DISClaimer: Dreamers & Singers

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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

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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

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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

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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.

DISClaimer: Sans Bro Country, Nashville’s Songwriters Shine

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kip moore i'm to blame

Kip Moore

With no bro country in sight this week, the Nashville songwriting community is strutting its stuff.

Will Hoge, Austin Webb, Carrie Underwood, Kip Moore, Bobby Wills and Keith Urban all have new singles with true composing craftsmanship on display. And two of them wind up with this column’s awards.

Canadian Bobby Wills wins the DisCovery Award. He’s already an award winner north of the border, and here’s hoping he can duplicate that success stateside. Longtime “DisClaimer” favorite Kip Moore takes home the Disc of the Day prize. This guy seems to go from strength to strength.

Coincidentally, both of these fellows are singing “bad-boy” songs.

Bobby Wills

Bobby Wills

BOBBY WILLS/Crazy Enough
Writers: Pyle/Aldridge/Wills; Producer: Michael Pyle; Publishers: none listed; Willing (track)
-Infused with personality and raucous energy. The sidewinder guitars are perfect for the on-the-edge lyric. His ad-libbed chuckles in mid song are groovy, too.

KIP MOORE/I’m To Blame
Writers: Kip Moore/Justin Weaver/Westin Davis; Producer: Brett James; Publishers: WB/Cool Change/Music of the Corn/Magic Mustang/Reefer Road/Big Loud Bucks, ASCAP/BMI; MCA (CDX)
-The double-tracked vocal, distinctive rhythmic sounds, banjo ripples and urgent production are all ear catching, not to mention the excellent n’er-do-well lyric. This one’s a keeper.

AUSTIN WEBB/All Country On You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Streamsound
-There’s no telling what a gal might do if you cross her. She might go “Carrie Underwood” your truck, flip you the bird, “tear you something new,” binge on your credit card or “post naked pictures with your ink showin’ through.” Cleverly written and produced with zippy zest.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Little Toy Guns
Writers: Carrie Underwood/Chris DeStefano/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Mark Bright; Publishers: Carrie Okie/EMI April/Sugar Glider/Sony-ATV/WB, BMI/ASCAP; Arista (track)
-Carrie follows her hit baptismal rocker with a thunderous, complex, layered production about a little girl who wishes mommy and daddy would stop fighting. Power pop.

WILL HOGE/Middle of America
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Cumberland/Thirty
-Little slices of life from the heartland add up to one fine, rocking anthem. He sings with just as much passion as there is in the songwriting. I love this guy. Please make him a star.

SHERRY LYNN/What Are You Running From
Writers: Leah Crutchfield/Brian Nash; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Steal Heart
-The instrumental arrangement is way bigger than her vocal ability.

KEITH URBAN & ERIC CHURCH/Raise ‘Em Up
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Jeffrey Steele/Tom Douglas; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Keith Urban; Publishers: Sony-ATV Harmony/Texa Rae/Jeffrey Steele/BPJ/tomdouglasmusic, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol (CDX)
-As uplifting and positive as its title implies. Both men sing with conviction and authority. The instrumental track both crackles with energy and dazzles with echoey splendor. This thing is a smash if I’ve ever heard one.

MICHAEL RAY/Kiss You In The Morning
Writers: Justin Wilson/Michael White; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Magic Mustang/Big Loud Bucks/Downtown DMp/Music of Parallel, BMI; Warner Bros.
-He pretty much sounds like every other male country performer.

THE MAVERICKS/All Night Long
Writers: Raul Malo; Producers: Raul Malo/Niko Bolas; Publishers: Big Machine/Raul Malo, BMI; Valory (track)
-This horn-punctuated, salsa-inflected slab of latino pop kicks off the upcoming Mavs collection, Mono. Elsewhere on the CD, you’ll find flavors of r&b, classic balladry, Tex-Mex, swing, folk and more. All of it sounds pretty dang cool.

MICHAEL TURNER/Matches and Moonshine
Writers: Pete Stewart/Brian White/Megan Conner; Producer: Ilya Toshinsky; Publishers: none listed; Rustic
-Dreamy and sultry in the verses; pert, bright and bopping in the choruses. I guess it’s either creative or jarring, depending on your point of view.

DISClaimer: Royal Tailor, For King & Country Light Up CCM

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for-king-and-country1featured

For King & Country

To say that DisClaimer is woefully behind in reviewing CCM recordings would be the understatement of the year.

