Walker McGuire, MItchell Tenpenny, William Michael Morgan

This week’s country edition of DisClaimer belongs to the up-and-comers.

Our three top tunes in this stack of platters belong to three stars on the rise. They are Walker McGuire, Mitchell Tenpenny and William Michael Morgan. They finish in a trio photo finish to share the Disc of the Day award.

MATT ROGERS/Peaches and Pecans
Writers: Matt Rogers/Justin Dukes; Producer: Matt Rogers; Publishers: Richest Place on Earth, No performance rights listed; MR
– An ode to Georgia. “If you ain’t from here, then you don’t understand.” You’re so right. I don’t.

BRETT YOUNG/Ticket To L.A.
Writers: Brett Young/Zach Crowell/Jon Nite; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BMLG (download)
– The title tune to Brett’s forthcoming album is a zippy, trippy fantasy about an airport pick-up. The irresistible rhythm track disguises the totally unrealistic lyric.

BRANDON RATCLIFF/Rules of Breaking Up
Writers: Brandon Ratcliff/Pete Good/A.J. Babcock/busbee; Producers: Shane McAnally/Pete Good; Monument
-His voice is spindly and thin. Which I guess really doesn’t matter, since there’s no melody in his composition to sing.

JUSTIN MOORE/The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home
Writers: Justin Moore/Jeremy Stover/Paul DiGiovanni/Chase McGill; Producers: Scott Borchetta/Jeremy Stover; Valory
– Veterans’ Day is Sunday, Nov. 11. Here’s a super stirring eulogy for the armed forces who won’t be with us.

ERIN ENDERLIN/These Boots
Writers: Erin Enderlin/Scott Stepakoff; Producer: Alex Kline; Publisher: none listed; 117 Entertainment
-She’s a for-real country singer and writer. A good one, too. This is why I love her. You should, too.

WILLIAM MICHAEL MORGAN/Brokenhearted
Writers: Rhett Akins/J.T. Harding/Marv Green; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros.
– This is a real cool honky tonker. Two-step across the dancefloor as he sings about the lack of heartache in today’s party-hearty country sound.

PISTOL ANNIES/Got My Name Changed Back
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley; Producer: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Eric Masse; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Monroe Suede/Songs of Kobalt/Mountain Girl, BMI/ASCAP; RCA (track)
– Get up off your fanny and dance around the room. The dizzy, lickety-split tempo of this — and its hot picking — are matched by its funny, feisty lyric. Check out its cute video on YouTube.

MITCHELL TENPENNY/Walk Like Him
Writers: Mitchell Tenpenny/Justin Ebach/Steven Dale Jones; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Riser
– This confirms his rising star. His hushed, soulful voice draws you in magnetically. The song about carrying on his departed father’s legacy is profoundly touching. Listen and believe.

STEPHANIE URBINA JONES/Jolene
Writers: Dolly Parton; Producer: Patterson Barrett; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; Soundly/Casa Del Rio (track)
– Genius. Marrying country songs to Latin rhythms and Mariachi horns is an idea that should have been hatched years ago. She makes this classic sound like a torrid Mexican telenovella. Elsewhere on her Tularosa CD you’ll find equally ear-opening new arrangements of “Walking After Midnight,” “Seven Spanish Angels,” “Cold Cold Heart,” “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “Tiger By the Tail” and more. Both “Jolene” and “Ring of Fire” have bonus, Spanish-language tracks.

WALKER McGUIRE/Growin’ Up
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Stoney Creek
– Richly rewarding. The layered harmonies, dense production and driving energy punch home the nostalgic, wistful lyric about the passage of time. Nicely done, boys.

Brothers Osborne, Lauren Jenkins

It’s Star Time here at DISClaimer.

Sorry, indies, but the major labels and established names rule the roost today. And with artists like Lauren Alaina, Tim McGraw and Morgan Wallen in the mix, that’s a good, good thing.

Big Machine newcomer Lauren Jenkins nails down the DisCovery Award.

But what is even more exciting is the latest in an unbroken string of audio triumphs for Brothers Osborne. Their new tune easily captures the Disc of the Day prize.

MORGAN WALLEN/Whiskey Glasses
Writers: Ben Burgess/Kevin Kadish; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: 2016 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Mr. Buck Lucky/Bump Into Genius Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Allegro/Over-Thought Under-Appreciated Songs (ASCAP); Big Loud
– A bodacious, boozy. boyish delight. His drawl is completely endearing. The track burbles along with verve. The tongue-in-cheek, heartache lyric is splendid. I have liked just about everything this fellow has dished out. Keep ‘em coming. I hope you become a big star.

RASCAL FLATTS/Back To Life
Writers: none listed; Producer: Rascal Flatts; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine
– A positive power ballad about how much he loves her. Tuneful. Well produced.

