Reviews Archives - Page 47 of 84

DISClaimer: David Nail, Brandy Clark, Billy Ray Cyrus Stand Out

September 1, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

David Nail

As summer drags on relentlessly, we find relief in fresh country sounds.

Our vocal collaboration du jour is the awesome new single by David Nail featuring Brothers Osborne. Our most fabulous female is the brilliant Brandy Clark. Our surprise male winner is the wonderfully humorous performance by Billy Ray Cyrus. Give all three a Disc of the Day honor.

The DisCovery Award goes to Margo Price. She performed “Four Years of Chances” on The Tonight Show on Aug. 2 and introduced “Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)” and “Since You Put Me Down” on SNL earlier this year. All three are on her new Midwest Farmer’s Daughter vinyl album. Way to go, TV broadcasters.

CURTIS BRALY/Love You Down
Writers: Jeremy Bussey/Tom Tillman/Jayce Hein; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: none listed, SESAC/BMI, Go Time/Briley (track)
– His clinging to pitch for dear life. Despite his shaky vocal performance, the track pumps mightily behind him and the song is solid.

DAVID NAIL Featuring BROTHERS OSBORNE/Good At Tonight
Writers: TJ Osborne/John Osborne/Troy Verges/Barry Dean; Producers: Frank Liddell/Chuck Ainlay/Glenn Worf; MCA Nashville
– Thrilling. As you might expect, the voices are on fire with conviction. What is just as great is the fact that the song is a total barn burner, loaded with pounding percussion, churning electric guitars and passionate lyrics. Play it again.

WAYLON JENNINGS/Young Widow Brown
Writers: Waylon Jennings/Sky Corbin; Producers: Robby Turner; Publishers: Heart of the Hills/Trio/Fort Knox, no performance rights listed; Country Rewind
– Finding new Waylon music is always a good thing. He and a bunch of other country acts recorded a series of short, military-recruitment radio shows in 1970. These tapes have recently been rediscovered. Former Waylon band member Robby Turner put new instrumentation on the performances to bring them up to date. Most of the tunes on the resulting The Lost Nashville Sessions CD are early Waylon hits such as “Just to Satisfy You,” “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,” “Mental Revenge” and “Brown Eyed Handsome Man.” This tasty country rocker is more obscure, the tale of a man who inherits a lusty gal he can’t keep up with. Delightful.

BRANDY CLARK/Love Can Go To Hell
Writers: Brandy Clark/Scott Stepakoff; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: House of Sea Gayle/Highway 508/Clearbox Rights/Nettwerk One-A/Ten Ten, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– I am on board with the fact that she’s a country songwriting genius. What is frequently overlooked is that she is also a singer of flawless phrasing, liquid tone and silky listenability. This lightly bopping, tinkling, twinkling outing about an ended relationship is audio ecstasy on every level. I am in love with this woman’s music.

SOUTHERN HALO/Rewind
Writers: Chancie Neal/Gerald O’Brien/Catt Gravitt; Producers: Catt Gravitt/Gerald O’Brien; Publishers: none listed; BMI/SESAC; Southern Halo
– Smiley. Sunshiny. Summery. Swaying.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Dirty Laundry
Writers: Zach Crowell/Ashley Gorley/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Atlas/External Combustion/Songs of Southside Independent/HillarodyRathbone/BMG, ASCAP; Arista/19 (track)
– That ain’t her shade of lipstick. She doesn’t drink the red wine that’s on his shirt. That’s not the smell of her perfume. He’s trying to sneak in late, again. You’re in trouble, pal. She’s pissed off and rocking.

RUSTY RIERSON/Something ‘Bout You
Writer: Kevin Welch; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Sony/ATV Cross Keys; RecordRanch
-This Kansas-bred country boy has a delivery that goes down easily. He has a natural warmth and an instantly likable sound. The rolling groove of this Kevin Welch song fits him like a glove. If there’s such a thing as a baby Strait, this guy is it.

MARGO PRICE/Four Years Of Chances
Writer: Margo Price; Producers: Alex Munoz/Matt Ross-Spang; Publisher: Peach Pit, SESAC; Third Man (track)
– It’s a slow build, starting with a stark little guitar figure and her plaintive, accusatory voice. The rhythm track picks up steam as the rest of the band comes creeping in. But no matter what is going on with the track, it’s her piercing, riveting delivery that commands the spotlight. A very cool little record.

KAREN RICHARDS/Ladies Man
Writer: Karen Richards; Producers: Frank Green/Jim Sanford; Publisher: none listed; Krystal Mac (track)
– Yikes. The echo chamber only emphasizes her shortcomings. And they are too numerous to list here.

BILLY RAY CYRUS/Hey Elvis
Writer: none listed; Producers: Brandon Friesen/Noah Gordon; Publishers: none listed; Blue Cadillac (track)
– Billy Ray’s upcoming Thin Line collection is loaded with celeb guests — Shelby Lynne, Joe Perry, Shooter Jennings and children Branson Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, for starters. This fantastically catchy, rocking track features Bryan Adams and Glen Hughes singing backup on its wildly clever lyrics. Its video, available on his website, is comprised of hilarious footage from his wacky CMT television sit com Still the King. Heartily recommended.

DISClaimer: Lori McKenna, Josh Farrow Lead Americana Releases

August 25, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Lori McKenna. Photo: Becky Fluke

The Americana festival and convention will be here before we know it, so it’s high time we surveyed what’s in this genre’s review-me pile.

The names to remember today are John Gorka, Chip Taylor and those of our dual Disc of the Day winners, Lori McKenna and Liz Longley.

Today’s newcomers include Angie & The Deserters, Andrew Leahey & The Homestead and our DisCovery Award winner, Josh Farrow. The East Nashville troubadour will be performing at Live on the Green on the Metro Courthouse Square on Sept. 2. Be there or be square.

CHIP TAYLOR/I’ll Carry For You
Writer: Chip Taylor; Producers: Goran Grini/Chip Taylor; Publisher: Back Road, BMI; Train Wreck (track)
– “Wild Thing,” “Angel of the Morning,” “I Can Make It With You,” “Step Out of Your Mind,” “Make Me Belong to You,” “Son of a Rotten Gambler,” “Storybook Children,” “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder),” “I Can’t Let Go,” “Worry,” “Anyway That You Want Me,” and other vintage pop classics earned Chip entry into the national Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year. But he is also a very contemporary, engaging and prolific writer-artist in the Americana genre. This title tune to his latest is inspired by his love of golf. More than that, it is a stately ode to sisterly love, perseverance, striving and being brave. Speaking of prolific, he has two current CDs, the other being Little Brothers, which salutes his family. Trivia fact: He’s actor Jon Voight’s brother and Angelina Jolie’s uncle.