For fans of the genre, some music in this column might be old news. For the rest of you, welcome aboard my voyage of discovery as we survey current Contemporary Christian Music CDs, plus a few traditional gospel offerings.

The column is dominated by such CCM veterans as Michael W. Smith, MercyMe, Steve Taylor, Ginny Owens and the Newsboys, not to mention such Southern gospel old-timers as Gold City and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. But you’ll also find three current Grammy Award nominees here, and two of them are this week’s DisClaimer award winners. The Disc of the Day goes to Royal Tailor, and the DisCovery Award belongs to For King & Country.

STEVE TAYLOR & THE PERFECT FOIL/A Life Preserved
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Splint (track)
-Steve Taylor has come the closest of anyone in his field to being the embodiment of a rock star. At least he has always looked and sounded like one, to me (remember Chagall Guevera?). His new incarnation and Kickstarter-funded comeback CD with “The Perfect Foil” is titled Goliath. That’s where you’ll find this psychedelic gem, complete with space-cadet vocals, spare guitar stinging and throbbing rhythm. Despite 30 years in the biz, he retains his satiric wit and his alternative cred.

MICHAEL W. SMITH/The Old Rugged Cross
Writers: George Bernard; Producer: Kyle Lee; Publishers: public domain; Cracker
-It is mildly jarring to realize that one of the founders of the CCM genre is now an eminence. Smitty’s current project for Cracker Barrel is a collection of hymn standards like “Just as I Am,” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “Softly and Tenderly.” It leads off with a straightforward reading of this 1913 chestnut. The production is tastefully restrained, just piano, strings, dobro and light vocal harmonies.

ROYAL TAILOR/Ready Set Go
Writers: Tauren Wells/Cole Walowac/Jeff Pardo; Producer: Cole Walowac; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Songs of Third Base/Brentwood Benson/Meaux Jeaux/Da Bears Da Bears Da Bears/Capitol CMG, BMI/SESAC; Provident/Sony
-This melodic rock group’s current CD is nominated as CCM Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. It has already yielded such hits as “Remain” and “Original.” The current single/video is a frothing, propulsive collaboration with the rapping Capital Kings, whose Cole Walowac produces. Unlike many of these things, the combination of the soaring tenor vocals and urgent speaking lines is perfectly balanced. The whole Royal Tailor CD totally rocks. Buy it.

Royal Tailor

Royal Tailor

DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER/Will You Go
Writers: Steve Watts/Doyle Lawson; Producer: Doyle Lawson; Publishers: Red Bud/Top O Holston, ASCAP/BMI; Mountain Home
-Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Lawson has released 40 albums, half of which have been gospel projects. His Quicksilver has seven IBMA Vocal Group of the Year awards and multiple Dove and Grammy nominations. This thrilling call-and-response, raise-the-rafters toe tapper is just one highlight from the group’s Open Carefully, Message Inside collection. These men can flat-out SING. I remain an enormous fan.

NEWSBOYS/Hallelujah for the Cross
Writers: Ross King/Todd Wright; Producer: Seth Mosley; Publishers: Simple Tense/Todd Wright, ASCAP/BMI; First
-The repertoire of this durable pop-rock foursome takes a turn toward the traditional on its latest album. They give a kick, a push and a U2 vibe to oldies such as “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” and “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” as well as to this rousing title tune. Exciting and ear opening.

GINNY OWENS/No Borders
Writers: Ginny Owens/Wordspring/Josh Bronleewe/Benji Cowart; Producer: Josh Bronleewe; Publishers: ChickPower/Wordspring/Word/Howie Cowie, SESAC/ASCAP; ChickPower/Word
-I have always thought that this CCM singer-songwriter deserves mainstream pop stardom. Others have sometimes agreed, since she has been featured on a Lilith Fair tour and at the Sundance Film Festival. Her songs have been heard on the soundtracks of the TV series Roswell, Charmed, Get Real and Felicity. To date, she has sold nearly a million records, largely to the Christian community, despite the fact that her lyrics are seldom church-y. Her latest CD is called I Know a Secret, and it ripples with electronic washes over her gorgeous piano work and glistening vocal performances. Start with this hopeful, uplifting track, then dive into the rest of one of the year’s best female listening experiences.

