DISClaimer: Outlaws and Loser’s Lyrics Sound Good

Whitey-Morganfeatured

Whitey Morgan

Spring has sprung, and country sounds fill the air. My favorite thing about this listening session is that there was no shortage of worthy DisCovery Award contenders. New to the column this week are 2 Steel Girls, Rainey Qualley, Bryan Hayes and Monty Byrom, any one of whom could have captured the crown.

But I’ve gotta go with the outlaw sound of Whitey Morgan & The 78s. This is the “honky-tonk alter ego of Eric David Allen,” who grew up in hard-luck Flint, Mich., and cut his extraordinary CD in Texas. Welcome to the party, son: You’ve got the goods.

The Disc of the Day belongs to Thomas Rhett, who manages to marry a loser’s lyric to a winner’s audio sunshine.

MONTY BYROM/Meet Me at Midnight
Writers: Monty Byrom/Paul Kalman; Producer: Monty Byrom; Publishers: Byrom, SESAC; WTF (track)
-Remember the Bakersfield band Big House and its groovy 1997 hit “Cold Outside?” The group’s Monty Byrom now leads The Buckaroos at The Crystal Palace once a month and has his own blues-rocking combo The Road Pilots. With the latter, he has recorded his debut solo CD, 100 Miles South of Eden. That’s where you’ll find this swampy, soulful ballad beckoning a belle to sex and sadness. Very cool. The album’s last track, by the way, features the late Buck Owens singing with Byrom on a 1998 version of “Big In Vegas.”

COLE SWINDELL/Let Me See Ya Girl
Writers: Cole Swindell/Michael Carter/Jody Stevens; Producer: Michael Carter; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/243/Sony-ATV Cross Keys; BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-He wants to see her “dance” in the bed of his truck, “movin’ your hips like the wind moves cotton.” It may not be the most romantic invitation in the world, but it is lively and tuneful.

BRYAN HAYES/Farther Down the Line
Writers: Bryan Hayes; Producer: Andy Hunt; Publishers: none listed; BMI; BH (track)
– The title tune to his new CD finds this tenor Tennessee troubadour questioning the future of a relationship with plenty of catchy hooks. It has been seven years since his last collection because he wrote these 11 new songs while serving in Iraq. Welcome home, bro.

Thomas-Rhettfeatured

Thomas Rhett

THOMAS RHETT/Crash and Burn
Writers: Jesse Frasure/Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Publishers: Rio Bravo/WB/Ken Tucky; BMI/ASCAP; Valory
– Jaunty and bopping, featuring hand claps, whistling and a dandy rhythm track. The lyric is about a love crashing and burning, but heartache has never sounded quite this bouncy. Delightful.

RAINEY QUALLEY/Turn Me On Like The Radio
Writers: Rainey Qualley/John Ramey/Jeffrey Easy; Producers: Russ Zavitson/John Ramey; Publishers: Russ Zavitson/Rainey Qualley/Tazmaraz, ASCAP/BMI; Cingle (track)
– Instantly familiar, with a melody that grabs your ears and won’t let go. An automatic add and a sure-fire hit for a newcomer with a winning, throaty, alto range.

LIVEWIRE/Quit You
Writers: Andy Eutsler/Danny Bell/Jeffrey Joseph East; Producers: Paul Carabello/Clif Doyal; Publishers: Real Man/Parrot Island/Tazmaraz; BMI; Way Out West
-I remain a fan. This time, LiveWire takes on a dark ballad with the theme of love being like an addiction. Slowly insinuating.

WHITEY MORGAN & THE 78s/Waitin’ ‘Round to Die
Writers: Townes Van Zandt; Producer: Ryan Hewitt; Publisher: Silver Dollar, ASCAP; WM (track)
-Morgan previews next month’s Sonic Ranch CD with a video of this dark, doom-drenched and completely gripping ballad. You’ll hang on every line, probably because it’s written by a master song craftsman. In addition to Van Zandt, the singer-songwriter covers tunes by Tom T. Hall, Frankie Miller and Waylon Jennings, with whom he shares a dramatic “outlaw” vocal personna. Highly recommended.

2 STEEL GIRLS/Mad Black Magic
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; 2SG
-This is a mother-daughter duo — Allison and Krystal Steel — who competed on Team Blake during the 2012-13 season of The Voice. Their new single combines deep-thump rhythm and feisty-female “attitude” vocals. It drops on Tuesday, April 21. I’m intrigued.

TY BATES/Tongue Tied
Writers: Ty Bates/Thomas Archer; Producer: Rogers Masson; Publishers: none listed; TB (track)
– I dig his Georgia drawl. The song’s idea is a clever play on stuttering and kissing. I like it, even though it is somewhat wordy and could use a more memorable chorus.

ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/United We Fall
Writers: Adrian Duffy/Melvin Duffy; Producers: Adrian Duffy/Melvin Duffy/Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; SR (track)
– The three Duffy brothers from Ireland have been tantalizing me with their excellent singles for a couple of years. Now they have a crowd-funded full album at last. Its title tune is chock full of harmony vocals, ringing guitars and echoey atmosphere. These guys have vocal, songwriting and production chops in abundance.

DISClaimer: Americana Packs Musical Firepower

Liz-Longleyfeatured

Liz Longley

The Americana genre is bringing out its big guns this spring.

Such core artists as Steve Earle, former spouse Allison Moorer, the duo of Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, the late Jack Clement and such stalwarts as the McCrarys and Mike Henderson are all bringing forth new albums.

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Liz Longley has evidently released three prior CDs, but her Sugar Hill debut is the first I’ve heard. This week’s DisCovery Award winner is booked at City Winery on April 22. Let a word to the wise be sufficient.

The Disc of the Day prize goes to the divinely gifted McCrary Sisters. Their record is out now, and as soon as May 12 rolls around, I urge you to also buy the latest by Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell.

EMMYLOU HARRIS & RODNEY CROWELL/The Traveling Kind
Writers: none listed; Producer: Joe Henry; Publishers: none listed; Nonesuch (track)
-Their new CD drops on May 12, but is available digitally now. Its title tune and lead-off track finds their iconic voices harmonizing flawlessly throughout a wistful, loping, gently swaying ode to wandering spirits. As if their singing and the beautifully poetic song weren’t enough, the acoustic track ripples like a breeze-kissed pond.

