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DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/13/11)

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“After years of being nothing, they’re all looking right at you.”
That’s what it says in our Music Row anthem, “16th Avenue.” And that’s exactly what is happening to Blake Shelton right now. All at once, everything is going this man’s way. Male Vocalist award. Superstar wife. National TV stardom. Hit after hit. He deserves them all. As well as a Disc of the Day award for “God Gave Me You.”
Our DisCovery Award goes to a Canadian singer-songwriter who has a completely captivating album called Little Red Boots. If you buy one platter from today’s stack of sounds, by all means make it hers. Remember this name: Lindi Ortega.
BADHORSE/It’s All Good
Writer: Adam Grant/Robert E. Walden II/Charlie Gilbert; Producer: Larry Blackmon & Badhorse; Publisher: none listed; Global Maximus (www.badhorsemusic.com)
—More cowbell! The first thing you hear is the snap of a beer tab, then the stomping and romping begins. And, yes, the steady rhythm is punctuated by a cowbell. These guys sound like a built-in party.
MARTINA McBRIDE/I’m Gonna Love You Through It
Writer: Ben Hayslip/Sonya Isaacs/Jimmy Yeary; Producer: Martina McBride & Byron Gallimore; Publisher: WB/Melissa’s Money/Get a Load of This/Nashvistaville/Sonya Isaacs/Black to Black, ASCAP/BMI; Universal Republic
—A wife and mother faces cancer with a strong and steady husband by her side. This kind of ballad performance is what made this lady a star. Heart tugging, to say the least.
DAVID WOOD/Ride The Wild West
Writer: Lore Orion/Robert E. Byrd; Producer: Ronnie Guilbeau, David Wood & Billy Graham; Publisher: Shy Ann/Finest, BMI; Dew Note (track) (www.davidwoodcountry.com)
—Monotonic. I’ve heard more complicated nursery rhymes.
BLAKE SHELTON/God Gave Me You
Writer: Dave Barnes; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publisher: No Gang/Razor & Tie, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
—I worshipped writer Dave Barnes’s version of this when I reviewed it last year. Blake sure knows a dynamite song when he hears it, too. Producer Hendricks surrounds his emotional reading with chiming guitars, sighing steel and thumping percussion. A shining, glittering gem of a disc.
LINDI ORTEGA/Angels
Writer: Lindi Ortega; Producer: Ron Lopata; Publisher: ShadowBox, SOCAN; Last Gang (Canada)(track) (www.lindiortega.ca)
—Enchanting. She has one of those sweet/tart vocal instruments that manages to sound both fragile and tough within the same song. This starts out softly, but builds into a smart shuffle with terrific, suppressed, undertow energy. This gal is definitely worth your attention.
ASHTON SHEPHERD/Where Country Grows
Writer: Ashton Shepherd/Bobby Pinson; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: EMI BlackwoodGin Road/Music of Stage Three/Bobby’s Song and Salvage/BMG, BMI; MCA Nashville (track)
—The title tune to Ashton’s sophomore CD is a soaring statement of purpose. Her voice on this is a resonant, ringing, victory bell of authenticity. I am hopelessly in love with this artist.
DANE ESTOK/Semiautomatic Kind Of Love
Writer: Dane Estok; Producer: The Zods; Publisher: Sounds from Space, ASCAP; DaneEstok (track) (www.daneestok.com)
—This Nashvillian is described as “pop-country.” I’d say he leans strongly toward the “pop” end of that spectrum. Whatever the genre, this twirling and utterly engaging wisp of romance was featured on TV’s Keeping Up the Kardashians soundtrack. Somebody at the E! network definitely has ears.
RONNIE MILSAP/If You Don’t Want Me To
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Bigger Picture (track)
—This bouncy ditty evidently accompanies a dance called The Freeze. The retro, repetitive ‘80s keyboard riff is bound to jog a few memories and tap a few toes, at any rate. Jaunty and smiley, despite the somewhat downbeat lyric.
CHRISTIAN KANE/Let Me Go
Writer: C. Beathard/T. Shapiro; Producer: Bob Ezrin & Jimmie Lee Sloas; Publisher: Sony-ATV Acuff-Rose/EMI Blackwood/Piano Wire, BMI; Bigger Picture (track) (www.christiankane.com)
—This Leverage TNT-TV star sings well, with admirable expressiveness and personality. So this sounds best when he’s allowed to shine through with a minimum of production adornment. Unfortunately, during many passages, the producers just can’t leave well enough alone. Still, it’s a highly melodic improvement over his overly rocked-up debut single.
DAN SIMONIS & THE WEST TEXAS MILLIONAIRES/Heart On Fire
Writer: Dan Simonis; Producer: Greg Schumacher; Publisher: Croaking Toad, BMI; 45 Caliber (track) (www.westtexasmillionaires.com)
—File this under “arty troubadour,” if there is such a category. Actually, make that “pitch-y, arty troubadour.”

