The indie acts are in the spotlight today.

Whether they are big-label veterans like Randy Rogers Band and Ray Price, or freshly-minted newcomers, they are all plying their trade via independent companies.

The Disc of the Day belongs to Jamie Floyd, whose superbly-written songs have attracted an excellent-sounding group of supporting studio players. Music this good deserves major-league support. Somebody sign this woman at once and give her a ton of money.

The DisCovery Award goes to a band called Ashland Belle, a country-rock group based in Buffalo, New York, with booking and p.r. in Nashville.

RANDY ROGERS BAND/San Antone
Writer: Keith Gattis; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: Pioneer Town Songs/Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI); Tommy Jackson/Thirty Tigers
-The new Randy Rogers Band CD drops next month. The set, titled Nothing Shines Like Neon, features celebrity guests like Alison Krauss, Jerry Jeff Walker and Jamey Johnson. But on this rolling, breezy lead-off track, the band is on its own. And sounding better than ever.

RAY PRICE/No More Songs to Sing
Writers: Robert Ellis Orrall/Roger Springer/Tony Ramey; Producer: Fred Foster; Publishers: Ten Ten/Orrall Fixation/ole Red Cape/Drop Tyne/BMG Sapphire/Fast Horse, ASCAP/BMI; Amerimonte
-Ray Price’s final album is packed with emotional performances. This wistful, end-of-life ballad is one of its highlights. A keepsake from one of the all-time greats.

JAMIE FLOYD/The Blade
Writers: Allen Shamblin/Marc Beeson/Jamie Floyd; Producers: Brad Hill & Jamie Floyd; Publisher: WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)/Erin’s Dream Music (ASCAP)/Crazy Blue Egg (ASCAP). All rights admin. by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)/Built On Rock Music (ASCAP) (admin. by ClearBox Rights)/Jamie Floyd Music (SESAC); JFM
-This former Epic artist is on her own now, with her own publishing company and label. Her six-song EP is called Sunshine & Rainbows and features this powerful throbber that is the title of the current Ashley Monroe album. Floyd’s own rendition trembles with emotion and aches with longing. Awesome.

ASHLAND BELLE/Fastest Car
Writers: Jimmy Yeary/Zac Maloy; Producer: Zac Maloy; Publisher: EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Great Day At THiS Music/Beattyville Music, BMI & Leo Rosewater/Warner Chapell, ASCAP; Ashland Belle

-This band shows real promise. There is fire and energy in the instrumental work, and the lead singer bites into the rebel-love lyric with gusto. This rocks in all the right places.

KAREN TAYLOR-GOOD/Hope in the Garden
Writers: Karen Taylor-Good/Rachael Good; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Abe’s Garden
-Abe’s Garden is now open on Woodmont Boulevard in West Nashville as an Alzheimer’s and Memory Care Center of Excellence. This is the title tune of a CD compiling songs about this tragic disease. It’s a lovely piano ballad with strings. Support this worthy charity.

CHLOE COLLINS/All Over Again
Writer: Chloe Collins; Producer: Mikey Reaves; Publisher: Collins House, BMI; Collins House
-She’s 15, and she solo-wrote all five songs on her EP. This lead-off track and first single is an instantly catchy ditty about a no-regrets romance. I dig her conversational delivery and her down-to-earth lyrics. This gal has the goods.

IMAJ/Colorblind
Writers: Ron Grimes/IMAJ/Jennifer Lynn; Producers: IMAJ & Mills Logan; Publisher: Timeless Creations/Love IMAJ/Jennifer Lynn, BMI/SESAC; Thomas Triomphe
-It’s a message ballad about spreading love and not being racist. She sings well, but the song is weak and repetitive. In mid-song, a news-announcer voice butts in and then she starts talking about her philosophy. Which is sonically totally weird.

SHALO LEE/Hometown Girl
Writers: Shalo Lee/Owen Sartori; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Owen Sartori & Shalo Lee; SL
-Recorded in Minneapolis, this is a pop-flavored female “attitude” number with a cool guitar figure running through it. It’s not gritty enough to be Americana, rhythmic enough to be pop/rock or twangy enough to be mainstream country.