FOR KING & COUNTRY/Run Wild
Writers: none listed; Producers: Seth Mosley/For King & Country; Publishers: none listed; Fervent/Curb
-The Smallbone family has faced its share of tribulations since migrating to Music City from Australia. But now everything is coming up roses for brothers Luke and Joel. Their group, For King & Country, is up for a CCM Album of the Year Grammy Award with its CD Run Wild, Live Free, Love Strong. It kicks off with this stately rock stomper featuring guest Andy Mineo. If you know these guys at all, it’s probably for the anthemic, sing-along hit “Fix My Eyes.” This shows that there’s a lot more where that came from.

LARRY STEPHENSON BAND/Pull Your Savior In
Writers: Larry Stephenson; Producers: Ben Surratt/Larry Stephenson; Publishers: Lee-Dawn, BMI; Whysper Dream
-Stephenson is celebrating his 25th anniversary in bluegrass with a gospel collection. His workmanlike lead tenor singing and mandolin work anchor a band that never misses a note, as you’ll hear on this self-composed CD title tune. The rest of the repertoire is drawn largely from familiar bluegrass songwriters such as Randall Hylton, Donna Ulisse, The Louvin Brothers, Lester Flatt and Albert E. Brumley. The whole thing sounds heartfelt.

MERCYME/Shake
Writers: MercyMe/Soil Olds/David Garcia/Ben Glover; Producers: David Garcia/Ben Glover; Publishers: MercyMe/Wet as a Fish/Soul Glow Activator/D Soul/Universal/Brentwood Benson/9t One/Arlose, ASCAP/BMI; Fairtrade/Provident (track)
-This big rollicking hit from MercyMe’s Welcome to the New collection is nominated for a Grammy as CCM Song of the Year. The five-man group attacks it with shouted gusto and plenty of oomphy rhythm. The band’s current single, “Greater,” is also on this CD, and it is even more dance happy. I believe this is MercyMe’s 10th nationally distributed album, and something tells me this is their year for Grammy glory.

GOLD CITY/Nothing But The Blood
Writers: traditional; Producer: Gordon Mote; Publishers: public domain; New
-For good old-fashioned, four-square gospel harmonizing, you can’t beat these Alabama boys. Their current Hymn Revival collection will send you straight back to church. It kicks off with this steadily building altar call and keeps right on going.

DISClaimer: Underdogs Have Their Day in the Sun

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Stoney LaRue

Stoney LaRue

The superstars are playing at the top of their game, but even underdogs have their day in the sun.

In this week’s stack of sounds, you’ll find first-rate efforts by Brad Paisley, Lee Ann Womack and Kenny Chesney. As is so often the case with my hopeless, country-loving self, I was drawn to the most retro styled discs. They belonged to stars who don’t twinkle quite as brightly as that much-awarded trio.

Thus, the Disc of the Day goes to Billy Yates. And the DisCovery Award belongs to Stoney Larue.

RACHELE LYNAE/Whole Lotta Nothin’
Writers: Rachele Lynae/Hannah Bethel/David Myhre; Producers: Jamie O’Neal/Rachele Lynae/Publishers: Rachele Lynae/Hanwyn/David Myhre, ASCAP/BMI; Momentum
-The sound of a beach vacation.

KENNY CHESNEY & GRACE POTTER/Wild Child
Writers: Kenny Chesney/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Producers: Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Columbia/Blue Chair (track)
– Languid. Lilting. Lulling. He’s dreamy in love with a rebel who has a wandering heart.

JONATHAN BYRD/Mama’s Got Wheels
Writers: Jonathan Byrd; Producer: Jonathan Byrd; Publishers: Jonathan Byrd, SESAC; Waterbug (track)
-Bluesy, earthy, rootsy and real, with just enough dirt under is fingernails to be completely compelling. I am all ears for this guy. Americana programmers will find him equally gripping. The CD is called You Can’t Outrun the Radio and is highly recommended.

MARK McKINNEY/Diggin’ My Grave
Writers: Mark McKinney; Producers: Mark and Erin McKinney; Publishers: none listed; MM
-Thumping and driving, with loads of slide-guitar moaning. Fantastically listenable. Be forewarned: The recurring line in it is, “Recipe for Disaster,” rather than the title, which is buried elsewhere in the lyric. It is still a way, way, cool little record.

BRAD PAISLEY/Crushin’ It
Writers: Brad Paisley/Kelley Lovelace/Lee Thomas Miller; Producers: Luke Wooten/Brad Paisley; Publishers: House of Sea Gayle/Words & Music/Making the Turn/Do Write/Warner-Tamerlane/The Country and Western, ASCAP/BMI; Arista (track)
-Ready for the weekend? Here’s the tune for you, complete with chilled beverages and a sizzling guitar groove.