LIZ LONGLEY/Rescue My Heart
Writers: Liz Langley/Ian Keaggy/Jodi Marr; Producer: Bill Reynolds; Publishers: Luckelizz/ISK/Little Ruth, ASCAP; Sugar Hill (track)
– I adored this singer-songwriter’s Sugar Hill Records debut disc. Her songs stick in your head long after they end because of their inescapable hooks. Her second album for the label, titled Weightless, drops this week. It finds her recording in Nashville in a more pop/rock direction. She remains a captivating mistress of melody. On this track, the sound is stripped down to just her voice and piano. I remain an enormous fan. Essential listening.

JOHN GORKA/I Know
Writer: John Gorka; Producer: Jim Rooney; Publisher: Blues Palace, ASCAP; Blue Chalk (track)
– This Americana veteran recorded the tracks that comprise his new Before Beginning CD in Music City in 1985. At the time, he was a newcomer who had won the songwriting contest at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Nanci Griffith admired his work and recommended he go to Nashville to record with producer Rooney, who assembled an all-star band at Jack Clement’s studio. Gorka was used to playing solo and wasn’t sure what he thought of his resulting debut album. Years later, he listened again. So now, here it is. This is one of his best known early songs, presented with top-flight pickers, just as it originally was recorded 30 years ago. It is a jewel of lilting picking, earnest singing and crisp production. The rest of the CD is too. He was clearly nuts not to put it out, back in the day.

DAVE INSLEY/Just The Way That I Am
Writer: none listed; Producer: Dave Insley; Publishers: none listed; dir (track)
– This solid country vocalist has surrounded himself with a who’s-who of Austin folks on his new CD. The cast includes Kelly Willis, Dale Watson, Rick Shea and Redd Volkaert. The title tune is a plain-spoken ballad that asks for simple acceptance. It’s not in the least flashy, just honest sounding.

LORI McKENNA/Humble and Kind
Writer: Lori McKenna; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Hoodie, BMI; CN/Thirty Tigers
– This divine Massachusetts wife and mom returned to Nashville to craft her latest, The Bird and the Rifle. It includes her own version of this justly revered Tim McGraw hit she wrote. Lori is best known in Nashville as a songwriter of “Stealing Kisses,” “Girl Crush,” “Fireflies,” “God Made Girls” and “I Want Crazy.” But this and the other performances on this collection reveal her as an extraordinarily communicative, warm and womanly vocalist. “Wreck You,” ”If Whiskey Were a Woman,” “Old Men Young Women” and especially “Halfway Home” are particularly recommended. Lend her your ears. Then go get all of her other albums too.

ANDREW LEAHEY & THE HOMESTEAD/Little In Love
Writers: Andrew Leahey; Producer: Ken Coomer; Publisher: none listed; Skyline/Thirty Tigers
– He’s a roots rocker with country leanings and a Tom Petty kinda vibe. This lead-off track from his debut CD chimes in all the right places. The collection is titled Skyline in Central Time and was recorded in Nashville on either side of the artist’s life-threatening brain surgery. Produced by Wilco’s Ken Coomer, it sounds as hearty as Andrew is today.

SARA WATKINS/Move Me
Writers: Sara Watkins; Producer: Gabe Witcher; Publishers: Fiddle & Fall, ASCAP; New West (track)
– The fiddler/singer from the former Nickel Creek has shed her progressive-bluegrass roots for an all-out pop band sound on her entirely self-composed Young in All the Wrong Ways collection. On this punchy track, she pushes her soprano to sound harder and more forceful than it has before. Courageous.

JOSH FARROW/Devil Don’t You Fool Me
Writer: Josh Farrow; Producer: Dexter Green; Publisher: Southern Drag; JF (track)
– This drawling, bluesy tenor singer stomps his way through this soulful, rhythmic outing with aplomb. It comes from his Trouble With Me CD, which has a cast that includes The McCrary Sisters, Ruby Amanfu and Elizabeth Cook, among others. On this track, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Ashley Wilcoxson wail in the background.

BRIAN LANGLINAIS/You Can’t Say I Don’t Love You
Writer: none listed; Producers: D.L. Duncan/Brian Langlinais; Publisher: none listed; Patoutville (track)
– Music City stalwart Langlinais recaptures his R&B Louisiana roots on his new Right Hand Road CD. But he proves you don’t have to physically go back there to do it. His Nashville session sidemen, including The Inglewood Horns, put plenty of heat behind him. This opening track is a classic-sounding blues rocker, complete with squalling sax and soul-sister background shouting.

ANGIE & THE DESERTERS/Country Radio
Writers: Angie Bruyere/Guy Griffin/Nigel Mogg; Producer: Jeff Huskins; Publishers: none listed; Topanga Canyon
– Love the band name. The sound on this saucy track is nouveau rockabilly with a throaty alto lead vocal alternating phrases with gritty electric guitar riffs, sizzling fiddle work and organ trills. The act has a slightly raggedy, amateurish sonic vibe, but nothing a little production polish couldn’t improve.

DISClaimer: Dolly Parton, Drake White Are Bright Spots This Week

August 18, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

What a bunch of junk.

I can’t remember the last time I was so numbed by a listening session. The bright spots were precious and few. In fact, I can count them on two fingers.

The first is the always entrancing Dolly Parton. She gets the Disc of the Day. The second is Drake White. But since his song isn’t a single, he doesn’t qualify for the competition. By the way, both of these artists’ albums drop on this Friday (Aug. 19), and both are terrific.

Despite the fact that there are five newcomers in this column, there is no DisCovery Award this week. Back to the drawing board, people.

DOLLY PARTON/Pure and Simple
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: Dolly Parton; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; Dolly Records/RCA Nashville
– Her voice still sparkles like champagne. The fact that she’s still writing so wonderfully six decades into her career is mind bending. This sweet, lilting love song is the title tune of her new CD. All hail a classic stylist.

SAMMY SADLER/In America
Writers: Tom Paden/Dwayna Litz; Producer: Tom Paden/Publishers: Paden Place/Cal IV, BMI/ASCAP; Workhorse 615
– Rah-rah patriotism. The gist of it is we shouldn’t be complaining about stuff, because we’re living where everybody else in the world would love to be.

