the tie for the Disc of the Day award is a father and son. That would be Willie Nelson and his boy Lukas Nelson.

There are also two DisCovery Award winners in this stack of Americana platters. They are singer-songwriters Sarah Peacock and Van Darien. Heed them both.

LUKAS NELSON & PROMISE OF THE REAL/Couldn’t Break Your Heart
Writer: Lukas Nelson; Producer: John Alga and Promise of the Real; Publisher: none listed; Fantasy
– Audio ecstasy. The band is super tight, rolling along with a steady thump, some echoey atmosphere and high, keening electric and steel notes. Lukas rides atop the enchanting production with a plaintive, spot-on vocal of heart, head and soul. This is a foretaste of the act’s collection Naked Garden, which drops a week from Friday (3/27).

WILLIE NELSON/Our Song
Writer: Chris Stapleton; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Legacy
-This soft, meditative ballad completely envelopes you with its intimacy and warmth. A simple, gentle production, Willie’s guitar and an almost whispered vocal cuddle up next to you like loved ones. I swooned over this. The track comes from his forthcoming 70th (!) album, First Rose of Spring. It is due April 24, and Willie turns 87 five days later. May I remind you that he has won Grammy Awards the past two years in a row? The man is still at the top of his game.

THE SECRET SISTERS/Late Bloomer
Writers: Laura and Lydia Rogers; Producers: Brandi Carlile, Tim Hanseroth, Phil Hanseroth; Publisher: none listed; New West
– Languid and folkie, this has a certain simple charm. But it is a little too pristine and pretty for my taste.

JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT/What I’ve Done To Help
Writer: Jason Isbell; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publisher: none listed; Southeastern/Thirty Tigers
– Soulful and fiery, with his usual searing honesty. A new highlight in a catalog that’s already full of memorable moments.

DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE/Emmylou
Writer: Soderberg; Producers: Darin Alridge/Mark Fain; Publisher: none listed; Rounder
– Brooke possesses one of the most gripping voices in all of country music, and Darin’s harmony work tugs at every heart string. Their little falsetto leaps in this enchanting song tickle the ears at every turn. This lovable couple is marketed as bluegrass, but their appeal is so much broader than that. Every music lover on earth needs to hear the magic that they make. And, yes, I did pen the liner notes for their exquisite current CD.

BOBBY BARE/The Day All The Yes Men Said No
Writers: Shel Silverstein; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BB
-Let’s face it, the wry, dry Bare and the wry, dry and high Silverstein were made for each other. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member (1930-1999) wrote hits for Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Dr. Hook, Brenda Lee, Dave & Sugar, Waylon Jennings, The Irish Rovers, Jerry Lee Lewis and more. But his collaborations with Bare have always been special events.

SARAH PEACOCK/Burn The Witch
Writers: Sheena Brook/Sarah Peacock; Producer: Shawn Byrne; Publisher: none listed; Road Dog
– The rumbling bass undertow, heartbeat cello and mysterious atmosphere are perfect for her haunting soprano delivery of this poetic, evocative saga. This Music City troubadour is cool and different, and I fell for her at once. Think about the wail and passion of the Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick mixed with the dark, magical swirl of Stevie Nicks and you’ll be in the general vicinity. Elsewhere on her Burn the Witch CD, she’s a folk-pop diva with plenty to say.

WEBB WILDER/Night Without Love
Writer: R.S. Field; Producers: Webb Wilder/George Bradfute; Publisher: Sharp Circle/ASCAP; Landslide
– This great Music City rock showman is back with a romping, thoroughly Americana collection that includes slabs of sound penned by the likes of Russell Smith, Los Lobos and Chip Taylor, not to mention six of his own individualistic concoctions. The title tune is a light-hearted skip through a countrified ditty, complete with steel guitar. Don’s worry, the CD has a bluesy take on “Hi Heel Sneakers,” too.

VAN DARIEN/Levee
Writers: Van Darien/Ryan Michael; Producer: Steven Cooper/J.D. Tiner; Publisher: none listed; Mechanical Heart
– I dig her throaty alto as well as her evocative lyrics. This is the atmospheric title tune of a collection that sends repeated waves of liquid sound over you. This Texas-to-Tennessee transplant is essentially an introspective folk-flavored troubadour with a healthy dose of deep soul. Start your welcome-to-Nashville applause right now, because this is one of the most promising debut discs I’ve heard this year.

THE CARTER FAMILY/Farther Along
Writer: traditional; Producer: John Carter Cash; Publisher: public domain; Reviver Legacy
– This fascinating collection came out late last year. It’s titled Across the Generations because it combines voices of this legendary dynasty from first generation (Sara, Maybelle), to second generation (Anita, June, Helen), third generation (Carlene, John Carter Cash, Dale Jett. Lorrie Carter Bennett, David Carter Jones), fourth (Tiffany Anastasia Lowe, AnnaBelle Cash, Tucker Jett) and even fifth (Flo Wolfe, Adrianna Cross, Lux Darling, Jacob Strong). This set-opening track features Sara with descendants Dale and Adrianna. Elsewhere, you’ll hear ear-opening new treatments of such Carter chestnuts as “Gold Watch and Chain,” “Worried Man Blues,” “I Never Will Marry,” “Foggy Mountain Top” and, of course, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” This, my friends, is the definition of American folk music. Not to mention the original foundation of country music.

