DISClaimer (6/26/09)

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montgent-backwhen150The stars are blindingly bright this week.

If you’re looking for a gorgeous ballad, George Strait is your man. In the mood for a joyous rocker? Give a listen to Sara Evans. For a jolt of vocal passion, check out Jamie O’Neal. Do you wish to bask in heavenly harmonies? I hereby direct your attention to the Eli Young Band. And if you seek a good ol’ meat-and-potatoes outlaw country tune, Montgomery Gentry has just the thing.

bradlong-150Any and all of those records could be a Disc of the Day. In one of the toughest decisions I’ve made in ages, I’m going with the common people, Montgomery Gentry.

As you all know, Teddy Gentry was a soulful sideman for years in Alabama. In Phase II of his career, he is emerging as a potent producer on Music Row. He has found a guy named Brad Long who sings like a bird and wins this week’s DisCovery Award.

CHRIS HANNERS/It’s My Life
Writer: Mark Schlemmer; Producer: Randy Jack Wiggins; Publisher: Nashville Sound, SOCAN/BMI; Little House (615-885-8100)
-The song is cute. The track sparkles. His vocal is strictly ordinary.

SARA EVANS/Feels Just Like A Love Song
Writer: Sara Evans/Nathan Chapman/Chris Lindsey/Aimee Mayo; Producer: Nathan Chapman & Sara Evans; Publisher: Universal-Careers/Gingerdog/Sony ATV Tree/Pain in the Art/Moonscar/Little Blue Typewriter/BPJ, BMI; RCA
-It’s ridiculously sunny, positive and upbeat. It’s also irresistible.

HOYT HUGHES/Ain’t My Day To Save The World
Writer: Steve Williams/Thom Sheperd/Liz Hengber; Producer: Eric Paul; Publisher: Black in the Saddle/Mets Fan/Green Hills/Travelers Ridge/Pier Two/Twang Thang, ASCAP; Whirlwind/Lofton Creek  (www.hoythughes.com)
-The song is solid, and his performance is fine. I found the too-prominent female backup vocals somewhat off-putting, however.

JAMIE O’NEAL/Soldier Comin’ Home
Writer: Jamie O’Neal/Roxie Dean/Patricia Ann Murphy; Producer: Rodney Good; Publisher: Jere Song/Sugar Dumplin/Front to Black/Songs of Seven/Pakimo, ASCAP/SESAC; 1720 Entertainment
-It’s a power waltz that she pours vocal passion into like molten gold. “When was the last time you looked at me like you were a soldier coming home?” she asks of a lover who’s gone stale. It’s quite a performance. Lend her your ears.

KENI THOMAS/Gunslinger
Writer: Keni Thomas; Producer: none listed; Publisher: West Moraine/Gunslinger, ASCAP; RBM/Tenacity (www.kenithomas.com)
-The screaming guitars threaten to overwhelm his vocal throughout the performance, and at one point they completely take over the song. All in all, this seriously rocks.

ELI YOUNG BAND/Radio Waves
Writer: Blu Sanders/Mike Eli; Producer: Mike Wrucke; Publisher: none listed; Universal South/Republic
-This snatched my heart and ran off with it. The harmony vocals have so much sincerity and honesty that it’s impossible not to get involved. And when they started weaving in and out of each other in layered tracks at the finale, I was a goner.

JASON JONES/Unlikely Angel
Writer: Corey Lee Barker/Constance Mottle Richard/Anita Cox; Producer: Brett Beavers/Kimo Forrest; Publisher: Corey Lee/Myohana/A C Songbird, BMI; Warner Bros.
-Pop country with a big wooshing guitar solo in the middle and falsetto vocals on the choruses. Pleasingly different.

BRAD LONG/Long Lost Smile
Writer: none listed; Producer: Teddy Gentry; Publisher: none listed; Blackwater (www.bradlong.net)
-She’s splitting and finding her bliss again. The moody track is a sonic depth charge. Even more impressive is the powerhouse singing. This South Carolina native nails every note and holds some of them with truly impressive breath control. Get on board: He’s going places.

GEORGE STRAIT/Living For The Night
Writer: George Strait/Bubba Strait/Dean Dillon; Producer: Tony Brown & George Strait; Publisher: George Strait/Bubba Strait/Sony ATV/Unwound, BMI; MCA Nashville (CDX)
-Strait with strings! This lustrous ballad is cushioned in an exquisite arrangement that draws out every sad, wistful, broken-hearted note. George’s perfectly shaded, blue-tinted vocal does the rest of the work. You’ll get lost in its beauty. I sure did.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Long Line Of Losers
Writer: Kevin Fowler/Kim Tribble; Producer: Blake Chancey; Publisher: none listed; Columbia (CDX)
-It’s been a big week for these boys. They were inducted into the Opry on Tuesday, and today they have one of the strongest singles of their career to date. Just be thankful your family isn’t as no-account as the one in this song is-daddy took a bullet for stealing cars, grandpa ran moonshine and went to jail, grandma got drunk and left the kids behind, mom got caught in a motel with the preacher. No wonder, “I was born with a shot glass in my hand…I’m always a suspect/My bloodline made me who I am.” Eddie’s wicked laugh at the end is simply perfect.