SHAWN B. WELLS/As Long as I’ve Got You
Writer: Shawn B. Wells; Producers: Shawn B. Wells & Dustin Bannister; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Shawn Wells
– Muddy and jumbled sounding. Get back in the studio and remix this whole thing.

DRAKE WHITE/Waitin’ on the Whiskey to Work
Writers: Drake White/Tony Lane/Philip Pence; Producers: Andrew Petroff & Adam Schwind/Publishers: EMI April/Reverend Jack/Sony-ATV/BMG Gold/Heytone/We Jam Writers Group/Nury3000, ASCAP/SESAC; Dot Records
– “Livin’ the Dream” is still the single. But Sirius/XM has been playing this barroom, heartache ballad. Like everything he does, it seethes with charisma. Drake is usually pretty upbeat, so this downer is a very cool change of pace. His debut CD, Spark, drops on Friday. It is essential listening. Make this man the star he deserves to be.

LONNIE SPIKER/Things Only a Fool Would Know
Writers; Mary Welch Francis/Larry McCoy; Producer: Curt Ryle; Publishers: Jenerlin/Universal Careers, BMI; Menalith
– Extremely well written. It’s a solidly country shuffle, and we can always use more of those.

AUSTIN LUCAS & LYDIA LOVELESS/Wrong Side of the Dream
Writers: Lucas/James; Producers: Joey Kneiser & Austin Lucas; Publisher: None listed; Last Chance/At the Helm
– It has a somewhat retro-country vibe. The vocals are a tad bit sharp, particularly hers. Not ready for prime time.

DEE JAY SILVER & AUSTIN WEBB/Just Got Paid
Writers: Jared Sciullo, John Purdue, Austin Webb, Tebey Ottoh; Producers: Dee Jay Silver/Jared Sciullo; Publishers: Riley Payton Publishing/Dee Jay Silver Music/Red Vinyl/Songs For Elle/BMG Platinum Songs, BMI/SESAC. RCA Nashville
– Funky, slinky and groove-soaked. A relaxing, mid-tempo ditty, tailor made for after-work Fridays.

MISSISSIPPI DOUG MAYS/Mississippi Funk
Writer: Doug Mays; Producer: Barry Beckett & Roger Hawkins; Publisher: none listed; E&A Entertainment
– It says here that this is a hit in Latin America. It does have an undeniable groove.

MARKET JUNCTION/All I Really Need
Writers: Matt Parrish/Justin Lofton; Producer: Justin Lofton & Matt Parrish; Publisher: Incandescent, BMI; Market Junction
– Bland. Tuneless. Boring. I almost nodded off.

TERRA BELLA/You’ve Got That Somethin’
Writers: Joseph Michael Costa/Martina Elizabeth Otterbeck/Joshua Marshall Dunne; Producer: Johnny Garcia; Publisher: Swatt Music Group, BMI; Dax
– The bass-heavy production is ear catching, and the dual male-female band vocals are cool. A melody with more than two notes would have been nice.

DISClaimer: Keith Urban’s “Blue” Ballad Stands Out In A Rock Crowd

August 11, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Keith Urban

It’s a testosterone festival.

There are way too many guys in the mix today. Plus, there’s much too much rock music on hand. Trace Adkins, Kane Brown and Chase Rice are all rocking their brains out. So is Jason Aldean, but at least he has the good taste to do so melodically and with production finesse.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that the single that stands out today is a ballad performance. Give Keith Urban the Disc of the Day award.

The DisCovery Award performance belongs to a former college rugby player from North Carolina. Lend Luke Combs your ears. I think you’ll enjoy his sound as much as I did.

LUKE COMBS/Hurricane
Writers: Luke Combs/Thomas Archer/Taylor Phillips; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; River House (track)
– She wrecked his world by coming on like a super storm. The stately pace, echoey atmosphere, macho vocal and screaming guitars come together to cast a dramatic spell. Recommended.

TOBY KEITH/A Few More Cowboys
Writers: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson/Dean Dillon; Producer: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Publishers: Tokeco/Bobby’s Lyrics Land & Livestock/Do Write/Sixteen Stars/Tenorado/HoriPro, BMI; Show Dog (CDX)
– Adding echo to a voice this powerful is kinda like gilding the lily. But this has a mighty melody and a mighty message. So sing away, bub. Echo and all.

AARON GOODVIN/Woman In Love
Writers: Aaron Goodvin/Bart Butler/Brice Long; Producer: Bart Butler; Publishers: WB/Goodvin Fifty One/Bill Butler/Golden Vault/Woodspring/Blongsongs, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC; Warner Music Canada (AJG) (CDX)
-Pleasant, if ordinary.

JASON ALDEAN/A Little More Summertime
Writers: Jerry Flowers, Tony Martin and Wendell Mobley; Producer: Michael Knox; Broken Bow (ERG)
– Less bombastic and more melodic than usual, which is a welcome change of pace. Also, he wears heartache well. The icing on the cake is a delightful, swirling production.

RYAN FOLLESE/Float Your Boat
Writers: Ryan Follesé, Adrienne Follesé, Jamie Follesé, Keith Follesé, Cameron Montgomery; Producer: Cameron Montgomery; Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC / Black Saturday Music; BMI; Big Machine (ERG)
– I liked him better when he was a pop artist. That said, this is crunchy and catchy and clever.

TRACE ADKINS/Lit
Writers: Mickey Jack Cones, Monty Criswell, Derek George; Producer: Mickey Jack Cones; Wheelhouse (ERG)
– It lists the ways that things are hot while the production blazes. But it’s all rocked up with no place to go.

KANE BROWN/Thunder In The Rain
Writers: Kane Brown, Josh Hoge, Matthew McVaney; Publishers: Songs of Universal/EMI Foray Music/B Frank Entertainment; BMI/SESAC; RCA (ERG)
– More crashing rock. His vocal performance is kinda cool, but there’s just too much noise around it.

CHASE RICE/Everybody We Know Does
Writers: Jeremy Bussey, Travis Denning; Publishers: Universal Tunes/I’m About To Go Red On Ya Music; SESAC/BMI; Columbia (ERG)
– It’s one of those “country-and-proud-of-it” thangs with a raucous party vibe.

