Fall is in the air, and that means get ready for a flood of new releases from Music Row.

If anyone’s still buying records, they’re buying them for holiday gifts, right? So this week, we have Luke Bryan, Billy Currington, Dolly Parton, Hunter Hayes, the Josh Abbott Band and more testing the season with new sounds.

The Disc of the Day award goes to Hunter Hayes. His cool tune is embellished by The Shadowboxers, who are protegees of new Nashvillian Justin Timberlake. The resulting sound is a delight.

It’s a contest between Robert Stowell and Tyler Jordan for this week’s DisCovery Award. Both are admirable singers, but Tyler’s everyday-guy sincerity as well as his songwriting ability give him the edge.

ROBERT STOWELL/I’d Die For You
Writers: Rick Tiger/Adam Dorsey; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RS (download)
– His resonant baritone delivers this throbbing, romantic ballad with hillbilly conviction and impressive power. Well written and nicely produced.

JOSH ABBOTT BAND/Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Reviver (download)
– Drawling hilarity. I have always liked this bunch, and now that they’ve gone full-on goofy, I’m even more of a fan. The gist of it is that he’s sloppy drunk and dunderhead confused. Give yourself a smile and spin it.

 

TYLER JORDAN/Why Her
Writers: Tyler Jordan/Stephen Kirk; Producer: Chad Carlson; Publishers: Just In Case/Swear By It, BMI; Silverado (track)
– The echoey-guitar production is super ear catching, and his assured-yet-downhome vocal is very likable. A power ballad with a friendly sounding heartache. Promising, to say the least.

DOLLY PARTON/I Believe In You
Writers: Dolly Parton; Producer: Tom McBryde; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; RCA/Dolly (track)
– The title tune of Dolly’s first children’s album is inspired by the eternal kiddie book The Little Engine That Could. The chug-chug, train-whistle and woo-woo sounds are adorable. Tots will love it.

MILLER CAMPBELL/All Summer’s Breaking Loose
Writers: Miller Campbell/Bill DiLuigi; Producer: Geoff Ott; Publishers: none listed; MC (track)
– This gal hails from the Pacific Northwest. I guess they don’t have Auto-Tune up there.

HUNTER HAYES & THE SHADOWBOXERS/You Should Be Loved
Writers: Hunter Hayes/Sam Ellis/Blair Daly; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Atlantic (download)
– It has retro-sounding, doo-wop harmonies, piano triplets, a finger-popping beat and a bopping, boyish, innocent mood. Charming.

 

LUKE BRYAN/Light It Up
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol (ERG)
– He’s waiting for her to light-up his screen with lipstick pictures or whatever. Is this the first country song lyric completely devoted to a cell phone?

GWEN SEBASTIAN/Quicksand
Writers: Gwen Sebastian/Chris Harris/Terri Jo Box; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; GS (download)
– It has a mysterioso vibe with darkly rumbling percussion; keening, echoey, spaghetti-western guitars and a minor-key melody. It’s about being helplessly drawn into a bad relationship despite misgivings. Naturally, this haunting sound drops on Friday the 13th.

BILLY CURRINGTON/Wake Me Up
Writers: Josh Osborne/Jimmy Robbins/Ashley Gorley; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (track)
– He’s always had knack for finding catchy songs. This one urges an absent lover to interrupt him at any time of the day or night. The nervous rhythms and rapid-fire lyric delivery both underline the song’s yearning, jittery uncertainty. Billy scores again.

MIKE RYAN/Sad Song
Writers: Mike Ryan/Clint Lagerberg/Brent Anderson; Producer: Brent Anderson; Publishers: none listed; MR (track)
-It’s a cool, slow, heartbroken waltz in the verses that bursts into a full-throated, wailing-tenor shout in the choruses. This man is a singer. Essential listening.

 

The pattern today seems to be downloads from established stars and physical product from newcomers. Of those downloads, the outstanding submission comes from Montgomery Gentry. “Better Me” wins the Disc of the Day prize. R.I.P. Troy.

