DISClaimer: Michael Ray, Morgan Evans Top New Releases

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The guys have it.

All of our contenders for this week’s Disc of the Day come from solo male country performers. They are Joe Nichols, Brett Eldredge, Thomas Rhett and our underdog winner, Michael Ray.

And, surprise, another solo male wins the DisCovery Award. That would be Morgan Evans.

SARA EVANS/Marquee Sign
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Born To Fly
-It has a cool, minor-key vibe that is quite fetching. Her bluesy vocal is complimented by jangly electric guitar effects and an echoey atmosphere. The lyric laments a heartbreaker who gave her no warning.

MICHAEL RAY/Get To You
Writers: none listed, Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros.
– He sings the fire out of this power ballad, from the sensual, husky low notes of the verses to the falsetto leaps in the choruses. Everything works here — the melody, the production, the sexy mood. This is one terrific record. It sounds like this handsome devil is about to become a Big Star.

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THOMAS RHETT/Unforgettable
Writers: Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Valory
– It’s a jaunty, thumpy, pop-rocker with hooks a-plenty. Another smash for the boy.

MORGAN EVANS/Kiss Somebody
Writers: Morgan Evans/Chris DeStefano/Josh Osborne; Producer: Chris DeStefano; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros.
– The crash-and-burn production stirs up lots of excitement. His vocal powers through, on top of all the noise, with occasional outbursts that come close to shouting. Energetic and intense.

WATERLOO REVIVAL/What Guy Wouldn’t
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Show Dog
-Strongly sung, but the song is pretty shallow.

THE CADILLAC THREE/Dang If We Didn’t
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– A party-hearty stomper with a drawled vocal, hand claps and piercing electric guitar. These guys should be much bigger stars than they are. Play ‘em.

LITTLE FEATHER/Hillbilly Love Song
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– Love the group harmonies and the ‘grassy, uptempo track. Lead singer Liz Sharpe’s voice has a built-in sunny quality, and the picking surrounding her is razor sharp.

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JOE NICHOLS/Never Gets Old
Writers: Steve Moakler/Connie Harrington; Producer: Brent Rowan; Publishers: Creative Pulse/These Are Pulse/Highway 76/EMI Blackwood/Great Day at This/Watch This Girl, BMI; Red Bow (track)
– This guy endures as one of the greatest singers in contemporary country music. Listening to this romantic outing, you can get completely lost in his warm baritone. A superb performance. Again.

PARMALEE/Sunday Morning
Writers: Matt Thomas/Ross Copperman/Josh Osborne; Producers: Parmalee, David Fanning & Ben Stennis; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Songs By JMT/EMI Blackwood/Sony-ATV/Rezolant/Anderson Fork in the Road/Kobalt/Smack, BMI/ASCAP; Stoney Creek
– Sparkling and bright. Packed with shiny audio touches, plus a resonant production echo. Ultra modern and super listenable. I remain a fan of this gang.

BRETT ELDREDGE/Castaway
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Atlantic (track)
– This is a very nicely shaded vocal performance, that ranges from soaring yearning to cracked heartache and burning loss. I’m in. His upcoming collection sounds an awful lot like an Album of the Year contender.

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DISClaimer: Alex Williams, Shania Twain Offer Autobiographical New Tracks

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Sometimes when you explore the landscape of indie releases, you find gems — and then there are explorations like today.

Finding gems amid this wasteland was easy. They stood out quite clearly.

The DisCovery Award goes to BMLG artist Alex Williams. I dig his “outlaw” vibe. Mitchell Tenpenny would have been right there with Alex, but I reviewed an earlier effort by him back in 2015.

With no competition in sight, Mercury Nashville’s Shania Twain earns a Disc of the Day award.

ANDY HUGHES/Heartland and Heartache
Writers: Andy Hughes/Becky Hughes; Producer: Joe Gantzer; Publisher: none listed; Move Along (track)
– He has a gentle, folk-ish delivery. His next step should be to find a producer. This sounds like a cheap demo.

MITCHELL TENPENNY/Truck I Drove In High School
Writers: Mitchell Tenpenny/Jordan Schmidt/Andy Albert/Devin Dawson; Producers: Jordan Schmidt/Mitchell Tenpenny; Publishers: Sony-ATV Countryside/WB/Freshy/We-Volve/Downtown DLJ/Neon Cross/Warner-Tamerlane, BMI/ASCAP; Riser House (track)
-He’s the grandson of music-biz legend Donna Hilley, and his EP is titled Linden Ave, which is the Nashville street where she lived. The single has a crunchy, “dirty,” bottom-heavy percussion track, some cool electronic effects and a super catchy tune. Turn it up and groove along.

SHANIA TWAIN/Life’s About To Get Good
Writers: Shania Twain; Producer: Matthew Kom/Ron Aniello; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (CDX)
– Bouncy, hooky and more than a little autobiographical. Eminently playable.

YouTube video

 

MARY SARAH/Without You
Writers: Mary Sarah Gross/Bart Butler/David Garcia; Producer: David Garcia; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; 144e (CDX)
– I dig the spare, bluesy track. Her pert, conversational soprano has a piercing quality with just the right touch of attitude. Refreshingly different.

NITTY GRITTY GR/3 Up and 1 Down
Writers: Greg “Nitty Gritty” Roberts; Producer: Dulaa; Publisher: none listed; Reality (CDX)
– A complete audio garbage heap.

CRAIG COLLINS/Stand By My Country
Writers: C. Collins/J. Bates/B. Matthews; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CC (track)
– Chest-thumping rock with a redneck accent and a barely-there melody.

