Fall is in the air, and so is a gust of new country sounds.

Vince Gill and Carly Pearce lead the way with ballads that share this week’s Disc of the Day award. Cali Tucker is our DISCovery Award winner.

But be sure and also check out this week’s offerings from Randy Houser, Ne-Yo, Priscilla Block and Emily Ann Roberts. They also have something to say that you’ll want to hear.

CARLY PEARCE / “Dream Come True”
Writers: Carly Pearce/Emily Weisband/Lauren Hungate/Tofer Brown; Producers: Ben West, Carly Pearce; Label: Big Machine Records
– She has it all, except for love. Pearce delivers the aching lyric with throaty, emotional force. This is country music royalty at work.

EMILY ANN ROBERTS / “Come Home To You”
Writers: Jim McCormick/Makayla Parry/Michael Wayne Wilkes; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Heartache on the hoof. Sad country music is always in fashion, and this is a pluperfect example of just how aching it can be. This woman is gem.

RANDY HOUSER / “Back In The Bottle”
Writer: Randy Houser; Producers: Blake Chancey, Randy Houser; Label: Magnolia Music Group
– This mighty voice stopped the show at this week’s BMI Awards. Houser’s ferocious vocal attack lights a fire under this propulsive drinking song as his new single. Play and become a believer—he’s one of country’s true treasures.

NE-YO / “Simple Things”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Motown
– If you are wondering what this Grammy-winning, Platinum-selling R&B star was doing at the CMA Awards, here’s your answer. Ne-Yo (Shaffer Chimere Smith) applies his lustrous, fluttery tenor voice to a super catchy romance tune with a terrific acoustic track. He totally crushes it. Country? You bet.

LUKE COMBS & BIGXTHAPLUG / “Pray Hard”
Writers: Bandplay/Dave Cohen/Jon Robert Hall/Krishon Gaines/Luke Combs/Mark Nilan Jr/Nick Monson/Tony Coles/Xavier Landum; Producers: Bandplay, Dave Cohen, Mark Nilan Jr, Nick Monson, Tony Coles; Label: UnitedMasters
– It’s about faith and perseverance. Like most country-rap collaborations, it’s quite repetitive.

PAUL KENNERLEY / “Born to Run”
Writer: Paul Kennerley; Producer: Paul Kennerley; Label: PK
– Songwriting legend Kennerley has released a 30-track compilation of his demos. This tune was a hit for Emmylou in 1982, and it’s fascinating to hear the acoustic, strummy, raw, rootsy version that she would have learned it from. On this album, you’ll listen to “Hillbilly Rock,” “Have Mercy,” “Cry Myself to Sleep,” “Heaven Only Knows,” “Give a Little Love” and other hit tunes with fresh ears. This whole project is a keeper.

NICKELBACK & SHENANDOAH / “Church on the Cumberland Road”
Writers: Bob Di Piero/Dennis Robbins/John Scott Sherrill; Producer: Noah Gordon; Label: 8 Track Entertainment
– This rocks. The two bands merge nicely, thanks largely to Nickelback’s genuine commitment to a country sound. As unlikely as it seems, this collab works splendidly.

TUCKER WETMORE / “Brunette”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/Chase McGill/Chris LaCorte/Josh Miller; Producer: Chris LaCorte; Label: MCA
– His “3,2,1” single continues to climb, and now he’s issuing a cowboy-themed video to promote this new bopper. He’s through with Southern blonde heartbreakers and is out to find a brunette from north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

THE KENTUCKY GENTLEMEN / “Castle in the Sky”
Writers: Brandon Campbell/Derek Campbell/Gigi Rich/Hallie Hertrick/Paul Wrock; Producer: Hallie Hertrick; Label: Neon Holler
– Shaky fiddling and snappy handclaps underscore this uptempo reflection on the afterlife. They’ve done better.

GAVIN ADCOCK / “Perfect Man”
Writers: Colton Venner/Gavin Adcock/Jack Hummel/Rhett Akins; Producer: none listed; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– Drowsy musing in search of a hook.