DISClaimer (6/19/09)

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steveholy-girlfriend150It’s good to know that country music hasn’t lost its sense of humor.

Both Rodney Carrington and Phil Vassar are tickling the funny bone with new singles this week. Rodney’s hilarious outing is produced by none other than Toby Keith, who also co-wrote two of the tunes on the comic’s El Nino Loco CD.

The other “must add” sides this week come from Gary Allan, Sarah Buxton and our Disc of the Day winner, Steve Holy.

LUKE ROBINSON/Tequila Sheila
Writer: Thom Shepherd/Ken Moulden; Producer: Luke Robinson & Max Archer; Publisher: Twang Thang, ASCAP; Bad Luck (888-455-5504)
-No, it’s not the 1980 Bobby Bare single of the same title. And this guy sounds too young and lightweight to be singing about tequila and “drink you pretty tonight.”

GARY ALLAN/Today
Writer: Tommy Lee James/Brice Long; Producer: Mark Wright & Gary Allan; Publisher: none listed; MCA Nashville
-He’s such a superb performer that he makes even this routine spin down Music Row sound like an epic. I remain a fan.

PHILLIP THOMAS/Livin’ Life At The Bottom
Writer: Troy Powers; Producer: Johnny Garcia; Publisher: Busy at Play, BMI; Busy At Play (www.phillipthomasmusic.com)
-The nice, punchy production and tight song craftsmanship both help this garden-variety vocalist immensely. Listenable.

JOHN RICH/The Good Lord And The Man
Writer: John Rich; Producer: John Rich; Publisher: J. Money/Do Write, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-He thinks he’s Merle Haggard in 1969.

SABLE/Coming Home
Writer: Jeff Sable/Chris Sable/Jake Hanselman; Producer: Jeff Sable; Publisher: UbarEnt. no performance rights listed; American Eagle (www.sablecountry.com)
-I like the contrast between the intimate, hushed vocal quality in the verses and the throttle-wide-open tenor singing in the choruses. The song has hooks a-plenty, and the tempo production is just right.

SARAH BUXTON/Outside My Window
Writer: Sarah Buxton/Victoria Shaw/Mark Jeffrey Hudson/Gary Burr; Producer: Sarah Buxton; Publisher: We’re Going to Maui/Multisongs/AvaRu/EMI April/Salerno Songs/Mr. Coco/Kobalt/Songs of Universal, BMI/SESAC/ASCAP; Lyric Street
-Our only female contestant this week has some cool guitar work going on, a catchy tune and a vocal with plenty of penetration. Very enjoyable, indeed.

JASON ROGERS/Thinkin’
Writer: Jason Rogers; Producer: Martin Young; Publisher: BlueBuck, ASCAP; Blue Buck (track) (www.jasonrogerscountry.com)
-This native Canadian’s CD kicks off with this thin-sounding bopper. His vocal was recorded too dry, the track is quite spare and the song won’t blow you away.

STEVE HOLY/Baby Don’t Go
Writer: Steve Holy/Jimmy Yearly; Producer: Lee Miller; Publisher: Mike Curb/Steve Holy/Black to Black, BMI; Curb
-No it’s not the 1965 Sonny & Cher hit of the same title. This one’s a steady stomper laced with fiddle and sung with fiery heat. I think I hear a hit.

RODNEY CARRINGTON/If I’m The Only One
Writer: Rodney Carrington/Mark Gross; Producer: Toby Keith; Publisher: none listed; Capitol (track)
-“If I’m the only one/How come our baby looks like Tim?” “If I’m the only one/Whose underwear are these?” He sings the ballad perfectly straight, which makes it all the more hilarious. “If I’m the only one/How come your name’s on the bathroom wall?” A naked guy sprints across the lawn when he comes home. She spends the night on 50 Cents’ tour bus. And so forth. Absolutely give this a spin.

PHIL VASSAR/Bobbi With An I
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Universal South (ERG)
-Hand claps and grinding “party” guitar kick it off. And then the fun plot kicks in. In the daylight, this bruiser linebacker drives a tow truck and brawls. At night, he’s in drag in the bar in a pink party dress. You don’t dare give this “big boned girl” any grief about it, because he bench presses 335 pounds. Phil’s wise conclusion is to live and let live.

Whisperin’ Bill Still Making Noise

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Bill Anderson is having a good week with the release of two new co-writes.

Bill Anderson is having a good week with the release of two new co-writes.

Whisperin’ Bill Anderson was already having a wonderful vacation when he received a phone call from Terry Wakefield at Sony/ATV that made his trip that much better. Wakefield let him know the status of two of Anderson’s co-writes: Sugarland‘s “Joey” hit the national country charts at No. 50 yesterday (6/29), and today (6/30) Brad Paisley released a new album containing his cut “No.”

Coincidentally, Anderson says, “Some of my biggest hits in the past have been songs with only one-word titles, so if I’m lucky, maybe I can add a couple more to that list in the near future.”