SHANE OWENS/19
Writers: Jeffrey Steele/Gary Nicholson/Tom Hambridge; Producer: Kevin Wayne Waldrop; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Amerimonte
– The album version, reviewed a couple of weeks back, is a guitar-vocal performance. The single has a full-band backing track, which makes it more commercial sounding and gives it a lot more emotional resonance. Play this version.

CODY JINKS/No Words
Writer: Cody Jinks; Producer: Joshua Thompson; Publishers: none listed; Cody Jinks (CDX)
– Sluggish. The tempo drags along listlessly, and his dull vocal doesn’t help matters much.

ALEX WILLIAMS/Old Tattoo
Writer: Alex Williams; Producer: Julian Raymond; Publishers: Big Machine/Freak Flag, BMI; Big Machine (track)
– His lived-in baritone is very, very charismatic. The song meanders a bit, but the dobro-and-harmonica atmosphere keeps you hanging on his compelling delivery. Extremely promising.

NIGHT OWL COUNTRY BAND/Cool Gentle Wind
Writer: Matt Lee; Producer: Gene Higgins; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Stanley Music
– They have a sound akin to vintage Alabama. The song is rather generic. Pass.

Review: The SongBird Tour

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By Robert K. Oermann

There’s a new moneymaking option in town for Nashville’s sizable songwriting population.

With songwriters’ royalty income plummeting, live performances have become increasingly attractive to this community. But the number of local venues willing to book songwriting talent is small. And few songwriters have either the name recognition or the inclination to go on the road beyond Middle Tennessee.

Enter SongBird Tours, a novel tourism idea that features Music City tunesmiths entertaining visitors as they ride around town. Each two-hour tour spotlights notable sites in Nashville’s songwriting history, an explanation of how songwriting and publishing works, a Q&A session and a song-swapping session featuring the city’s most talented composers and lyricists.

I decided this was worth investigating. So we boarded a vehicle about the size of a large airport shuttle bus on Hayes Street last week. The rear was outfitted with a small stage, two bolted-down stools and a large video screen.

One stool is occupied by a “name” writer. On the day I took the tour, this was prolific hit craftsman Trey Bruce. The other is occupied by a talented, lesser-known songwriter, in my case, Greg Allen.

Because of the configuration, ticket buyers ride backwards. Nobody seemed to mind.

As we headed up Music Square West, our guide pointed out spots where hits by stars such as Taylor Swift, Roy Orbison, Kris Kristofferson, Tammy Wynette and others were written. Each building or house was shown on the video screen (as well as out your window), followed by a brief video clip of the song in performance.

After we left Music Row, we headed out Franklin Pike, past the homes of Earl Scruggs, Jack White, Martina McBride and others. At this point, the tour became a song showcase. Trey sang hits like “Whisper My Name” (Randy Travis), “You Can’t Lose Me” (Faith Hill), “Amen Kind of Love” (Daryle Singletary), “How Your Love Makes Me Feel” (Diamond Rio), “Someone Else’s Dream” (Faith Hill) and other hits he’s written, accompanied by clever stories.

Songwriters Trey Bruce and Tommy Conners

Interestingly, the tourists on board responded equally strongly to Greg’s unknown tunes, including “Pictures,” “I Just Hold the Pen,” “Moonshine,” “The Good Lord Gives, the Bottle Takes Away” and “This Heartache’s on You.” All of them sounded like hits to both me and them. He was also a strong performer. I am told that other tours have showcased up-and-coming Belmont writers and new publishing-company signees as foils for the established hit writers.

Back on Music Square East, the sites included locations associated with the songs of Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton and others (again complete with video illustrations). Throughout the tour, the historical stories related were factual. So were the explanations of how the business works. Believe me, this is not always the case on Nashville tour buses.

We had a delightful pit stop at the Music Row songwriter watering hole Bobby’s Idle Hour. The tourists used the restrooms, grabbed a quick brew and chatted with each other, our hosts and the bar patrons. “Bobby” is dead, by the way. “Lizard” now runs the legendary Idle Hour spot.

Back on board as we headed toward downtown, the songwriters resumed song swapping and talking about their lives. The guide talked about who had served time on Lower Broadway (Dierks Bentley, Terri Clark, Willie Nelson, etc.) and told us about Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.
Next came more songs and witty chit-chat. When they started the Q&A, the fans asked surprisingly informed questions about the songwriting process and/or the publishing business.

When we arrived back at Hayes Street, the songwriters posed for selfies and answered more questions. The host sold merch.

SongBird Tours is the brainchild of veteran Music Row personality Patsy Bruce (who was once married to Trey’s father, Ed Bruce). She says she got tired of misinformation about the songwriting and publishing communities and came out of retirement to correct it.

The bus holds 30 people at a time. Tickets are $45 per person. That means the participating songwriters certainly earn more than the 50 bucks they can usually count on for a night’s work in most Nashville venues.

There are three tours a day, seven days a week. It’s a B.Y.O.B. thing, if the fans wish to imbibe.

The tour’s slogan is “The most intimate listening room in Nashville is on wheels.” That means that you’re supposed to stop using your device and/or talking while the songwriters perform. They tell this to the riders at the outset, and everybody respected it on the tour that I attended.
Frankly, I enjoyed my afternoon on the bus. So did the mostly Canadian fans who were on board with me. I think you would, too.

DisClaimer: Dailey & Vincent, Claire Lynch Shine On New Grass Tracks

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Dailey & Vincent

It’s time for a smooch from country’s “kissin’ cousin,” bluegrass music.

This is a genre that’s hard to find on radio, but which thrives at 500+ bluegrass festivals a year. And, as we see today, on records, too.