PRISCILLA BLOCK / “Things You Didn’t See”
Writers: Brandon Paddock/Martin Johnson/Priscilla Block; Producer: Dave Cohen, David Garcia; Label: MCA
– “Everybody’s got a hurting heart they’re hiding underneath.” I have come to expect nothing but emotional Truth from this talented artist, and she has never let me down. This tuneful, insightful, autobiographical single is one more reason to love her.

LACOSTA TUCKER / “Woman Behind the Wheel”
Writers: Cathy Majeski/Stephony E. Smith/Sunny Russ; Producer: Roger Ball; Label: LT
– Women make the world go ‘round, says LaCosta in this midtempo ditty. Twangy retro guitars back the stacked vocal harmonies. Tanya’s sister is best known for a string of charters back in the ‘70s, including “Get on My Love Train.”

CALI TUCKER / “Last Name”
Writers: Cali Tucker/Derek Robertson/G’harah “PK” Deg/Tricia Battani; Producer: G’harah “PK” Degeddingseze; Label: Mother Tucker Music
– LaCosta’s daughter and Tanya’s niece also has a new single. It’s a languidly paced pop-leaning tune of reclaiming her independence. Like her better-known family members, she’s a strong and assured vocalist.

VINCE GILL / “Secondhand Smoke”
Writers: Derrick Southerland/Vince Gill; Producer: Vince Gill; Label: MCA Nashville
– This legend is in the midst of a monthly series of autobiographical EPs that chronicle his journey from Oklahoma. The series is titled 50 Years From Home. The title tune of the second EP recalls his late father with enormous heart and deep love. There is no finer living country-music artist. Nor one more beloved.

Pop influences permeate this week’s country outings in DISClaimer.

The Jonas Brothers are here. So is Jimmy Webb. And the tunes by Charles Kelley, Slater Nalley and Graham Barham sound more related to pop artists than they do to anyone named Hank.

The hillbilly bright spots here include new music from Ashland Craft, Rissi Palmer, Luke Combs and Dylan Gossett, not to mention our Disc of the Day winner, Ella Langley.

The DISCovery Award goes to Sammy Arriaga. He sure can sing.

BRENDAN WALTER / “Pipe Dream”
Writers: Brendan Walter/Grady Smith; Producer: Grady Smith; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Jangly and plaintive, with a driving acoustic guitar and rumbling rhythm track underpinning his aching vocal. In the lyric, he has a yen to make it in music, no matter the cost.

LITTLE BIG TOWN & JIMMY WEBB / “Wichita Lineman”
Writer: Jimmy Webb; Producer: Little Big Town; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– LBT has delighted fans for years with its live covers of pop hits. It has collected several of these in an EP titled Scattered, Smothered and Covered. This echoey, lovely, harmony-drenched interpretation of the Glen Campbell classic features its composer setting the ethereal tone with his rippling piano accompaniment.

ASHLAND CRAFT / “Kick Rocks Cowboy”
Writers: Ashland Craft/Jonathan Singleton/Shane Minor; Producers: Ashland Craft, Jess Grommet, Lee Starr; Label: Leo33
– Love the snappy attitude in this kiss-off country rocker. Her personality and sass shine in every drawled note. I remain a big fan of this lady.

RUSSELL DICKERSON & THE JONAS BROTHERS / “Happen to Me”
Writers: Chase McGill/Christopher LaCorte/Jessie Jo Dillon/Robert Hazard/Russell Dickerson; Producers: Chris LaCorte, Josh Kerr, Russell Dickerson; Label: Triple Tigers
– Adding the pop superstars to his joyous, rocking hit country tune sounds like a good move, since this mix simply soars with positive energy.

SLATER NALLEY / “Foolish Pride”
Writer: Slater Nalley; Producer: none listed; Label: Warner Music Nashville/Warner Records
– This teen was a finalist on American Idol earlier this year. His gripping delivery of this anguished ballad was a big factor. Now it’s an electrifying country disc debut. The production is admirably spare, which throws the spotlight on his rasping, soulful voice.