CALE DODDS/What We Gonna Do About It
Writers: Cale Dodds/Corey Crowder/Tyler Hubbard; Producer: Corey Crowder; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Infectiously rocking. The track is a little “busy” sounding, but the spirit of the thing is so full of bright optimism that it’s hard to resist.

TIM MCGRAW/Neon Church
Writers: Ben Goldsmith/Ben Stennis/Ross Ellis; Producers: Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw; Publishers: none listed; Columbia
-Echoey and atmospheric, this is an ode to the warm glow of a barroom where you can go to heal a broken heart. Tim’s vocal is processed in a cool kinda way, and the track swirls around it like a smoky halo. I’m in.

LAUREN JENKINS/Give Up The Ghost
Writers: Jenkins/Emily Shackelton; Producer: Julian Raymond/Lauren Jenkins/Scott Borchetta; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– It has a peppy rhythm track laid under a minor-key melody, which makes for ear-catching listening. Her slightly bruised vocal begs him to leave the memory of a previous lover behind and cling to her instead. A promising debut.

LAUREN ALAINA/Ladies In The ’90s
Writers: Alaina/Jesse Frasure/Amy Wadge; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury
– It’s a big ol’ bounce party with Lauren recalling growing up in the ‘90s, when there were so many more female role models on the radio. She name checks tunes by Shania, Faith, Britney, Deana, TLC, the Chicks, Reba, the Spice Girls and more as she romps through this audio delight. “I want to feel like ladies in the ‘90s,” she rejoices, remembering when “females were unstoppable.” There are millions of country listeners who feel this way, despite the pseudo-science of radio programming that disenfranchises them.

WALKER HAYES/’90s Country
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Monument
– More nostalgia for the ‘90s. The track is strictly cheesy, contemporary country hip-hop, and he doesn’t really sing (does he ever?). But what he’s name checking is reminiscence all the way — titles made famous by Kershaw, Chesney, Strait, Mary Chapin, Ricochet, Shania, John Michael, Shenandoah, David Lee, Deana, Lonestar and the like. Each line is a country flashback, even if it’s a pop single. Jaunty and engaging.

BROTHERS OSBORNE/I Don’t Remember Me (Before You)
Writers: John Osborne/TJ Osborne/Shane McAnally/Matt Dragstrem; EMI
– This change-of-pace ballad confirms the fact that this duo is one of the most creative record makers in country music today. TJ’s vocal here is a masterpiece of subtle shading. In the song’s lyric, he doesn’t recall what a wild man he used to be, because he’s found true love. Exquisite listening. Proud to be a huge, huge fan of these boys.

WATERLOO REVIVAL/Wonder Woman
Writers: George Birge/Cody Cooper/Marv Green/Ryan Tyndell; Producer: Jason Massey; Publisher: none listed; Show Dog
– Bland pop. Soft rock that went out of favor 30 years ago.

DOLLY PARTON/A Woman’s Right
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; WNYC
– This single is drawn from an album of songs celebrating the 27 amendments to the Constitution. The other participants are alt rockers, but there’s our Dolly chirping about women winning the right to vote (the 19th amendment, adopted in 1920, thanks to the state of Tennessee). Naturally, being Dolly, she adds wit and humor to her lyrics. Lively fun, and it will become ever more timely as we approach the 100th anniversary of the Suffrage Amendment.

Pictured (L-R): David Olney, Phil Madeira

Nashville’s roots-music veterans grab the spotlight in this week’s Americana review column.

Two of them are sharing the Disc of the Day award. One of them is the eternally esteemed David Olney. The other is Phil Madeira, who is taking a radical left turn into jazz with his excellent new project.

Even the DisCovery Award winners have a vet connect. Rolling River Royalty includes Robert Jetton, who has been a Nashville fixture for 40+ years.

Also lending class to this listening session were such old faves as James House and Doug Green (a.k.a Ranger Doug).

JAMES HOUSE & THE BLUES COWBOYS/Long Way Down
Writers: James House; Producer: James House; Publisher: none listed; Producer: James House; Victor (track)
– James has long been a shape shifter. He began as a pop act in the ‘80s, achieved moderate success as country artist in the ‘90s (”This Is Me Missing You”) and then became a highly successful writer for others (”A Broken Wing,” “Ain’t That Lonely Yet,” “In a Week or Two”). Now he’s a steamy blues rocker with a new billing and a new CD. His new voice is a hoarse, strangulated, urgent squall, and the tracks are hot stuff. Recommended.