SUGARCANE JANE/Home Nights
Writers: Crawford/Cason; Producer: Buzz Cason; Publishers: Dirt Roads End/Buzz Cason, BMI/ASCAP; ArenA (track)
-This haunting, minor-key gem gleams with sonic polish. It can be found on Dirt Road’s End, the debut CD by Sugarcane Jane. Nashvillians with good taste and long memories will recall this duo’s Anthony Crawford as a solo artist and as the ultimate sideman for folks like Neil Young, Steve Winwood, Dwight Yoakam, Steve Forbert, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill and more. After leaving Music City, he settled on Alabama’s Gulf Coast with the other half of Sugarcane Jane, his wife Savana Lee.

STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES/You’re The Best Lover That I Ever Had
Writer: Steve Earle; Producer: R.S. Field; Publishers: Exile on Jones Street, ASCAP; New West (track)
-Earle’s new Terraplane CD is a blues collection. On this low-key moaner, he sings in a brushy, husky, soft drawl that ranks among his most expressive performances in years. The whole collection is essential listening.

AMY SPEACE/Better Than This
Writers: Amy Speace/Kate Kim; Producer: Neilson Hubbard; Publishers: Amy Speace/Katherine Kim, ASCAP/BMI; Windbone (track)
-Baltimore-bred Speace is a Nashvillian who purposefully recorded her new That Kind of Girl in three days, live with such stellar Americana sidemen as Will Kimbrough, Dan Mitchell, Garrison Starr and producer Hubbard. She wished to capture the emotional immediacy of its song cycle about a failed romance and its aftermath. Here, she offers herself hope in a rushed, breathy vocal that seems to be a chin-up message to a bruised heart.

THE FAIRFIELD FOUR/Rock My Soul
Writers: traditional; Producers: The Fairfield Four/Lee Olsen; Publishers: public domain; Fairfield Four
-Established in 1925, this a cappella Nashville institution’s current lineup is Levert Allison, Larrice Byrd, Bobbye Sherrill and Joe Thompson. Without an instrument in sight, they stir up a mighty, rhythmic, urgent sound on the lead track of their Still Rockin’ My Soul CD. With a legacy that includes a 1997 Grammy Award and a high-profile appearance in the 2001 movie O Brother Where Art Thou, the “new” Fairfield Four carries the name forward in triumph with this disc. Lee Ann Womack drops by to sing soulfully with the fellows on “Children Go Where I Send Thee.” Buy and believe.

LIZ LONGLEY/Outta My Head
Writer: Liz Longley; Producer: Gus Berry; Publishers: Luckelizz/Welk; ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track)
-I think I’m in love. As she spooled out this wafting, pulsing saga of romantic regret, I got completely lost in its delicious melody and her hooky chorus. Her supporting instrumentalists include such Nashville A-listers as Tom Bukovac, Michael Rhodes, J.T. Corenflos and John Hobbs. This lady has it all — tense vocal finesse, songwriting chops, dynamite production. Also check out “Bad Habit” and “Memphis.” Along with this track, they’re available as downloads on iTunes. I guarantee you’ll be as smitten as I am.

COWBOY JACK CLEMENT/I’ve Got A Thing About Trains
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; I.R.S. (track)
-Recorded just before his death in 2013, For Once and For All finds Clement in surprisingly robust form singing versions of his songwriting classics “Miller’s Cave,” “Just a Girl I Used to Know,” “I Know One” (my favorite), “Just Between You and Me,” “Let the Chips Fall” and the like. The collection leads off with this baleful bit of nostalgia from the legendary Hall of Famer.

The McCrary Sisters

The McCrary Sisters

THE McCRARY SISTERS/By The Mark
Writers: Gillian Welch/David Rawlings; Producer: Buddy Miller; Publishers: Cracklin/Irving/Say Uncle/Buddy Miller, BMI; MCC/Thirty Tigers (track)
-If these gals can’t give you goosebumps, you must be clinically dead. Harmonizing as only siblings can, the four McCrarys are arguably — individually and collectively — the greatest soul singers in Music City. Their new Let’s Go collection finds them simply and sympathetically produced by Americana star Buddy Miller. Choosing listening tracks among these 16 gems is a fruitless enterprise, since each one captivates. Just play ‘em all.

THE MIKE HENDERSON BAND/I Wanta Know Why
Writer: Mike Henderson; Producer: Kevin McKendree; Publishers: none listed, BMI; EllerSoul (track)
-He’s in the running as World’s Coolest Human, since Henderson used to play ace bluegrass music in The SteelDrivers while still holding down his Monday-night residency at The Bluebird Cafe as our favorite blues rocker. It is in this latter guise that he has recorded the simmering slab of sound If You Think It’s Hot Here. The comeback collection leads off with this scorcher and doesn’t let up from then on. By the time you hit the halfway point, your ears are sweating. In addition to a clutch of new Henderson originals, the band covers Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters and other bluesmen. We’re so lucky to have this group in our community.

DISClaimer: A Celebration of Songwriting

Toby-Keithfeatured1

Toby Keith

It all begins with a song.

The thing that unites all of the standout records this week is that they all feature the craftsmanship that good country music has always boasted.

Whether it’s Zane Williams’s outstanding story lyric, Chris Stapleton’s road tune, Rich Karg’s cool description of momentary love without commitment, Toby Keith’s meditation on decaying society or Steve Azar’s musing about lost innocence these discs contain writing that makes me proud to be a country fan.

Throughout the career of Toby Keith, the consistent excellence of his songwriting has beamed brightly. He wins the Disc of the Day.

The DisCovery Award goes to Rich Karg. His CD is full of unexpected pleasures.

DIANA UPTON-HILL/Do Love Well
Writers: Mitchell T. Goudy; Producer: Bryan White; Publishers: Bread N Pants, ASCAP; Third Floor (track)
-Sunny and sugary. Sorry, I’ve never had much of a sweet tooth.

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Long Stretch of Love
Writers: Dave Haywood/Charles Kelley/Hillary Scott/Josh Kear; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Lady Antebellum; Publishers: Beards and Bullets/30A Getaway/Hobbs Hill/Kobalt/Global Dog/Book of Spells, ASCAP/SESAC; Capitol Nashville
-The multiple audio layers make it sound like there are a lot more than three voices on this. Dense sounding, but highly commercial.