THE CHEATERS/She Got A Way
Writers: none listed; Producer: Tommy Harden; Publishers: none listed; Cheaters (track)
-In praise of a babe, this innocuous little ditty has a laid-back tempo, close harmonies, a catchy chorus repetition and a summertime vibe. Engaging, if not exactly life changing.

LEO J. EIFFERT JR./Icon Super Star
Writer: Leo J. Eiffert Jr.; Producer: Leo J. Eiffert Jr.; Publishers: Young Country, BMI; Young Country
– Utterly amateurish, but at least he has a sense of humor about it.

LEE ANN WOMACK/Send It On Down
Writers: Chris Knight/David Leone; Producers: Frank Liddell/Chuck Ainlay/Glenn Worf; Publishers: WB/Wrensong/Judy Harris/Meester Smooshie, ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track)
– The second single from Womack’s Grammy-nominated CD is an aching plea for redemption from someone being driven mad by drink, loneliness and the ennui of small-town existence. It made me hold my breath in awe.

Billy Yates

Billy Yates

BILLY YATES/Zeros
Writers: Billy Yates/Lee Thomas Miller/Monty Criswell; Producer: Billy Yates; Publishers: So Bizzy/Music of Stage Three, BMI; M.O.D. (track)
-Yates is the songwriter behind such pure-country, George Jones classics as “Choices” and “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair.” The debut single from his new These Old Walls CD is a hillbilly hoot. He’s a loser, but he’s okay with that because, “If zeros always come full circle, it’s high time I go back around.” The whole album brims with ready-for-radio country gems like this.

STONEY LARUE/Golden Shackles
Writers: none listed; Producers: Frank Liddell/Michael McCarthy; Publishers: none listed; eOne (track)
-This fellow is a headliner in the Lone Star State. His recruits top Nashville producers and session aces in a bid for mainstream country acceptance and hits a bullseye with a CD titled Aviator. This romping single’s sprightly rhythms contrast nicely with a downbeat lyric of losing a gamble with love. Audio charisma.

DISClaimer: Starting The Year Off Bright

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Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw

The winter skies may be unendingly gray, but this week’s country music sounds bright.

Superstar Tim McGraw starts his year off right by slam dunking a Disc of the Day prize. No one else even comes close.

To me, it’s always a sign of good health for the format when there are plenty of talented newcomers vying for attention. Today, they include Mickey Guyton, Nate Green and the winner of the DisCovery Award of the week, Mo Pitney.

NATE GREEN/Back Road
Writer: Nate Green; Producer: Cosme Liccardo/Enrico Carducci; Publisher: none listed; Conway/GMV
-He has an intriguingly husky vocal style, and the production is ear-catching, crunchy and innovative. It sure ain’t your father’s country music, but it has its merits. Recommended listening.

TIM McGRAW & CATHERINE DUNN/Diamond Rings and Old Bar Stools
Writers: Luke Laird/Barry Dean/Jonathan Singleton; Producers: Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Creative Nation/Twangin and Slangin/Country Paper/Pulse Nation/BMG Gold/Glassbean/We Jam Writers Group, BMI/ASCAP; Big Machine (track)
-Dunn is McGraw’s first cousin (their moms are sisters). Her family harmony with him is perfection on this ballad of regret. Diamonds are for queens, and barstools are for fools, you see. So the two lovers in this song were never meant to blend together. Extremely well done in every department.

PARMALEE/Already Callin’ You Mine
Writers: Matt Thomas/Scott Thomas/Barry Knox/Phil O’Donnell/Wade Kirby; Producer: NV; Publishers: 27861 Music/Revelry/Gallo & Landers/Sixteen Stars/HoriPro/Dirty County/Big Loud Bucks, BMI; Stoney Creek
-These four hard-working dudes continue to impress. This upbeat bopper summons a lady to romance with sunny optimism.

REBA McENTIRE/Going Out Like That
Writers: Ben Hayslip/Rhett Akins/Jason Sellers; Producer: Tony Brown; Publishers: WB/Tar-Cam-Knox/Thankful for This/Sony-ATV/EMI Blackwood/Becky’s Boy/Brooks County Boy, ASCAP; Nash/Valory
-This gal isn’t wallowing in her broken heart. She’s out rocking, throwing back shots, dancing up a storm, dressing in red and being the life of the party. Rock on.