Newcomer Russell Dickerson seems to have it all going on. His “Yours” is not only a winning love song, he sings it with enormous power and passion. Give that man a DisCovery Award.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Better Me
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Average Joes (download) 
—Very, very stirring. He’s trying to turn a page on his wilder days and live right. The track cooks with gas, and Troy sings his butt off. How sad and aching that one of the finest recorded performances of the duo’s career comes as a swansong. Play this, and then play it some more.

SARAH ANNE/Tammy Wynette
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; SA 
—It has the tempo of a dying mammoth, but her languid, heartsick performance is on the money. She seeks comfort and solace from a singer who has cried as hard as she does. Who better than the Heroine of Heartbreak, herself?

CHRIS YOUNG/Losing Sleep
Writers: Chris Young, Josh Hoge, Chris DeStefano; Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young; Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Goodbye Pants Music, EMI Foray Music, Write 2 Be Free Music, EMI April Music Inc., CDS Words and Music, BMI, SESAC, ASCAP, Adm by Sony/ATV; RCA (download) 
—Golly, this guy can sing. This power ballad exudes sensuous desire, whispered secrets and midnight intimacies. I remain an enormous fan.

CALICO THE BAND/The 405
Writer: K. Proffit; Producer: Steve Burns & Kristen Proffit; Publisher: none listed; California Country (track) (CALICOTHEBAND.com)
—The group is led by a female duo, Manda Mosher and Kristen Proffit. This breezy outing from its Under Blue Skies CD boasts wafting harmonies, sunny steel licks and a gently shuffling tempo. Who knew that traveling on an L.A. freeway could sound so pleasant?

BLAKE SHELTON/I’ll Name the Dogs
Writer: Matt Dragstrem, Ben Hayslip, Josh Thompson; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publisher: Round Hill Songs/Big Loud Proud Songs/WB Music/Thankful For This Music/Big Music Machine, BMI, ASCAP; Warner Bros. (download) 
—Totally cute and totally country. A hillbilly proposal that comes with a wink and a smile. Love it. He remains one of the finest honky-tonk singers on today’s scene.

SMITH & WESLEY/Superman for a Day
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Dream Walkin’ (CDX) 
—The vocals lack oomph. The song is kinda sappy.

COLE SWINDELL/Stay Downtown
Writer: Cole Taylor, Matt Dragstrem; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros. (CDX) 
—Extremely well written, slice-of-life lyrics. Minimal melodic qualities.

HOME FREE/In the Blood
Writer: John Mayer; Producer: Darren Rust; Publisher: John Maye/Milky Boy, GMR; Columbia (track) 
—The quintet has always been billed as country’s a cappella ensemble, yet the lead single from its new Timeless collection is a John Mayer tune. But stripping it down to its lyric reveals just how poetic and “country” the song really is. And there’s no getting around the fact that these guys are mighty, mighty singers. Well done.

KELSEA BALLERINI/High School
Writer: Kelsea Ballerini; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Black River (download) 
—He refuses to grow up beyond a teen mentality. Her superb performance of this wooshy ballad is extraordinarily expressive, subtle and shaded. The sonic background effects are well placed and the soft, shimmering overall audio pallet is just lovely.

RUSSELL DICKERSON/Yours
Writer: Russell Dickerson/Casey Brown/Parker Welling; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Triple Tigers (track) ()
—The album with this title tune isn’t due until next month, but the song is already a streamed and video hit. It soars on the winds of new love and promise. The ballad is evidently becoming a wedding favorite, and I can hear why.

It’s Americana Music week here in Music City, and this edition of DisClaimer celebrates that fact.

There is a lot to like here. So much that we’re giving Disc of the Day prizes in Male, Female and Group categories. All three of them are going to Nashvillians. The Male disc du jour belongs to Derek Hoke. The always reliable Lee Ann Womack nails the Female division. The Group award goes to The McCrary Sisters.

The DisCovery Award goes to Travis Linville. He’s showcasing tonight.