Rich KargRICH KARG/Beautiful Distraction
Writers: Weston Burt/R. Karg/S. Mitchell; Producer: Rich Karg; Publishers: Rich Karg/Green Hills Music Group/Grin Like Dog, SESAC; RK (track)
-This Nashville singer-songwriter is selling a CD titled U Turn at his gigs. It contains this deliciously melodic power ballad about hooking up with no strings attached. You big-time stars and producers out there need to be mining this and the other tunes on this collection for gold. Recommended listening.

JOSH GOODLETT/Why You Gotta Be That Way
Writers: Bobby E. Boyd/Brad Wolf/Phillip Moore; Producer: Bobby E. Boyd; Publishers: Boyd Where Prohibited/Green Dog, BMI; Good
-The country-rocking production is on the money, and he is a fine country singer. The song doesn’t do much for me, but overall this is a perfectly OK effort.

TOBY KEITH/35 MPH Town
Writers: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Producers: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Publishers: Tokeco/Bobby’s Lyrics Land & Livestock/Do Write, BMI; Show Dog (CDX)
-This is an extremely well written song about a mother who doesn’t like what she sees around her these days. She cautions her boy that things aren’t like they used to be. Toby’s vocal is a masterpiece of urgent phrasing, and the dramatic production totally kicks butt. Play it again.

STEVE AZAR & SOPHIE YOUNG/The Sky Is Falling
Writers: Steve Azar; Producer: Steve Azar; Publishers: Steve Azar, BMI; Ride (CDX)
-Their duet about lost youth and forgotten innocence glides on wafting wings of sound. Ear catching.

CASEY JAMES/Fall Apart
Writers: Will Bowen/Joshua Carter/Zach Carter; Producers: Chris Lindsey/Casey James; Publishers: Vaughn Fenwick/Little Extra/Ten Thousand Hours/Petite-T/Music of Parallel, BMI; Columbia (CDX)
-Pleading with a broken heart, he sings the fire out of this. But I’m sorry: “Every time I run into you, I fall apart” is not exactly the most original idea in songwriting history.

TYLER HAMMOND/Wild One Tonight
Writers: Chris Jones; Producer: Chris Jones; Publishers: Chris Jones, ASCAP; Milley (CDX)
-I like the moody, thumpy production and the up-close-and-personal quality in his singing. I also like the way it builds in sonic complexity. I’m intrigued. Send more.

CHRIS STAPLETON/Traveller
Writers: Chris Stapleton; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: WB/Ken Tucky, ASCAP; Mercury (CDX)
-He remains one of the most gripping vocalists on today’s scene. This lonely-wanderer song is right up his alley. The tempo rolls along appropriately. Super listenable.

ZANE WILLIAMS/Jayton and Jill
Writers: Zane Williams; Producers: Zane Williams/Tom Faulkner; Publishers: Born Into Love/Be Original, ASCAP; Be (CDX)
-I love a good country story song, and this one is a pip. Jayton is an everyday guy working at a filling station and feeling suicidal. Jill is preacher’s daughter gone wild. They meet, talk all night and save one another’s troubled souls. A dandy, an instant classic.

DISClaimer: Close Calls and Country Music

blake-shelton1featuredThere are tough decisions to be made among the platters on tap this week.

For someone who makes a living speaking his mind, I had a awful hard time making mine up.

Let’s start with the DisCovery Award. There are two extremely worthy contenders, both from Texas. They are Cody Riley and Sim Balkey. I liked them both and wrestled mentally over this, but in a close call, I choose Sim Balkey for this week’s honor.

The choice for Disc of the Day was also between two super efforts. This time, I wound up in a deadlock. I can’t decide, so I’m calling it a tie between the Eli Young Band and Blake Shelton. Both of them stole my heart, and my ears.

CODY RILEY/Walls Don’t Build Themselves
Writers: Cody Riley/Dylan Riley; Producers: Wade Bowen/Ross Smith; Publishers: Thirty Ought, ASCAP; CR
-The track rocks with a terrific backbeat and unrelenting propulsion. By contrast, his twangy tenor has a tender-hearted, shy, pleading, boyish earnestness that is as country as grits. Also: The song is quite well written. Different sounding and oddly endearing.

LITTLE TEXAS/Young For A Long Time
Writers: D.Gray/P.Howell/D.O’Brien; Producer: Little Texas; Publishers: Del Yeah/P-90/Songs O’Brien, ASCAP; Goldenlane (track)
-These ‘90s “young country” favorites are back with a new collection that pairs 11 new songs with remakes of “God Blessed Texas” and “What Might Have Been.” The title tune is a lively rocker that sings the praises of being eternally youthful. Effervescent.

sim balkey

Sim Balkey

SIM BALKEY/How ‘Bout We Do That Tonight
Writers: Simon Balkey/Sarah Balkey; Producer: Kim Copeland; Publishers: Around the Cooler, BMI; SB (track)
-He has a solid honky-tonk baritone and a song with hooks a-plenty. The track simmers with pent-up energy and barely controlled fire. This kid has the goods. Spin him.

BLAKE SHELTON/Sangria
Writers: J.T. Harding/Josh Osborne/Trevor Rosen; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Songs/Mighty Seven/Heavy Metal Disco/Might Seven/Songs of SMP/One Little Indian Creek/Songs of Black River/ReHits/Smacktown/Smack Blue, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-Can someone please explain to me why this man is not nominated for Entertainer of the Year at the ACM’s? He stars on a huge hit TV show (The Voice), co-hosts one of country’s biggest specials (the ACM show, itself) and — unlike the men who are nominated — is a stupendous country-music vocalist. Blake’s swaying, romantic new single is head-and-shoulders above efforts by most of his peers. An atmospheric performance to get lost in.

PAT WATERS/Crazy That Way
Writers: David Lee/Eric Church/Tony Lane; Producer: Eric Paul; Publisher: Harmony, no performance rights listed; Big Valley Agency
-It’s rather preachy for my taste.

DARIUS RUCKER/Southern Style
Writers: Darius Rucker/Rivers Rutherford/Tim James; Producer: Frank Rogers: Publishers: Universal/Cadaja/Memphianna/Warner-Tamerlane/T-Brid’s, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol (track)
-The title tune of Rucker’s new CD sounded like a winner when he debuted it at CRS. It still does. His singing is more relaxed and breezy this time around. The melody is wonderfully lilting. And the lyric is loaded with vivid Dixie imagery.