I have no newcomers in this stack of platters, so there’s no DisCovery Award this week.

However, I do have two winners of the Disc of the Day prize. Much awarded bluegrass superstars Dailey & Vincent claim one of them.

The other goes to the enduringly great Claire Lynch. She’s no slouch in the awards department, either, having been the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1997, 2010 and 2013. Her Grammy nominations have been for her Moonlighter CD of 1995, as well as for her current North By South, which competed for Best Bluegrass Album last February.

 

BALSAM RANGE/Blue Collar Dreams
Writers: Adam Bibelhauser; Producer: Balsam Range; Publisher: none listed, BMI
– Perched at No. 1 on this month’s Bluegrass Unlimited chart is this uptempo working-class lament of being trapped in a daily grind, deep in debt and struggling to survive. The lickety-split picking is super hot and the flawless vocal harmony this group is noted for is firmly in place. You’ll find it on the group’s fifth CD, Mountain Voodoo.

BLUE HIGHWAY/Don’t Weep for Me
Writers: Shawn Lane/Buddy Brock/Gerald Ellenberg; Producer: Blue Highway; Publisher: Cat Town/Wadako/Buddy Brock/Pop Batson, BMI
– Snapping at Balsam Range’s heels on the chart is the red-hot bluegrass supergroup Blue Highway at No. 2. Its hit track is a minor-key murder saga. He finds her in another’s arms, sees red and is now facing a death sentence. The twist is that the man he found in her arms turned out to be her long-lost brother, so his jealous rage was utterly unfounded. Dig those mournful, regret-filled vocals. These veterans have never sounded better than they do on Original Traditional, their 11th studio album.

EDDY RAVEN & CAROLINA ROAD/All Grassed Up
Writers: Eddy Raven/David Stewart; Producer: Josh Goforth, Lorraine Jordan & Eddy Raven; Publisher: Sony-ATV/Dingo Daze/In the Wings, BMI
– The title tune of country veteran Raven’s collaboration with bluegrass stars Carolina Road ripples along as a smoothly rolling “road” tune. Along the way, he disses mainstream Music Row for forgetting country’s traditions.

DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE/Someday Soon
Writers: Ian Tyson; Producer: Darin & Brooke Aldridge; Publisher: Warner Bros., ASCAP
– This evergreen Ian & Sylvia folk classic has been revived by everyone from Judy Collins and The Kingston Trio to Suzy Bogguss, Lynn Anderson, Glen Campbell, Crystal Gayle and Moe Bandy. Brooke’s heart-in-throat version simply sparkles. It rises to No. 7 on this month’s Bluegrass Unlimited chart and can be found on the Aldridges’ Faster & Farther collection.

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THE GIBSON BROTHERS/Highway
Writers: Eric Gibson; Producer: Eric Gibson, Leigh Gibson & Mike Barber; Publisher: Brown Bird, BMI
– The fastest rising song in the top-10 on this month’s chart is “Highway,” which leaps eight spots to No. 8. I admit that I’m a sucker for brother harmonies, and few acts today are as good at that as these guys. Especially on a jaunty traveling song that is so downright jolly sounding. The album is called In the Ground. It’s a keeper.

LARRY STEPHENSON BAND/Yesterday’s Gone
Writers: Chad Stuart/Wendy Kidd; Producer: Ben Surratt & Larry Stephenson; Publisher: EMI Unart, BMI
– Rounding out the top 10 in the 10th spot is this remake of the Chad & Jeremy “British Invasion” pop hit of 1964. It works surprisingly well as a bluegrass tune, easily as well as Manfred Mann’s “Fox on the Run” did. The hillbilly quartet harmonies here are spectacular. A must listen.

NU-BLU, JIMMY FORTUNE & BEN ISAACS/Still Small Voice
Writers: Tony Lopacinski/Devin Belle/Jimmy Fortune; Producer: Nu-Blu; Publisher: Big Mouth/Little Igloo/Jimmy Fortune, BMI
– This North Carolina group is anchored by the warm soprano lead singing of Carolyn Routh. On this upbeat lyric about finding inner strength, she is joined by former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune and the Isaacs’ exemplary harmony man Ben. The result is a track that is as good as progressive bluegrass can be. In its third month on the chart, this track from the Vagabonds CD lands at No. 19. The collection also includes imaginative rearrangements of Waylon & Willie’s “Good Hearted Woman,” Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” the late Norro Wilson’s Charly McClain oldie “Surround Me with Love” and the Sawyer Brown tune “Gypsies on Parade.”

CLAIRE LYNCH/Black Flowers
Writers: Lynn Miles; Producer: Alison Brown; Publisher: Cold Girl, SOCAN
– The sublime bluegrass diva Claire Lynch went northward on a song quest, fell in love with a community of songwriters and now has an entire CD containing almost all Canadian tunes. Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn and Ron Sexsmith are here, but so are a lot of other gifted tunesmiths you might not know. Her current single/video is a haunting, hushed, bluesy lament of death and mourning penned by Ottawa’s Lynn Miles. Instrumental support on her North By South album comes via such stellar names as Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Kenny Malone, Alison Brown, David Grier and Stuart Duncan. You’d be a fool to overlook this perfect audio jewel.

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DAILEY & VINCENT/Gimme All the Love You Got
Writers: Jaimie S. Dailey/Karen Staley/Darrin Vincent; Producer: Dailey & Vincent; Publisher: Bluegrass Ambassador/Hobo Lizard/Julieann, BMI
– Stand back or face the force of nature that is this astounding ensemble. Their new Patriots & Poets CD kicks off with this fiery jolt of energy. It blasted onto this month’s Bluegrass Unlimited hit parade at No. 20 as the genre’s highest charting new tune, doubtless en route to No. 1. If you’ve never seen these great showmen, head to The Ryman Auditorium tonight (July 13). I promise you will be royally entertained. Take it from me, there’s a reason they’ve earned three Grammy nominations, won four Dove Awards, claimed an astounding 35 IBMA honors (including three as Entertainers of the Year) and landed their own TV show on RFD.