RUSTY YOUNG/Gonna Let It Rain
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Blue Elan (track)
– This longtime mainstay of Poco has recorded his first solo CD, Waitin’ for the Sun. This track from it is on a Blue Elan compilation disc that was in the Americana convention’s goodie bag. It has an inspirational/gospel vibe with organ/guitar backing, loads of vocal harmonies and a deep, pounding rhythm track. Righteous.

CHRIS HILLMAN/Here She Comes Again
Writers: Chris Hillman/Roger McGuinn; Producer: Tom Petty; Publisher: none listed; Rounder (track)
– He’s a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member with a musical journey that includes The Hillmen, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Desert Rose Band and more. This “lost” Byrds tune features chiming guitar, hearty vocal harmonies and a solid, country-rock groove. You’ll find it on Bidin’ My Time, which drops next Friday. Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson will hit Music City to promote it via an Opry appearance on the 30th and a City Winery performance the next night. Be there.

JEFFREY HALFORD & THE HEALERS/Door #3
Writers: Jeffrey Halford; Producer: Adam Rossi/Jeffrey Halford; Publishers: none listed; Shoeless (track)
– This Californian has stripped down his sound to just evocative twang guitar, thumpy drum and bass on his appropriately titled lo-fi dreams CD. This moody, lonely track finds him moaning for love in a dry, dusty, drawling voice. The lyrics are super cool throughout the set. Join this songwriter fan club at once.

LOWLAND HUM/Folded Flowers
Writers: Daniel Goans/Lauren Goans; producers: Daniel/Lauren Goans; Publisher: Daniel Levi Goans/ASCAP; LH (track)
– This folky duo has a current album called Thin that features this laconic, drowsy, lulling ditty. Do not operate heavy machinery while listening.

MICHAEL JOHNATHON/The Dream
Writers: Johnathon; Producer: Johnathon; Publishers: Rachelaubreymusicinc, BMI; Poet Man (track)
– Johnathon is perhaps best-known as the NPR/PBS host of Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour. The title tune of this folk singer’s latest outing features a full orchestra and multi-lingual children’s choirs. With over-the-top sincerity, it yearns for world peace. Thus, the record is being released on the International Day of Peace, which is next Thursday. Not my cup of tea, but whatever floats your boat.

LEE ANN WOMACK/Hollywood
Writers: Lee Ann Womack/Adam Wright/Waylon Payne; Producer: Frank Liddell; Publishers: none listed; ATO (download)
– Sad and ethereal. She sings of a fading relationship while a steel guitar sighs forlornly and a soprano wafts above. Echoey and haunting. Lee Ann’s Americana Week events include her YeeHaw Tent whoop-di-do tonight (Thursday, the 14th) and a Q&A appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater at 2 p.m. on Saturday (the 16th). The party for her CD The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone was Wednesday at The Crying Wolf. The collection drops on the 27th.

DEREK HOKE/Bring The Flood
Writers: Derek Hoke/Dexter Green; Producer: Dex Green; Publishers: Slow Hoke/Made With Blank Ink, BMI/ASCAP; Little Hollywood
– This East Nashvillian has a downbeat collection of overcast, shadowy, gloomy and utterly compelling tunes. This is its title track, an unsettling slab of doom with a demonic figure threatening spiritual destruction and soul annihilation. The crunch guitars and shuddering rhythms underscore his swampy vocal. Fascinating and essential.

THE MCCRARY SISTERS/Let It Go
Writers: Deborah Person/Kevin McKendree; Producer: Tommy Sims; Publishers: Person Mac/East Fork, BMI; MCC (track)
– The McCrary Sisters Live CD and DVD is a showcase for how thrillingly accomplished Alfreda, Regina, Deborah and Ann have become as songwriters. There is one cover, of The Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There,” but otherwise the set’s tunes are all originals. Deborah’s shoulder-shaking rhythm rocker is about shedding yourself of trials and tribulations. It will make you want to clap your hands, shout and maybe even pick up a tambourine like Regina does during the percussion-solo breakdown. You need the music of these soul-gospel women in your life.