MANDY ROWDEN/Haunt You
Writers: Mandy Rowden/Billy Abel; Producers: Mandy Rowden/Joe Carroll; Publishers: none listed, BMI; MR (track)
-This Austin gal has a new CD called These Bad Habits. It features this languidly-paced tune where she seems to approach each note with caution. She is a little pitchy. The steel playing by Lloyd Maines dominates the track and is what will truly “Haunt You.”

Photo: Republic Nashville

Photo: Republic Nashville

ELI YOUNG BAND/Turn It On
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Republic Nashville
-How do they do it? Every time this band comes up with the catchiest song on the country scene, it manages to find yet another one. This one sends your brain into a dizzy, fizzy stratosphere of sound. The rapid-fire lyric is matched by a swirling instrumental track and rhythm that doesn’t let up for one second. Thrilling.

THE LACS/God Bless A Country Girl
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Average Joes
-It’s a combination of rap and bro country. Just what we need.

AUDREY AULD/I Am Not What I Have Done
Writers: Gary Harrell/Juan Meja/Joey Barnes/Rolf Kissmann/Gino Sevacos/Justus Evans/Michael Littlebear/Andrew Vance/Khalifah Christensen/Felix Lucero/Kevin Sawyer/Joe Askey/Audrey Auld; Reckless (track)
-Auld has been conducting songwriting workshops in San Quentin Prison since 2006. She has included five compositions that she created with inmates on her new CD Hey Warden. This one asks for simple understanding and compassion. It is a simple guitar-vocal, but elsewhere on the album she is joined by notable Nashville sidemen such Kenny Vaughan and Dennis Wage.

DISClaimer: Country’s Fringe Offers Solid Benefits

Brendon Preece

Brendon Preece

In today’s exploration of the fringes of the country music world, I found plenty to like.

Here are some folks you might not know about, but should: Chris Heers, Dexter Roberts, Cash Creek, Brendon Preece, Ricky Gunn and John Moreland. All but Heers, a former DisCovery Award winner, are making their debuts in DisClaimer this week.

Today’s DisCovery Award honoree comes from this list. It is Brendon Preece. I know very little about him, other than the fact that he’s a Texan. But his debut single made me sit straight up, pay attention and want to know (and hear) more. Whoever he is, he has star quality.

The Disc of the Day goes to American Idol alumnus Dexter Roberts.

JUSTIN PECINA/Rude To Share
Writers: Justin Pecina; Producer: Greg White; Publisher: none listed; JP
-Pleasant and inoffensive, if not exactly gripping. He has a smooth tenor voice, and the production is unobtrusive.

DEXTER ROBERTS/Dream About Me
Writers: Dexter Roberts/David Jones/Brad Wolf/Don Goodman/Erik Nelson; Producer: Erik Nelson; Publishers: Honky Tonk Skool/Morris Bedell/Sounds and More/First Launch, BMI/ASCAP; First Launch
-This fellow was a top-10 finalist on Season 13 of American Idol. His jaunty debut single is quite engaging, with a flirty, built-in smile and a catchy, winning chorus. Promising.

BRENDON PREECE/Truck
Writers: Brendon Preece; Producers: Tim Phelan/Brendon Preece; Publishers: none listed; BP
-Now here’s a solid honky-tonk singer. His baritone drawls and dips in all the right places. The tempo tune cooks with gas as it tells the tale of a guy who muses, “looks like I’m livin’ in my truck now.” You see, she’s kicked him out because of his partying ways. Mr. Preece has it all going on as both a writer and a vocalist. Send more, pronto.

CASH CREEK/Even Angels Have Bad Days
Writers: Harris/Barker; Producer: Kimo Forrest; Publishers: none listed; Heartland (track)
-This hooky, easy-going country rocker boasts tight band harmonies, cool guitar work, propulsive percussion, deft fiddling and a wistful, likeable, pop-ish lead vocal. Extremely programmable. Spin it.

Dexter RobertsSUZANNE JARVIE/Spiral Road
Writers: Suzanne Jarvie; Producer: Hugh Christopher Brown; Publishers: Modern Works, SOCAN/ASCAP; SJ (track)
-It’s a mystical, poetic meditation with Southwest Native American imagery. Her alto is mixed so you can follow every line in the spacey spiritualism. Direct this folkie outing toward your Americana listeners.

RICKY GUNN/King of This Town
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; New Canvas
-As a teen, he ruled his rural flyspeck village: “Nothin’ but cornfields for miles around/I was the king of this town.” Alas, now he’s grown up and no one remembers. Well written (uncredited) and expertly (if anonymously) produced. You have talent. Start packaging yourself with some professionalism.

JOHN MORELAND/High on Tulsa Heat
Writers: John Moreland/John Calvin Abney; Producer: John Moreland; Publishers: FTWSNGS/Bullet in the Chamber Folk, BMI; Old Omens/Thirty Tigers (track)
-The title tune of Moreland’s new collection has a really groovy, jingle-jangle sound. Not only that, he sings with a heart-grabbing rasp that would do any blue-collar rocker proud. Somewhere, Springsteen is smiling. I wish all country music sounded as cool as this.

CHRIS HEERS/Road Trip
Writers: Chris Heers/Sammy Steele; Producers: Pat McGrath/Chris Heers; Publishers: Saddlefarm, ASCAP; Saddlefarm (track)
-I have admired this man in the past, and his second CD more than delivers on the promise of his first. Titled The Road Ahead Shines, it features this breezy, steel-soaked highway tune about a guy who tells his boss to kiss his keister and heads off for parts unknown. You can practically feel the wind in his smiling face as he glides through the countryside in search of American beauty. Get hip to this guy’s songwriting: you won’t find many more cinematic, vivid character portrayers working today.

JEFF BLANEY/Go Now, Don’t Look Back
Writers: Jeff Blaney; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Very Entertaining
-The bouncing fiddle and brushed drums kick this off with elan, but when the singing starts, things become rather more tentative. labored and uncertain. I recommend some seasoning. Or a demo singer.

DON MIDDLEBROOK/Bluer Skies Down The Road
Writers: Don Middlebrook; Producers: Don Middlebrook/Ricky Nalett; Publishers: none listed; DM (track)
-The title does not occur in the chorus. The verses don’t scan. The noodling band is lame. He can just barely sing. Other than that, “How did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”

DISClaimer: A Return of Female Voices

Striking Matches album 2015Well, whaddaya know: There are seven female voices in this week’s column.