DISClaimer: Mickey Guyton’s "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" Leads New Releases

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It’s country-feminism day here at DISClaimer with female singles dominating the mix from top to bottom.

Randall King, Jackson Michelson and Hot Country Knights are all scoring runs. But the grand-slam homers are all by women—Maddie & Tae, Maren Morris, Jewel and our Disc of the Day awardee, Mickey Guyton.

Our DisCovery Award winner this week is Joe Hanson. Please send more.

MADDIE & TAE/Bathroom Floor
Writers: Josh Kerr/Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye; Producer: Derek Wells/Jimmy Robbins; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
– Feisty, rocking, empowering and clever. Their harmonies are super tight. The lyric has “girl power.” The production punches and pounds. An absolute delight.

JACKSON MICHELSON/One Day
Writers: Jackson Michelson/Justin Ebach/Matt Alderman; Producer: Jeff Pardo; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Very sweet. Parenthood has seldom sounded better. The passage of time gets a lovely word portrait as he describes a little girl growing up and the nostalgia of her mom and dad as they age along.

JOE HANSON/Part of Me
Writers: Victoria Banks/Justin Morgan/Joe Hanson; Producer: Austin Shawn; Publisher: none listed; 117
– The track is kinda nervous sounding. His jaunty tenor has an emotional tug. Promising.

MICKEY GUYTON/What Are You Gonna Tell Her
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Karen Kosowski/Victoria Banks/Emma-Lee; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– She created a sensation with this at CRS. It’s an echoey piano ballad about the reality of gender discrimination. You tell the growing girl to believe in herself, just to dash her dreams when she grows up. “You built her up, just so the world could let her down.” Now, what are we gonna do to make this a more fair and just place? And can we start with country radio?

HOT COUNTRY KNIGHTS/Moose Knuckle Shuffle
Writers: Brett Beavers/Brett Tyler/Buddy Brock/Chase McGill/Dan Hochhalter/Jim Beavers/Zach Turner; Producers: Dierks Bentley; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– Remember line dancing? And high tight jeans that accentuated his package? I thought so.

JEWEL/No More Tears
Writer: Jewel/Thomas James Profitt; Producer: Thomas James Profitt; Publisher: none listed; Words Matter/Orchard
– This is part of the soundtrack of a film about homeless youth in America. She knows all about this topic, and it sounds like it in every dramatic note in this penetrating ballad. Soulful and real.

RANDALL KING/She Gone
Writers: Chris Stevens/Randall King; Producers: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music Nashville
-Country, country, country. Tempo, tempo, tempo. Love it, love it, love it.

RUTHIE COLLINS/Joshua Tree
Writers: Luke Sheets/Ruthie Collins; Producer: Ruthie Collins/Wes Harlee; Publisher: none listed; Sidewalk/Curb
– Shimmering strings. Aching soprano delivery. Heartbreak song. Wide-open-spaces production. What’s not to like?

MAREN MORRIS/To Hell and Back
Writers: Maren Morris/Laura Veltz/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: Morris/busbee; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– Swirling audio around a midtempo relationship song. The gal sure can sing.

FILMORE/Blue Skies
Writers: Cary Barlowe/Jesse Frasure/Tyler Filmore; Producer: Jesse Frasure/Zach Abend; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– I remain a fan. But he can do better than this rambling, aimless tune, and has.

DISClaimer: Dixie Chicks’ "Gaslighter" Is "A Total Blast From Start To Finish"

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Greatness is timeless.

That’s the message in today’s DisClaimer column. Some of the best music in this stack comes from veterans like Pam Tillis, the Dixie Chicks, Keith Urban and Bobby Bare. In fact, the Dixie Chicks ride off with the Disc of the Day award.

Among our newcomers today, Stephanie Nash sounds like a real comer to me. Give that lady a DisCovery Award.

SEAN STEMALY/Come Back To Bed
Writers: Sean Stemaly/Andy Albert/Jared Mullins/Alysa Vanderheym; Producer: Joey Moi; Publisher: Buzz Light Beer Music (ASCAP), Tree Vibez Music/Mullins It Over Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs US (BMI), Castle Bound Music, Inc. (SESAC); Big Loud
-The lyric is super sexy. The monotonic melody is a turn off.

STEPHANIE NASH/Best Side of Me
Writers: Stephanie Nash/Logan Tucker/Ethan Willis/Jody Chappell; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: none listed; SN
– This has a very cool, dark, rocking undertow that is gripping and ear catching. Her confident, penetrating vocal delivery smacks every note resoundingly. The “rebel” lyric is a winner, too. Play it.

PAM TILLIS/Looking for a Feeling
Writers: Pam Tillis/Waylon Payne; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Stellar Cat
– I have always loved the smoky soul in this woman’s voice. On this title track of her forthcoming album, she luxuriates in a deep-South, bluesy groove while painting portraits of friends, neighbors and kin. Can’t wait to hear the rest of what promises to be a landmark collection.

DON RAY/Band of Gypsies
Writers: Don Ray/Tony Paoletta; Producer: Tony Paoletta/Don Ray; Publisher: Margdon/Sister Spike, BMI; Margdon (track)
– It’s a slow, drawling, brooding, dramatic tale about refusing to give in to the demands of the music biz. He stands by his “outlaw” friends in his band when the Man tells him to leave them behind. But he sounds so darned flat-footed and boring while doing it.