Revolving Door: Stoney Creek, Sony, LifeNotes

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ash

Ash Bowers

Stoney Creek Records, the new label founded by Broken Bow owner Benny Brown, has signed Ash Bowers. and is planning the release of his first album. The Buddy Cannon produced project contains seven songs penned by Bowers, as well as the new single, “Stuck,” which was written by Billy Montana and Frank Myers and goes for adds Aug. 17. Bowers is managed by Shawn Pennington of Matchless Management.
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Sony Music Nashville announces that Jon Elliot, VP, Artist Development & Marketing, and Christian Svendsen, Director, Strategic Marketing, are departing the company to form a new venture. Exact exit dates are pending. Interested persons may submit resumes at www.sonymusic.com once the position is posted.
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The Lost Trailers’ Stokes Nielson and his wife Maria are proud parents of a healthy baby boy born Mon., June 22 in Nashville. Weighing in at 7.7 lbs, both the little one and his mom are doing well. He is also happily welcomed by a big sister.

Cindy Watts, entertainment writer at The Tennessean, and her husband Richard Kimzey welcomed their first child together on Thurs., June 25. Kansas May Halcyon Watts-Kimzey weighed 7 lbs 12 oz, and was 21 inches long. Baby and mother are happy and healthy. Kansas joins nine-year-old half-sister Madison.

DISClaimer (6/12/09)

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cunderwood-beginnings150The indies are in the driver’s seat this week.

The big news is that Kentucky native Clay Underwood graduates from his prior DisCovery Award win to having the Disc of the Day with the title tune to his new CD. Even more surprising is that his only real challenger is also on an independent label. That would be the estimable Darren Kozelsky.

There’s not much to report in the DisCovery Award category. Oh, there are newcomers here, but only Lower Broadway denizen Lewis Copeland rises to lcopeland-hntnkprincess150the occasion. I’m not much for pseudo Southern rock, but he does get points for writing, producing, marketing and singing the redneck-humorous “Honkytonk Princess” all by himself.

CLAY UNDERWOOD/New Beginnings And Old Honky Tonks
Writer: Terry Dennis/John Edwards; Producer: Jimmy Layne, Jennifer Layne & Clay Underwood; Publisher: What Is Written/Magic Mustang, BMI; PLC (track) (www.clayunderwoodmusic.com)
—He’s country. I like him. And any song that name checks “Conway and Haggard” is fine with me. Plus, it’s a waltz, which I’m a sucker for. This previous DisCovery Award winner has it all going on—great songs, excellent record production, vocal talent and a CD guest appearance by the sublime Marty Raybon.

CRAIG MORGAN/Bonfire
Writer: Tom Botkin/Kevin Denney/Craig Morgan/Mike Rogers; Producer: Phil O’Donnell & Craig Morgan; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; BNA (CDX)
—It roars like its title.

JAKE OWEN/Eight Second Ride
Writer: Jake Owen/Eric Durrance; Producer: Jimmy Ritchey; Publisher: none listed, BMI/IMRO; RCA (CDX)
—The ACM New Male Vocalist winner has a head scratcher. Let me get this straight: A complete stranger wants him to take her home just because he has a truck with big tires, and he’s boasting that he’s going to take her on an 8-second ride?

DARREN KOZELSKY/Seven Vern Gosdins Ago
Writer: Liz Hengber/Arlos Smith; Producer: J.R. Rodriguez & Phil O’Donnell; Publisher: Hengber/Smith, ASCAP/SESAC; Spinville/9 North (CDX) (www.darrenkozelsky.com)
—He was doing fine until somebody fired up the jukebox and played three George Jones tunes, a Doug Stone weeper and seven Vern Gosdin songs. Now his heart is plumb busted. What a neat song. Darren is longtime favorite of this column, and his cool factor just went up again.

ROCKIT ROGER RICHARDSON/The First Cowboy In Space
Writer: Mike Lawler/Robert Steven Dintsch; Producer: Mike Lawler; Publisher: Coofermo/Popred, ASCAP; Star Base (CDX)
—When was the last time you heard the words “intergalactic” and “extra terrestrial” in a country song?

JOHN AMOS/We Were Hippies
Writer: Eric Cash/John Amos; Producer: Gene A. Cash Sr.; Publisher: Division, BMI; Music Row (CDX) (615-397-9100)
—Yes, it’s THAT John Amos, the actor from TV’s Good Times. He’s not much of a singer, but the novelty tune has a grin or two. The gist of it is that being a proud, pot-smoking hippie is a lifetime thing.

MICHELLE TURLEY/Hard Times
Writer: C.F. Turley; Producer: C.F. Turley; Publisher: Pop Dark, BMI; Victorio (615-269-0474)
—Our first female entry this week should have stayed home. Her soprano on this rocker veers into Minnie Mouse territory.

GRANT LANGSTON/Stand Up Man
Writer: Grant Langston; Producer: Rich McCulley & Grant Langston; Publisher: Grant Langston, ASCAP; MSG (track) (www.grantlangston.com)
—Raggedy garage country, performed with vim.

SHEA FISHER/Don’t Chase Me
Writer: Tammy Hyler/Shaye Smith; Producer: Richard Landis & Steve Forde; Publisher: Check Out That Skyline/Evergreen/ICG/EMI Blackwood/Addymak, ASCAP/BMI; Stroudavarious (CDX) (www.sheafisher.com)
—What is this? Cheerleader hip-hop with a steel guitar?