JULIE C. MYERS/Can’t Get My Heart Around That
Writer: none listed; Producer: Dan Hodges; Publishers: none listed; Wild Heart (track)
-The opening line of her publicity bio brags that she is, “arguably the world’s most sought after Stevie Nicks tribute artist,” and that she has been touring for eight years with her “Nearly Nicks” act. Allrighty, then. The production of her debut single owes more to rock traditions than it does to country. Her vocal performance isn’t commanding enough for either genre.

JIM ED BROWN/When The Sun Says Hello to the Mountain
Writers: Harry Pease/Larry Vincent; Producer: Don Cusic; Publisher: Shapiro Bernstein, ASCAP; Plowboy (track)
-The lead-off track of the new CD by this Grand Ole Opry veteran harkens back to his ‘50s and ‘60s performances with his sisters in The Browns. The lovely harmonies match the lilting melody and the icing on the cake is the delicious steel-guitar embellishment by Chris Scruggs. At age 80, Jim Ed still has enormous vocal warmth and class. Get-well wishes are in order — He was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.

Mo Pitney photo Joseph LLanes

Mo Pitney. Photo: Joseph Llanes

MO PITNEY/Country
Writers: Mo Pitney/Bobby Tomberlin/Bill Anderson; Producer: Tony Brown; Publishers: Mike Curb/Sony-ATV Tree/Mr. Bubba, BMI; Curb
-His vocal is effortlessly countrified, with echoes of the great honky-tonk stylists of yore. The lyric is extraordinarily well crafted, full of the little details that make a great song sparkle. I can’t wait to hear more from this guy.

MICKEY GUYTON/Better Than You Left Me
Writers: Mickey Guyton/Jennifer Hanson/Jenn Schott/Nathan Chapman; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Dann Huff; Publishers: Mickey’s Island/Sony-ATV Acuff Rose/Chaylynn/Music of Parallel/Schott Heard Around the World/Downtown DMP/Songs of Universal/Art in the Pain, BMI; Capitol (CDX)
-It takes guts to start your career with a slow ballad. But this gal has the vocal chops to pull it off. The stately drum thump and softly sympathetic electric guitars aid her as she builds to a slow-burn, soulful emotional peak.

RACHEL HOLDER/I Think of You
Writers: Billy Aerts/Scott Lynch/Shea Fisher; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Stormey/BMG Platinum/Baby Gray/Dan Hodges/Shea Fisher, BMI; Curb (CDX)
-The fact this woman isn’t already a star continues to baffle me. Every single has been a vocal tour de force, and this one is no exception. She knocks this ballad out of the ballpark. Stop putting so much compression on her singing, crank up her volume and let her wail.

LOCASH/I Love This Life
Writers: Chris Janson/Preston Brust/Chris Lucas/Danny Myrick; Producers: Lindsay Rimes/Preston Brust/Chris Lucas; Publishers: Red Vinyl/Sony-ATV Tree/Root 49, BMI; Reviver (CDX)
-This made me want to dance around the room. They sing like hillbilly angels, the production is a frothing swirl and the dazzling rhythm track is relentless. I love this life, indeed.

DISClaimer: Female Voices Make A Strong Showing in 2015

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Happy New Year.

lee-ann-womack-the-way-i'm-livingfeaturedThis past one was terrible for women in country music, so I am pleased to report that in the first stack of platters of 2015, female voices rule. Today, reigning queen Miranda Lambert is joined by equally powerful sounds from Maddie & Tae, Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town and the sublime Lee Ann Womack, who has this week’s Disc of the Day.

Don’t count the guys out. Frankie Ballard and Collin Raye sound especially good. And the male group A Thousand Horses wins the first DisCovery Award of 2015.

PARKER McCOLLUM/Meet You In The Middle
Writer: Parker McCollum; Producer: Corby Schaub; Publisher: none listed; PYM
-Breezy sounding, but with an underlying sadness. The Texan sings with plaintive yearning while guitars ring along to the refrain.

LITTLE BIG TOWN/Girl Crush
Writers: Liz Rose/Lori McKenna/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Songs of Crazy Girl/Songs of Universal/Hoodie/HillarodyRathbone/BMG, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville
It’s not as gay as the title implies. The reason she has the “girl crush” is because she wants to be like the woman he loves instead of herself. Whatever the case, the lovely, wistful ballad is absolutely dreamy sounding.