ERIC SOWERS BAND/My Kind of Country
Writers: Eric Sowers; Producer: Gary Carter; Publishers: none listed, BMI; ESB (track)
– This northern Ohio band has a hearty warmth and an engaging earnestness. Welcome to the dance, boys.

KEITH URBAN/Blue Ain’t Your Color
Writers: Steven Lee Olsen/Hillary Lindsey/Clint Lagerberg; Producers: Dann Huff/Keith Urban; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Songs of the Corn/HillaroddyRathbone/BMG/House of Sea Gayle/Clearbox/Spirit Two, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville
– I dig the “old school” vibe on this ballad. The first time you hear it, the song sounds like a classic. Urban goes four-for-four from the Ripcord album.

DISClaimer: Reckless Kelly Bashes And Blazes

August 4, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Reckless Kelly

Here we are in the blazing heat of a Southern summer, but the sounds from the country world aren’t nearly as hot.

The new single by Reckless Kelly is a dandy, and the latest from Lucas Hoge is well worth some spins, too. But most of the rest of what is in today’s column is not really essential listening.

One exception is the Disc of the Day winner, “Wildflowers” by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, our eternally excellent Trio.

I also liked newcomer Shawn Byrne. He’s a singer-songwriter who has everything it takes to succeed. Give him a DisCovery Award.

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE & TIM McGRAW/May We All
Writers: Rodney Clawson/Jamie Moore; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BMLG Records
– Yearning and nostalgic, yet still very breezy and romantic. The vocals and production are very “processed” sounding, but there is “heart” here as well. Nicely done.

AMERICAN YOUNG/God Sends a Train
Writers: Kristy Osmunson/Bob Regan; Writers: Jon Stone, Justin Niebank & Lee Brice; Publishers: Getting Grown/Osmunson/Dixie Stars/Tahoe Kid/HoriPro, BMI/ASCAP; Curb
– It’s an atmospheric story song about a woman who is delivered from an abusive relationship by a railroad tragedy. Spooky and cool.

LUCAS HOGE/Boom Boom
Writers: Philip LaRue/Ben Glover; Producer: Matt McClure; Publishers: Razor & Tie/Aroise/9t One Songs, BMI/ASCAP; Rebel Engine
– Jaunty and romantic, with a nifty, bubbling, burbling percussion track. Easily his most commercial outing yet. Infinitely programmable.

KELSEY WALDON/All By Myself
Writer: Kelsey Waldon; Producer: Michael Rinne; Publisher: none listed; Monkey’s Eyebrow
– This moody, downbeat ballad has a hypnotic appeal with its ghostly echo-chamber guitar and her hushed, haunted vocal delivery. Intriguing, despite some problems with the band keeping tempo. This gal has real promise.

SHAWN BYRNE/Lonesome Ol’ Guitar
Writers: Shawn Byrne/Chuck McCarthy/Todd Elgin; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; SB (track)
– I like this guy. His baritone voice has a warm resonance. The production is admirably spare. And there’s something about this lonely-troubadour performance that keeps you hanging on every line.

EMMYLOU HARRIS, DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT/Wildflowers (alternate version)
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: George Massenburg; Publisher: Velvet Apple; Rhino
– The 1988 and 1999 Trio masterpieces by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris will be the basis of a triple-CD reissue by Rhino next month. One disc will have the original album. The second will contain the tracks from its follow-up. A third disc will contain 12 previously unheard tunes and 8 alternate takes, plus “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” and “Mr. Sandman” (Trio performances which appeared on Harris LPs). This previously-unheard alternate take of Dolly’s poetic song, available as a lyric-video download, has each woman singing a verse, full-throated trio harmonies and a bouncier, more twangy arrangement than the original. On the hit version, 28 years ago, Dolly sang lead throughout, the arrangement was more Appalachian/acoustic and she and Linda sometimes did duo harmonies. At any rate, I still tingle all over whenever I hear these three sing together, and the song is enduringly wonderful. I cannot WAIT to hear the rest of what is coming out of the vaults.

JEREMY & THE HARLEQUINS/Into the Night
Writers: Jeremy Fury; Producer: Jeremy & The Harlequins; Publisher: none listed; Yep Roc
– Galloping and pop-ish, with plenty of oomph and echo. The relentless tempo is very exciting, and the lead vocalist isn’t afraid to let the fur fly.

KENNY DAVIN FINE & THE TENNESSEE TEXANS/Ballad of the Tennessee Texans
Writer: Kenny Davin Fine; Producer: Michael Lloyd: Publisher: FinerMusic, BMI; Higher Ground
– A cheesy attempt at a retro sound that falls flat, largely because the song is as dull as mud. Also, the band’s playing is sloppy.

SMITH & WESLEY/You’re the One
Writer: Scott Smith; Producer: Shane Hill; Publisher: Dream Walkin,’ ASCAP; Garage Door (CDX)
– This is a change-of-pace love ballad for these Southern rockers.

RECKLESS KELLY/How Can You Love Him (You Don’t Even Like Him)
Writers: Willy Braun; Producer:Willy Braun, Cody Braun & David Abeyta; Publishers: Fah-Q Music; No Big Deal
– The band bashes and blazes in a tight, jangle-filled arrangement highlighting harmonica, organ, throbbing bass, cascading piano notes and shuddering guitars. The drawling, conversational vocal is just right. This would sound absolutely great on country radio. So nice I played it twice.

DISClaimer: Miranda Lambert Lights Up Radio With “Vice”

July 28, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Miranda Lambert. Photo: Becky Fluke

Some days, the decisions are as clear as a bright blue sky.

There is no question, for instance, that the Disc of the Day award belongs to Miranda Lambert. In a sea of songs about beer drinking, hot honeys, pickup trucks and being proud to be redneck, she has a lyric about real life. She has always had an edge that other artists lack. No more so than she does today.

We have a number of newcomers in today’s column. But, again, the choice is easy. Cody Johnson triumphs over the competition to win the DisCovery Award.

MAGNOLIA BELLE/Lucky Number
Writers: none listed; Producer: Kimo Forrest; Publisher: none listed; Heartland (track)
– It’s kinda synth-y and pop, but very sunny, upbeat and bright sounding. Enjoyable.

FRANKIE BALLARD/Cigarette
Writers: Kip Moore/Chris Stapleton/Jaren Johnston; Producer: Marshall Altman; Publishers: WB/Cool Change/Music of the Corn/Spirit Catalog Holdings/Spirit Two/Sony-ATV Harmony/Texa Rae, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– Get a load of those writer credits. Too bad he couldn’t get anybody talented involved. This is the song of a man in lust, loaded with steamy vocal phrasing and intensely atmospheric production. A hit.