LEWIS COPELAND/Honkytonk Princess
Writer: Lewis Copeland; Producer: Lewis Copeland; Publisher: Lew Tunes, BMI; Wing2Fly (CDX) (www.lewiscopeland.com)
—“Which one of you boys got the biggest truck?” she asks, slopping her drink down the front of her dress. He falls in love while the rock track screams.

DISClaimer (5/29/09)

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kylieharris-lies150Her television show is called The Edge of Country, and she practices what she preaches.

Love, Lessons & Lies, the new CD by GAC’s Kylie Harris, is a splendidly left-field listening experience. It is not only produced with imagination, it is filled with excellently written tunes. A tip of the cap and a Disc of the Day salute.

We have a number of newcomers on hand today. My pick to click is Jack County a.k.a. Dallas singer-songwriter Jackson Doyle. By whichever name, he/it jackcounty-radio150gets the DisCovery Award.

SEAN PATRICK McGRAW/Dollar Ain’t Worth A Dime
Writer: Sean Patrick McGraw/David Kroll; Producer: Sean Patrick McGraw; Publisher: Seananigan/Smokin’ Grapes, ASCAP/BMI; Little Engine
-It kicks off with big, mean, dooom-y electric guitars, then he comes in with his tales of economic woe. The gist of it is that it is easy to turn to a life of crime when your back is against the wall. Very “outlaw” sounding.

JASON ALDEAN/Big Green Tractor
Writer: Jim Collins/David Lee Murphy; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Sexy Tractor/Big Loud Bucks/Hope-N-Cal/Cal IV/Old Desperados/N2D/Carol Vincent, BMI/ASCAP; Broken Bow (track)
-Sweetly romantic, with a gently rolling groove and a surprisingly intimate vocal. A nice change of pace.

JACK COUNTY/Lonesome Radio
Writer: Jackson Doyle; Producer: Jackson Doyle & Jon Skaggs; Publisher: none listed; Jack County Music (track) (www.jacksoncountymusic.com)
-She’s gone, so he drives at night from town to town, “with the lonesome radio on.” Plain spoken, yet highly evocative. If nothing else, he shows fine songwriting promise, as this is the title tune of an entirely self-composed, 10-tune collection.

RASCAL FLATTS/Summer Nights
Writer: Gary LeVox/Brett James/Busbee; Producer: Dann Huff & Rascal Flatts; Publisher: Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Stage Three/Brett James Cornelius/Crosstown Uptown/Kobalt, ASCAP; Lyric Street
-It kinda sounds like it was written to be an in-concert rabble rouser. The whistles and cheers in the track add to the energetic atmosphere.

COOPER BOONE/She’s All That
Writer: Mark Houser/Mark D. Conklin/Cooper Boone; Producer: Mark D. Conklin; Publisher: none listed; Cooper Boone (track) (www.cooperboone.com)
-Mama is breaking out tonight. The hooky chorus is the best thing about it.

CHARLIE ROBISON/Reconsider
Writer: Keith Gattis/Charles Brocco; Producer: Charlie Robison; Publisher: Gattis/Glass Rose, BMI; Dualtone
-Beautiful Day, out next month, is Charlie’s “divorce” album. Its first single is appropriately remorseful and regretful. It’s really sad, but really, really lovely.

THE GRINGO KINGS/Hold You In My Arms
Writer: Scott Burgess; Producer: Scott Burgess, Tim Burge & Tim Phelan; Publisher: Scott Burgess, BMI; Burgess (www.thegringokings.com)
-I love their name, but they’re hopelessly amateur sounding.

GEOFF UNION/Big Sky Tonight
Writer: G. Union; Producer: Geoff Union; Publisher: Shining Castle, ASCAP; Shining Castle (track) (www.geoffunion.com)
-The title tune to this Texan’s CD is painful. The vocal harmonies are out of key. The band members sound like they just picked up their instruments last week, and they aren’t listening to each other in any case. The lead vocal is a pitch disaster.

KYLIE HARRIS & PATTY LOVELESS/Love’s Back Hand
Writer: Marco Giovino/Kyle Harris; Producer: Marco Giovino; Publisher: Rabid Gator/Kylie Harris, ASCAP/APRA; Fuzzy Feet (track) (www.kylieharris.com)
-Perhaps best known to U.S. audiences as a TV host on GAC, in her native New Zealand Kylie wins major awards for her music. Her second American CD features this rolling, melodic, mid-tempo meditation with a scintillating harmony from Patty. Will Barrow’s accordion backup work is stellar. Listenable in the extreme. The whole album is a sonic delight, with lots of refreshingly different audio textures. Check out the rumbling, shuddering guitar on “Down to the Ground” the heartbeat rhythm of “Drive” the sighing slide on “Now and Then” the clarinet (!) on “Waltz Me Til Dawn” and the dreamy organ on “Sundown.”