CHRIS JONES & THE NIGHT DRIVERS/I’m a Wanderer
Writers: Thom Jutz/Charley Stefl/Jon Weissberger; Producer: Chris Jones & Tim Surrett; Publisher: Thom Songs/Maddy Dog/Use Your Words, SESAC/BMI
– Mellow. It’s an easy-going ode about marching to the beat of your own drummer. The melody is a lilting, gentle thing, perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. It’s at No. 23 this month and comes from the band’s Made to Move CD.

DISClaimer: Superb Vocalists Chris Stapleton, Rhonda Vincent, Daryle Singletary Offer New Tracks

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Chris Stapleton

Good things come in pairs.

That is why we have two Disc of the Day winners and two DisCovery Award winners today. It’s a no-brainer that the new single by Chris Stapleton is a Disc of the Day. But lend an ear to the duet by veterans Rhonda Vincent & Daryle Singletary. It, too, deserves a Disc of the Day prize.

In the newcomers column we have the female trio The Calamity Janes as well as singer-songwriter Matt Rogers. Both earn DisCovery Award honors.

THE CALAMITY JANES/Pullin’ Weeds
Writers: C. Mock/A. Childs-Benson; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed, BMI; CJ
-Cool, minor-key melody. Moody, rumbling rhythm track. Silvery electric-guitar accents. Smooth female trio harmonies. What’s not to love? Send more.

CHRIS STAPLETON/Broken Halos
Writers: Chris Stapleton/Mike Henderson; Producer: Dave Cobb/Chris Stapleton; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (track)
– In a word, thrilling. His hair-raising, soul-drenched vocal delivery is powerful enough to raise the dead. The bluesy, fall-from-grace lyric is dynamite. Can I get a witness?

JOSH MARTIN/Just My Luck
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Sony/ATV
-The publishing company is taking the unusual step of marketing a single by this young writer-artist. He is quite ear catching, with his rapid-fire delivery in the verses contrasting with the slowed-down, echoey choruses. Blazing electric-guitar work supports him. Recommended.

SHANE OWENS/19
Writers: Jeffrey Steele/Gary Nicholson/Tom Hambridge; Producers: none listed; Publishers: Gottahaveable/Songs of Windswept Pacific/Gary Nicholson/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Tom Hambridge, BMI/ASCAP; Amerimonte
-This hard-country stylist just doesn’t know how to turn in a sub-par performance. In this slice-of-American-life track, he sings of a football star who becomes a posthumously decorated war hero. The accompaniment is a simply strummed acoustic guitar.

THE PAT WATTERS BAND/Loaded On A Saturday Night
Writers: Pat Watters; Producer: Evan Middlesworth; Publishers: none listed, BMI; PWB (track)
– This country rocker sounds like a live performance, which gives is a great deal of presence and edge. Special kudos to the splendid steel-guitar work by group member Rick Kreuziger.

DEBBIE COCHRAN & DOLLY PARTON/Born Again Wildflower
Writers: Debbie Cochran; Producer: Kent Wells; Publishers: DMC Anniston, BMI; GTR (track)
– Cochran’s rich alto meshes beautifully with Parton’s shining soprano on this inspirational ballad. This is true-blue, old-school country music.

FOSTER MCGINTY/Radio Dreams
Writers: none listed; Producer: Keith Gattis; Publishers: none listed; FM (track)
– It’s a male-female duo with a bopping, bouncing, bongo-driven (!) rhythm track on its new single. Plus organ and electric-guitar accents. He sings lead with urgency and passion. She adds bright harmony vocals here and there.

RHONDA VINCENT & DARYLE SINGLETARY/One
Writers: Ed Bruce/Judith Bruce/Ron Peterson; Producers: Rhonda Vincent/Daryle Singletary; Publishers: Home At Last/Advantage Pride/Polumbo Entertainment/Just a Secretary. BMI/ASCAP; Upper Management (track)
– The new duets album by these two superb country vocalists is called American Grandstand. It mixes classics like “After the Fire Is Gone,” “We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds,” “Golden Ring” and “Louisiana Woman Mississippi Man” with lesser known oldies and new tunes. Throughout, their voices are awesome in harmony. Here, she plays Tammy Wynette to his George Jones on a revival of that team’s unjustly overlooked 1995 reunion ballad. Somebody shout “Amen!”

KENT BLAZY/Difficult Kind
Writers: Kent Blazy/Will Hoge; Producer: Kent Blazy; Publishers: Jam Writers Group/Will Hoge/BMG Platinum, BMI; KB (track)
– Singer-songwriter Blazy has named his new collection ‘66 after the year he first took up the guitar. He’s perhaps best known for his work with Garth Brooks. But this collection finds him flying solo and collaborating with hot tunesmiths such as Cory Barren, Leslie Satcher and, here, Will Hoge. The rollicking uptempo track is perfect for Blazy’s barked vocal performance.

MATT ROGERS/Richest Place On Earth
Writers: M. Rogers: Producer: Matt McClure; Publishers: none listed; MR (track)
– It turns out that the richest place is the graveyard. So live and love with all your heart while you’re still here. Extremely well written and sung with fire and conviction. Play this.

DISClaimer: Lee Brice, Jordan Davis Lead New Singles Offerings

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What the heck, let’s all get wasted.

