Ingram Hill, Hunter Hayes

Progress is our most important product.

Young Hunter Hayes continues his march to stardom with “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” a track that shows his continued growth as an artist. It is also the Disc of the Day.

Both Bonnie Bishop and Lindi Ortega continue to impress. Both women seem to improve and deepen with each album. Which means that both are on the path to becoming the stars that destiny intends for them to be. Again, progress.

On the songwriting front, give kudos to Jerry Salley for continuing to polish his gift. He’s still a model of country craftsmanship, and despite what the title to his CD implies, he only improves with age. So that’s progress, too.

This week’s DisCovery Award goes to Ingram Hill. This trio is comprised of Justin Moore, Phil Bogard and Zach Kirk. They cowrote all the songs on their CD.

THE WASHERS/Like a Gypsy Should
Writer: Todd Janik; Producer: Billy Jo High & Adam Odor; Publisher: none listed; W (www.thewashersmusic.com)
—Muffled and muddy sounding, with the lead vocal buried deep in the mix. Find a better producer.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/I’ll Keep the Kids
Writer: Eddie Montgomery/Ira Dean/Phil O’Donnell; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Plowin’ Ground Music/Average ZJS Music/EMI Blackwood Music, Inc./Tune Pang Music/Sixteen Stars Music/Rooster Pecked Music (BMI); Average Joe’s (ERG)
—She wants everything in the divorce, and he’s willing to give it to her. Except for one thing, and it’s in the title. Well written, and probably Eddie’s best vocal performance ever.

BONNIE BISHOP/Bad Seed
Writer: Bonnie Bishop/Al Anderson; Producer: Bonnie Bishop; Publisher: none listed; BB (track) (www.bonniebishop.com)
—Bishop had a major breakthrough this year when Bonnie Raitt recorded her co-written “Not ‘Cause I Wanted To.” Bishop’s new Free CD is Kickstarter funded and includes this sizzling country-rocker featuring her soulful, slightly raspy, smokin’ hot vocal delivery as well as killer piano and electric guitar work. The title character’s behavior might be a little too raw for mainstream country radio, but those of you who listen will be richly rewarded. Unreservedly recommended.

HUNTER HAYES/Somebody’s Heartbreak
Writer: Andrew Dorff/Luke Laird/Hunter Hayes; Producer: Dann Huff & Hunter Hayes; Publisher: Songs of Universal/Universal Careers/High Powered Machine/Happy Little Man, BMI; Atlantic/Warner
—Very nice and classy, with a seductive groove and a gently jazzy vocal vibe. Confused in romance, he asks her, “If you’re gonna be somebody’s heartbreak, be mine.” As cool as the breeze.

JERRY SALLEY/Paper & Pen
Writer: Jerry Salley/Allison Mellon; Producer: Jerry Salley; Publisher: W.B.M./Beach Nut/Bases Loaded, SESAC/ASCAP; Very Jerry (track) (www.jerrysalley.com)
—This veteran country tunesmith (Reba, Toby, Brad, Loretta etc.) is back with a collection of self-penned tunes titled Showing My Age. This aching, waltzing ballad concerns a broken hearted gal who gets the last word by writing a revenge note to the man she thinks wronged her. How country is this? In response, he hits the bottle and ends his life. Salley sings it like a honky-tonk master in full barroom cry.

WAYLON JENNINGS/Goin’ Down Rockin’
Writer: Tony Joe White/Leann White/Waylon Jennings; Producer: Robby Turner; Publisher: none listed; Saguaro Road (track) (www.saguroroad.com)
—Not long before he died in 2002, Waylon recorded a batch of demos, believing that his band would turn them into full recordings one day. That day is now. The collection’s title tune is vintage “outlaw,” with a thumping backbeat and stinging guitar lines. Co-writer Tony Joe White adds a ghostly second voice to the minor-key track. An intriguing, involving final testament from one of our true country legends.

LINDI ORTEGA/Cigarettes & Truckstops
Writer: none listed; Producer: Colin Linden; Publisher: none listed; Last Gang (track) (www.lindiortega.com)
—I am already a huge fan of this lady’s musical charms. She sings like a hillbilly angel, managing to be simultaneously as tremulous as young Dolly and as tough as vintage Patsy. Her echoey, alt-country backing is mesmerizing and perfect on this languid trucker title tune to her new collection. Also check out its neo-rockabilly tracks. Look for Ortega opening for the rock band Social Distortion this fall. In the meantime, BUY THIS.

MARTY STUART/Tear the Woodpile Down
Writer: Marty Stuart; Producer: Marty Stuart; Publisher: Marty Stuart, BMI; Sugar Hill/Superlatone (track) (www.martystuart.net)
—When in doubt, record some real country music. That’s Stuart’s attitude on his new Nashville, Volume 1: Tear the Woodpile Down. It kicks off with this lickety-split romp featuring Buck Trent on electric banjo and call-and-response vocals from the Fabulous Superlatives. As always, the rest of the collection is similarly ear-cleansing magic.

MIKE CULLISON & THE REGULARS/Wish I Didn’t Like Whiskey
Writer: Cullison/Neel; Producer: Mark Robinson; Publisher: Cullison/Real Deal, BMI/ASCAP; Joedog (track) (www.cullisonmusic.com)
—Nashville singer-songwriter Cullison’s CD is titled The Barstool Monologues. It’s a thematically-linked collection of characters’ songs, interspersed with comments from a bartender named Hollis. Sorta like a hillbilly Canterbury Tales. Anyhow, it leads off with this two-step, honky-tonk lament that sets the tone for what follows. He doesn’t set the world on fire as a singer, but sincerity carries the day.

INGRAM HILL/Behind My Guitar
Writer: Ingram Hill/Benjy Davis/Lisa Goe; Producer: Ingam Hill; Publisher: Eager Bill/Lashar/Goe Fight Win, BMI/ASCAP; Rock Ridge (track) (www.ingramhillmusic.com)
—This male trio’s self-titled CD begins with this driving country-rocker featuring a kinda stuttering, nervous instrumental track that gives it an exciting edge. The countryboy vocals flow smoothly over the lyric of a traveling musician watching the world unfold from his spot on stage. I dig these guys.