BILL RHOADS/Too Many California Memories
Writer: Bill Rhoads; Producer: Mark Burchfield, Bill & Rose Rhoads; Publisher: Bill Rhoads, BMI; Bill Rhoads (track) (www.billrhoadsmusic.com)
-Well written, in a classic-country sort of way. His vocal isn’t the strongest, but the instrumental work is so gorgeous it more than makes up for whatever he lacks. The rippling, gut-string guitar picking, alone, is worth the price of admission.

DISClaimer (6/5/09)

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brooksdunn-summer150Sometimes the veterans can surprise you.

Just when I thought I might be “over” Brooks & Dunn, along comes a single like “Indian Summer.” They wrote it. They produced it. And it’s the freshest sounding thing they’ve put out in years. Give those vets a Disc of the Day.

Actually, there was quite a bit of refreshingly different music in today’s listening session. For those, like me, who crave the novel and the new, I recommend to your ears the efforts by Trent Tomlinson, Dean Brody, Richie Fields, Gretchen Wilson and Pat Green, in particular.

courtneydashe-airplane150Our DisCovery Award also goes to an innovator. The songs on Courtney Dashe’s debut effort are all self penned and are all admirably individualistic.

The CMA Music Festival approaches. Are you ready, Music Row?

GRETCHEN WILSON/If I Could Do It All Again
Writer: Rivers Rutherford/George Teren; Producer: Blake Chancey & Gretchen Wilson; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; Columbia (CDX)
-Outstanding slide guitar work and a cool, thoughtful lyric. As usual, Gretchen nails it vocally. I think this bluesy, midtempo meditation is a gem.

BROOKS & DUNN/Indian Summer
Writer: Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn/Bob DiPiero; Producer: Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Arista (CDX)
-Produced with crisp precision and mixed perfectly, this sounds terrific. Ronnie’s voice is right out front with a passionate delivery of a wistful story of a Kansas girl gone wrong. This is their finest single in years.

PAT GREEN/What I’m For
Writer: Marc Beeson/Allen Shamblin; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; BNA (CDX)
-A dusty troubadour’s statement of purpose, sung with drawling sincerity by a guy who always sounds like your best buddy.

DEAN BRODY/Gravity
Writer: Dean Brody; Producer: Matt Rovey; Publisher: Magic Mustang/Oven, SOCAN/BMI; Broken Bow (CDX) (www.deanbrody.com)
-I thought “Brothers” was a great single. Brody’s follow-up is a beautiful romantic ballad with a deliciously melodic chorus. Both the singer-songwriter and super tasteful producer Rovey are on the verge of great careers.

THE TERRY ALLEN BAND/Fire Down In Texas
Writer: K. Hunter; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Texas River, ASCAP; Optimus (www.terryallenband.com)
-Muddy and muffled sounding. It was probably recorded live, so everything is kinda bleeding into everything else. The band has talent, however, and the song is solid. Get thee to a real studio.

WHITNEY DUNCAN/Skinny Dippin’
Writer: Whitney Duncan/Chris Tompkins; Producer: Mark Bright; Publisher: Springfish/Dazahit/Bug/Big Loud Songs/Big Loud Bucks, ASCAP; Reprise
-Simmering sexy summer fun.

RICHIE FIELDS/When You Love Someone That Much
Writer: Martin/Linville; Producer: none listed; Publisher: VB Three/Riddle, BMI; Joint Journey (615-319-1863)
-Propulsive and energetic, with a wonderfully upbeat, positive message. His vocal  rides above the rocking track with admirable force and emotion. This is Richie’s third straight winner, I am happy to report.

TRENT TOMLINSON/Henry Cartwight’s Produce Stand
Writer: Trent Tomlinson/Danny Wells/Mark Kerr; Producer: Leigh Reynolds & Trent Tomlinson; Publisher: Hope-N-Cal/Trent Tomlinson/Songs of Springfish/Songs of Dazahit/Gimme Them Gimme Them/Eleven Katz/Bug/Cal IV, BMI; Carolwood
-Well written and full of dandy visual details. Imaginatively put together. It’s different, and different is good. Hang on for the “testimony” in the finale.

COURTNEY DASHE/Paper Airplane
Writer: Courtney Dashe; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Curvebender/Skyline/ICG, BMI; Mad Dashe (track) (www.courtneydashe.com)
-This singer-songwriter makes her disc debut with a six-song EP featuring this lilting title tune. Her voice is a highly listenable, sweet soprano, and her songwriting is strikingly original. Very promising.

BRITTNEY REED/Picture This
Writer: Brittney Lou Reed; Producer: Tracy Wilson; Publisher: none listed, BMI; Brittney Reed (www.brittneyreed.com)
-Vocally piercing, sharp, in your face and somewhat irritating.

DISClaimer (5/27/09)

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bobdylan-toglife150You’d think everyone else would turn tail and flee the field.

With a new Bob Dylan album in the Americana music mix, everyone else should pack it in, right? Well, Dylan may have the Disc of the Day, but the current collections by Buddy & Julie Miller, Eric Brace & Peter Cooper and Jesse Winchester are all so winning that you’ll want to hear them in your speakers repeatedly, too.