JOHNNY REED FOLEY/Hillbilly Rockstar
Writer: Johnny Reed Foley; Producer: Billy Chapin; Publisher: Johnny Reed Foley, BMI; Inferential
-Have I mentioned how much I dislike country rapping?

TWO MILES SOUTH/Anywhere But Here
Writers: Billy Chapin/Matt McKeown/Camryn Wessner; Publisher: Funkamongus, BMI; Producer: Billy Chapin
-This is a female duo comprised of 18-year-old twins. The whole bouncy, boppy thing sounds slightly flat.

DisClaimer takes a tour through the land of Americana this week and finds a lot to like.

So much so, that we’re giving out four prizes, instead of our usual two. The Disc of the Day honor is divided like an awards show. The Male Vocalist award goes to Tim O’Brien.

Our Female Vocalist winner is Andrea Zonn.

The Group prize goes to The Black Lillies.

One name stands tall as the winner of this week’s DisCovery Award. It is Rhiannon Giddens, whose solo CD should be in every home.

TIM O’BRIEN/Pompadour
Writer: Tim O’Brien; Publisher: No Bad Ham, ASCAP; Producer: Tim O’Brien; Howdy Skies
-Best known in bluegrass circles for his role in Hot Rize, O’Brien is also notable as a duet partner with artists such as Kathy Mattea and Darrell Scott. On his solo outings, he is an eclectic stylist, ranging through several roots styles. The title tune of his latest, for instance, is a wry, slightly goofy, blues outing about waking up with a brand new hairdo. It includes trumpet embellishments, yodeling and marimba playing. How’s that for eclectic?

LYNN TAYLOR & THE BAR FLIES/Hollow Man
Writer: Lynn Taylor; Publisher: None listed; Producer: Lynn Taylor; Lamon
-This Nashville outfit does regular club gigs showcasing the songs of its leader, who sings in a drawling, raspy, strangulated, soulful bawl. The title tune of its new CD wanders out of yer speakers with woozy, loosey-goosey, tipsy-sounding charm. Dobro and fiddle weave in and out of the mix.

DUKE ROBILLARD & SUNNY CROWNOVER/Evangeline
Writer: Robbie Robertson; Publisher: Medicine Hat, no performance rights listed; Producer: Duke Robillard; Stony Plain
-Blues-guitar champ Robillard has recorded his first acoustic collection. Titled The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard, it finds him sampling the catalogs of Big Bill Broonzy, Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Sleepy John Estes, The Delmore Brothers, W.C. Handy, Stephen Foster and more. Guests include Maria Muldaur, Jay McShann and Sunny Crownover, who handles lead vocals on this great swamp classic by The Band.

THE BLACK LILLIES/Hard to Please
Writers: Cruz Contreras/Bowman Townsend; Publishers: Black Lilly Music / Attack Monkey Productions; Producer: Ryan Hewitt; Attack Monkey
-For its fourth album, The Black Lillies enlisted an outside producer and Nashville guest musicians for the first time. The title tune delightfully mashes together thumping percussion, raucous electric guitar, saxophone, hand claps and soul-sister backup vocals on a rollicking r&b tune. Romping, stomping fun.

JIM LAUDERDALE/You Were Here
Writer: Jim Lauderdale; Publisher: Jim Lauderdale, SESAC; Producers: Jim Lauderdale/Luther Dickinson; Sky Crunch
-Lauderdale’s latest is an ambitious double CD called Soul Searching. One 13-track disc is Vol. 1 Memphis, and the other 13-track collection is Vol. 2 Nashville. The latter is not as “country” as you might expect. It kicks off with this moody, minor-key, rhythm-heavy moan. As you might expect, the musicianship is as outstanding as the songwriting. Also lend an ear to “Black Widow Spider,” “Tarzan Houdini,” “What Do I Know About Anything,” and “Why Does God Let That Happen,” the last named featuring The McCrary Sisters.

JAMES HAND/Why Oh Why
Writer: James Hand; Publisher: Slim Hand, BMI; Producer: Deborah J. Perry; Slim Hand.
-The latest by this countrier-than-country Austin artist is Stormclouds in Heaven, a bluegrassy gospel collection. He still sounds like George Jones, but this time he’s surrounded by mandolins and fiddles instead of steel guitars, as this lead-off track attests.