Dierks Bentley got so bent that he can’t remember anything. Toby Keith is endorsing weed. Adrian Johnston celebrates “Adult Beverages.” Parker Howard is boozing it up. I’m feeling kinda dizzy, just from listening.

Of the non substance-abuse singles here, Lee Brice has the Disc of the Day. Jordan Davis earns our DisCovery Award.

MARK McKINNEY/Rainey Day Money
Writers: Mark McKinney; Producer: Eric KcKinney/Mark McKinney; Publishers: none listed; MM
– Laid back and mellow, this flows along like a slow summer day. “I’d rather run out of money than run out of time,” he sings in defense of spending his savings on vacation time.

BRETT YOUNG/Like I Loved You
Writers: Brett Young/Jesse Lee; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Super Big/Caliville/Big Machine/Purple Cape/Honey Lee/ole, ASCAP/BMI; BMLG (track)
– His singing voice is especially expressive and engaging on this accusatory address to a lover who’s left him. This guy has some soul.

PARKER WILLINGHAM/You Get Me Every Time
Writers: Parker Willingham/Kate Hart/Paula Hallmark; Producer: Kate Hart; Publishers: CCM Songwriters S Group/Composer Club, no performance rights listed; Apple Row (track)
– Promising. He sings strongly and writes with tightness, economy and finesse. An impressive debut.

DIERKS BENTLEY/What The Hell Did I Say
Writers: Copperman/Kear/Tompkins; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Songs By Red Room/Year of the Dog/Champagne Whiskey/Round Hill/Big Loud/Play Animal, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (track)
– He called her drunk late at night. Now she digs him, but he can’t remember what he said to her. The rocking, busy track with its electric-guitar roaring underscores his confusion.

ADRIAN JOHNSTON/Adult Beverages
Writers: Johnston/Zac Maloy; Producer: Zac Maloy; Publisher: none listed; ASCAP; Just Another Blonde
– The song has a rather simplistic melody and the production is minimal. So it’s up to her wildly enthusiastic vocal performance to “sell” it.

LEE BRICE/Boy
Writers: Jon Nite/Nicolle Galyon; Producers: Brice/Jon Stone/Kyle Jacobs/Dan Frizsell; Publishers: none listed, BMI; Curb (CDX)
– Advice from someone older and wiser. He sees himself in the youngster, so every line has the ring of emotional truth. This man has repeatedly demonstrated his talent for finding extraordinary lyrics, and he has done it again here. Applause from this corner.
 

YouTube video

 

JACKIE LEE/Getting Over You
Writers: Jackie Lee/Paul DiGiovanni/Brent Anderson; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Clemmer Time/Chill N Hustle/Wixen/New House of Sea Gayle/ClearBox Rights, BMI/ASCAP, BBR (track)
– His pleading, intense tenor works best on the choruses of this somewhat ordinary heartbreak lament.

TOBY KEITH/Wacky Tobaccy
Writers: Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick; Producer: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Publishers: none listed; Show Dog
– It’s a snappy blues rocker with plenty of lyrical appeal, to put it mildly. Fire one up and tap your toes.

PARKER HOWARD/It Ain’t A Party (Til Something Gets Broken)
Writers: Jeffery Lynn Batson/Will Nance/Stephen Joseph Williams; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Hi-Value/Over the Monster/Wilburns, ASCAP; PH
– It’s a rollicking rocker with a solid backbeat. It’s definitely a good time. The only disconcerting thing is that his tenor is so high that he sounds too young to be singing about drinking, smoking and ogling leather skirts.

JORDAN DAVIS/Singles You Up
Writers: Davis/Steven Dale Jones/Justin Ebach; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Publishers: none listed; MCA (CDX)
-It is structured like an r&b song, and production isn’t very “country” either. He has a pleasant, brushed-velvet vocal quality that is mixed up, front and center, in the crunchy instrumental environment. Listenable. Worth your spins.
 

YouTube video

 

DisClaimer: Eli Young Band Heads To Never Land, Heidi Raye Lands DisCovery Award

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Photo Credit: Joseph Llanes

Summer officially started on Wednesday, and country music is ready.

Unleashing sounds tailored to the season this week are Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner, Miranda Lambert and Granger Smith.

Another summer-sounding song earns our Disc of the Day award. It’s the gorgeous, top-down celebration “Never Land” by the Eli Young Band.

The DisCovery Award this week goes to a personable singer named Heidi Raye. I’m confident that we’ll be hearing much more from her.

JOSH TURNER/All About You
Writer: None listed; Producer: None listed; Publisher: None listed
– This has a nice, funky sound that’s a really attractive change of pace for this artist. The bright, lively tempo is just right for summer listening.

LITTLE BIG TOWN/when Someone Stops Loving You
Writers: Hillary Lindsey/Chase McGill/Lori McKenna; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: None listed
– Jimi’s torrid tenor is one of the most underrated vocal instruments in contemporary country music. He blazes brilliantly throughout this bonfire heartache ballad performance.

KENNY CHESNEY/All The Pretty Girls
Writers: Nicole Galyon/Tommy Lee James/Josh Osborne; Producer: Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/A Girl Named Charlie/BMG Platinum/SWMBMGBMI/Once in a Blue Tune/Anderson Fork in the Road/Smackville/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP
– Toss beach balls on the sand while this bouncer blasts from a boombox.

LINDSAY ELL/Waiting On You
Writers: None listed; Producer: None listed; Publishers: None listed
– Well sung and produced with clarity and exquisite taste. Eminently programmable. She’s been in the news this week because a radio station punished her for dating a perceived competitor, Bobby Bones. Just listen to the music, folks.