THE WAR AND TREATY / “Whiskey River”
Writer: Johnny Bush; Producer: Michael Trotter Jr.; Label: W&T
– Michael and Tanya alternately swap lead vocal lines and bring their gospel-influenced style to Willie’s perennial show-opening song. The result is audio excitement.

GRAHAM BARHAM / “Buckshot”
Writers: Brent Anderson/Graham Barham/Ryan Hurd/Sam Bergeson; Producer: Sam Bergeson; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– This is country music? Electronic loops and processed, compressed vocals. A heartbreak drinking song in a busy-sounding pop production.

CHARLES KELLEY / “Steal Your Heart”
Writers: Charles Kelley/Josh Kear/Lindsay Rimes/Michael Whitworth; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: Southern Accent Entertainment
– Soaring and scintillating, this has an ‘80s pop-music vibe. Kelley reaches into his upper vocal register on the choruses, which gives the performance a very different tone than his work in Lady A.

RISSI PALMER / “Old Black Southern Woman”
Writers: Kyshona Armstrong/Rissi Palmer; Producer: Shannon Sanders; Label: RP
– Reflective and emotionally honest, Palmer imagines life as a senior citizen while a fiddle saws along and guitars strum in sympathy. Gently warm and comforting.

LUKE COMBS / “Days Like These”
Writers: Aaron Raitiere/Brent Cobb/Luke Combs; Producer: Chip Matthews/Jonathan Singleton/Luke Combs; Label: Columbia Nashville
– The ballad extols the simple joy of a pretty day lived with love. As usual, Luke’s singing is a beacon of emotional beauty. The enduring country truth triumphs again: Money can’t buy happiness.

SAMMY ARRIAGA / “Before the Next Teardrop Falls”
Writers: Ben Peters/Vivian Keith; Producer: Adam Mitchell; Label: Walk Off Entertainment
– Arriaga is a vocal soulman who issued a collection titled Heart In Texas that is billed as “the industry’s first fully bilingual country Latino album.” Seven tracks are in English, and six track are in Spanish. Plus, it contains this lovely, acoustic, Spanglish revival of Freddy Fender’s 1975 classic. The plucking guitar work and sweet fiddle notes plus Arriaga’s heart-in-throat vocal give this an audio eloquence that can’t be beat.

ELLA LANGLEY / “Choosin’ Texas”
Writers: Ella Langley/Joybeth Taylor/Luke Dick/Miranda Lambert; Producers: Ben West, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert; Label: SAWGOD/Columbia
– She loses her Tennessee lover to a temptress from the Lone Star State. Langley’s singing has never sounded better than it does on this delightful two stepper. Park this on your playlist right next to Strait.

DYLAN GOSSETT / “Windy City”
Writer: Dylan Gossett; Producer: Dylan Gossett; Label: DG
– Wistful and tender. He’s far from home, up north in Chicago. But he hopes his songs will resonate with unfamiliar audiences and carry him along. Written and performed with the panache of a true troubadour.

There’s an abundance of riches in this week’s DISClaimer round-up of country sounds.

So much so that we have to “share the wealth” by dividing up our honors. The Female Disc of the Day is Megan Moroney’s ballad, while the Male Disc of the Day goes to Kip Moore’s rocker and the Group prize belongs to Jason Scott & High Heat and their let-the-good-times-roll outing.

With a tuneful and warmly sung ditty, Conor Clemmons wins the DISCovery Award.

JENNA PAULETTE & JAKE WORTHINGTON / “Chasin’ Whiskey”
Writers: Joe Fox/Tony Lane; Producer: Will Bundy; Label: Leo33
– Fiddles and steel draw out the regrets in this classic-sounding barroom weeper. Two superb country singers are at work here, and the result is honky-tonk heaven.

TUCKER WETMORE / “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”
Writer: Dan Baird; Producer: Chris LaCorte; Label: Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records/MCA
– Wetmore revives a Georgia Satellites goldie, retaining the rock swagger of the 1986 original while infusing it with his countryboy vocal whine. Energetic and charming.