Bluegrass Musician Kenny Baker Passes

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Acclaimed bluegrass fiddler Kenny Baker died Friday, July 8, 2011 at age 85. The Kentucky native, best known as one of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, influenced future generations of fiddle players with his “long-bow” style. His four-decade career included about 20 years on-and-off with Monroe, who introduced him onstage as “the greatest fiddler in bluegrass music.” Baker is an inductee of the IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and a recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment For The Arts. At the time of his death, he was residing outside Nashville in Cottontown, Tenn.
Kenneth Baker was born June 26, 1926 in Burdine, Ky. During World War II he joined the U.S. Navy, and eventually returned home to marry Audrey Sizemore in 1946. Born into a family of fiddle players, Baker fostered his musical career while touring the South Pacific with the USO. In 1953, Don Gibson gave Baker his first break. By 1956, he had teamed with Monroe on a journey that would last intermittently until 1985. Baker helped bring Del McCoury and banjo player Bill Keith into the Blue Grass Boys.
After leaving Monroe’s band, Baker went on to play with Josh Graves, Eddie Adcock, and Jesse McReynolds.
Not surprisingly, Baker’s most popular solo album is Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe.
He is survived by wife Audrey, sons Kenneth Jr. (Holly) and Johnny Lee (Debbie), several siblings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services were held today July 12, 2011 at the Burdine Freewill Baptist Church in Burdine, Ky. Arrangements by Carty, Polly & Craft Funeral Home, (606) 832-2191

Tabloid Tuesday: Lambert, Milsap, Pickler and Pistol Annies

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(L-R) Ashley Monroe, GMA’s Lara Spencer, Lambert, Angaleena Presley, & GMA’s Sam Champion. Photo: Fred Lee/ABC


 

Miranda Lambert’s dual career now includes a new solo album plus a digital release with her new trio, Pistol Annies. The singer songwriter made announcements on Good Morning America (7/8) that her Columbia Nashville solo effort will be released on Nov. 1 and named Four The Record. The all-girl trio, which features Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley will debut a digital-only effort named for its single, Hell On Heels which the trio performed on GMA’s morning Summer Concert Series.
Lambert’s previous solo album, Revolution earned a Platinum certification with No. 1 singles such as “White Liar,” “House That Built Me” and “Heart Like Mine.”
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Ronnie Milsap and Kellie Pickler. Photo: Montine Felso


 

Ronnie Milsap and Kellie Pickler made time for a quick visit during CMA Music Festival while both were visiting radio station remotes.
Milsap is promoting a new album that will be released on July 26, Country Again. Pickler’s new single “Tough” has just started climbing radio charts.
 
 

Sarah Darling Teams With Producer Dann Huff

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(L-R) Sarah Darling and Dann Huff.


Black River Entertainment artist Sarah Darling, whose recent video “Something To Do With Your Hands,” reached No. 2 on GAC’s Top 20 Countdown and spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on CMT.com, will join forces with producer Dann Huff for her next album.
Huff has won awards for projects with artists such as Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts and others. Darling also supported her last album Angels and Devils with  multiple appearances on the Grand Ole Opry.  Photo credit: Sara Kauss

Opry News: Oak Ridge Boys, Bill Anderson

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(L-R): Grand Ole Opry Group Pres. Steve Buchanan, Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, Jimmy Dickens, William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban, Grand Ole Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher, Oaks Manager Jim Halsey


The Oak Ridge Boys were invited to join the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, July 8. The legendary quartet, comprised of William Lee Golden, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, and Duane Allen will be formally inducted on Saturday, August 6.
Following the Oaks’ performance of “Y’All Come Back Saloon,” longtime Opry member Jimmy Dickens surprised the group by walking onstage dressed as William Lee Golden, complete with long beard and sunglasses.
“All my life I’ve wanted to be a little bitty Oak Ridge Boy,” joked Dickens. “On August 6th, I will become the newest member of the Oak Ridge Boys, and at that time, you will become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry!”
Joe Bonsall responded, noting that the Opry “is a brotherhood and sisterhood unlike any other.” The group closed out its set with the classic “Elvira,” later returning to the stage to join Larry Gatlin on “All the Gold In California.”
In other Opry news, Bill Anderson will celebrate his 50th Anniversary as an Opry member at a special Grand Ole Opry show Saturday, July 16 at 7 pm. Anderson initially made his Opry debut just before his 21st birthday, and became a member less than three years later.
“Beginning with classics sung by Ray Price, Lefty Frizzell, Connie Smith, and more, and continuing today with unforgettable hits by the biggest names in the business, Bill Anderson tunes have hit the country charts in each of the last seven decades,” says Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher. “Of course Bill is also known around the world for his own hit records as well as for blazing country music trails far and wide for others to follow. We look forward to celebrating with one of country music’s very best Saturday night.”