MIRANDA LAMBERT/Pink Sunglasses
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Luke Dick/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf & Eric Masse; Publishers: Round Hill Works/Big Loud Proud Crowd/Farm Town/Sony-ATV Tree/Little Loudere/Emileon/HappyGoWrucke/Creative Pulse/These Are Pulse, BMI
–Embarrassing piffle.

HEIDI RAYE/Worth a Shot
Writers: Heidi Raye/Justin Ebach; Producer: None listed; Publisher: None listed
– Quite promising. This nifty little “attitude” ditty is sung with chuckling, winking, pert personality. The “shot,” you see, is whiskey.

TYLER FARR/I Should Go to Church Sometime
Writers: None listed; Producer: None listed; Publisher: None listed
– It’s certainly an interesting premise for a song. But since it never really resolves itself after he works himself into a lather, it is ultimately rather unsatisfying.

ELI YOUNG BAND/Never Land
Writers: Mike Eli/James Young/Ross Copperman/Jon Nite; Producer: Ross Copperman & Jeremy Stover; Publisher: Small Town Kid/Young James Young/NYAC/EMI Blackwood/Rezolant/EMI April/Sony-ATV, BMI
– The group returns strongly to form with this wooshing rush of a performance. The production is stunning. The melody is addictive. The mood is inspiring. Turn it up and play it again.

CHARLEY PRIDE/Music in My Heart
Writers: Country Johnny Mathis; Producer: Billy Yates; Publisher: Avid Group, BMI
– The title tune of Pride’s first new album in more than six years is a toe tapper that is as country as grits. Twang that steel.

GRANGER SMITH/Happens Like That
Writers: None listed; Producer: None listed; Publisher: None listed
– This master showman stages another bid for chart success with this mid-tempo reflection on sudden romance. The echoey atmosphere in the arrangement gives his vocal extra impact.

DisClaimer: Dan Auerbach, Paramore, Angel Snow Shine In Rock Crop This Week

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Timing is everything.

After last week’s CMA fest, I needed a break from country music. Right on schedule, some of the biggest names in Nashville’s pop/rock community have new albums to enjoy.

Our Male Vocalist winner is Dan Auerbach. Equally clear cut is our Group winner, Paramore. Deciding on the Female Disc of the Day is a lot tougher. Angel Snow, Greta Gaines and Sheryl Crow all have marvelous qualities to recommend them. In a neck-and-neck finish, I’m going with Angel Snow.

DADDY ISSUES/In Your Head
Writers: Daddy Issues; Producers: Jake Orrall; Publishers: none listed, SESAC
– This female trio cranks up a fuzz-tone, lo-fi, punk-rock slab of sound on this track from its current Deep Dream CD. The next time somebody questions Nashville’s rock bona fides to ya, put this on and turn up the volume to “10.”

DAN AUERBACH/Waiting On A Song
Writers: Dan Auerbach/John Prine/Pat McLaughlin/Richard Swift; Producer: Dan Auerbach; Publisher: Hour Box/Wixen/Tommy Jack/Corn Country\/Clearbox/Dance Contest Winner, BMI/ASCAP
– The Black Keys frontman has issued a marvelously diverse solo album. This title tune has a bopping, jaunty, Americana vibe. But other tracks rock with layers of sound, get trippy with audio effects, thump with r&b grooves and/or reach into retro pop styles. The collection finds him surrounded by a wide variety of Nashville pickers, including Duane Eddy, Jerry Douglas, Kenny Vaughan, John Prine and Pat McLaughlin. The diversity of styles here is highly admirable. Fabulous listening.

ALL THEM WITCHES/Bruce Lee
Writers: none listed; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publisher: None listed
– His Nashville four-piece rock combo cooks up a steaming blues-rock pot of psychedelia on its CD Sleeping Through the War. Very mind expanding.

PARAMORE/Hard Times
Writers: Hayley Williams/Taylor York; Producer: Justin Meldal-Johnsen & Taylor York; Publisher: WB, ASCAP
– One of Middle Tennessee’s best known bands is back with a CD titled After Laughter. The collection’s lift-off single and opening track is a catchy, dance-pop outing with burbling beats and inescapable attitude. A very refreshing change of pace for a group that has sometimes specialized in volume at the expense of melodies.

COIN/Feeling
Writers: Ryan Winnen/Chase Lawrence/Zachary Dyke/Joseph Memmel/Tim Pagnotta; Producer: Andrew Maury; Publisher: Spirit One/Songs of Global Entertainment/This Is COIN/These Are Songs of Pulse/Sony-ATV Ballad/Burrito Bandito, BMI/ASCAP
– How Will You Know If You Never Try is the sophomore album by Nashville’s COIN. This emphasis track has an ‘80s, new-wave vibe. Highly stylish. The band has been named Amazon’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year and one of Time magazine’s 21 Musicians We Want to Hear From.

SHERYL CROW/Halfway There
Writers: Sheryl Crow/Jeff Trott; Producer: Jeff Trott & Sheryl Crow; Publisher: Old Green Barn/Mortal and Pestle/Ole, BMI/ASCAP
– On her new Be Myself CD, Sheryl Crow returns to the pop/rock idiom that made her famous. The forward momentum of its steadily rhythmic lead single will have your heart beating in time. The track’s deep-bottom groove contrasts nicely with her silvery soprano delivery. She remains an audio treasure.