DIXIE CHICKS/Gaslighter
Writers: Emily Strayer/Jack Antonoff/Martie Maguire/Natalie Maines; Producers: Dixie Chicks/Jack Antonoff; Publisher: none listed; SME/Columbia
– This is a total blast from start to finish. The trio goes all sassy and feisty, bitch-slapping a no-good ex who made off with the money. The vocal harmonies are stunning. The beat is relentless. The mood is firecracker explosive. In a word, fabulous. In another word, “Yaaaaaay!”

CAITLYN SMITH/Supernova
Writers: Caitlyn Smith/Aimee Mayo; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Monument
– The title tune of Smith’s sophomore CD is a gorgeous, sad, haunting ballad. Time is fleeting, and we are all must grow and leave our childhoods behind. The echoey atmosphere and spare piano accompaniment are as mesmerizing as her aching vocal delivery.

KEITH URBAN/God Whispered Your Name
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– It’s a romantic slow-burn groover with touches of quiet-storm soul. Extremely glossy and listenable. A big hit, for sure.

KELSEA BALLERINI/Hole in the Bottle
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Black River
– Snappy and coy, this little bopper excuses her wino problem because she’s nursing a busted heart. Cleverly written. Delightfully sung.

BOBBY BARE/Living Legend
Writer: Shel Silverstein; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BB
– The Country Music Hall of Famer is wry and ironic on this self-referential two-step about a fading folk singer. He recollects past glories and regrets the pills while pleading for a one more gig. You kiddies who don’t know who the late Shel Silverstein is need to stop what you’re doing right now and research his brilliant songwriting catalog.

THE REVENUE MAN/Tennessee Sunset
Writers: Denny Rudolph/Glenn Brown; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; TRM (track)
– This unusual billing belongs to singer-songwriter Glenn Hunter Brown. His debut CD is titled 25 Years Behind and features this wistful meditation on a romance he foolishly let slip away. His weathered, lived-in voice has a plain-spoken beauty, and the simple, eloquent production is perfect for the nostalgia in the lyric. Also check out his countrified reading of Elvis Costello’s “(What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding.” Americana programmers take note, as well.

DISClaimer: Caylee Hammack Takes The Lead

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The ladies are gettin’ it done, today.

All of our Disc of the Day contenders come from female artists. For bounce with flounce, we have RaeLynn. For aching survival, there’s Caylee Hammack. For poetic artistry and meditation, we present Gretchen Peters. For topical feminism, check out Tenille Townes. All of them are essential listening experiences. Since she is the newest kid on the block, I’m giving Caylee Hammack the nod.

There’s only one true newcomer here. That’s Payton Smith, who earns himself a DisCovery Award.

CAYLEE HAMMACK/Small Town Hypocrite
Writers: Hammack/Jared Scott; Producers: Caylee Hammack/Mikey Reaves; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– Uber cool. The track is a perfect wonder, beginning in acoustic simplicity and slowly adding steel, mandolin, keyboards, electric-guitar and echo to create a gorgeous tapestry. And that’s not even best thing about it. The lyric is extraordinary, relating the saga of a woman who sets aside her dreams for a no-good guy, then summons the strength to move on. The vocal performance is quite moving, radiating vulnerability, heartache, bitterness and honesty. All in all, a fabulous little record.

AMERICAN YOUNG/Some Girl
Writers: Jacob Powell/Jon Stone/Kristy Osmunson/Kylie Schlienger; Producer: American Young/Schlienger; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Jon Stone, who is one-half of this duo, appears regularly on a reality E! TV series titled Very Cavallari. That is where the act debuted this song last month. It’s a punchy, pop-ish ballad carried along by his strong, emotional lead vocal. Partner Kristy Osmunson is practically inaudible.

BRANDON RATCLIFF/Rhiannon
Writers: Stevie Nicks; Producer: Peter Good; Publisher: none listed; Monument
– This has the same guitar line, the same percussion and the same vibe as the Fleetwood Mac original. Brandon does bring a fresh vocal approach. But the effort is futile, since the 1976 rock hit is so iconic and so perfect that there is simply no way to improve on it. And then there’s the fact that Stevie Nicks devotees are so fanatical that they will want to burn him at the stake for even trying.

JIMMIE ALLEN & NOAH CYRUS/This Is Us
Writers: Noah Cyrus/Tyler Hubbard/Jordan Schmidt/Ilsey Juber/Dernst Emile II; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Stoney Creek
– Miley’s kid sister teams with country up-and-comer Jimmie on this swirling, genre-bending confection that they perform in unison. Some harmony singing would have been nice, but it is still very appealing ear candy.

GRETCHEN PETERS/The Night You Wrote That Song
Writer: Mickey Newbury; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Scarlet Letter
– This is the title tune of Gretchen’s forthcoming (in May) album saluting the repertoire of her fellow Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Mickey Newbury. He was always an outstanding poet and her languid, soulful alto brings out every nuance in this waltzing ballad’s wistful, meditative lyric. As a massive fan of both of these troubadours, I was in heaven during each and every note of this. I urge you to listen.

WILLIE NELSON/First Rose of Spring
Writers: Randy Houser/Allen Shamblin/Mark Beeson; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: none listed; Legacy
– This age-defying legend won his 10th Grammy a few weeks ago. The title tune of his upcoming 70th album is a nostalgic, slow ballad about a romance that died long ago. He’ll be turning 87 years old when the rest of the project sees the light of day, but based on this preview, Willie sounds younger than yesterday.