CONOR CLEMMONS / “Nothin’ Like Love”
Writers: Conor Clemmons/Griffen Palmer/Mitch Clark; Producer: Kevin Rooney; Label: CC
– The warmth in his voice is engaging, and the highly melodic, country-pop arrangement propels the whole audio package forcefully forward. Sunny and positive and refreshing. Clemmons stages his Nashville debut as a headliner this evening (Oct. 23) at The Back Corner in Germantown (1411 Fifth Ave. N.)

MEGAN MORONEY / “Beautiful Things”
Writers: Connie Harrington/Jessi Alexander/Jessie Jo DillonMegan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Columbia Records
– From a broken-hearted place come words of comfort and hope. She reassures the hurting one that, “You’re pretty and you’re smart….The world is hard on beautiful things.” A tender ballad with a healing balm.

THE RED CLAY STRAYS / “People Hatin’”
Writers: Andrew Bishop/Brandon Coleman/Dave Cobb/John Hall/Matthew Coleman/Zach Rishel; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Red Clay Strays/RCA Records
– A blues-rock slow jam with anguished vocals and attitude. Way out on the edge of what is “country.”

ZAC BROWN BAND / “The Sum”
Writers: Lukas Nelson/Zac Brown; Producer: Zac Brown; Label: Master of None
– Uplifting and wise. “You need the dark to see the stars.” The track builds from a stark, solo sound to a nearly shouted, anthem-like chorale of echoing voices. Classy stuff.

VALERIE JUNE / “Maybellene”
Writer: Chuck Berry; Producer: Lawrence Rothman; Label: One Riot Records
– Last weekend in St. Louis was “Chuck Berry’s Birthday Bash” to celebrate what would have been the rockabilly legend’s 99th birthday (Oct. 18). The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra collaborated with a number of vocalists over a two-night extravaganza. One of them was Memphian Valerie June, whose new single reimagines Berry’s 1955 breakthrough hit as a horn-punctuated bopper with tickling ivories and soulful backing vocals. Lively and fun.

KIP MOORE / “The Crown”
Writers: Andrew DeRoberts/Kip Moore/Luke Preston; Producers: Andrew DeRoberts, Kip Moore; Label: KM
– In a career that’s been built on barn-burning performances, this one truly scorches. Moore’s gripping rasp advises us to live life to the fullest, but be wary of crashes. His most fiery and fearsome single to date. This deserves massive exposure. Turn it up.

CLAY STREET UNIT & LINDSAY LOU / “Choctaw County”
Writers: Sam Walker/Scottie Bolin; Producer: Chris Pandolfi; Label: Leo33
– Pining for lost love and reminiscing with sadness while steel, mandolin and guitars chime along in sympathy. A promising debut.

CHASE RICE / “ELDORA”
Writers: Chase Rice/Oscar Charles/Wyatt McCubbin; Producer: Oscar Charles; Label: Dack Janiels Records
– Echoey, wafting and lovely, the atmospheric title tune of Rice’s new collection is a reflection on the peace of the Colorado Rockies. The record marks his reinvention as an indie-label troubadour and is a completely ear-opening experience. Well done.

KASHUS CULPEPPER / “Mean to Me”
Writers: Diego Urias/Kashus Culpepper/Matt Warren/Oscar Charles; Producer: Brian Elmquist; Label: Big Loud Records
– She’s really mean and hateful, but the track is so doggone catchy and tuneful that you can’t keep still. Beautifully produced, this soars while it aches. I didn’t want it to end.

TY MYERS & MARCUS KING / “Two Trains”
Writers: Lowell George; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: RECORDS Nashville/Columbia
– Myers takes on a vintage Little Feat tune with an ably rocking assist from King. The two guitarists trade licks and fluidly as they trade lines. Myers’ star continues to rise—he sold out The Pinnacle for his Nashville concert last Friday night (Oct. 17).

JASON SCOTT & HIGH HEAT / “Too Good, Too Bad”
Writers: Jason Scott/Taylor Johnson; Producers: Jason Scott, Taylor Johnson; Label: Leo33
– Rollicking and rootsy. As we bop along, we’re doing all kinda stuff that really isn’t good for us. But ain’t it fun? A good-time, feel-good single.