GRETA GAINES/Begin Again
Writers: Greta Gaines; Producer: Eric Fritsch & Greta Gaines; Publisher: Oh Happy, BMI
– The new Tumbleweed EP by Greta Gaines drops tomorrow. The download sales of its bonus track, “Light It Up,” will go toward NORML’s efforts to legalize weed. This track finds her musing over guitars that alternately slither, grumble, moan and shriek. In contrast to some of her earlier rock efforts, this disc leans in an Americana-soul direction. In addition to being a singer-songwriter, this Nashvillian is also a champion snowboarder, an ace fly-fisherman and talented ESPN host.

TIM RUSHLOW & HIS BIG BAND/Plenty Of Money And You
Writers: Harry Warren/Al Dubin; Producer: Jimmy Ritchey; Publisher: Warner, ASCAP
– Rushlow is a Music City troubadour who has reinvented himself as the leader of a horn-honking swing band. Its debut CD/DVD was recorded live, and the excitement comes across beautifully. The repertoire ranges from “Beyond the Sea,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “Mack the Knife,” “That’s Life” and “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart” to less familiar tunes from the Great American Songbook like this one. The group will take up residency at The Nashville Palace beginning Nov. 10. Be there or be square.

ANGEL SNOW/Photographs
Writers: Angel Snow/Jonathan Trebing; Producer: Lee Groves; Publisher: none listed
– The atmospheric textures of Angel Snow’s current album Magnetic are entrancing. The swirling pop confection is the album this Nashville singer-songwriter was always meant to make. Its track “Secret” has had over one million streams on Spotify. This follow-up is even more dreamy, layered and lovely. I remain a huge fan.

DAVE POMEROY/Angel in the Ashes
Writers: Ben Cyllus/Dave Pomeroy; Producer: Dave Pomeroy; Publishers: Groove Room/Calhoun/Kung Fu Unicorn, BMI
– This longtime instrumental great has been working on his new CD for 10 years. The wait has been worth it, because the collection is wildly inventive. This pop-folk title track has a warm vocal as well as his customary virtuoso bass playing. In addition to a heaping helping of originals, he covers tunes by Guy Clark, Jesse Winchester and Buddy Mondlock, not to mention jazzbos like Charles Mingus (”Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”). Don’t miss the album’s centerpiece, his eight-minute funk medley of “Ball of Confusion,” “For the Love of Money” and “Cloud Nine” (50 audio tracks deep). Now, here’s the really mind-blowing thing: All of the instrumental sounds on the album are made by various basses, acoustic and electric, 41 of them! No drums. No guitars. Just basses. This is a fantastic listening experience.

DISClaimer: Gary Allan, Maggie Rose Outshine Star-Packed Competition

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Gary Allan

Looks like it’s all-hands-on-deck for the CMA Fest edition of DisClaimer.

The most star-packed review column of the year to date includes such red-hot names as Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean, plus plenty more. Because of all the big-time attractions, there was no room for newcomers today. Hence, no DisCovery Award.

The male contenders for Disc of the Day looked, on paper, to be a duel between our resident bruiser vocalists Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton. But both were bested by a come-from-behind dark horse, Gary Allan. It has been way too long since we have had new music from this talented fellow.

The female division appeared to be a contest between our happening ingenues, Lauren Alaina and Kelsea Ballerini. But here again, the front runners were beaten by a lesser known star, Maggie Rose. To retread a cliche, you go, girl.

MAGGIE ROSE/Body On Fire
Writers: Maggie Rose/Chad Carolson; Producers: Jimmy Robbins/Maggie Rose/Chad Carolson; Publishers: none listed; MR (track)
– A home run. Steamy, sensuous, slow-burning and sensational. Her voice explodes into little firecrackers and ignites sparklers throughout. The production is a beautifully textured tapestry of electronic wonder. Why is this gifted woman not on a major label?

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LUKE COMBS/When It Rains It Pours
Writers: Luke Combs/Ray Fulcher/JOrdan Walker; Producer: Scott Moffatt; Publishers: Big Music Machine/50 Egg/Straight Dimes/Works of RHA/Atlas/Extremely Comustible/On Cor/PAJ, BMI; Columbia/River House
– A drawling good ole boy’s lament of love gone wrong becomes a toe-tapping celebration of freedom and good fortune. This guy sounds exactly like somebody you want to have a beer with.

CHRIS STAPLETON/Either Way
Writers: Chris Stapleton/Tim James/Kendall Marvell; Producers: Dave Cobb/Chris Stapleton; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (track)
– It’s just that magnificent voice and an acoustic guitar delivering a heartbreak ballad. And, boy, do they pack a wallop. Riveting and gripping and righteous and real.

KELSEA BALLERINI/Legends
Writers: Ballerini/Forest Glen Whitehead/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Forest Glen Whitehead/Jason Massey; Black River
– Echoey, atmospheric and utterly lovely. It’s about finding perfect love and soaring with the feeling.

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CHRIS JANSON/Fix A Drink
Writers: Chris Janson/Chris DuBois/Ashley Gorley; Producers: Brent Anderson/Chris DuBois; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– He can’t fix the weather, job worries, a broken heart, the blues or the news. But he can sure ‘nuff fix a drink. Rollicking fun.

ELI YOUNG BAND/Fingerprints
Writers: Mike Eli/James Young/Ross Copperman/Josh Osborne; Producers: Ross Copperman/Jeremy Stover; Publishers: Small Town Kid/Young James Young/NTAC/EMI Blackwood/Rezolant/Sony-ATV/Songs of Black River/One Little Indian Creek, BMI/ASCAP; Valory Music
– Dense sounding, with loads of “bottom” in the mix. It’s not nearly as catchy as their big hits have been.