That’s big news for the week after they revealed that the LP Field headliners for this week’s CMA Music Festival will include only ONE solo female act, Wynonna. Even taking into account Hillary Scott of Lady A, Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry and Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of LBT, that’s five women versus 33 men in group and solo spots. Thank you, country radio.

All of which makes me especially proud of the work being done by Trisha Yearwood, Jana Kramer and Cam on this week’s singles. Also of that by Sarah Zimmermann. Her lead voice in Striking Matches helps bring that duo a DisCovery Award.

But the Disc of the Day goes to a couple of guys. That would be the undeniable Brothers Osborne.

CLAIRE PETRIE/(C’est La Vie) You Never Can Tell
Writers: Chuck Berry; Producer: Jack Gale; Publisher: Arc, BMI; Playback (track)
-Newcomer Petrie attacks this Chuck Berry/Emmylou Harris chestnut with gusto. Whoever that is working out on the squeeze box and the fiddle also do an outstanding job.

JANA KRAMER/I Got The Boy
Writers: Tim Nichols/Connie Harrington/Jamie Lynn Spears; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Nichols Boys/Made for This/All for This/Sweet Jamie, BMI; Elektra (CDX)
-This gal has shown consistently excellent taste in songs. This time around, she’s chosen a superbly written ballad about a lady on the losing side of love. “I got the boy/She got the man,” is the hooky refrain. Sounds like a hit to me.

ERIC CHURCH/Like A Wrecking Ball
Writers: Eric Church/Casey Beathard; Producer: Jay Joyce: Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Longer and Louder/Sony-ATV Acuff Rose/Six Ring Circus, BMI; EMI (track)
-He’s coming off the road planning to make love so fierce that the whole house will shake and quake. The slow-burn arrangement and the dark echo on his voice keep you hanging on every line. Simmering.

CAM/My Mistake
Writers: Camaron Ochs/Tyler Johnson; Producers: Jeff Bhasker/Tyler Johnson; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Arista (CDX)
-The big pop production can’t bury the personality in her voice, nor the craftsmanship in this song. Extremely listenable and extremely promising, to boot.

TRISHA YEARWOOD/I Remember You
Writers: Kelly Archer/Ben Caver/Brad Rempel; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: Internal Combustion/Southside Independent/Year9/Universal/Centricity/Music Services, BMI/ASCAP; Gwendolyn/RCA
-My heart stood still. With understated force, Yearwood draws you slowly and inexorably into this masterful ballad of death and nostalgia. A simple strummed guitar and a sighing string quartet accompany her. And that’s all she needs.

STRIKING MATCHES/Hanging On A Lie
Writers: Justin Davis/Sarah Zimmermann; Producer: T Bone Burnett: Publishers: Justin Davis/Sarahzimm/Universal, ASCAP; I.R.S. (CDX)
-Zimmermann’s tart lead vocal is like a slap across the cheek. Davis chimes in with flawless harmony. The track has snap, crackle and backbeat in spades. Kiss-off attitude has seldom sounded so spunky and catchy. A winner.

JOHN KING/On Your Lips
Writers: John King/Justin Wilson/Michael White; Producers: Doug Johnson/John King; Publishers: Songs of Black River/Songs of Razor & Tie/Music of Parallel/Downtown DMP/Legends of Magic Mustang/Loud Bucks, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC; Black River
-King introduced this during the CRS convention. I was impressed with how cool and sexy it sounded live. The recorded version is almost as groovy, even if it does rock a bit too loudly and busily. Let the song speak for itself, boys.

RUTHIE COLLINS/Ramblin’ Man
Writers: Hank Williams; Producer: Curt Gibbs; Publishers: Sony ATV Acuff Rose, BMI; Sidewalk/Curb
-The electronic effects and goosed tempo in the arrangement take this miles away from the Hank original. Her pert, perky soprano does too. None of this is in sympathy with the lyric. Pass.

Brothers Osborne

Brothers Osborne

BROTHERS OSBORNE/Stay A Little Longer
Writers: John Osborne/TJ Osborne/Shane McAnally; Producer: Brothers Osborne/Brad Hill; Publishers: WB/All the Kings Pens/Universal/Smack Ink, ASCAP; EMI (CDX)
– Here’s another tune that had a CRS debut. I have seen these guys live in both band and duo situations and have been blown away each and every time. This relentless, driving, rapid-fire track is a star maker, for sure. Hang on for the brain-melting instrumental coda. Play on, brothers.

AMBER HAYES/Running Out of Memories
Writers: Amber Hayes/Bill DiLuigi/JP Williams; Producer: Bobby Terry; Publishers: Okie Girl/888/Rio Bravo/Blonde Leading Blind, ASCAP/BMI; A-OK (track)
-I like the lustrous quality and the confidence in her singing. Terry’s production is just right on this bopper, and the tune has lots of commercial potential. Worth your spins.

DISClaimer: Dreamers & Singers

RaeLynn-MefeaturedThis is a week for beginners. Fully eight of these 10 artists are making their debuts in the DisClaimer column. And both of our winners are first timers.

Young RaeLynn wins our Disc of the Day prize. Heaven knows, we need more solo females in this format. Native Texan Darwin Macon bursts on the scene with one of the finest singles in this stack of platters. And it is, hands down, the best song of the day. Give that man a DisCovery Award.

GREG SHIRLEY/The Good Drugs
Writers: Chris Wallin/Dave Gibson; Producers: T.W. Cargile/Greg Shirley; Publishers: Ole Red Cape/29 Cent Hamburger/ASCAP; Garage Door
-Alabama’s Greg Shirley was one of the dozens of new artists showcasing during CRS last week. His ballad is tastefully produced, sung with country authority and carries a cautionary message from an old man to a youngster. Recommended.

RAELYNN/For A Boy
Writers: RaeLynn/Laura Veltz; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: Super Big/I Take the Bull By the Horns/Big Machine/Prescription/Kobalt/Warner-Tamerlane/Oh Denise, ASCAP/BMI; Valory Music
-Catchy and youthful. Accompanied by a bouncing, beefy track, she’s urging a guy to go ahead and make a move.

EILEEN CAREY/Sweet Love
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; RolleyCstr
-Thin sounding. The band is spare, and her singing is pretty lightweight.

MITCH GOUDY/My Girl’s Hand
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Third Floor
-He kinda mumbles and meanders in the heartbroken verses. He opens up vocally in the choruses, finally getting to the point: “He’s holding my girl’s hand.”