ROLING RIVER ROYALTY/Pissed
Writers: Robert Jetton/Wen Tilley; Publisher: Rocking Ranchero/Wendell Tilley, BMI; Producer: none listed; Kingfish/New Bohemian
– I am a longtime fan of Nashville singer-songwriter Robert Jetton. His latest project is a collaboration with a neighbor named Wen Tilley. Their debut CD features tunes that “Robo” has written with Dennis Lord and Delbert McClinton, a pair of Haggard covers and two traditional tunes, as well as some of the songs he’s created with his new confederate. This one is tongue-in-cheek honky tonker that will have you tapping your toes and smiling like a loon. The sound is charmingly uncomplicated, clear and clean, featuring tasteful guitar work, lilting mandolin, steel, twang and sweet harmonies.

DON MCLEAN/Botanical Gardens
Writers: Don McLean; Publishers: Benny Bird/Universal; Producers: Mike Severs/Don McLean/Pat Severs; BMG
– The title tune of this veteran’s new CD is a rumbling, echo-y, bluesy rocker. But all the cool, moody production in the world can’t change the fact that he sings in a white-boy folk voice.

BEN DE LA COUR/Dixie Crystals
Writers: Ben de aa Cour; Publisher: Flour Sack Cape, BMI; Producers: Ben de la Cour and Joe Lekkas; Flour Sack Cape
– This Music City sing-songwriter kicks off his new CD, The High Cost of Living Strange, with a bopping, fiddle-soaked, dark little vignette of meth addiction. It’s pretty “noir,” but pretty dang cool.

PHIL MADEIRA/Rich Man’s Town
Writers: Phil Madeira; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Phil Madeira; Mercyland
– This man does so many things well. He’s been a stalwart of Emmylou Harris’s Red Dirt Boys band, an ace session musician, a respected contributor to the CCM genre, a hit Americana music creator and a songwriter for the likes of Alison Krauss, Amy Grant, Toby Keith and The Civil Wars. Now he’s a piano-based jazzman with a CD about the tribulations of his working-class New England homeland. This track is a dazzling accomplishment, just one of many on his Providence collection. Essential.

JOHNNY RIVERS/I Stand Accused
Writers: Jerry Butler/Billy Butler; Publishers: none listed; Producer: Johnny Rivers; Soul City
– This ‘60s pop star has crafted a new EP that collects some of his longtime favorite songs. They come from the likes of Glenn Frey, Jack Tempchin and Roy Orbison. His own ballad, “Land of Dreams,” serves as the title tune. The set kicks off with this languid, soulful take on Jerry Butler’s 1964 oldie.

MISSOURI MILE/Make Me Fall
Writers: Sheena Persons/Sheila Rochelle/Byron Hill; Publishers: Song Source/Triage/Rambler American/DHM, ASCAP/BMI; Producer: Byron Hill; BHP
– This sister duo has a flawless vocal-harmony blend and a strummy, acoustic-guitar sound. Think of a more folkie Judds. Their new CD, A Million Miles Away, begins with this gentle, airy, relaxing outing that will pleasantly lull your senses. In case you haven’t heard, their producer and songwriting collaborator, Byron Hill, is most deservedly being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this fall.

RANGER DOUG/The Blue Juniata
Writers: Marian Dix Sullivan; Publishers: public domain; Producer: Joey Miskulin; Rural Rhythm
– No, he hasn’t left Riders In the Sky. In fact, the other members of the group are very much a part of his “solo” Songs of the Frontier album. Four of the selections are traditional cowboy folk songs and all of the rest are so old they’ve slipped into the public domain, including this lovely 1844 tune that begins the proceedings. You’ll take a scenic audio ride into Americana western glories when you spin this disc.

MARK HUFF/Stars For Eyes
Writers: Mark Huff; Publishers: Zero Weather/BMG; SESAC; Producer: Chad Brown; Exodus Empire
– This fellow has been a singer-songwriter on the Nashville scene for about a decade. The title song of his newest CD boasts a sincere, soft, tenor lead vocal and a swirl of layered pop instrumentation. Engaging, if not exactly rootsy.

DAVID OLNEY/This Side Or The Other
Writers: David Olney/Annie McCue/John Hadley; Publishers: Reed Lily/Milkman’s Daughter/Hadley Six, ASCAP/APRA/BMI; Producers: Steve Dawson/DAvid Olney; Black Hen (track)
– This durable troubadour’s troubadour is back with another darkly expressive collection. As always, he is a mountain of vocal charisma as well as a stunning song poet. In addition to a clutch of originals, you’ll find a fascinating cover of The Zombies’ “She’s Not There” on the CD. The title tune waltz speaks of love until death to the accompaniment of sighing steel, chiming guitar and wistful harmonica. Check out the cast — Fats Kaplan, The McCrary Sisters, Charlie McCoy and the man’s own road warriors. This is a record to spend some quality time with, so get in line when it drops a week from Friday.