RHIANNON GIDDENS/Tomorrow Is My Turn
Writers: Charles Aznavour/Marcel Stellman/Yves Stephane; Publisher: None listed; Producer: T Bone Burnett; Nonesuch
-For her solo CD debut, this former member of The Carolina Chocolate Drops applies her liquid voice to songs originated by everyone from Dolly Parton and Odetta to Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Patsy Cline. The title tune is associated with the great Nina Simone. Giddens performs it as a languid, haunting, cabaret chanson that thoroughly hypnotizes. Essential listening. Also available on vinyl, by the way.

SHAWN MULLINS/My Stupid Heart
Writers: Shawn Mullins/Chuck Cannon; Publishers: Roadieodie/Warner Chappell/Chuck Cannon, BMI; Producer: Lari White; Sugar Hill
-I remain a fan. The excellent title tune of this singer-songwriter’s latest collection has him singing in a baritone whisper as it begins, then rising in intensity and volume as the ballad aches even deeper. The cello, steel and electric guitar effects are brilliantly blended. Applause for everyone involved.

ANDREA ZONN/Rise
Writers: Luke Bulla/Andrea Zonn; Publishers: Redding Theory/Zondrea/BMG Bumblebee, ASCAP/BMI; Producer: Andrea Zonn; Compass.
-This Nashville vocalist, songwriter and musician is best known for backing superstars like James Taylor and Vince Gill. Judging from her new solo CD, she has an address book to die for. Taylor and Gill appear, as do Keb Mo, Jerry Douglas, Mac McAnally, Sam Bush, Alison Brown, John Cowan and Bryan Sutton. Guest Trace Adkins is particularly awesome on the beautifully written “Ships.” The album’s atmospheric title track, “Rise,” has her lilting soprano offering a lyric of hope and optimism amid storm and danger.

KYLE FREDERICK/Eventide
Writer: Kyle Frederick; Publishers: Vandermont/Cry Angel/Melody Chief, BMI; Producers: Byron House/Kyle Frederick; Melody.
-This Nashville veteran has recorded in contexts ranging from country to rock. The title tune of his new collection finds is a doomy, urgent, echoey rocker with swirling organ, lumbering rhythm and deep-twang guitar, plus a harmony vocal by Emmylou Harris. Intriguing.

What is this, Great Country Singers Week?

It is inspiring and overwhelming how many great hillbilly vocal stylists we have on hand today — John Conlee, Shane Owens, Joe Nichols, Dylan Scott and the trio of Charles Kelley, Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay. What a bonanza.

Taking home the Disc of the Day is another great one. Toby Keith is at the top of his game as a romantic balladeer with “Beautiful Stranger.”

It says under her name on her record label that she is “just another blonde.” I beg to differ. With her perfect delivery of a great lyric, Adrian Johnston is this week’s DisCovery Award winner.

JOE NICHOLS/Freaks Like Me
Writers: Lynn Hutton/Monty Criswell/Josh Thompson; Producer: Mickey Jack Cones; Publishers: New House of Sea Gayle Music/Vestal Boy Music/Sony/ATV Publishing /Dixey Bar Music/Big Music Machine (BMI)/Two Laine Collections, ASCAP/BMI; Red Bow (ERG) 
—Stuttering uptempo guitar twanging backs him as he catalogs the everyday-guy behavior that makes him a “freak.” This guy can sell a song like few others. Lend him your ears on this spiffy, percolating new single, guaranteed to charm.

DYLAN SCOTT/Crazy Over Me
Writers: Dylan Scott/Matt Alderman; Producers: Matt Alderman/Jim Ed Norman; Publisher: Curb/Curb Congregation, ASCAP/SESAC; Curb (CDX) 
—His resonant baritone is a splendid vehicle for this toe-tapping romance ditty. Warm, gentle and human.
 