TENILLE TOWNES/In My Blood
Writer: Tenille Townes; Producer: Jordan Hamlin; Publisher: none listed; Columbia Nashville
– This award-winning singer-songwriter penned this to honor female farmers. That is her heritage, so the lyric is honest and autobiographical. Fittingly, it is recorded with an all-female band and is introduced via a female-produced music video. I am hypnotized every time I hear her sing, and this time is no exception.

TUCKER BEATHARD/You Would Think
Writers: Tucker Beathard/Casey Beathard/Donovan Woods; Producer: Jordan Rigby/Ryan Tyndell/Tucker Beathard; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– I remain a big fan. This hurtin’ tune features a brightly mixed lead vocal performance backed by a crunchy audio concoction that shudders and crashes in all the right places. With every release, this fellow sounds more and more talented.

PAYTON SMITH/Like I Knew You Would
Writers: Payton Smith/Dan Fernandez/Ronnie Bowman; Producer: James Stroud; Publisher: none listed; BMLG
– The joy and the dizzy, giddy rush of young love. Utterly charming.

RAELYNN/Keep Up
Writers: RaeLynn/Corey Crowder/Tyler Hubbard/Steven Lee Olsen; Producer:Corey Crowder; Publisher: Big Tree Vibez Music/Queens Write Hits/Georgia Song Vibez/Big Crowd Publishing/Big Loud Shirt/Rhythm House; Round Here Records
-Lotsa fun. It’s a twang-banger with a feisty-female lyric and a dancefloor rhythm that are both as cute as a button. Best line: “My lipstick matches the shade of my neck.” Best rhyme: “Country boys sure know how to have fun, but let me show you how a country girl gets it done.” She can out-drink, out-drive and out-dance you, buster.

DISClaimer: Travis Denning, Avenue Beat, Brandy Clark, Sophie Sanders Top New Tracks

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Travis Denning

All of the ingredients for a perfect DisClaimer are here.

We have a superstar (Luke Bryan), some brand-new folks (Jake Rose, Avenue Beat, Sophie Sanders, Lindsay Bowman), a healthy proportion of female voices (Brandy Clark, Lauren Lucas and the afore-mentioned Bowman, Sanders and Avenue Beat) and some of my favorite up-and-comers (Filmore, Travis Denning, King Calaway).

All told, it is an embarrassment of riches.

In a tough, tough field, the clever track by Travis Denning eaks out a Disc of the Day prize, but not without stiff competition from Clark, Filmore and King Calaway.

The DisCovery Award choice was just as tough. It goes to Avenue Beat, with Sophie Sanders as a super strong challenger.

LINDSAY BOWMAN/You Don’t Get To Know
Writer: Lindsay Bowman; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: none listed; BMI; LB
– She has a bluesy, throaty vocal quality that she puts to good use on this defiant break-up anthem. The minor-key melody gives her room to toss in plenty of soul-sister effects. Promising.

LUKE BRYAN/Born Here Live Here Die Here
Writers: Jake Mitchell/Jameson Rodgers/Josh Thompson; Producer: Jeff Stevens/Jody Stevens; Publisher: none listed; Capitol
– It begins as a ballad, then picks up some steam after the first stanza. Tempo-wise, it never seems to resolve that tension and make up its mind. Lyric-wise, it’s a splendid evocation and salute to little-village life. Which is to say, it fits him like a glove.

TRAVIS DENNING/Abby
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Matt Jenkins/Chase McGill; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publisher: none listed; Mercury
– Very cute. He’s breaking up with her. Is there someone else? You bet, and her name is A-B-B-Y, which stands for “Any Body But You.” Put your ears on this right now. This guy is definitely on a roll.

BRANDY CLARK/Love Is a Fire
Writers: Brandy Clark/Shane McAnally/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music
– For my money, this is the radio world’s most criminally overlooked artist on today’s country scene. The woman is a genius writer and a delicious vocalist. This swooning ballad is yet another example of how involving, enchanting and downright commercial her work is. For God’s sake, play her. The new album is titled Your Life Is a Record and it drops on March 6. I’ll be the first in line to buy a copy.

AVENUE BEAT/Be a Bro
Writers: Sam Backoff/Sami Bearden/Savana Santos/Summer Overstreet; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Valory Music Co.
– Delightful. The creamy, female-trio harmonies, clever lyrics and frothy production are all ear-tickling. A sheer pleasure from opening beat to closing note.

KING CALAWAY/No Matter What
Writers: Andy Albert/Devin Dawson/Jordan Schmidt/Mitchell Tenpenny/Paul DiGiovanni; Producer: Robert Deaton/Ross Copperman; Publisher: none listed; BBR
– This is ridiculously catchy. These six fellows are so hooky and polished and flawless it is almost scary. You’d have to be deaf to resist their audio charms.

SOPHIE SANDERS/All My Friends Are Married
Writer: Sophie Sanders; Producer: Paul Sikes; Publishers: Songs of the Sanderosa; SS
– Sophie is the daughter of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Mark D. Sanders. Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as they say. She displays totally wry, worthy songwriting chops here, not to mention a dreamy, atmospheric production and a languid, lovely singing voice. A single to get lost inside. Oh, and don’t miss her kitty cat’s guest vocal toward the end.