ZACH SEABAUGH/Nothing Good Happens After Midnight
Writers: Bruce Burch/Wally Montgomery; Producers: Zach Seabaugh, Jason Pendley & Bruce Burch; Publisher: none listed; Open Roads
– This Georgia teenager competed on The Voice last year. His solid baritone carries this uptempo romantic number with confidence and aplomb. The thumping rhythm track is especially cool. A contender, for sure.

VINCE GILL/Me and My Girl
Writer: Vince Gill; Producers: Vince Gill/Justin Niebank; Publishers: Vinne Mae/Songs of Kobalt, BMI; MCA Nashville
– A gentle rhythm carries this along like a summer breeze. It’s a lovely “road” song about traveling side-by-side with the one you adore, heading for nowhere under a yellow moon. In a word, enchanting.

MIKE SMITH/Green Eyed Girl
Writer: Mike Smith; producer: Nioshi Jackson; Publisher: Color Blind, ASCAP; EMS (track)
– The track rumbles along nicely. He’s not the strongest singer I’ve ever heard, but he gets the job done without drifting off pitch or meter.

CODY JOHNSON/With You I Am
Writers: David Lee/Cody Johnson/Trent Willmon; Producer: Trent Willmon; Publisher: Mood Merchant Music/4 Cow Ranch Songs/Cojo Country Publishing/Ascamp/Barnes and No Bull Music, ASCAP/BMI; Cojo (track)
– I dig this guy. He has a smooth-as-silk delivery, a relaxing warmth and an instantly likable vocal personality. The lyric of this mid-tempo charmer is about a man who changes his ways because of love.

AARON LEWIS/That Ain’t Country
Writers: Aaron Lewis; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: WB/Greenfund, BMI; Dot
– Country, country, country, complete with stuttering electric guitar, whining steel and a classic shuffle rhythm. Waylon, Jones, David Allan Coe, Johnny & June, Hank Jr., Haggard, Willie and Charlie Daniels all get name-checked along the way. What he wants, you see, is a return to heartache and gritty real life that he used to hear in country music.

BOO RAY/Sea of Lights
Writers: none listed; Producer: Noah Shain; Publisher: none listed; BR (track)
– The mix is kinda muddy. But the song about a country boy with shattered dreams in Hollywood is right on the money.

BAILEY JAMES/Kiss Me
Writers: Koehler/Norris/Haws; Producer: David Norris; Publisher: Bailey James/Norrisong/Harry Haws, ASCAP/BMI; BJ (track)
– I have admired this neo-traditionalist in the past. Her new entry is a straightforward invitation to romance. As before, she’s a forceful vocalist.

MIRANDA LAMBERT/Vice
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne; Producers: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf & Eric Masse; Publisher: none listed; RCA (download)
– Dark, sordid, simmering with sin…..and thoroughly fabulous. She’s trapped in a soul-killing vortex of drinking and promiscuity, and there is no escape. A Record of the Year contestant, and certainly one of the greatest performances of her career.

DISClaimer: Newcomers Take The Lead With Fresh Releases

July 21, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Sometimes, it’s the smaller stars that shine the brightest.

We have no shortage of shiny celestial phenomena in today’s DisClaimer. Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Eric Paslay and the legendary Moe Bandy are all here. But none of them took home our prizes.

Instead, the minorities win. And speaking of minorities, this is the first week in forever when we have an equal number of male and female voices in a country column. And as it happens, the distaff performers are our winners.

The Disc of the Day goes to RaeLynn, for having both a cool sound and a well-written lyric.

The DisCovery Award goes to The Springs, an enchanting duo with a female lead singer.

ERIC PASLAY/Angels In This Town
Writers: Eric Paslay/Corey Crowder/Erik Dylan; Producer: Marshall Altman; Publishers: Spirit Catalog Holdings/Five Stone/Spirit Two Nashville/WB/Songs From the Rose Hotel/Warner-Tamerlane/Songs of the Corn, ASCAP/BMI; EMI (track)
– A choppy, crunchy, multi-layered track (complete with strings) underscores a soaring, anthemic vocal performance about unlikely survival. Skimpy on the verses, strong on the repeated and repeated choruses.

CHELY WRIGHT/What About Your Heart
Writers: none listed; Producer: Joe Henry; Publishers: none listed; Megaforce (track)
– The advance single from Wright’s forthcoming I Am the Rain CD is a strummy, melodic and beautifully-produced outing with a steady rhythm and a thoughtful lyric. Vocal harmonies, chiming guitars and an echoey ambiance are all simply perfect. An excellent performance all around. Guests on the CD will include Rodney Crowell, The Milk Carton Kids and Emmylou Harris.

LUKE BRYAN/Move
Writers: Luke Bryan/Michael Carter/Jay Clementi; Producers: Jeff Stevens & Jody Stevens; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/234 Music, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (track)
– Unashamedly rocking, this celebrates a Yankee gal who “goes country” and learns to move her “rockin’ little body” “sexy and smooth.” Whatever…

RAELYNN/Love Triangle
Writers: Nicolle Galyon/Jimmy Robbins/RaeLynn; Producers: Nicole Galyon & Jimmy Robbins; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/A Girl Named Charlie/Round Hill/Jimmy Robbins/Extraordinary Alien/Super Big/Prescription/Take the Bull By the Horns, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– Very, very cool sounding. The atmospheric vibe of shuddering guitars and chugging percussion is fantastic enough. Add a broken-hearted girl’s lyric of watching her parents head for divorce and you’ve got something extra special. Take this to the top.

ADAM CRAIG/Reckon
Writers: Jeremy Stover/Randy Montana/Derek George; Producer: Derek George; Publishers: ole Red Cape/OLE Real Big Red Tunes/Sony-ATV Tree/WB/Funky Friars, ASCAP/BMI; Stoney Creek/BBR
-I dig his Southern-accented singing as well as his yearning, wounded interpretation of this lonely-boy song. The track shifts tempo and tone several times, but the whole thing holds together admirably, thanks to a highly accomplished production. Well worth your spins.

MOE BANDY/Lucky Me
Writers: Ernie Rowell/Dave Lindsey; Producer: Jimmy Capps; Publishers: none listed; MBP (track)
– The title tune of Moe’s new CD is a merry little Western swinger with built-in sunshine. Fiddle, steel and guitar “answer” his vocal phrases with jazzy phrases that are just dandy.