Darwin MaconDARWIN MACON/I Still Drink About Her
Writers: Bobby Terry/Jason Sellers; Producer: Jason Rooks; Publishers: none listed; Macon Bacon
-This wins points for the title, alone. The singer is solidly country and the production jangles admirably. And you can’t beat a lyric like this: “One more to remember, one more to forget, one more for the road that I can’t seem to go down yet.” A winner.

ADRIAN JOHNSTON/Avalanche
Writers: Heather Morgan/Zac Maloy; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Sony-ATV/Warner Chappell, no performance rights listed; AJ
-The intent is rock ‘em, sock ‘em. I wasn’t convinced.

ERNIE OLDFIELD/Seven Days
Writers: Peter Jordan; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; World International
-I sort of like the drum-machine, Euro-pop production mixed with the on-the-road, sing-songy country tune. Ear grabbing.

POOR J. BROWN/Daddy’s Son
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; PJB
-This is the debut single from a six-piece Texas band. Vocally and instrumentally, they sound like they have the goods. The song, however, has almost no melody whatsoever.

HEATHER DICKSON/Eventually
Writers: Terri Sharp; Producer: Rick Durrett; Publishers: Bocephus/Paradise Cove, BMI; Heartshake (track)
-The singer is from Scotland. The songwriter is from Texas. The producer is from Nashville. They all seem talented, but the sum of their efforts just lays there lifeless.

MOONLIGHT SOCIAL/Heading South
Writers: Jeremy Burchard/Jennica Scott; Producers: Matt Noveskey/Jeremy Burchard; Publisher: none listed; MS
-This is male-female duo. She sings with striking, full-throated volume, and he wails harmony with equal force. The track burns with fiery energy. The only drawback is that the song’s title is buried. Send more. I am definitely intrigued.

DISClaimer: Disc of the Day Triple Play

image002 (3)It’s all stars, no waiting, here at the CRS convention in Music City.

With the big-shot radio taste makers assembled, a lot of you are bringing twinkle power to DISClaimer this week. From legends like Glen Campbell to promising newcomers like Drake White; from radio mainstays like Gary Allan to outsiders like The Kentucky HeadHunters; from acclaimed Ashley Monroe to supernovas Florida Georgia Line, they’re all releasing new music at once.

Our male winner of Disc of the Day is Drake White. The female prize goes to Ashley Monroe. And there’s no denying the star power of Florida Georgia Line as the winning group. Since there are no first timers this week, the DisCovery Award goes unclaimed.

LORRAINE JORDAN & CAROLINA ROAD WITH THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS/Runnin’ Water
Writers: Anthony T. Kenney/Richard O. Young/Calvin Douglas Phelps/Gregory Glenn Martin/Fredrick K. Young; Producers: Lorraine Jordan/Josh Goforth; Publishers: Song Garden/Them Young Boys/I.B. Headed/Mr. Erik, ASCAP/BMI; Pinecastle (CDX)
-I was wondering how this collaboration would work when I saw the billing. Carolina Road’s banjo-based bluegrass decidedly dominates with the HeadHunters offering hearty vocal encouragement. Lively and infectious.

GARY ALLAN/Hangover Tonight
Writers: Gary Allan/Chris Stapleton/Jesse Frasure/Cary Barlowe; Producers: Gary Allan & Greg Droman; Publishers: Crystal Beach/WB/Ken Tucky/Rio Bravo/Telemitry/Castle Bound/We Be Pawtying, BMI/ASCAP/SESAC; MCA Nashville
-The track sounds a kinda muddy to me. His charismatic voice has trouble cutting through. It’s a shame it’s so cluttered, because the basic groove sways nicely.

BLACKBERRY SMOKE/Living In The Song
Writers: Charlie Starr; Producer: Brendan O’Brien; Publishers: Crowhop Hymnal, BMI; Rounder (CDX)
-Southern rock with snap, crackle and pop.

WADE BOWEN/When I Woke Up Today
Writers: Wade Bowen/Rodney Clawson; Producer: Justin Niebank; Publishers: House of Sea Gayle/Big Red Toe, ASCAP/BMI; AMP (CDX)
-It’s a catchy toe tapper with jingle-jangle guitars, a cool lyric and a hearty lead vocal. I dig this a whole bunch.

FGL_Wheel_Jeremy Cowart

Florida Georgia Line. Photo: Jeremy Cowart

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Sippin’ On Fire
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Matt Dragstrem/Cole Taylor; Producer: Joey Moi; Publishers: Big Red Toe/Farm Town/Big Loud Songs/Big Loud Bucks/Universal, BMI/ASCAP; Republic Nashville
-I like the ringing electric guitar and the processed drawling vocal performance. The choruses seem rather word-y on their round-about route to the title phrase.

FREDDIE HART/God Is Easy Lovin’
Writers: Freddie Hart; Producer: Tommy Smith, Mike McClain, Freddie Hart; Publishers: Sony-ATV, no performance rights listed; Hartline (CDX)
-It has the same melody and groove as Freddie’s 1971 smash “Easy Loving,” except with a gospel lyric. He still sings well, but I could have done without the echo-chamber backup chicks.

ASHLEY MONROE/On To Something Good
Writers: Ashley Monroe/Barry Dean/Luke Laird; Producers: Vince Gill & Justin Niebank; Publishers: Monroe Suede/Songs of Kobalt/Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Country Paper/Pulse Nation/Twangin and Slangin, BMI; Warner Bros.
-This upbeat, rolling-tempo ode to better times ahead goes down as smooth as a milkshake. This thing has a built-in smile, as well as a twirl-around-the-room vibe.

HANNAH BETHEL/You Wanna Be My Man
Writers: Hannah Bethel & David Myhre; Producers: Hannah Bethel & Brennin Hunt; Publishers: Hamwyn/David Myhre, BMI/ASCAP; HBM (CDX)
-Pert and perky, with a girlish sweetness. The track bops with nifty precision and perfect crunch. Well sung and well produced.

Drake White

Drake White

DRAKE WHITE/It Feels Good
Writers: Drake White/Phillip Pence/Derek George; Producers: Ross Copperman & Jeremy Stover; Publishers: EMI April/Reverend Jack/Sony-ATV/WB/Funky Friars/Nury3000, ASCAP/SESAC; Dot
-The percussion is awesome. The soulful, so-o-o-o Southern, drawling, yowsah vocal performance is outstanding. The track cooks with gas. Play it again. And again.