FILMORE/My Place
Writers: John-Luke Carter/Justin Ebach/Tyler Filmore; Producer: John-Luke Carter/Zach Abend; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– He sounds so welcoming and friendly here. The gist of it is, come and hang out with him at his house anytime you feel like it, because the party never stops. There’s just something about this creative and unique fellow that I dig.

JAKE ROSE/Tractor Town
Writers: J. Rose/B. Tyler/B. Beavers; Producers: Kevin Kadish/Nathan Chapman/Jake Rose; Publisher: none listed; Starts With Music
– The boyish, tenor vocal is perfect for the innocence in this vividly penned, small-town lyric. The crunchy production boosts things, too. A promising disc debut.

LAUREN LUCAS/Addicted to the Rain
Writers: Lauren Lucas/Jim Reilley; Producer: Reilley; Publisher: none listed: LL
– Echoey and ghostly, with wistful yearning and ache.

DISClaimer: John Anderson, Blake Shelton, MacKenzie Porter Top New Tracks

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It’s “welcome home” to an old buddy this week.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member John Anderson has teamed up with Mr. Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, plus superstar Blake Shelton. The result is country-music nirvana. Give this man this week’s Disc of the Day award.

Anderson’s runners up represent two opposite wings of the country sound. Nathan Stanley clings to tradition with his effort, while Cam is pushing the pop side of things.

The DisCovery Award goes to MacKenzie Porter. She sounds like a comer, to me.

JEFF BATES/If I Get Drunk Tonight
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Skydancer
-Dark and dramatic. On this ballad, he wonders if he can obliterate her memory with whiskey. If only it weren’t taken quite so s-l-o-w-l-y.

KALIE SHORR/Escape
Writers: Candi Carpenter/Kalie Shorr; Producer: Shorr; Publisher: none listed; KS
– Strikingly mature. In the video, she sits alone on a road case, reminiscing. Intercut home-movie footage of her with her older sister lends a sadly nostalgic tone. The lyric is a touching ode to getting away from your roots, and the video adds the layer of a life cut short by drug abuse. Well written. Well sung. Well done.

JOHN ANDERSON & BLAKE SHELTON/Tuesday I’ll Be Gone
Writers: John Anderson/Dan Auerbach/David Ferguson; Producers: Dan Auerbach/David Ferguson; Publisher: none listed; Easy Eye Sound
-Anderson’s comeback was nearly scuttled by a health crisis. But he survived. This splendid thumper finds him in fine voice, as distinctive as ever. Shelton chimes in, but this is the legend’s show all the way. Shower this man with praise and glory.

INGRID ANDRESS/Life of the Party
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Music
– The title is ironic, since her heart is fully broken. The verses meander a bit, but the choruses bring the song home with oomph. The power in the echoey production is a plus, too.

TYLER FARR/Only Truck In Town
Writers: Ben Hayslip/Deric Ruttan/Josh Thompson; Producers: Jason Aldean/Kurt Allison/Tully Kennedy; Publisher: none listed; Night Train
– Farr’s return is as the flagship artist on Jason Aldean’s new label, Night Train Records. The song is a slow-burn celebration of his hot girlfriend, because, “She makes me feel like I’m the only truck in town.” There’s a screaming rock-guitar solo in the middle of it.

CAM/Till There’s Nothing Left
Writers: Cam/Tyler Johnson/Jeff Bhasker/Hillary Lindsey; Producers: Tyler Johnson/Jeff Bhasker; RCA
– I dig her a lot, and there’s no denying the fabulously layered production and overall sonic splendor of this. Still, as gorgeous as it is, it definitely pushes on the outer boundaries of “country.” Is she in the right format?

WALKER MONTGOMERY/Like My Daddy Done It
Writer: Dallas Davidson; Producer: Davidson; Publisher: none listed; Play It Again
– He’s the son of John Michael Montgomery and the nephew of Eddie Montgomery. He’s good looking, and he sings well. Give him a shot.

DYLAN SCOTT/Nobody
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Very hooky and very romantic. This guy always displays great vocal chops, and this yearning effort is no exception. Deserving of beaucoup airplay.

MACKENZIE PORTER/Seeing Other People
Writers: jason Afable/Emily Falvey/Matt McGinn; Producer: Joey Moi; Publisher: none listed; Big Loud
– This winsome Canadian is touring with Chris Lane and Brad Paisley. She is already award-nominated in her homeland, and this commercial ditty should up her profile, stateside. It’s about the gut-wrenching experience of seeing your ex with somebody else. Her soft soprano is backed by an atmospheric, wafting track with plenty of “air.” In a word, promising.

NATHAN STANLEY/That’s How I Got To Memphis
Writers: Tom T. Hall; Producers: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Orchard
– He’s the grandson of Ralph Stanley, but don’t expect a high, lonesome, Appalachian vocalist. Nathan is just as influenced by Nashville honky tonkers as he is bluegrass folks. That is very much in evidence on this outstanding cover of a Tom T. Hall classic. He sings it with enormous heart and soul, and the backing is replete with steel guitar and deep-bass twang. This is country music as it was meant to be sung.

DISClaimer: Lady Antebellum Tops New Releases With Thrilling Harmonies, Stunning Production

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This week, William Michael Morgan is joining Luke Combs in our campaign to rescue country music.

That said, there’s no denying the honest emotion, thrilling harmonies and stunning production behind the latest by Lady Antebellum. Give that trio a Disc of the Day award.