LAUREN ALAINA/Road Less Traveled
Writers: Lauren Alaina/Jesse Frasure/Meghan Trainor; Producer: busbee; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Lyles/Rio Bravo/Year of the Dog/M Train/Words & Music, BMI/ASCAP; Mercury/19/Interscope (CDX)
– Will a co-write with pop star Meghan Trainor be Lauren’s ticket to stardom at last? Maybe so, when it is something this hooky, catchy and poppy. Not to mention positive-thinking, upbeat and empowering.

DARIUS RUCKER/If I Told You
Writers: Ross Copperman/Jon Nite/Shane McAnally; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Songs By the Red Room/EMI April/Jon Nite/Smack Hits/Smack Songs/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP/GMR; Capitol (CDX)
– A suitor doubts the authenticity of his lover, so he’s afraid to tell her about his darkest and dumbest and dreamiest thoughts and actions. I love the stately pace of this, as well as Rucker’s hushed, urgent performance. A winner.

LESLIE COURS MATHER/We Are America
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Cours Mather, BMI; Lion Eyes
– She’s a solid singer. The song is one tired patriotic cliche after another.

THE SPRINGS/Dance With Me
Writers: Stewart Halcomb/Holly Halcomb/Emily Rose; Producer: Shayne Hill; Publishers: Stewart E. Halcomb/CMFH, BMI/SESAC; CFC (CDX)
– Lilting, innocent and charming. It’s a simple invitation to romance that wafts through your speakers like a spring breeze. These native Alabamans met at The Bluebird Café, and two years later he proposed to her there. Holly sings lead. Stewart backs her with soft harmonies and cool, sung, interwoven vocal passages. This is the title tune of their debut EP.

DISClaimer: Music Veterans, Female Leaders, And A New Label In Town

July 14, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Curtis Wright

Today’s stroll through the fields of bluegrass has several scenic views.

First, female personalities continue to make news in this once almost exclusively male genre. Kristin Scott Benson of The Grascals, singer-songwriter Irene Kelley and the women in the young bands NewTown and Flatt Lonesome are all in the spotlight today.

Second, three of this column’s discs come from performers who have migrated to bluegrass after making names for themselves in mainstream country. Kelley is one of them. Another is Ilya Toshinskiy. The third is Curtis Wright, a veteran who nonetheless wins a DisCovery Award for entering a new genre.

Third, there’s a new sheriff in town, label-wise. Companies such as Rebel, Pinecastle and Rounder have long dominated bluegrass music. But in today’s column, fully half of the entries come from the North Carolina based label Mountain Home, which has been expanding its influence dramatically during the past decade.

One of the Mountain Home entries is the Disc of the Day. That would belong to the utterly endearing Flatt Lonesome.

Flatt Lonesome

LONESOME RIVER BAND/Showing My Age
Writers: Brandon Rickman/Jerry Salley; Producer: Lonesome River Band; Publisher: We Don’t Rent Pigs/Universal Brentwood Benson/Lasso the Moon, SESAC; Mountain Home
– These guys have been at it for 25 years, now. Their new Bridging the Tradition finds them exploring some deeper lyrics and sounds. One example is this terrific meditation on turning 40 years old. The midtempo groove is as mellow and flawless as the men’s harmony singing. I remain a fan.

ILYA TOSHINSKIY/Red Grass
Writer: Ilya Toshinskiy; Producer: Ilya Toshinskiy; Publisher: Uncle Hadley, ASCAP; Hadley Music
– The seven-time MusicRow Guitarist of the Year winner returns to his first loves of bluegrass and banjo playing on his new Red Grass album. The “Red” in the title refers to his roots in the much-applauded Russian country band Bering Strait. This signature instrumental from his debut solo CD has lightning-flashing playing not only by Toshinskiy, but such wizards as Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton and Andy Leftwich. Prepare to be dazzled.

CURTIS WRIGHT/Mama Prayed For Me
Writers: Curtis Wright; Producer: Jimmy Metts; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Voxhall
– In the ‘90s, this guy landed a country deal at Liberty Records. He always was a sublimely expressive vocalist, and now he’s applying his talents in the bluegrass field. This outstanding story song from his debut ‘grass collection is beautifully crafted, deeply emotional and tenderly performed. In addition to his own songs, the Curtis Wright CD includes interpretations of works by such talents as Shawn Camp, Merle Haggard, Jerry Salley, Lowell George and John Scott Sherrill. Through it all, this is a performer with a huge country heart.

NEWTOWN/Harlan Road
Writers: Tyler Childer; Producer: Barry Bales; Publishers: Hickman Holler, BMI; Mountain Home
– Kentucky’s NewTown is a fairly recent addition to the bluegrass scene. It brings a modern sensibility to song selection and a vaguely jazzy sensibility to playing. This yearning-for-love CD title tune showcases both. Highly listenable, as is the entire set.

IRENE KELLEY/Carolina Wind
Writers: Irene Kelley/Thomas Jutz/Milan Miller; Producer: Mark Fain; Publishers: Shiny Stuff/Thomm Songs/Songs From the Sillhouse, BMI/SESAC; Mountain Fever
– Like NewTown’s Kati Penn and the gals in Flatt Lonesome, Irene Kelley is part of the next wave of female bluegrassers. Kelley sings like a hillbilly angel on her new These Hills collection. But what is just as jaw dropping is her songwriting. She co-wrote all 11 selections, and they are all shimmering jewels. The collection kicks off with this breezy, rippling mountain melody that has already found favor at bluegrass radio. But you’re in for a treat wherever you land on this CD. Its cast is stellar — Stuart Duncan, The Whites, Adam Steffey, Dale Ann Bradley, Randy Kohrs, Ronnie Bowman, Claire Lynch and Bryan Sutton are just a few of the bluegrass biggies who drop by to pick and sing with her.

THE GRASCALS/I Know Better
Writers: Billy Droze/Christopher J. Myers; Producer: Grascals; Publishers: Broad Vision/Chris Myers, BMI; Mountain Home
– The irrepressible Grascals are back with an album titled And Then There’s This. Its breakneck-speed lead-off track is already at No. 2 on the Bluegrass Unlimited hit parade. Kristin Scott Benson’s fleet-fingered banjo work sets the pace, and the boys are right behind her. The album’s cover photo was shot at Carter Vintage Guitars, a Nashville site that’s well worth visiting.