TRAVIS LINVILLE/Wishes
WRiters: Travis Linville; Producer: Travis Linville; Publishers: none listed; TL (track)
– This Oklahoman is best known as a sideman for Hayes Carll. But with his CD, Up Ahead, he has stepped into his own spotlight this year. Its current single has a buoyant, hopeful lyric delivered in a youthful tenor. Percussion rumbles in the background while his own guitar twangs along. Highly listenable. Catch him this evening, the 14th, at The Country as an Americana showcaser.

SARA PETITE/It Was Just A Kiss
Writer: Sara Petite; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Sweet P, BMI; Sweet P (track)
– This San Diego troubadour recorded her last two CDs in Nashville but for her current Road Less Traveled collection, she relied on her road band back home in California. This country-rock track illustrates how catchy a song crafter she can be, but also reveals her vocal tendency to slide into flat notes.

Come and save us, please, Americana music.

Country has created a radio format that’s almost unlistenable, with faceless men singing songs about nothing. Hip-hop all sounds the same. The pop teen-queens are just for kiddies. It seems that the only real, authentic artists are plying their trade in Americana.

We have two groups that are so strong that they are sharing the Disc of the Day prize today. They are Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and The Jerry Douglas Band. Buy them both.

The DisCovery Award contest is among Paul Childers, The Hymn River Suite and our winner, the gripping Rod Melancon.

ROD MELANCON/With The Devil
Writers: Rod Melancon; Producer: Brian Whelan; Publishers: Rod Melancon, SESAC; Blue Elan (track)
– The album is aptly titled Southern Gothic, because the songs of this Louisiana native are dark and sometimes scary. Stark drum beats and spare electric guitar licks accent this spooky, dryly-sung saga of a serial killer. Elsewhere on the collection are rage, restlessness, psychedelia, yearning and righteously rocking grunge rock. Highly recommended.

 

JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT/Hope The High Road
Writers: Jason Isbell; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: Southeastern, BMI; Southeastern
– Americana king Isbell returns with a collection titled The Nashville Sound. This melodic, jangling country rocker urges romantic reconciliation while conceding none of his fierce integrity and individuality. Urgent and essential. All of the musical conversations on this album will remain with you long after the speakers go silent.

HYMN RIVER SUITE/Enough
Writers: none listed; Producers: Wes Sharon, Justin Mathenia, Amy Snyder; Publishers: none listed; CEN (track)
– This is a Midwestern brother-sister duo comprised of Justin Mathenia and Amy Snyder. Its Hundred Proof CD kicks off with this rouser. They do their best to stir up excitement, but the band sounds sort of thin. More production, please.

THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND/Hey Joe
Writers: Billy Roberts; Producer: Jerry Douglas; Publisher: Third Palm, BMI; Rounder (track)
– Just because he’s with The Earls of Leicester and Alison Krauss & Union Station, don’t expect Jerry’s new band to come out with any kind of traditional sounding CD. The dobro master leads the group through a lickety-split acoustic take on this Jimi Hendrix/Leaves/Cher classic from the ‘60s, embellished with jazzy horns, no less. Elsewhere on the album, you’ll find a soul/blues version of a Tom Waits tune, a bebop jazz outing, complex time signatures and an almost symphonic feeling. Ear tickling in the extreme.

 

AMANDA ANNE PLATT & THE HONEYCUTTERS/Birthday Song
Writers: Amanda Anne Platt; Producers: Amanda Anne Platt & Tim Surrett; Publishers: Birdie May/Asheville Forest, SESAC; Organic (track)
– I have always liked this band. Formerly known as The Honeycutters, the new billing and album title accurately reflects the fact that Platt has always been the centerpiece as its singer, songwriter and producer. This kickoff track has a laid-back, meditative, philosophical, conversational vibe that is extremely endearing. This sidles right up to you and becomes your instant buddy. I remain a fan.