We have no actual newcomers to report this week, which leaves the field open for a new billing. That would be Hot Country Knights with a DisCovery Award, despite the presence of its established-star vocalists.

HOT COUNTRY KNIGHTS/Pick Her Up
Writers: Dierks Bentley/Jim Beavers/Brett Beavers; Producer: Dierks Bentley; Publisher: none listed; UMG
– This is Dierks’s band in its guise as a faux-’90s country combo. He shares lead vocals on this with real ‘90s star Travis Tritt and the result is smokin’ hot. Here’s the prescription: If you want to make the gal like ya, pick her up in a pick-up truck, take her to a honky-tonk, do some line-dancing and drink beer, not wine. Also, rock her world with a performance like this one.

AUBRIE SELLERS/Lucky Charm
Writers: Aubrie Sellers/Adam Wright; Producer: Aubrie Sellers/Frank Liddell; Publisher: none listed; Soundly Music
– It’s very echo-y and mysterioso in the instrumental department. As always, her vocal is a wafting wonder, full of winsome charm, subtle fire and fey attitude. It’s a fascination fusion, and I dig it.

TROY CARTWRIGHT/Cake For Breakfast
Writers: Brett Tyler/Michael Hardy/Alysa Vanderheym; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– More pop country. ZZZZZZZ.

LADY ANTEBELLUM/What I’m Leaving For
Writers: Laura Veltz/Micah Premnath/Sam Ellis; Producer: none listed; Publishers: BMG Rights Management/Universal, no performance rights listed; Big Machine
– Utterly lovely. A lilting, heartbreaking, uplifting ode for every traveling musician who has to leave family behind in order to make a living. It’s extraordinarily well written, and the shared lead vocals by Hillary and Charles are stellar.

DUSTIN LYNCH/Momma’s House
Writers: Dylan Schneider/MichaelLotten/Rodney Clawson/Justin Wilson; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BBR
– I wonder if the folks in his hometown of Tullahoma, after which his album is titled, know that he’d burn their whole city down if his mother’s house wasn’t there? At least that’s what the lyrics in this somewhat dull, plodding single say.

GABBY BARRETT/I Hope
Writers: Gabrielle Barrett/Jon Nite/Zachary Kale; Producers: none listed; Publishers: Sony/ATV, no performance rights listed; Warner
– The vocal is extremely processed. Everything sounds doubled tracked and sent through a mile-long echo chamber and an even longer electrical signal. The gist of the lyric is that she hopes her rival makes him happy and then makes him miserable. That would be justice. Fine, but I’m still passing on this.

BILLY RAY CYRUS/I Am I Said
Writers: Neil Diamond; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BRC
– Nicely done. I love the way he’s dipping into his lowest register on the verses and how he’s shading the lyric with restraint and taste. He’s coming off a No. 1, Grammy-winning pop smash, so the country radio industry will welcome him back with open arms thanks to this fine performance, right?

TENILLE ARTS/Somebody Like That
Writers: Allison Cruz/Tenille Arts/Alex Kline; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Big Deal/Audiam/Anthem Entertainment, no performance rights listed; Reviver
– This dandy little country rocker expresses a wish for true love against a backdrop of sleazy bars, one-night stands and dashed hopes. It’s written with smarts, and she sings it with panache. I’m in.

KENNY CHESNEY/Here and Now
Writers: Craig Wiseman/David Garcia/David Lee Murphy; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– It’s over produced, but it’s nice to have him back.

WILLIAM MICHAEL MORGAN/Whiskey Kinda Night
Writers: William Michael Morgan/Doug Johnson/Adam Wood; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed
– Country, country, country. Which is just how I like it. A heartache barroom ballad that hits every note perfectly. A total hillbilly home run.

DISClaimer: Luke Combs And Eric Church Make “A Country Masterpiece”

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Luke Combs. Photo: Jim Wright

The decisions were made before I ever typed a word.

All I had to see in my listening stack was the phrase “Luke Combs & Eric Church,” and I knew what the Disc of the Day would be. They didn’t disappoint. The song is a country masterpiece.

The advance hype on Randall King also made me predisposed toward him. He didn’t disappoint, either, although his phrasing is uncomfortably close to established superstar Strait. Give the boy a DisCovery Award.

RANDALL KING/Hey Cowgirl
Writers: Randall King/Brice Long/Mark Nesler; Producers: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Publishers: none listed: Warner
– Move over, George Strait, there’s a new cowboy in town. File this guy under, “Saving Country Music,” because he’s the Real Deal. Wistful heartache, honky-tonk blues and farewell affection all wrapped up perfectly.

EDDIE MONTGOMERY/Crazies Welcome
Writers: Brad Warren/Brett Warren/Lance Miller/Jessi Alexander; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Average Joes
– We’ve got enough “perfect” and “right things.” How about some off-center, troubled, nutso, loving, hurting, damaged compatriots in this bar? I’m with you on this ballad, buddy.

DELLA MAE/First Song Dancer
Writers: Celia Woodsmith/Kimber Ludiker; Producer: Dan Knobler; Publisher: none listed; Rounder
– This all-female band is back following a long hiatus. The gals have toughened up their sound, adding barroom attitude, thumping rhythm, roadhouse piano and some honky-tonk sass. Get out there and swing along.