Nostalgia and new country are on the menu today in DISClaimer.

With new/old sounds by David Frizzell & Shelly West, Dan Seals and Waylon Jennings, plus oldie revivals like “I Love You a Thousand Ways,” “The Chair” and “Three Time Loser,” country music certainly maintains its longtime reputation for nostalgia. But the youngsters are doing their part to keep things lively—I’m especially digging Gabby Barrett, Zach John King, Kane Brown, Lee Brice and Karley Scott Collins today.

Braxton Keith takes home his first Disc of the Day award for his stunning revival of “The Chair,” which manages to be both utterly fresh and deeply nostalgic.

Our DISCovery Award winner is honky-tonkin’ Trey Pendley.

ZACH JOHN KING / “Still Feel the Burn”
Writers: Matt Dragstrem/Ryan Hurd/Zach John King; Producers: Ryan Wilson, Zach John King; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– A mysterioso guitar riff jangles into a plaintive, mid-tempo heartache lament. A swirling production, soft-yet-punchy percussion and piercing vocal add up to an utterly captivating sound. This guy has something here.

ANNIE BOSKO & DARIUS RUCKER / “Old Friends”
Writers: Annie Bosko/David “Messy” Mescon/Rob Hatch; Producer: David “Messy” Mescon; Label: Stone Country Records
– Rucker kicks it off and sings lead on the choruses of this choppy rocker. Bosko’s sprightly soprano keeps up the pace. The lyric is an ode to enduring relationships. Her album containing this is California Cowgirl, dropped last Friday.

GABBY BARRETT / “Ain’t Supposed to Be”
Writers: Chase McGill/Gabby Barrett/Jon Nite/Ross Copperman; Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Sometimes love arrives in the most unexpected places. They found each other, and that’s all that matters. Barrett delivers this ballad with loads of power and intensity. Lovely listening.

DAN SEALS & JAMEY JOHNSON / “Three Time Loser”
Writer: Dan Seals; Producer: none listed; Label: Melody Place
– Johnson evidently agrees with me that Dan Seals was one of the all-time greats. He swaps lines with the late singer-songwriter on one of his most delightful tracks. Scampering guitars and stuttering steel underscore a delightfully frisky country-rock sizzler. Loved every second of it.

BRENDAN WALTER / “Disappearing Days”
Writers: Brendan Walter Coughlin, Jr./Gary Stanton/Grady Smith; Producer: Grady Smith; Label: Records V2
– It is rather over-produced. The loud, grinding guitars overwhelm his country boy vocal on every chorus. By the time you get to mid song, he sounds like he’s drowning in sound.

LEE BRICE / “Killed the Man”
Writers: Jared Conrad/Michael Whitworth/Troy Cartwright; Producers: Ben Glover, Jerrod Niemann, Lee Brice; Label: Curb Records 
– Terrifically compelling. This grabs hold of your attention and grips it tightly. As usual, he’s singing his face off. The lyric is dynamite, too, as he explains his rebirth as a person. Essential.

BRAXTON KEITH / “The Chair”
Writers: Dean Dillon/Hank Cochran; Producers: Alex Torrez, David Dorn; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Keith takes this fabulous George Strait oldie out for a welcome revival. The song is a country-music masterpiece. It takes guts to go up against Strait’s iconic performance, but this man is up to the task, and then some. Hear for yourself why it has streamed two million times in a single week. A tip of the cowboy hat to a sublime performance of an undeniable classic.

KANE BROWN / “Unspoken”
Writers: Beau Bailey/Gabe Foust/Jacob Hackworth/Kane Brown; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Live your life without regrets by speaking the truth at all times. Lyrics with meaning, delivered with heartfelt sincerity. Beautifully done. Somebody say, “Amen.”