GLEN CAMPBELL/I’m Not Gonna Miss You
Writers: Julian Raymond/Glen Campbell; Producers: Julian Raymond; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine (track)
-Tim McGraw’s performance of this Oscar-nominated song was an emotional high point of the Academy Awards telecast. Glen Campbell’s single from the soundtrack of his alzheimer tour documentary I’ll Be Me is even more heartbreaking. Essential listening.

DISClaimer: A Slice of Americana

blackbirdsgretchenpetersfeauturedThe women of Americana are in the spotlight more than ever this winter.

Rosanne Cash swept all three Americana categories at the Grammy Awards. Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Brandi Carlile, Amy Speace and Rhiannon Giddens (of The Carolina Chocolate Drops) are all promoting strong new music.

And both of the top discs in this week’s edition of “DisClaimer” come from female singer-songwriters. Actually, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Gretchen Peters are two of Nashville’s finest writers, regardless of gender. Gretchen Peters gets the edge as the Disc of the Day, but you really need to own both of these women’s recordings. Gretchen guests on Beth’s, by the way.

The DisCovery Award goes to another act that’s on the current Americana radio chart. That would be Canada’s The Bros. Landreth.

GURF MORLIX/Dirt Old Buffalo
Writers: Gurf Morlix; Producer: Gurf Morlix; Publishers: Crankbait/Bug, SESAC; Rootball (track)
-This longtime Americana favorite has made his mark as a producer (Lucinda Williams) and a guitarist (Warren Zevon), as well as the creator of eight solo CDs. His latest, Eatin’ At Me, leads off with this dark word portrait of his hometown and its lost, rust-belt citizens. His hushed rasp matches the lyric perfectly, and it goes without saying that his stark electric-guitar work is gripping, too. The collection isn’t exactly a million laughs, but it is nonetheless heartily recommended.

GRETCHEN PETERS/Blackbirds
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Scarlet Letter
-The title tune of this recent Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee’s new CD is a murder ballad with a minimalist production dominated by an electric guitar’s chopped. haunting notes. You’ll hang on every line. But, then, that’s the case for everything this stupendous talent writes. If you care anything at all about songwriting craftsmanship, buy this collection at once.

JOEY MISKULIN/Avalon
Writers: Goodwin; Producer: Joey Miskulin; Publishers: none listed; MusicWagon
-The new solo CD by this Grammy-winning member of Riders in the Sky is called The Other Side of the Fence. It is a jazz accordion (I’m serious) instrumental collection containing standards he heard growing up in Chicago. The lively, lilting “Avalon” dates from 1921, and is best known via a vocal version by Al Jolson. Miskulin’s zippy accordion riffs are abetted by the solos of Denis Solee’s clarinet and Andre Reiss’s guitar. This is the soundtrack of my next dinner party, for sure.

CRAIG MARKET & THOMM JUTZ/Nowhere To Ride
Writers: Craig Market/Thomm Jutz; Producers: Thomm Jutz/Craig Market; Publishers: Drop D/ThommSongs/Bluewater, BMI/SESAC; NTH (track)
-This is the title tune of a splendid set by two Nashville troubadours, performing with simple, rippling, twin acoustic guitars and brotherly, folkie harmonizing voices. The warmth in their performances glows through every one of these 12 tracks.

BOB DYLAN/That Lucky Old Sun
Writers: Smith/Gillespie; Producer: Jack Frost; Publishers: none listed; Columbia (track)
-As you have probably heard by now, Dylan’s latest, Shadows in the Night, is a collection of him singing songs associated with Frank Sinatra. The original popularizer of this Nashville pop standard was actually another Frank, Frankie Laine (1949). As flawless as this new instrumental arrangement is, Bob Dylan simply does not have the pipes for the song’s upper register, to be perfectly “frank.”

KEVIN SO/Countryside
Writers: Kevin So; Producer: Kevin So; Publisher: none listed; Wingtone (track)
-Singer-songwriter Benita Hill tipped me off to this guy. I was completely unaware of him, but others evidently aren’t. In addition to Hill, his songwriting collaborators include such notables as Keb’ Mo,’ Jan Buckingham and Lisa Aschmann. This title tune to his disc-and-DVD combo is a lulling rural ode. For a little more twang, check out the witty “June Carter Cash.” For some folk-pop, try “Five Days in Memphis.”

Bros.-landrethfeatured

The Bros. Landreth

THE BROS. LANDRETH/I Am The Fool
Writers: Wally Landreth; Producer: Murray Pulver; Publisher: Wallace Landreth, SOCAN/ASCAP; Slate Creek (track)
-Country-rock with stinging, grinding guitar work; a tough, snappy backbeat; a bluesy, drawling lead vocal and tight sibling harmonies. The CD is titled Let It Lie. Extremely promising.

BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN/Simple Things
Writers: Beth Nielsen Chapman/Darrell Brown/Jim Brickman; Producers: Beth Nielsen Chapman & Darrell Brown; Publishers: BNC/Brickman/Universal/Grey Ink/Chrysalis, ASCAP/SESAC; BNC (track)
-I love everything this lady records. Her latest, UnCovered, is a collection of hits she’s written for others, but has never recorded, herself. You know these songs as sung by Tanya Tucker (”Strong Enough to Bend”), Alabama (”Here We Are”), Faith Hill (”This Kiss”), Lorrie Morgan (”Five Minutes”), Willie Nelson (”Nothin’ I Can Do About It Now”) and the like. Her take on this Jim Brickman favorite serves as the CD’s title tune. Her heart-in-throat vocal, as always, is a thing of lustrous wonder. The Kim Carnes harmony parts are beautifully layered. Other guests on this terrific collection include Morgan, Pam Tillis, Bekka Bramlett, Suzi Bogguss, Gretchen Peters, Matraca Berg, Vince Gill, Duane Eddy, Jessi Colter, Amy Grant, Muriel Anderson, Darrell Scott and George Marinelli. Miss this one at your peril.

MAC WISEMAN/You’re A Flower Blooming in the Wildwood
Writers: traditional; Producers: Thomm Jutz/Peter Cooper; Publishers: public domain; Wrinkled (track)
-When he was a little boy, Mac watched his mother listening to country radio and patiently transcribing song lyrics in notebooks. The repertoire of his new CD is drawn from those notebooks. The album is thus titled Songs From My Mother’s Hand. This sweet mountain tune is typical of the set, with its gentle, acoustic backing and the still-caressing singing of the man dubbed “The Voice With a Heart.” The 89-year-old, new Country Music Hall of Fame member is joined here by young Sierra Hull on mandolin and backing vocal. Others in this super-sympathetic folknik cast include Jelly Roll Johnson, Jimmy Capps, Alissa Jones Wall and Thomm Jutz.