RAY PRICE/I Wish I Was 18 Again
Writers: Sonny Throckmorton; Producer: Fred Foster; Publisher: Sony-ATV, no performance rights listed; Amerimonte
This heart-tugging waltz was originally a hit for George Burns in 1980. The fact that Ray Price was dying when he recorded this version makes it ache all the more. It remains an awesome piece of songwriting that everyone should hear.

COLLIN RAYE/Same Old Lang Syne
Writers: D. Fogelberg; Producers: Kelly Schoenfeld/Johnny Swinell; Publishers: Hickory Grove/EMI April, no performance rights listed; Goldenlane (track)
Collin’s new Everlasting CD is a set of reinterpretations of pop classics, including “Against All Odds,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word,” “She’s Got a Way,” “We’re All Alone” and “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You.” Appropriately, he greets the New Year with this Dan Fogelberg chestnut that toasts an old flame and a new beginning.

MADDIE & TAE/Fly
Writers: Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye/Tiffany Vartanyan; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Super Big/Not Your Average Girl/Silva Tone, ASCAP; Dot (track)
-Country’s most refreshing new female voices are back with a song of hope, optimism and strength in the face of adversity. The melody is delicious, the harmonies are sparkling, the track is terrific and the mood is uplifting. I’m in. Totally.

A Thousand Horses1A THOUSAND HORSES/Smoke
Writers: Michael Hobby/Jon Nite/Ross Copperman; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Carolina June/Greatshakin/EMI April/EMI Blackwood/Jon Mark Nite/Songs By Red Room/Sony-ATV, BMI; Republic Nashville
The woman is like smoke, “blowing rings around my heart.” He can’t put her down once he starts. She goes great with booze. She’s not good for his health. Her perfume lingers on his clothes. She’s a habit, and this haunting, swirling single makes her sound like a must-have. Very promising.

MIRANDA LAMBERT/Little Red Wagon
Writers: Audra Mae/Joe Ginsberg; Producers: Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, Glen Worf; Publishers: WB/AMAEB/Double Flannel, ASCAP; RCA
-Miranda’s back in her feisty-female mode on this rumbling bopper. She’s a free spirit who has no use for the guy who’s pursuing her. The highly personalized last verse is a particular hoot.

T. GRAHAM BROWN/Forever Changed
Writers: H. Lindsey/D. Penn/C. Whitesett; Producers: Mark Carman/T. Graham Brown/Publishers: none listed; Mansion
-The title tune of this blue-eyed soulman’s latest collection is a sweet, tender ballad that he sings with depth and maturity. In addition to solo showcases like this, the gospel-themed album also includes collaborations with Leon Russell, Vince Gill, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jason Crabb, Jimmy Fortune, Sonya Isaacs and more. Recommended with an “amen.”

FRANKIE BALLARD/Young & Crazy
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Shane McAnally/Rhett Akins; Producers: Marshall Altman/Scott Hendricks; Publishers:External Combustion/Out of the Taperoom/Songs of Southside Independent/Universal/Smack Ink/EMI Blackwood/Rhettneck, ASCAP/BMI; Warner Bros.
-“How am I ever gonna get to be old and wise/If I ain’t ever young and crazy?” You said it, brother. Hit bound. Rock on.

Lee ANN WOMACK/The Way I’m Livin’
Writers: Adam Wright; Producers: Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, and Glenn Worf; Publishers: Alrighty Den/Wrightone, BMI; Sugar Hill (track)
-This peerless country stylist is nominated for a Grammy Award this year. The title tune of the album in question is also her current single. There’s a devil on her shoulder who tells her that being bad feels good. So now she doesn’t know wrong from right, and the instruments that churn up that sound all around her make the chaos all the more inescapable. Contemporary country at its finest.