TREY PENDLEY / “Drunk As Any Rich Man”
Writers: Jacob Bryant/John Davidson/Trey Pendley; Producers: Jacob Bryant, John Davidson; Label: Leo33
– This drawling honky-tonker is a retro blast. You say you miss real country music? Well, belly up to this bar, buddy.

WAYLON JENNINGS / “Songbird”
Writer: Christine McVie; Producers: Richie Albright, Waylon Jennings; Label: Son of Jessi
– This is the title tune of an album of previously unreleased material by this Country Music Hall of Famer. It’s the first of three such collections compiled and produced by son Shooter Jennings. The new instrumentation gives polish to Waylon’s somewhat raw scratch vocal. The song (by Fleetwood Mac’s gifted Christine McVie) is a gentle meditation on the comfort of true love. The album dropped last week.

KIMBERLY KELLY / “Modern Day Woman”
Writers: Blue Foley/Chancie Neal/Kimberly Kelly; Producer: Brett Tyler; Label: KK
– This former Next Women of Country participant and Show Dog Records artist returns with a thumping, strutting, strong-female anthem. She sounds country-and-proud throughout the performance.

DAVID FRIZZELL & SHELLY WEST / “I Love You a Thousand Ways”
Writers: Jim Beck/Lefty Frizzell; Producer: none listed; Label: StarVista
– The CMA Vocal Duo of the Year in 1981 & 1982 reunites for the first time in 40 years to revive this 1950 Lefty Frizzell classic. Of course they sounded better back in the day—didn’t we all? But even with a touch more vibrato and a little less lung power, they still sound dandy on this well-produced outing. It’s a track from a Lefty tribute album that also features Freddie Hart, Gene Watson, Merle Haggard, Bill Anderson and more.

KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS / “Denim”
Writers: Alex Kline/Karley Scott Collins/Sara Bares/Stephan Lee Benson; Producers: Karley Scott Collins, Nathan Chapman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Her drawled, smoky alto vocal is ultra cool, especially with the quasi-yodeled falsetto breaks. Like so much of what this lady does, this is utterly haunting.

The ladies rocked this edition of DISClaimer.

With stellar work turned in by Priscilla Block, Tori Martin, The Castellows, Harper Grace and the scintillating Sister Sadie, how can you deny them? The Disc of the Day award goes to the female duet of Colbie Caillat and Maren Morris.

Mind you, male stars were not absent from the listening session—Jelly Roll & Bon Jovi, Luke Bryan, Rodney Atkins and Hunter Hayes saw to that. One of them, Shaboozey, introduces this week’s DISCovery Award winner, Kevin Powers.

TORI MARTIN / “Cowgirls Ride”
Writers: Bill DiLuigi/Kirsti Manna/Tori Martin; Producer: Bill Warner; Label: LuckySky Music
– Soaring and anthem-like, Martin wails above a femme harmony chorus, sometimes rapping, sometimes in a throaty alto. The twang production sits just right. The oft-repeated title words are pretty much the whole song. The video features cowgirls herding, barrel racing, doing equestrian show moves and saddling their steeds in the wide open spaces.

RODNEY ATKINS / “Helluvit”
Writers: Daniel Ethridge/Rodney Atkins/Rose Falcon/Seth Mosley; Producers: Jordan Schmidt, Rodney Atkins; Label: Curb Records
– Kinda funky, kinda groovy, kinda fun. Atkins romps through this ode to domestic bliss with a smile and a wink. The lighthearted ditty is immensely likeable. Listen with a smile and bop along.

THE MARCUS KING BAND & NOAH CYRUS / “The Shadows”
Writers: Madi Yanofsky/Marcus King/Nick Monson; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: American Records/Republic Records
– Nashville’s young guitar wonder King strolls into a retro soul/funk groove in this wafting, easy-going pop production. Cyrus slides up next him with her own brand of soulful singing. The whole thing is dreamy sounding. The track is drawn from his new album, Darling Blue, which drops tomorrow (Sept. 26). On it, you’ll also find King collaborating with Jamey Johnson, new sensation Jesse Welles, Noah Cyrus and newly crowned Bluegrass Entertainer of the Year, Billy Strings.