PAULA COLE/God Bless The Child
Writers: Billie Holida/Arthur Herzog Jr.; Producer: Paula Cole; Publishers: none listed; 675 (track)
– The “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” and “I Don’t Want to Wait” hit maker of the ‘90s is back with a self-produced collection called Ballads. It covers standards (”Blue Moon:”), torch tunes (”I Cover the Waterfront”), folk (”The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”), country classics (”Ode to Billy Joe”), jazz chanteuse chestnuts (”What a Little Moonlight Can Do”) and more. This version of Billie Holiday’s 1939 gem demonstrates the clarity of tone and sure footed phrasing she brings to all 20 tunes. It’s the American songbook of the Gershwins, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Frank Loesser, Rodgers & Hart, Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Green, plus a whole lot more.

PAUL CHILDERS/Music Pulls You Through
Writers: Paul Childers; Producer: Paul Childers/Ace Lutz; Publishers: none listed; LP (track)
– This Nashville singer-songwriter is only 22, but there is striking maturity to be found on his disc debut, Naked Poetry. This jazzbo, horn-bedecked, soul goover is pop paradise. And, yes, those are his own Strat lead-guitar lines that you hear on this CD. A strikingly accomplished first-time effort.

SLAID CLEAVES/Take Home Pay
Writers: Slaid Cleaves/Rod Picott; Producer: Scrappy Jud Newcomb; Publisher: Magic Rat/Welding Rod, BMI; Candy House
– This soft-voiced Americana veteran has been in the trenches for years. He’s one of the genre’s finest songwriters, as this portrait of an aging manual laborer makes plain. You’ll find it on Slaid’s latest collection, Ghost on the Car Radio.

 

ALAN RHODY/I’ll Be True To You
Writers: Alan Rhody; Producer: Alan Rhody; Publishers: Sony/ATV, BMI; Ashwood (track)
– Music City troubadour Alan Rhody has a new CD titled Farther On. It features his songwriting collaborations with Guy Clark, Murray McLauchlan and Don Henry, as well as a feast of solo works. Not the least of the latter is this No. 1 hit sung by The Oak Ridge Boys in 1978. Rhody’s guitar-vocal version is stunning, revealing just how powerful the original, long version of the song really was/is. This fellow is one of those rare individuals who can hold you completely spellbound with just his axe and his voice.

MICHAEL HURLEY & JON NEWFELD/Pastures Of Plenty
Writers: Woody Guthrie; Producer: Jon Newfeld, Joe Seamons, Bill Murlin; Publishers: Woody Guthrie/Ludlow, BMI; Smithsonian
– On the double CD Roll Columbia, you’ll find members of R.E.M., The Decemberists and Black Prairie plus a host of Americana solo acts reinterpreting 26 Woody Guthrie songs. Among his so-called Northwest songs are some of his best known — “Hard Travelin,” “Roll On Columbia” (the state song of Washington), “Grand Coolee Dam,” “Talking Columbia,” “It Takes a Worried Man” and the like. Here, Greenwich Village folk vet Michael Hurley sings another of Guthrie’s timeless tunes. Guess what? Things aren’t much different for migrant agricultural workers today.

Variety is the spice of life.

This week’s country offerings range from over-produced, slick Nashville items to the rootsy charms of EmiSunshine and Margo Price. Kevin Costner is back, sounding as good as ever. And the well-established Rascal Flatts demonstrates that it still has plenty of gas in its tank.

The best newcomer is Ryan Hurd, who earns a DisCovery Award.

The Disc of the Day belongs to Brett Eldredge. Some production, publishing and songwriter credits on both of these winning tunes would have been nice, record companies.

 

RYAN HURD/Love In A Bar
Writers: Ryan Hurd/Joey Hyde; Producer: Aaron Eshuis; Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Lake Allegan Pub Club (ASCAP). All rights for Lake Allegan Pub Club controlled and adm by Universal Music Corp. ©2016 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI); RCA (ERG)
– Utterly enchanting. The melody swirls beautifully. The production builds and boils with intensity. His vocal delivery is loaded with dynamics as it goes from a whisper to a scream. A mighty debut.