STEEP CANYON RANGERS/Radio
Writers: Graham Sharp; Producer: Jerry Douglas; Publisher: none listed; Rounder
– This North Carolina group gained fame by backing banjo player, actor and comic Steve Martin. On its own, it has generally been a somewhat more mundane band. But this new Radio CD has a definitely more progressive, denser and increasingly complex sound. An intriguing step forward.

CHRIS JONES & THE NIGHT DRIVERS/Laurie
Writers: Chris Jones/Jon Weisberger; Producer: Tim Surrett & Chris Jones; Publishers: Gal Sal/Wise Kings Global, BMI; Mountain Home
– Infectiously catchy, this single from the band’s current Run Away Tonight collection manages the tricky feat of sounding old-timey and thoroughly modern simultaneously. Lead singer Jones has a hearty, warm baritone delivery that is always immensely appealing.

ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY/Pray Enough
Writers: Oliver Wood/Chris Wood; Producers: Rob Ickes/Trey Hensley; Publishers: Royal Kook/Wood Sound, BMI; Compass
– This collection contains folk, honky-tonk and blues tones, as well as bluegrass performances. This track, for instance, is an acoustic-funk number, embellished by Ickes’ jazzbo resonator-guitar solo. Elsewhere, the repertoire on The Country Blues CD includes such eclectic sources as Ray Charles, The Grateful Dead, Hank Williams, Elton John and Charlie Daniels. It’s a joyful journey of discovery. Happy hunting.

FLATT LONESOME/You’re The One
Writers: Dwight Yoakam; Producers: Danny Roberts, Jeff Collins & Andrea Roberts; Publishers: Figs D, BMI; Mountain Home
– This harmony-soaked, ballad-tempo treatment of Dwight Yoakam’s 1991 country hit has been a fixture on bluegrass radio for months. The overtones in the blending voices of Tennessee siblings Charli Robertson, Kelsey Robertson Harrigill and Buddy Robertson are simply thrilling. And heart melting. There’s a another single called “You’ll Pay,” plus stupendous versions of Gram Parsons’ “Still Feeling Blue” and their own gospel rouser “In the Heat of the Fire,” but I have a hard time tearing my ears away from this audio masterpiece. All four songs are on this young band’s third album, Runaway Train. Buy it.

DISClaimer: Summer In The Country

June 30, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Summer is in full swing, and so are Nashville’s country sounds.

Tim McGraw and Dylan Scott have splendid new singles. But the man with the Disc of the Day is the mighty Randy Houser.

Give a DisCovery Award to singer-songwriter Lockwood Barr. She has the goods.

QUAKER CITY NIGHT HAWKS/Mockingbird
Writer: David Matsler; Producer: Beau Bedford & Quaker City Night Hawks; Publishers: none listed; Lightning Rod (track)
– This is being released as a country single? Alrighty, if your idea of country is loud, electric boogie rock.

RANDY ROGERS BAND/San Antone
Writers: none listed; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: none listed; Tommy Jackson/Thirty Tigers (track)
– I believe this was previously released as a single last year. It still sounds fresh and lilting and breezy. Well worth your spins.

RANDY HOUSER/Chasing Down A Good Time
Writers: Randy Houser/Jeffrey Steele/Anthony Smith; Producer: Derek George; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Little Britches/Jeffrey Steele/BPJ/Krankit/Hillbilly Science and Research, BMI; Stoney Creek
– A steady beat propels this soaring ode to an endless romance party. Houser’s bountiful, chesty singing is as rousing and robust as ever. Love it, love it, love it.

BRIAN WRIGHT/Lonesome, On’ry & Mean
Writers: Steve Young, Brian Wright; Producer: Matt McClure; Publisher: none listed; Big City (track)
– It’s old-school “outlaw” country. In fact, his vocal sounds way too much like a Waylon Jennings imitation. Find your own style.

DYLAN SCOTT/My Girl
Writers: Dylan Scott, Josh Kerr; Producer: Matt Alderman, Jim Ed Norman; Publisher: Curb Songs/Songs of Black River, ASCAP; Curb (track)
– His resonant baritone eases into the verses with a hushed intimacy, then opens up into urgency on the choruses. Gently forceful, thumping rhythms underscore the whole thing. It sounds just like a hit.

TIM MCGRAW/How I’ll Always Be
Writers: Jeremy Stover/Chris Janson/Jamie Paulin; Producer: Byron Gallimore & Tim McGraw; Publishers: Ole Red Cape/Real Big Red/Red Vinyl/Words & Music/Songs of Universal, ASCAP/BMI; Big Machine (track)
– The rippling tempo with brushed drums skips along charmingly. Sung in his upper range, the song has a dandy lyric about being an everyday guy, rather than an exceptional one. The guitar solo is a chiming gem.

KEITH WALKER/Friends With Boats
Writers: Keith Walker/Rich Karg/Dustin James; Producer: Chris Wright; Publishers: Break Down the Wall/Karg/Songs of Green Hills/Grin Like a Fool/Dustin James, ASCAP/SESAC; KW (track)
– It’s a nice idea, but the execution is rather ordinary. Inoffensively summery.

TRENT HARMON/There’s A Girl
Writers: Trent Harmon/Jimmy Robbins/Laura Veltz; Producer: Jimmy Robbins; Publishers: Big Machine/19/Trent Harmon/Round Hill/Warner-Tamerlane/Extraordinary Alien/Jimmy Robbins/Oh Denise, BMI/ASCAP; Big Machine
– The message is that gals make guys go crazy. The performance is jaunty and youthful, and the production is just right. Lightweight, but very, very listenable.

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Drinking With Dolly
Writers: Rachel Proctor/Victoria Banks; Producer: Matt McClure; Publisher: Round Hill Music/Rate Spark Music; Rebel Engine
– She yearns for country music’s good old days. Simply sung. Written with aplomb.

LOCKWOOD BARR/Forgotten How To Cry
Writers: Lockwood Barr/Karleen Watt; Producer: Matt Odmark; Publishers: none listed; LB (track)
– Well done. The light echo on her vocal and the stark instrumentation give the melodic ballad an extra edge. Extremely promising.

DISClaimer: Elizabeth Cook, Paul Burch, Derik Hultquist Among Americana’s Top Offerings

June 23, 2016/by Robert K Oermann

Elizabeth Cook

There is a whole lot to like in today overview of current Americana recordings.