OLD DOMINION/Never Be Sorry
Writers: Brad Tursi/Josh Osborne/Matthew Ramsey/Shane McAnally/Trevor Rosen; Producers: Old Dominion/Shane McAnally; Publisher: none listed; RCA Nashville
– Jittery rhythms, jaunty vocals, catchy hooks. The finger snaps are a nice touch, too.

BRENT SNYDER/Fight The Tide
Writer: Brent Snyder; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BS
– It’s a pop power ballad with a tenor vocal that delivers with an earnest, whispery quality. The message is empowering survival.

ELEVEN HUNDRED SPRINGS/This Morning It Was Too Late
Writers: Matt Hillyer/Chad Rueffer; Producers: Steven Berg/Matt Hillyer/Chad Rueffer; Publishers: Canton Street/Cricket Lips, ASCAP/BMI; State Fair (track)
– Deliciously country. His remorseful heartbroken tenor vocal, the sighing steel, poetic guitar solo, bounced-bow fiddle and smoky honky-tonk atmosphere are all exquisite. This swirled around my head like a dream. Thank you, Texas. Thank you.

LUKE COMBS & ERIC CHURCH/Does To Me
Writers: Luke Combs/Ray Fulcher/Tyler Reeve; Producer: Scott Moffatt; Publishers: Big Machine/50 Egg/Straight Dimes/Larkin Hill/Works of RHA/I Know Songs/Warner-Tamerlane/BMI; River House/Columbia (track)
– I’m in heaven. Two of my ultimate favorites, together on disc. Not only that, the lyric is the heart-tugging testimony of a blue-collar average joe’s little victories and soul enrichers. Make this a Song of the Year, No. 1 smash and I just might believe in country music again.

CROSS ATLANTIC/Everybody’s Looking For Love
Writers: Karli Chayne/James Sinclair-Stott/Derek George/Tim Owens; Producers: Derek George/James Sinclair-Stott; Publisher: none listed; CA
– Missouri meets the U.K. in this male-female duo. Karli’s winsome soprano takes the lead with James’s soft harmony backing her flawlessly on this midtempo melodic breeze. Well produced and radio ready.

CHASE RICE/Lonely If You Are
Writers: Chase Rice/Hunter Phelps/Lindsay Rimes; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Warner Chappell/Sony ATV/no performance rights listed; BBR
– He gets serious demerits for being associated with trash like The Bachelor. And even more for this practically spoken, hip-hoppy, disposable ditty.

DISClaimer: Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Jessi Alexander, Drew Fish Top New Releases

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Ashley McBryde. Photo: Daniel Meigs

This day belongs to country’s new breed.

Jordan Davis, Brandon Lay, Logan Mize and Filmore are all here with new sounds. I have expressed my affection for all of them in the past, and I am happy to report that they are starting the new year off with audio excellence.

Three of my favorite new female artists are with us today as well. Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark and Disc of the Day winner Jessi Alexander all belong on your playlists. Do this now.

Texan Drew Fish wins this week’s DisCovery Award.

BRANDON LAY/For My Money
Writers: Brandon Lay/Andrew DeRoberts; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; EMI
– Pretty funky. Pretty groovy. Pretty infectious. Pretty dang good. He’s fakin’ it ‘til he makes it, because she thinks he’s got money that he ain’t.

ASHLEY McBRYDE/Martha Divine
Writers: Ashley McBryde/Jeremy Spillman; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– This dark ditty rocks. She’s out for revenge against Miss Martha because that Jezebel is Daddy’s lover. It’s been awhile since we had a good murder lyric in country music, hasn’t it? Not to mention a solid story song.

JORDAN DAVIS/Heads Carolina, Tails California
Writers: Mark D. Sanders/Tim Nichols; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Amazon/MCA
– Jordan takes the Jo Dee Messina oldie at a slower, bluesier pace. It has a rump-shaking, head bobbing vibe. Which is mighty attractive and also shines a light on how well written the song is. I could definitely get used to this addictive groove.

LOGAN MIZE/I Ain’t Gotta Grow Up
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Yellow Dog
– I dig this guy. Everything he does is just so listenable….. and so country. This is a party bopper with an itchy beat, a jaunty vocal and a smiling attitude. In other words, a hit. There’s an equally delightful version with country up-and-comer Willie Jones.

BRANDY CLARK/Who You Thought I Was
Writers: none listed; Producer: Jay Joyce: Publisher: none listed; Warner
– This woman is just awesome, that’s all. Her liquid vocal, her lovely melody, her pristinely constructed song and her overall artistry are all perfectly in place here. She is a country queen if I have ever heard one in my life.

DREW FISH & PAM TILLIS/Every Damn Time
Writers: Drew Fish/Roger Brown/Chris Colston; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; DF
– Tennessee meets Texas on this shiny, shimmery, romantic waltz. It’s on Lone Star State traditionalist Drew’s CD Wishful Drinkin.’

FILMORE/State I’m In
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– He can’t outrun her memory, but at least he’s rocking out. I particularly like the way the drums are miked in this fresh sounding track. Filmore’s tenor vocal is also well recorded. Who produced this?

JESSI ALEXANDER/Mama Drank
Writers: Jessi Alexander/Jon Randall; Producers: Jessi Alexander/Jon Randall Stewart/Leslie Richter; Publisher: none listed; JA
– This is the “workin’ mom blues,” complete with a solid backbeat, a hillbilly soul-sister vocal, lotsa guitar twang and a minor key moan or two. I have always been a super fan of this woman. But this something else from this brilliant creator, a stone masterpiece.