I am in total agreement with the AMA that The Belleville Outfit is a contender for Emerging Artist of the Year. The group wins this column’s DisCovery Award.

bellevilleoutfit-stand150THE BELLEVILLE OUTFIT/Time To Stand
Writer: none listed; Producer: Bil Vorndick & The Belleville Outfit; Publisher: none listed; Belleville Outfit (track) (www.bellevilleoutfit.com)
-This band dazzled me when it played before the BMI banquet last fall. Now The Belleville Outfit’s blend of pop, folk, string band and jazz elements has been captured on disc. This title tune to the record is a sprightly bopper sprinkled with fiddle, piano and electric guitar notes that make you smile. These kids are the BOMB.

JESSE WINCHESTER/O What A Thrill
Writer: Jesse Winchester; Producer: Bil Vorndick & Jesse Winchester; Publisher: Bug, ASCAP; Appleseed (track) (www.jessewinchester.com)
-What took so long? Love Filling Station is Jesse’s first studio album in 10 years. Whatever the reasons for his absence, the fact is that he remains a major, major talent. From the opening notes of this first track, he captivated me anew. The tune was originally popularized by The Mavericks back in 1994. In addition to nine originals, the collection includes lovely covers of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,” Freddie Hart’s “Loose Talk” (as a duet with Claire Lynch) and the gospel tune “Far Side Bank of Jordan.” Throughout the CD, Jesse is backed by a stellar Nashville crew including Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg and Andy Leftwich. If you are unfamiliar with this man’s sound, prepare to fall in love.

STEVE EARLE & JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE/Mr. Mudd And Mr. Gold
Writer: none listed; Producer: Steve Earle; Publisher: none listed; New West (track) (www.steveearle.com)
-Steve’s tribute album to his friend and mentor Townes Van Zandt is titled simply Townes. How perfect is it that his son, partly named after the late singer-songwriter, joins him to duet on this title? Tom Morello (“Lungs”) and Steve’s wife Alison Moorer (“To Live Is to Fly”) also put in appearances on this sterling, homemade folk-music collection.

JACK WESLEY ROUTH/Another Season
Writer: Jack Wesley Routh/Randy Sharp; Producer: Randy Sharp & Jack Wesley Routh; Publisher: Ten-Cal/With Any Luck; Ninnessean (track) (www.jackwesleyrouth.com)
-This laconic ballad is the title tune and lead-off track to this singer-songwriter’s new CD. Some of you might recognize Routh’s “Shores of White Sands” (as recorded by Karen Brooks) or “The Connection” (Emmylou Harris). His own dusty, stark, spare versions of those songs are here, as are a pair of things he co-wrote with his former father-in-law, Johnny Cash-“Field of Diamonds” and the previously unrecorded “When the Trains Come Back.”

BOB DYLAN/Beyond Here Lies Nothin’
Writer: Bob Dylan/Robert Hunter; Producer: Jack Frost; Publisher: none listed; Columbia (track) (www.bobdylan.com)
-Yes, the songs on Dylan’s new Together Through Life are terrific. But what’s equally important is the extraordinary ensemble sound he conjures up on the disc. A dash of trumpet here, a dose of Tex-Mex accordion there and a rumbling rhythm section underscore his black-humor, lowered-down vocals. It’s a heady, addictive mash-up of sonic styles that this master artist pulls off brilliantly. Start with this track, then dive in deeper. For my money, this is by far the best of his late-career collections to date.

BUDDY & JULIE MILLER/Chalk
Writer: Julie Miller; Producer: Buddy Miller; Publisher: My Blind Driver/29 Cove, BMI; New West (track) (www.buddyandjulie.com)
-Americana’s favorite couple make mighty melody together on Written in Chalk. This track features Buddy’s hillbilly-soulful lead vocal and a heavenly harmony by guest Patty Griffin. The whole package has resulted in five nominations for the Millers for September’s Americana Music Awards-album, song (“Chalk”), duo or group, instrumentalist, and artist of the year.

ERIC BRACE & PETER COOPER/I Know A Bird
Writer: Eric Brace; Producer: Peter Cooper & Eric Brace; Publisher: Dry Digging Tunes, BMI; Red Beet (track) (www.redbeetrecords.com)
–You Don’t Have to Like Them Both is the debut collaboration by these two singer-songwriters. It’s a folk-country outing that kicks off with this tuneful, wistful ditty. Eric’s hearty baritone leads the way with Peter offering soft tenor harmony. Lloyd Green’s legendary steel-guitar prowess is used effectively throughout, and among the guest gunslingers are Richard Bennett, Tim O’Brien, Daniel Tashian, Kenny Vaughan and Tim Carroll. In addition to singing their own tunes, Peter and Eric draw from the works of David Olney, Kevin Gordon, Paul Kennerley, Jim Lauderdale, Kris Kristofferson and Todd Snider. Miss this one at your peril: These two sound great together.

DISClaimer (5/22/09)

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kchesney-grthitsii-150It’s a holiday weekend and we’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so let’s just get on with it.

Memorial Day is the traditional kick-off of summer. It will come as no surprise to any of you that Kenny Chesney’s Disc of the Day is the season’s first soundtrack tune.