BON JOVI & JELLY ROLL / “Living Proof”
Writers: John M. Shanks/Jon Bon Jovi; Producers: John Shanks, Jon Bon Jovi; Label: Bon Jovi Profit Split
– This lively, grinding rocker kicks up plenty of dust. Both men are singing their butts off, with Jelly Roll being the surprising winner of the vocal duel. Audio energy rules here.

THE CASTELLOWS / “Heartland”
Writers: Ellie Balkcom/Jack Rauton/Lily Balkcom/Powell Balkcom; Producer: Rick Nowels; Label: Warner Music Nashville/Warner Records
– Airy, melodic and lilting, with just enough kick in the backbeats. As usual, the trio’s harmonies are flawless

SHABOOZEY & KEVIN POWERS / “Move On”
Writers: Alex Cabrera/Collins Obinna Chibueze/David Ray Stevens/Jake Torrey/Kevin Powers/Serg Sanchez/Whit Kane; Producer: Sean Cook; Label: American Dogwood/EMPIRE
– Shaboozey introduces his new American Dogwood label imprint with this catchy collaboration. It’s a rolling country rocker. Powers kicks it off, but the star’s jaunty vocal is just as endearing as they ask an ex how she was able to move on so effortlessly. Playlist ready, and then some. Shaboozey brings his “Great American Roadshow Tour” to the Pinnacle on Monday (Sept. 29).

SISTER SADIE / “All Will Be Well”
Writers: Daniel Dodd Wilson/Gabriel Barry Dixon; Producer: Deanie Richardson; Label: Mountain Home Music Company
– The all-female group’s title tune of its new album is a breezy, uptempo scamper through summer fields. Their ace picking is as sublime as their creamy vocal blend. The band and its members cleaned up at this month’s IBMA Awards, winning the bluegrass world’s Song, Instrumentalist, Collaborative Recording, Gospel Recording and Instrumental Recording of the Year prizes. The gals will be at the Franklin Theatre with The Travelin’ McCourys next Thursday, Oct. 2.

LUKE BRYAN / “Kansas”
Writers: Chase McGill/Hillary Lindsey/Matt Dragstrem; Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Nicely done. Bryan sings this power ballad with just piano accompaniment. It’s a plea for love delivered with country-boy sincerity.

PRISCILLA BLOCK / “Phones and Radios”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/David Garcia/Priscilla Block/Trannie Anderson; Producers: Dave Cohen, David Garcia; Label: MCA
– Block previews her Things You Didn’t See collection (due Oct. 10) with this heartache number. He breaks up with her — suddenly and unexpectedly — on a late-night drive in the country. She’s devastated, but remains clear eyed and relates the tale with plain-spoken honesty. Which is what we’ve come to expect from this talented tunesmith.

COLBIE CAILLAT & MAREN MORRIS / “Fallin’ For You”
Writers: Colbie Caillat/Rick Nowels; Producers: Eric Arjes, Jimmy Robbins; Label: Blue Jean Baby Records
– A rolling, rumbling, country-rock delight. The two women’s voices blend so seamlessly that it sounds like they’ve been singing together all their lives. It’s drawn from Caillat’s This Time Around, an all-duets collection that drops tomorrow (Sept. 26). The wildly catchy, rhythm-happy tune was a double-Platinum pop hit for her in 2009.

HARPER GRACE / “Take It to the Grave”
Writers: Harper Grace/Jimmy Thow/Michael De Lorenzis/Michael Paynter; Producer: Cooper Bascom/Michael De Lorenzis/Michael Paynter/Tedd T; Label: Curb Records
– Feisty, sassy and tart, this snappy little “attitude” tune warns the boys that she’s a heartbreaker. This lady never disappoints.

HUNTER HAYES / “Every Piece”
Writers: Hunter Hayes/John Mark Nelson/Sam Ellis; Producers: Alex Flagstad, Hunter Hayes; Label: LP Entertainment
– Hayes is hushed and intimate in this languid, soul-infused love song. His guitar work sparkles in between phrases. It ain’t all that “country,” but it sure is cool.