CHARLES KELLEY, DIERKS BENTLEY & ERIC PASLAY/The Driver
Writers: Charles Kelley/Eric Paslay/Abe Stoklasa; Producer: Paul Worley; Publishers: WB/30A Getaway/Spirit Catalog Holdings/Five Stone/Sprit Two/Year of the Dog/Words &l Music, ASCAP; Capitol (CDX) 
—Charles steps out from Lady A for an outing with buddies Dierks and Eric. The stately waltz about life making music on the road has a terrific vibe, like an anthem for every music lover who’s ever lived. It begs you to link arms and sing along. Each guy takes a verse, and the instantly memorable choruses are for all of us.
 
SHANE OWENS/Where I’m Comin’ From
Writers: Kerry Kurt Phillips/Jerry Salley; Producer: James Stroud; Publisher: Dixie Stars, ASCAP; Amerimonte (CDX) (www.shaneowenscountry.com)
—Wow. What a singer. Somewhere, Keith Whitley is smiling, because this guy has the phrasing of a great, timeless country stylist. The uptempo song has dandy lyrics about what it means to be a common man. There’s just one misstep, songwriters: Contrary to the relentless fearmongering of the N.R.A., nobody is coming to take away your gun. Otherwise, you hit every line perfectly.
 
JOHN CONLEE/Bread and Water
Writers: Leslie Satcher/Vince Gill; Producer: Bud Logan; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Leslie Satcher/Kobalt/Vinnie Mae, BMI; RCR (CDX) (www.johnconlee.com)
—Hooray! An awesome country story song and a man who sings the fire out of it. A homeless drunk wanders into the mission and finds both sustenance and salvation. Brilliantly written and masterfully performed.
 
ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/Let Somebody Love You
Writers: Adrian Duffy/Martin Van Hoof Jenkins; Producers: Adrian Duffy/Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; SR (www.adrianduffy.com)
—This group has pleased me several times in the past. But I don’t like the way this somewhat out-of-meter song scans.
 
TOBY KEITH/Beautiful Stranger
Writers: Toby Keith/Bobby Pinson; Producers: Toby Keith & Bobby Pinson; Publishers: Tokeco Tunes/Bobby’s Lyrics Land & Livestock/Do Write, BMI; Show Dog
—This is a breathtaking, heart-in-throat performance. Toby’s vocal swoons in heavenly romance, and the strings wash over the ballad like a soothing mist. Exquisitely done.

MADDIE & TAE/Shut Up and Fish
Writers: Maddie Marlow/Taylor Dye/Pete Sallis/Aaron Scherz; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Super Big/Big Machine/Song Alert/Tunes of R and T Direct/Razor & Tie, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC; Dot 
—Sprightly and pert. He gets her alone on the lake and puts the moves on her. This crowds her casting arm, so she dumps him in the water. Cute as the dickens.
 
MAKENNA & BROCK/Burnin’ the Night Down
Writers: Makenna Sullinger/Brock Vincent Wade; Producers: Paul Carabello & Clif Doyal; Publishers: none listed; ASCAP; Soundbyte (www.makennaandbrock.com)
—Pop-tinged tempo for your playlist. These X Factor alumni rock out on their debut single. Drums pound as they wail the tune. Both singers deliver plenty of passion.

ADRIAN JOHNSTON/It’s a Song
Writer: Maloy/Galyon/Dezen; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Dallas, TX 
—Lovely. The song is a beautifully crafted evocation of what hearing a favorite tune is like. She sings it with heart, and the anthem’s production is absolutely perfect.

Most of these folks are rocking their way into the fall season.

Aaron Watson, Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean, Deeann Dominy and Dianna Corcoran are all bringing forth uptempo tunes this week.

But bucking the trend and despite competition from bigger stars, it’s Brantley Gilbert who rides away with the Disc of the Day prize.

Texan Deeann Dominy and Oklahoma’s James Robert Webb duked it out for this week’s DisCovery Award. The Texas diva takes it home.

DEEANN DOMINY/This Train Is Leaving
Writers: Deeann Dominy/Jack Harris; Producer: Anson Funderbrugh; Publisher: none listed; ASCAP/BMI; DD (track)
-This former DisCovery Award winner is back and sounding better than ever. Her raspy, blue-eyed soul voice remains truly gripping. The bass groove on this bluesy country rocker rumbles righteously, and her electric guitarist totally gets on board. Essential listening.