DISClaimer: Christmas Tidings

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Brett Eldredge

Brett Eldredge


Seasons greetings, faithful readers.
Here’s our “DisClaimer” column rounding up some of the rest of Nashville’s holiday musical offerings. Today, we hear from representatives from our bluegrass, Christian and Americana communities, as well as some mainstream country stars.
The Disc of the Day is a tie between Brett Eldredge, with a single, and the five-man a cappella group Home Free, with an album.
This week’s DisCovery Award goes to Sammy Hakim.
Brett Eldredge/Mary, Did You Know
Writers: Lee Rufus Greene/Mark Alan Lowry; producer: Ross Copperman; Publisher: Rufus/Word, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-Eldredge has seldom been as impressive as a vocalist as he is on this stately ballad. This is easily one of the finest performances of the season. Copperman’s delicate, piano-focussed production is flawless.
SAMMY HAKIM/This Christmas Love Me
Writers: Samantha Hakam; Producer: Kevin Gutierrez; Publisher: none listed; BMI; EXT (CDX)
-Indie artist Hakim’s original holiday tune is a sprightly rocker that yearns for a ex lover’s return. Her delivery ranges from a breathy whisper to a sassy wail. Promising.
TEEA GOANS/All I Want For Christmas Is You
Writers: Troy Powers/Andy Stone; Producer: Terry Choate; Publishers: Songs of Peer LTD/Songs of Delta Boy/Good Ole Delta Boy peertunes LTD, ASCAP/SESAC; Crosswind (CDX)
-Still one of our finest young country vocalists, Goans gives this evergreen ballad plenty of bluesy soul. This gal can really sing, folks.
LARRY WEISS/Christmas Without You
Writers: Larry Weiss; Producer: Larry Weiss; Publisher: Rhinestone Cowboy, ASCAP; Cape (CDX)
-For some people, Christmas is a downbeat, sad time of year. The “Rhinestone Cowboy” songwriter offers an aching ballad for the blue and broken hearted.
DARIUS RUCKER/What God Wants For Christmas
Writers: Darius Rucker/Frank Rogers/Monty Criswell; Producer: Frank Rogers; Publishers: Universal/Cadaja/House of Sea Gayle/Sony-ATV Tree/Dixey Bar, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol (track)
-Opry star Rucker’s first Christmas album is Home for the Holidays. It is dominated by standards, including his duet with Sheryl Crow on “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” But there are some new tune contributions, too. This one is a dreamy meditation loaded with orchestral backing. CMT is currently airing its video.
THE ROYS/Bluegrass Kinda Christmas
Writers: Elaine Roy/Lee Roy/Steve Dean; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Wings of a Butterfly/Mandolin Man/Bethar, SESAC/BMI; Rural Rhythm
-The title tune of this bluegrass duo’s holiday CD is a toe tapper with rippling banjo, lively fiddle and Lee Roy’s deft mandolin picking. Innocent sounding.
NASHVILLE CAST/Celebrate Me Home
Writers: Kenny Loggins/Bob James; Producer: Jay DeMarcus; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine (track)
-All of your TV favorites from the Nashville series are gathered together on their Christmas With Nashville album. Sam Palladio, Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Chip Esten (dueting with Vince Gill), Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, the Stella sisters, Will Chase, Aubrey Peeples and Chaley Rose all have turns in the spotlight on holiday standards. The whole cast assembles for this album-closing anthem.
home freeGUY PENROD/A Cradle in Bethlehem
Writers: Alfred Bryan/Larry Stock; Producer: Michael Omartian; Publisher: Sony-ATV, ASCAP; Servant/Gaither
-This star CCM vocalist has one of the strongest 2014 Christmas albums. Its 15 tracks are dominated by standards, both secular and religious. This lesser-known song is taken at a slow, steady pace with an appropriately hushed, devout vocal performance. The orchestrated arrangements are impressive throughout the collection.
FARMER JASON/Christmas on the Farm
Writers: Jason Ringenberg; Producers: Thom Jutz/Peter Cooper; Publishers: Jason Ringenberg/Bug, BMI; Courageous
-This guy has the kiddie Christmas album of the year. He made his reputation leading the cowboy-punk Jason & The Scorchers. But before that he was a farmer, hence his alter-ego as a children’s entertainer. This is the zippy, fun, bluegrass-flavored title tune of his CD, which also includes the merry “Eat Your Fruitcake,” “Santa Drove a John Deere,” “The Animals Song” and “All I Want for Christmas (Is a Punk Rock Skunk),” as well as holiday standards aimed at the younger set.
HOME FREE/Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
Writers: Randy Brooks; Producers: Home Free/Darren Rust; Publishers: none listed; Columbia (track)
-These guys won on The Sing Off as a country a cappella act. Their Full of Cheer collection kicks off with this hillbilly standard. If anything, it’s even funnier than the original, with each group member sounding more yokel than the last as they take lead-vocal turns. Absolutely essential listening. The rest of the CD is more serious, but as the title promises, there’s enormous good cheer glowing throughout the collection.