AARON LEWIS/Folded Flag
Writers: Marty Morgan/Luc Nyhus/Yasmine Van Wilt; Producers: Ben Kitterman/Aaron Lewis; Label: Big Machine (ERG); Publishers: Morgan House Music Publishing (SESAC)./ Timberslust Music (BMI)./ Yasmine Van Wilt (BMI). 
-Sung from the point of view of a dead soldier. It’s very well written and performed, but I don’t imagine radio folks will clamor to program such a downer.

RASCAL FLATTS/Back To Us
Writers: Cary Barlowe/David Hodges/Josh Thompson; Producers: Jay DeMarcus/Rascal Flatts; Publishers: Castle Bound/We Be Partying/3 Weddings/Songs of Kobalt/Big Music Machine/Two Laine Collections, SESAC/BMI; Big Machine (track)
– I dig the crunchy production and the gripping lyric. Gary’s lead vocal is more chesty and intimate than usual, and he’s not constantly at the top of his range. This is the group’s strongest single in years.

EMISUNSHINE/Ninety Miles
Writer: EmiSunshine; Producers: EmiSunshine/Randall Hamilton/Troy Dixon; Publishers: none listed; Little Blackbird
– Considering the fact that she’s just 13, this is an extraordinary song. It is not only loaded with melodic hooks, it deals with the topic of autism in a strikingly mature way. Available now, it is the advance track of a hard-country CD titled Ragged Dreams that’s due on Aug. 25.

RAELYNN/Lonely Call
Writers: RaeLynn/Nicolle Galyon/Rob Hawkins; Producers: Jimmy Robbins/Nicolle Galyon; Label: Warner Music; Publishers: ©2016 Super Big Music / I Take The Bull By The Horns (ASCAP) admin. by Big Machine Music, LLC / Prescription Songs LLC (ASCAP), admin. by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / A Girl Named Charlie (BMI). All rights admin. by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Songs Music Publishing, LLC o/b/o Pneumatic Man (ASCAP), Songs of SMP (ASCAP)
– I don’t like the way her voice is buried in the mix. You have to strain to understand the lyric, and that ain’t the country way.

BRIAN MILSON/I’d Have To Kiss Ya
Label: First Short Road
-Nicely done. He runs into an old flame and resists the urge to rekindle it. Catchy, well crafted and extremely promising.

KEVIN COSTNER & MODERN WEST/Love Shine
Writers: Teddy Morgan/Henry Jack Williams; Publishers: Teddy Morgan/songs of LGME! BMI/ASCAP; Producer: Teddy Morgan; Kevin’s Music
– I have liked this guy’s music from the start. The new single is a doomy, dramatic, minor-key outing that he delivers in a gritty whisper. Despite the dark atmosphere, the overall message is oddly positive. I dig this.

BRETT ELDREDGE/The Long Way
Writers: Brett Eldredge/Matt Rogers; Producers: Ross Copperman/Brett Eldredge; Publishers: Sony/ATV Countryside/Paris Not France Music; BMI;
Ole Canalco Publishing (ASCAP); Atlantic
– Simply put, he is one helluva singer. This addictive, rolling, rhythmic production surrounds a personality-packed performance that ranges from nearly-spoken intimacies to falsetto quasi-yodels. A brilliant performance.

KAREN & THE SHADOWS/Take Me For A Ride
Writers: Karen Pittelman; Producers: Charles Burst; Publishers: Ocean Born Mary, ASCAP; OBM (track)
– Fiddle and steel in Brooklyn? You betcha. This outfit lays down a country-rock groove that’s as solid as anything you’ll hear in Music City. Plus, Karen shows real promise as a songwriter. Recommended.

MARGO PRICE/Paper Cowboy
Writers: Matt Gardner; Producers: Margo Price, Alex Munoz, Matt Ross-Spang & Jeremy Ivey; Publishers: none listed; Third Man
– Yes, I know I reviewed a single by her last week. The thing is, she has TWO new singles on the market. This one is a toe-tapping, stuttering-steel romp wherein she wails about a no-good guy. The surprising, extended instrumental coda is like a splash of cool water in the face. Refreshingly different.