So much so, that I’m splitting the Disc of the Day award in two. Our female winner is Elizabeth Cook, and our male prize goes to Paul Burch. These two are among the best this genre has to offer.

The DisCovery Award goes to singer-songwriter Derik Hultquist. His is the most “different” sounding record in this stack, and for that we applaud him. Don’t be surprised if pop/rock programmers aren’t smitten by him as well.

DARRELL SCOTT/Love Is The Reason
Writer: Darrell Scott; Producer: Darrell Scott; Publisher: none listed; Full Light (track)
-Scott’s songwriting resume includes “Born to Fly,” “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “Long Time Gone,” “Heartbreak Town,” “No Way Out,” “Family Tree” and “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” all of which are best known in versions by others. But he remains his own finest interpreter, as the performances collected on his new Couchville Sessions CD demonstrate. The album includes treatments of songs by Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, Peter Rowan and James Taylor, but at its heart are the nine gems from the songwriter, himself. This one is a rippling, lilting, uplifting tune sung in Scott’s characteristically warm, enveloping voice.

THE HONEYCUTTERS/On The Ropes
Writers: Amanda Anne Platt; Producers: Amanda Anne Platt; Tim Surrett; Publishers: Button Down/Windsor Forest, ASCAP; Organic (track)
– Don’t let the name throw you: This is a country combo. The group is fronted by singer-songwriter Amanda Anne Platt, who delivers the goods in a tart, yearning tone that is captivating. Her fellow band members are tight and super engaging. This title tune to The Honeycutters new CD is a portal into a myriad of alternative honky-tonking delights. The group is a cornerstone act on the Asheville, North Carolina, music scene. Sign me up for the Nashville fan club.

SAM BUSH/Bowling Green
Writers: Sam Bush/Jon Randall Stewart; Producer: Sam Bush; Publishers: Samanda Lynn/BMG/Whayasay/Reynsong, BMI; Sugar Hill (track)
– How do I love him; let me count the ways: Awesome instrumentalist, hearty vocalist, great record maker, fabulous human being. Bush’s upcoming Storyman CD is all over the map, stylistically. Which is another reason to love him. Jazz, folk, blues, reggae, swing and more bubble in the mixes. This toe-tapping ode to his hometown is so rootsy and grassy it sounds like a folk song. It is immediately followed by a honky-tonk shuffle called “Handmics Killed Country Music” (co-written with Emmylou Harris and complete with Pig Robbins on piano) and then a down-home blues titled “Where’s My Love.” Go, man, go.

DERIK HULTQUIST/Dark Side Of Town
Writers: Derik Hultquist; Producers: Frank Liddell/Eric Masse; Publishers: Scrambler/Carnival, ASCAP; Carnival (track)
– This singer-songwriter is a real find. This clear, dark, direct song is delivered in a conversational hush that’s surrounded by an ethereal electronic soundscape. The mysterious audio settings throw his super-strong songwriting skills into high relief throughout his Southern Iron collection. Enthusiastically endorsed. Pop tastemakers also take note.

ELIZABETH COOK/Straightjacket Love
Writer: Elizabeth Cook; Producer: Dexter Green; Publishers: Agent Love/Wixen, SESAC; Agent Love (track)
– Exodus of Venus is Cook’s brand new collection. She simply doesn’t know how to make a dull disc. This rousing mountain country rocker features harmony vocals by the sublime Patty Loveless. It’s great, but you can “needle drop” anywhere on this record and strike audio gold.

NED VAN GO/Lost In The Trouble
Writers: N. Hill/B. Grant/R. Becker/C. Becker/M. Webb; Producer: Michael Webb; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC; DSF (track)
– This Nashville band used to lean toward a rock sound. But the addition of mandolin ace Bob Grant in 2010 led to its evolution into an Americana act. The group’s current CD, The Dirt and the Sun, features this wildly energetic crowd favorite. It brilliantly fuses rock attitude with acoustic instrumentation.

TONY JOE WHITE/Hoochie Woman
Writers: Tony Joe White/Leann White; Producer: Jody White; Publishers: Wampus Cat/Wolf Woman, BMI; Swamp/Yep Roc (track)
– This ageless cult figure still conjures magic with his groove-tastic swamp rhythms and spooky lyrics. His womper-stomper guitar sets the tone in this dark, sexy, throbbing portrait of a witchy beguiler. It leads off a splendid collection titled Rain Crow.

JENNIFER WARNES/The Well
Writers: Jennifer Warnes/Doyle Bramhall; Producers: Martin Davich/Jennifer Warnes; Publishers: Warnes/BMG, BMI; Porch Light/BMG
– I have been in love with this woman for years. Best known as a peerless interpreter—“Right Time of the Night,” “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” “Up Where We Belong” and the like—she now emerges as a songwriter of striking strength. This CD was originally recorded in 2001, but is only now getting an “official” release. Its title tune is a heartbeat pulsing meditation on nature that marries lilting instrumentation to her always caressing vocals. The album also features her silky versions of songs by Tom Waits, Billy Joel, Jesse Winchester, Cindy Walker and Arlo Guthrie, in addition to her originals. Warnes is now working on a new collection. I can’t wait.

PAUL BURCH/Back To The Honky Tonks
Writers: Paul Burch; Producers: Paul Burch/Dennis Crouch; Publishers: Borrowed & Broke, BMI; Plowboy (track)
–Meridian Rising is a stunning achievement. Burch imagines the life of the legendary Jimmie Rodgers in a 20-tune song cycle that takes the Singing Brakeman from his Mississippi roots to his premature death from TB in a Manhattan hotel room. On this tune, he’s vowing to die as he lived, to the accompaniment of a cool little jazz combo. This whole project is absolutely essential listening. Buy it now.

JIMBO MATHUS/Play With Fire
Writers: Jimbo Mathus/Robert Earl Reed; Producer: Jimbo Mathus; Publisher: none listed; BLM (track)
– Mississippian Mathus is a mainstay of the esteemed vaudeville/folk/swing ensemble The Squirrel Nut Zippers. His new solo project is a nine-song, gumbo/voodoo delight titled Band of Storms. This track is a neo-rockabilly summons to romance featuring twang guitar, echo-chamber vocal and a cool, lingering hiss each time he sings the word “yes.” Elsewhere on the collection, you’ll find elements of blues, rock, honky-tonk and bluegrass. It’s all good.