STONEY LARUE/Us Time
Writers: Stoney LaRue/Dean Dillon; Producers: R.S. Field/Van Fletcher; Publishers: Tiltawhirl/ACBM/Sixteen Stars/Tenorado, BMI/ASCAP; eOne (track)
-The title track of Stoney’s latest is a slow romantic ballad with a dreamy, gentle atmosphere and a softly winning vocal. Elsewhere on the CD, he gives us fine revivals of Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman,” Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” Willie Nelson’s “Seven Spanish Angels” and Gary Stewart’s “Empty Glass.” I remain a fan.

DIANNA CORCORAN/God Did Good
Writers: Dianna Corcoran/Jeff Cohen/Kristian Bush; Producer: Dianna Corcoran; Publishers: Tenyar/Silent Gate/As You Wish/Songs of the Architect, BMI; Krlan
-This Aussie chanteuse is already an award winner in her native land. Her U.S. debut is a sprightly, bright bopper with slamming Shania-style percussion and a personable, penetrating country-soprano vocal. Well done.

SAM HUNT/Break Up in a Small Town
Writers: Sam Hunt/Zach Crowell/Shane McAnally; Producers: Crowell/McAnally; Publishers: Universal/Three Mules/External Combustion/Who Wants To Buy My Pub/Atlas/Songs of Southside Independent/I Love Pizza/Smack Ink, ASCAP; MCA (CDX)
-This rocketing rookie again combines conversational spoken passages with sung choruses. Hip-hoppy, yet unmistakably country, because the subject matter is heartbreak. Another winner.

LAUREN ALAINA/Next Boyfriend
Writers:Lauren Alaina/Emily Weissband/Matt McVaney; Producer: busbee; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Lylas/WB/Thankful For This/A Frank/Song House/Kobalt, ASCAP/BMI; Mercury/19
-Cleverly written and cut with peppy personality.

AARON WATSON/Getaway Truck
Writer: Aaron Watson; Producers: Keith Stegall/Aaron Watson; Publisher: Tunes From HTK, BMI; Thirty Tigers/Big (CDX)
-A toe tapper with twang. He’s inviting her to escape onto the open road of romance. If you’re looking for tempo on your playlist, look no further.

THE BAND PERRY/Live Forever
Writers: RedOne, T.I Jakke, Kimberly Perry, Reid Perry, Neil Perry, Jenna Andrews and Karl-Ola Kjellholm; Producers: RedOne/Dann Huff; Publishers: Sony ATV / Songs of RedOne/ Songs by Team Red / Lionheart Music Group/ Sony/ATV Countryside/Pearlfeather Publishing/Sony/ATV Countryside/When I Go to the Moon Music/Sony/ATV Countryside/Famdamily Music; BMI/SESAC; Republic Nashville (ERG)
-It has a big-sounding, beefy, burly pop track, almost Queen-like at times. The siblings’ harmonies and vocal interplay are more vivid than ever. It’s a crazy-quilt of various textures and sounds, but it works in a chesty, anthemic kind of way.

JASON ALDEAN/Gonna Know We Were Here
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Broken Bow (ERG)
-They’re going crazy as young folks on a rampage. Together, they plan wild times with burning ambition. Guitars scream along.

BRANTLEY GILBERT/Stone Cold Sober
Writers: Brantley Gilbert, Brett James, Dan Layus; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Indiana Angel Music/External Combustion Music / WB Music Corp. / Songs Of Brett / Atlas Music Publishing/ Yawyer Three Music; ASCAP/BMI; Valory (ERG)
-I think this guy has the coolest singing voice. Here, he rides atop a throbbing electronic track as he asks for a little mercy and forgiveness in hushed, husky tones. Potent and believable.

JAMES ROBERT WEBB/Makin’ Love Tonight
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Bison Creek
-Earnest sounding. He doesn’t set off any explosions as a singer, but he has a solid, journeyman, countryboy delivery. Why fight when we could be loving, he asks. The country rocking instrumental support is super tasty.