We had a lot of newcomers in this week’s stack of platters. Two of them finished in a dead heat for the DisCovery Award. They are Johnny Bulford and Tim Dugger, strong singers both.

Johnny Bulford

Johnny Bulford

CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL JOHNSON/The Day We Changed The Rules
Writer: Ritchie Brown/Jarrod Lee Nieman/Paul Overstreet; Producer: Brien Fisher; Publisher: Borchetta Shafer/Rainy Graham/Unichappell/Warner-Tamerlane/Marathon Key 11, BMI; Lofton Creek (615-726-0099)
-He is somewhat sharp in the pitch department. The ballad’s track is super pristine.

BULLS GAP/It Doesn’t Get Any Countrier Than This
Writer: Jerry Vandiver/Randy Archer; Producer: Steve Pope & Bulls Gap; Publisher: Peermusic III/Malaco/Universal Polygram International, BMI/ASCAP; Hoot (www.bullsgapmusic.com)

Tim Dugger

Tim Dugger

-Rowdy, raucous and more than a little racy. “She cranks my tractor…likes to roll in the hay…out behind the barn…” you get the idea.

JOHNNY LEE & CHARLIE DANIELS/We’re American Not American’t
Writer: David Chamberlain/Trey Matthews; Producer: David Chamberlain & Trey Matthews; Publisher: Questar/Sony-ATV/Batter’s Box, SESAC; David Chamberlain (615-364-8395)
-It’s a beefy anthem about our economic woes. Despite the cheesy “U.S.A.!” chants and the instrumental quotes from the national anthem, it’s actually better than you might expect.

TIM DUGGER/Gettin’ There
Writer: Billy Aerts/Tim Dugger; Producer: Kelly Schoenfeld & Dave Fowler; Publisher: none listed; TD (track) (www.timdugger.com)
-The title tune to this kid’s CD is groove-soaked delight that will make you want to put the top down, put pedal to the metal and drive, drive, drive. The backing band is made of A-list players and sounds it. The song has “hit” written all over it. Way beyond promising. Go get ’em, son.

KENNY CHESNEY/Out Last Night
Writer: Kenny Chesney/Brett James; Producer: Buddy Cannon & Kenny Chesney; Publisher: none listed; BNA (track)
-Already steaming its way into the top-10, this party-boy bopper is the only previously unreleased track on Kenny’s Greatest Hits II collection. THE sound of summer, 2009.

AARON PRITCHETT/Hell Bent For Buffalo
Writer: Aaron Pritchett/Deric Ruttan/Sean Patrick McGraw; Producer: The Franchise; Publisher: OPM/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/Seananigan, SOCAN/ASCAP; OPM/Universal (track) (www.aaronpritchett.com)
-This ol’ boy is a big deal in Canada and was nominated for a Juno Award for “Thankful,” the title of his current CD. Its new single is a wide-open-spaces rocker with a solid guitar riff, a beat that doesn’t quit and a yearning lyric that he totally nails vocally. Check him out.

CRAIG BICKHARDT/Brother To The Wind
Writer: Craig Bickhardt/F.C. Collins; Producer: John Mock & Craig Bickhardt; Publisher: none listed; Stone Barn (track) (www.craigbickhardt.com)
-Formerly a country hit maker in Schuyler-Knobloch-Bickhardt, Craig has moved from Music City to the Philadelphia, PA area. But he returned to Nashville to record this acoustic, folkie gem of a disc. Its title tune features harmony vocals by the great Darrell Scott and sterling mandolin work by Andy Leftwich. Other guests on other tracks include Tim O’Brien, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Janis Ian, Rusty Young, Lloyd Maines and Maura O’Connell. A simply splendid listening experience.

JOHNNY BULFORD/Livin’ It Up
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed, BMI; JB (track) (www.johnnybulford.com)
-This 2009 Colgate Country Showdown winner sings with a ringing Southern accent. The tune is a fiddle-laced bopper with an ultra-hooky chorus about good weekend times. He definitely has the goods.

BILL COOLEY/The Return Journey
Writer: Bill Cooley; Producer: Mick Conley & Bill Cooley; Publisher: Nancy Lee/Carol Vincent, ASCAP; NLM (track) (www.billcooleymusic.com)
-In what is surely one of the longest and musically richest partnerships in Nashville, Bill Cooley has been playing guitar in Kathy Mattea’s band for 20 years. His acoustic instrumentals on his new, third collection are consistently dazzling. This title tune is full of melodic twists and turns and boasts superb bass work by Dave Roe. The guitarist composed all the songs, with exception of the set-closing Elton John gem “Madman Across the Water,” to which Mattea lends her voice.

TEMPLETON THOMPSON/Girls & Horses
Writer: none listed; Producer: Sam Gay; Publisher: Connected at the Hit, ASCAP; Reve (track) (www,templetonthompson.com)
-Templeton’s songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina and Little Texas, and she has sung demos for many of her fellow tunesmiths. The title tune to her current CD reveals the songwriter’s other passion, horses. The catches and breaks in her soprano are as ear-catching as the lilting melody. Her other current project is a multi-artist CD called On Horses’ Wings, which is a benefit for the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in the Pacific Northwest.