LAUREN ALAINA/Doin’ Fine
Writers: Lauren Alaina/Emily Shackleton/busbee; Producer: Busbee; Publishers: none listed; Mercury/19/Interscope (CDX)
– It’s a bit of a letdown as the follow-up to a star-making performance. But it has plenty of pluck, and she sings it splendidly, particularly in her upper register.

GARY ALLAN/Mess Me Up
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ross Copperman/Shane McAnally; Producers: Gary Allan, Ross Copperman, Greg Droman; Publishers: none listed; EMI (CDX)
– Darkly compelling. In front of a throbbing track, he begs a woman he is obsessed with to torture his mind. As usual, he sings with tremendous fire and conviction. A burning cauldron of sound.

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JASON ALDEAN/They Don’t Know
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Broken Bow (ERG)
– In defense of rural life, to the accompaniment of screaming guitars.

THOMAS RHETT & MAREN MORRIS/Craving You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Valory Music (ERG)
– It’s a potent rocker with plenty of thump and crash. Despite the billing, this is essentially a Rhett solo with some occasional vocal coloring by Morris.

DISClaimer: Glen Campbell, Beyond The Sun, Harper Grae Offer Summery New Tracks

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There is something kinda breezy and summery about this week’s stack of platters.

The numbers by Derek Johnson, The Pistol Annies, Brantley Gilbert and Hadley Park all have this open-air vibe.

So do the sounds of our three award winners. Glen Campbell wins the Disc of the Day award with his wafting remake of “Everybody’s Talkin.’ Locked in a tie for the DisCovery Award are the equally breezy Beyond the Sun and Harper Grae.

BEYOND THE SUN/Cruisin’ ‘Round Town
Writers: Colin Radu/Phil Radu/Dalton Radu; Producer: Dalton Radu; Publishers: none listed; BMI; BTS
– This is a Canadian brother trio. Their debut single is a summertime, bob-that-head, anthem. It is also super tuneful and wildly addictive. The bro’s have recently moved to Music City. If the rest of their songs are this good, roll out a great big welcome mat.

GLEN CAMPBELL/Everybody’s Talkin’
Writers: Fred Neil; Producer: Carl Jackson; Publishers: none listed; UMe
– Let’s face it: the Nilsson 1969 original hit with this sounded exactly like a Glen Campbell record. So it goes without saying that song fits Glen like a glove. His flawless performance is matched by a production by his former sideman Carl Jackson that places every note from every instrument in exactly the right place. Daughter Ashley Campbell’s banjo notes ripple through the entire thing beautifully. This is the lead track of a fantastic collection titled Adios. It will be released a week from Friday during CMA Fest as the final album from this legendary artist.

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BEN BOSTICK/Independence Day Eve
Writers: Ben Bostick; Producer: John Would/Ben Bostick; Publishers: none listed; Simply Fantastic
– Bostick makes a good living busking on the Santa Monica Pier. He describes himself as an “outsider” country artist. His upcoming full-length CD debut leads off with this stately ballad of alienation. Urgent sounding.

TIM BENNETT/As Long As You’re Buying
Writer: Tim Bennett; Producer: Tim Bennett; Publishers: Big Sky, ASCAP; Sandy Beach
– The band sounds like a group of amateurs. His singing voice is weak, at best.

BRANTLEY GILBERT/The Ones That Like Me
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Valory Music
– Churning, charging, clanging midtempo excitement with mucho electric guitar grinding. I still think he has one of the coolest voices around.

DOAK SNEAD/Each Day Like It’s The Last Day
Writer: Snead; Producers: Snead/Kelley Sallee Snead; Publishers: Doak Snead, BMI; Hear Say (track)
– Catalogue is an album that compiles Nashville songwriter Snead’s demos recorded between 1991 and the present. This sparse, thoughtful, philosophical ballad dates from 2009. His conversational delivery connects emotionally, more than making up for his vocal limitations.

THE PISTOL ANNIES/Tulsa Time
Writer: Danny Flowers; Producer: Garth Fundis; Publishers: none listed; Slate Creek (track)
– Gentle Giants is a tribute CD to the great Don Williams. The cast is superb — Garth, Trisha, Brandy Clark, Lady A, John Prine, Keb Mo, Dierks and Chris Stapleton, for starters. The collection kicks off with a sprightly take on this toe tapper by Miranda, Ashley and Angaleena. Buy this righteous album.

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DEREK JOHNSON/Real Cool, Kinda Hot
Writers: Phil O’Donnell; Producer: Phil O’Donnell; Publishers: none listed, BMI/SESAC; Applause (CDX)
– He’s got a backwoods accent you could cut with a knife. The song is a peppy hillbilly ditty that name-checks beer, pickup truck, camo clothes and a bunch of other cliches. But in its goofy way, it is utterly irresistible.

HADLEY PARK/Another Bottle Of Wine
Writers: Courtney Dashe/Morgan Leigh Garner; Producer: Hadley Park; Publishers: No Bull About It/Morgan Leigh Garner, BMI/ASCAP; HP (track)
– Have raved about this female duo before. Its current single/video is a witty, tongue-in-cheek ditty that kisses off an ex in a dishy gal-to-gal conversation. I am told that their songs are eagerly sought after by big-name artists, and I can certainly hear why.

HARPER GRAE/Free
Writers: Harper Grae/Femke Weidema; Producer: Josh Barker/Ethan Brewington; Publishers: Oliver Ann Music/Femke Music (BMI/ASCAP); Oliver Ann Records
– Very cool sounding. It has a gospel-y vibe of a melody, and her vocal is loaded with personality. Best of all, is an outstanding production that incorporates hand claps, thudding-stark percussion, churchy piano chords, a celebratory chorus of backup vocalists and mandolin twittering. Essential listening.

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