LES KERR/The Sun Also Rises
Writers: Les Kerr; Producer: none listed; Publisher: O.N.U., ASCAP; O.N.U. (track)
-Nashvillians are accustomed to experiencing Kerr with his Bayou Band. But he also books solo acoustic shows, which his hearty tenor and deft guitar picking are more than capable of carrying. His new As Is CD is a document of one of those solo performances, a recent WDVX “Blue Plate Special” appearance in Knoxville. He kicks off the set with this light-hearted ditty in praise of Bourbon Street. How timely, since Mardi Gras festivities were this week in the Crescent City. The 12 Southern-themed songs are interspersed with the songwriter’s anecdotes and descriptions. He dedicates the album to his beloved late wife, Gail Kerr.

DISClaimer: All Under The Country Umbrella

Kaitlyn Jackson

Kaitlyn Jackson

Oldie revivals, Euro-country, a teenager, redneck rocking and a Grammy TV success story — today’s column has them all.

Teea Goans and Sage Keffer are the revivalists. Nicole Freytag and Fred Weston are checking in from Austria. American Idol competitor Kaitlyn Jackson is the teen queen. Montgomery Gentry are back.

And Brandy Clark’s TV performance on the Grammys was one for the record books. She might not have won an award, but she sure gained some fans. If you don’t already own a copy of her stunning 12 Stories album, you’re a fool.

But none of these seven acts won this week’s Disc of the Day prize. Instead, it goes to the always-pleasing Dan + Shay.

To the afore mentioned teen Kaitlyn Jackson, we present a DisCovery Award along with a wish for a long and happy country career.

JILL & JULIA/Cursed
Writers: Jill & Julia; Producer: Dave Moody; Publishers: Songs From American Street, BMI; Lamon (track)
-The title tune of this duo’s 7-song EP is a bluesy, minor-key, mid-tempo outing with a haunting vibe. The problems with it are a busy production and a mix so muddy that you can barely understand the lyrics. The gals seem like they have talent, but they need to get some clarity in their sound.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Folks Like Us
Writers: Neal Coty/Ash Bowers/Adam Craig; Producer: Michael Knox; Publishers: none listed; Blaster
-In praise of the “boot-wearin,’ God-fearin’” everyday people of small-town Middle America. Enthusiastic sounding.

NICOLE FREYTAG/Lay Back
Writers: Pete Jordan; Producer: WIR Records; Publishers: none listed; WIR (Austria)
-A country label in Austria has sent in some sides for consideration in the column. This one has a lilting, Abba-esque melodic quality that is quite listenable. The rhythm track is a little on the mechanical side, but she was a sweet soprano vocal.

Dan+Shay

Dan+Shay

DAN + SHAY/Nothin’ Like You
Writers: none listed; Producer: Chris DeStefano; Publishers: WB/Beats and Banjos/Warner-Tamerlane/Shay Mooney/Highly Combustible/Sadie’s Favorite/EMI April/Sugar Glider, ASCAP/BMI; Warner Bros.
-She drives him into a spinning, dizzy, sweetly romantic swirl. The fizzy, frothy track and the youthful, innocent, tenor vocals combine to create a totally dreamy pop-country confection. I remain a fan of these boys.

KAITLYN JACKSON/All The Little Things
Writers: Kaitlyn Jackson/Joe Sins; Producer: Kent Wells; Publishers: none listed; KJ (track)
-This former American Idol competitor is just 16, but she sings with the assertion, power and confidence of someone much older. Her song is an upbeat message ditty about celebrating every small blessing in your life. Quite promising.

BRANDY CLARK/Hold My Hand
Writers: Brandy Clark/Mark Stephen Jones; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publishers: Songs of Parallel/Vista Loma/Amplified Administration/Harlan Howard, ASCAP/BMI; Slate Creek (track)
-Clark’s performance of this ballad on Sunday’s Grammy Awards telecast resulted in a 3,763% increase in Pandora “station adds,” a 34% increase in Spotify streams for her CD and a 494% increase for this track. The tenderness and vulnerability of “Hold My Hand” melts the soul. Amid a sea of TV performances that tried to be over the top, her simple, acoustic, unadorned rendition of it with Dwight Yoakam singing harmony justifiably stole hearts from coast to coast. Righteous and true.

TORI MARTIN/From Here To There
Writers: none listed; Producer: Bart Rose/Billy Herzig; Publishers:none listed; Martin Enterprises
-Punchy and percussive. She’s hitting the road, leaving the mistakes of her life behind her. She’s a tiny bit vocally sharp here and there, but the energy is definitely audible.

TEEA GOANS/Memories To Burn
Writers: Dave Kirby/Warren Robb; Producer: Terry Choate; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree; BMI; Crosswind (track)
-Goans is unquestionably one of the finest young traditional female country stylists working today. The title tune of her latest CD is a solid revival of a 1985 Gene Watson chestnut, complete with twin fiddles and steel guitar. There’s a delight around every corner on this collection, whether she’s tackling tunes originated by Merle Haggard (”Sing a Sad Song,” “You Take Me For Granted”), Ray Price (”I Won’t Mention it Again”) or even Michael Martin Murphey (”What’s Forever For”). Buy this record.

FRED WESTON/You Tell Me
Writers: Peter Jordan; Producer: WIR Records; Publishers: none listed; WIR (Austria)
-Recorded in Austria with a backing band called “The Dirty Nuggets,” this is a toe-tapping ditty with a feather-light, Teutonic-accented vocalist who’s asking for truthfulness. In case you might miss it, he repeats the three-word title 34 times, by my count.

SAGE KEFFER/You’re Only Lonely
Writers: John Souther; Producers: Matt Rovey/Sage Keffer; Publishers: none listed; SK (track)
-Keffer is a longtime “DisClaimer” column favorite. This time around, he’s reviving J.D. Souther’s 1980 hit, which charted country as well as pop. The new version slows the song and eliminates the original’s Orbison-like echo. These changes throw the spotlight on its still-gorgeous melody as well as on its well-constructed, desolate, aching lyric. Also: Keffer holds the finale falsetto note beyond human endurance. Well worth your spins.