DISClaimer (5/15/09)

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Eric Heatherly

Eric Heatherly

There are 10 records here, but only one really matters.

Eric Heatherly has more talent than any man ought to be allowed. He writes incredibly addictive songs. He sings like an angel and plays guitar like the devil. His rhythmic sense is impeccable. On top of everything else, he’s a superb showman. He also has the completely unchallenged Disc of the Day.

For our DisCovery Award, we cast our eyes northward. Greg

Hanna lives in Nashville now, but he’s originally a farm boy from rural Ontario.

Greg Hanna

Greg Hanna

JEFF COOK & THE ALLSTAR GOODTIME BAND/Ashes Won’t Burn
Writer: Bert Colwell; Producer: Jeff Cook; Publisher: Friendly Finley, Bert Colwell, BMI; Quest (track) (www.jeffcook-AGB.com)
—Since quitting the road with Alabama, Jeff Cook has been performing what he calls “funtry” with his band. The title tune to their debut album has “beach music” rhythm, horns, R&B guitar, stellar vocal harmonies and a steady pulse. Jeff sings seven of the lead vocals, including a cover of The Beatles’ “I Feel Fine.” Other covers are handled by group members Ronnie Farmer (”Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”), R.K. Brown (”Brick House”), Link Detten (”All Right Now”) and Randall Key (”King Bee”).

TED RUSSELL KAMP/Just A Yesterday Away
Writer: Ted Russell Kamp; Producer: Ted Russell Kamp; Publisher: none listed; PoMo (track) (www.tedrussellkamp.com)
—Kamp is the bass player for Shooter Jennings, but he also makes solo discs. His first, 2007’s Divisadero, was a gem, and the follow-up, Poor Man’s Paradise, is even better. Its single, this track, is a rumbling, rootsy ramble with Chip Davis shadowing Ted’s lead vocal with a tenor harmony throughout.

RODNEY ATKINS/15 Minutes
Writer: Tony Mullins/Jamie Lee Thurston; Producer: Ted Hewitt & Rodney Atkins; Publisher: Almo/Mullintone/EMI Blackwood, ASCAP/BMI; Curb
—“I gave up smoking, women and drinking last night/And it was the worst 15 minutes of my life.” Ya gotta smile at a line like that. The track bops and the steel guitar shimmers. And, for once, a rowdy-crowd sing-along works perfectly.

GREG HANNA/It’s A Man’s Job
Writer: Ashley Gorley/Wade Kirby/Kim Tribble; Producer: Kim Tribble & Greg Hanna; Publisher: Songs of Combustion/Music of Windswept/Steel Wheels/Songs of Category 5/Songs of RPM, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC; Pheromone (www.greghanna.com)
—This guy is apparently already popular in his native Canada. His raucous bid for U.S. acceptance has working-man verses, but in the choruses he shouts that loving you “is a man’s job.” And—guess what?—he doesn’t mind putting in a little overtime to do it.

CLEDUS T. JUDD/Garth Must Be Busy
Writer: Clint Daniels/Michael Heeney/Cledus T. Judd/Christopher Clark; Producer: Cledus T. Judd & Chris Clark; Publisher: Sony-ATV Acuff-Rose, BMI; E1
—Brooks & Dunn put in a prominent appearance on this parody of their well-known hit. It name-checks Garth Brooks tune titles hither and thither.

CLINT MARTIN/West Side Of The Tracks
Writer: Clint Martin; Producer: Tommy Detamore & Clint Martin; Publisher: LinBrooke, ASCAP; Run Wild (www.clintmartinband.com)
—The track is as country as dirt, but his singing is as bland as water.

THE TRACTORS/Up Jumped The Boogie
Writer: Steve Ripley/Leon Russell; Producer: Steve Ripley; Publisher: Time Standing Still/Young Carney, BMI/ASCAP; Koch (track) (www.kochrecords.com)
—They’re back, and they’re as relentlessly rhythm happy and eccentric as ever. The full CD is called Trade Union.

MARK McKINNEY/Middle America
Writer: Mark McKinney; Producer: Rob Dennis; Publisher: none listed; Super Loud Music (www.markmckinney.com)
—This guy continues his country rocking ways on his latest single. It boasts his strongest blue-collar lyric and hookiest melody to date. Well worth your spins.

ERIC HEATHERLY/Things I Could Do To You
Writer: Eric Heatherly; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Publisher: Psychobilly, ASCAP; Eric Heatherly (track) (www.ericheatherly.com)
—Eric’s new CD is called 2 High 2 Cry. On its single, he once again proves that he’s country’s grooviest guitar slinger. This has it all—a terrific vocal, a killer melody, a heartbeat rhythm and some sizzling guitar solos. If you program just one tune from this week’s stack of platters, by all means make it this one. It’s essential listening.

KATE RUSSELL/Better Days
Writer: Kate Russell; Producer: Kate Russell & Rich Mouser; Publisher: Austramusic, ASCAP; Urunga/Spinville (615-302-0072)
—Her credit cards are maxed out, the bills are piling up, her boyfriend has split. She’s got the blues and has, indeed, “seen better days.” But her potent vocal delivery makes being down-and-out sound just fine.