CODY PURVIS/Drinkin’ Terms
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CP
– Well, it’s a novel idea for a song. An ex tries to contact him, but he tells her, “We ain’t on drinkin’ terms.” In other words, it’s over, babe.

A THOUSAND HORSES/Drinking Song
Writers: none listed; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publisher: none listed; Low Country
-Sounds like an anthem to me. The combination here is a solidly country song with searing electric guitar work.

DISClaimer: Morgan Wallen, Jason James Lead New Music Releases

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Happy New Year, country-music fans.

Today, we have all kinds of contemporary country sounds, from rock-country to bluegrass-country, from rap-country to country-country.

In the last category, put your hands together for a Texas wonder named Jason James. He is country, country, country, and is my DisCovery Award winner, hands down.

The Disc of the Day belongs to that consistent charmer, Morgan Wallen.

TAYLON HOPE/Could’ve Been A Country Song
Writers: Bill DiLuigi/Taylon Hope; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: none listed; SESAC/BMI; GTR (track)
– She’s still a teen, but she sure knows her way around a song. This soaring rocker depicts rural romance with verve and panache. The nicely crafted lyric is married to a propulsive production that fires on all cylinders. Very promising.

SAM HUNT/Sinning With You
Writers: Sam Hunt/Paul DiGiovanni/Josh Osborne/Emily Weisband; Producer: Bryce Cain/Zach Crowell; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
– I love the minimalism of this. The stark production throws all the emphasis on the ultra romantic, sensual lyric and the sincerity of the vocal performance. Excellent work.

SONG SUFFRAGETTES/The Man
Writer: Taylor Swift/Joel Little; Producers: Taylor Swift/Joel Little; Publisher: UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA – UBEM, EMI Music Publishing, LatinAutor, Sony ATV Publishing, BMI – Broadcast Music Inc., CMRRA, LatinAutor – SonyATV, SOLAR Music Rights Management; Label: SS
– Awesome job, ladies — 17 members of the Nashville female, singer-songwriter collective have teamed up for this delightful “Me2” video and track. It’s a cover of a current Taylor Swift song that totally suits the group’s ethos. The Suffragettes have been challenging country’s gender discrimination for five years now, but never more forcefully than here. Check it out, because it is super bodacious. (For the record, the sisterhood-is-powerful voices assembled here belong to Chloe Gilligan, Sarabeth Taite, Reyna Roberts, Maddison Krebs, Tasji, Regan Stewart, Emily Brooke, Erin Grand, Caroline Marquard, Mia Morris, Michelle Pereira, Nora Collins, Gray Robinson, Raquel Cole, Stevie Woodward, Lexi Lauren and Carter Faith — that’s in the order of their appearance in the video).

BLAKE SHELTON & GWEN STEFANI/Nobody But You
Writers: Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Tommy Lee James; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Downtown/BMG Rights/Words & Music/Big Deal, no performance rights listed; Warner Music
– Lusciously romantic. The lyric is dynamite, and the echoey production shudders and thunders quietly behind Blake’s intense lead-vocal performance. Gwen’s harmony and soft interjections are mixed in a gently ear-tickling fashion. A dandy listening experience.

FLAT RIVER BAND/Every Dog Has Its Day
Writer: Chad Sitze; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Early Bird (track)
– Hillbilly charming. The sound is kinda bluegrass-with-a-beat. The fiddle and dobro make merry with the snappy drumming and deep bass while the three group members dish out their flannel-shirt, trio harmonies.

MORGAN WALLEN/This Bar
Writers: Morgan Wallen/Michael Hardy/Jackson Morgan/Jake Scott/Ernest K. Smith/Ryan Vojtesak; Producer: Joey Moi; Publisher: none listed; Big Loud
– I love everything about this. Love his stone-country writing, his roadhouse attitude, his drawling singing voice and the tempo, tempo, tempo production. I even love Morgan’s individualistic fashion sense. This man is a star.

JASON JAMES/Seems Like Tears Ago
Writer: Jason James; Producer: John Evans; Publisher; Jason James, BMI; Melodyville (track)
– Say “amen,” somebody. This guy is so country it hurts, and I mean, “hurts so good.” The spirit of George Jones hovers over this steel-drenched honky-tonk lament. If you love real country music, stop what you’re doing right now and spin this on YouTube. Sign me up for the fan club.

THE CADILLAC THREE/All The Makin’s of a Saturday Night
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Josh Dunne/Neil Mason; Producers: Jaren Johnston/Neil Mason; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine
– These guys continue to plow the ground between hard rock and country, this time adding a quasi-rap vocal performance. It’s not at all my cup of tea, but ESPN has been using the track during its college-football broadcasts.

MATT KENNON/Love Is Stronger
Writer: Mike Mobley; Producer: Paul Worley; Publisher: none listed; Roaddawg (track)
– It’s a power ballad with a potent message of recovery and triumph. He’s not the world’s greatest vocalist, but he gets the job done thanks to urgency and oomph.

HARDY, LAUREN ALAINA, & DEVIN DAWSON/One Beer
Writers: Hillary Lindsay/Jake Mitchell/Michael Wilson Hardy; Producer: Joey Moi/Derek Wells; Publishers: none listed; Big Loud
– Ya have a couple of brews, and the next thing ya know, yer in a trailer park with babies running around all over the place. Hick hop.