 

Clear Channel Announces iHeartRadio Music Festival

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Clear Channel is going all in for the iHeartRadio Music Festival set for September 23-24 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The two day, multi-format event claims to be “the biggest live music event in radio history.”
Performers named in the announcement include Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, The Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Usher, John Mayer, Jane’s Addiction, Kelly Clarkson, Sting, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, and Sublime with Rome. More guests and performers will be revealed in the coming weeks. Tickets will go on sale Saturday, July 16 at 1 pm ET and fans can gain access to the ticket pre-sale right now by “liking” iHeartRadio’s Facebook page.
The iHeartRadio Music Festival will be streamed live on the iHeartRadio platform, including web and mobile apps. The concert also coincides with a new, updated version of iHeartRadio, which promises a custom radio feature similar to Pandora in addition to its numerous existing radio streams.

Toast A Little Good Sales News

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A music marketing exec. walks into a bar and says to the bartender, “Hey give me a drink, album sales are up 1% YTD this year.” Bartender who reads MusicRow says, “Sounds like you’ve already had enough to drink!”
Why?
Because although a trickle of good news is better than none, there really aren’t enough tidings yet to celebrate. All genre album sales have fallen about 34% during the six years from 2004 through 2010. For country music they have fallen 44% during the same period. Those are pretty steep declines. Figure in a paltry 1% YTD all-genre gain and about a 2% loss for country and yeah, you’d have to be drunk to cheer with enthusiasm.
The consumer press is embracing Nielsen SoundScan’s proclamation, “Album sales are up for the first time since 2004.” But the reality is this little kernel of truth is dwarfed by the enormity of the marketplace consolidation that has taken place. Also since 2004, album prices are lower, costs are higher and margins slimmer. But there is more upbeat news as well.
Here’s a few SoundScan Factoids
>>Digital album sales are up 19% through the first six months over 2010 and are on pace to set a new sales record at the end of the year.
>>E.T. by Katy Perry tops the chart for best selling digital song for the first six months of 2011 with 4.1 million downloads
>>Lady Gaga’s Born This Way experienced the biggest 1st week album sales of 2011 with 1,108,000 units.  The album sold a record 662,000 digital albums in the first week of release.
>>July 3, 2011 – Eminem’s Recovery becomes the first digital album to sell more than one million units; Adele’s 21 is on track to surpass a million units next week.
Looking at the various compiled Top 10 lists, Adele tops most of them. Nashville artists are included on the following…
Top Selling Albums: No. 4, Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party
Top Selling Physical Albums: No. 3, Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party; No. 9, Taylor Swift, Speak Now
Top Selling Catalog Albums: No. 2, Miranda Lambert, Revolution; No. 10, Johnny Cash, VH1 Story Tellers
Top Selling Digital Catalog Albums: No. 8, Miranda Lambert, Revolution

Press Buzzes Over Mr. Honey Bee

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Who is the most interesting man in country music?
Given the quantity of insatiable egos up and down the streets of Music Row no doubt many of our readers just jumped up and yelled, “Me.” But, you would all be wrong, because we now know officially—it’s been reported in the New York Times— the most interesting man is Blake Shelton, whose new album Red River Blue launches July 12.
Nashville’s Warner Music Group has worked long and hard developing this 6’ 5” Okie and it’s clear they aren’t slowing down just cause they are approaching the superstar goalposts. The “push comes to shove” dedication began paying dividends last year with the controversial release of two mini-album six paks. Industry observers proclaimed Warner was “losing money” on the deal and “devaluing” music. But WMG held firm while unleashing a media storm of press coverage. Shelton landed a co-hosting gig for the ACM Awards and his label wisely leveraged that opportunity into an album-style [hugely successful] launchpad for the first single from the new album, “Honey Bee.” But really that’s just the tip of the story here.
“Mr. Shelton is a strong singer,” writes Jon Caramanica in the New York Times this week. “But technical skill isn’t his selling point. It’s charm, through and through. It’s evident on his albums, in his TV appearances and whenever he forgoes the stoic reserve that appears to chronically afflict male country stars. A mouth given to profanity and a Twitter account full of blue humor help too.”
Shelton’s NYT profile also dwells on his recent marriage to another high profile country music star and his role as judge on hit TV talent show The Voice.

“BLAKE SHELTON has been getting choked up a lot lately,” Caramanica continues. “First came his May wedding to fellow country star Miranda Lambert, his girlfriend of several years. And then came the subsequent weeks when he barely got to see her at all. For the most part he was in Los Angeles working endless hours on the first season of The Voice, the hit NBC singing competition on which he’s one of four celebrity coaches. On off days he was flying out to do concerts…. Mr. Shelton, … over the last two months has emerged as the spiritual conscience of The Voice—an earnest and warm coach with a naughty streak. That the breakout star of the show wouldn’t be one of the contestants but instead one of the coaches, and the country one at that, was an unanticipated outcome. But Mr. Shelton, 35, has been primed for such a mainstream star-making opportunity for years now. He’s one of the most affable celebrities in Nashville and one of the most unpredictable, cheekier than all his male counterparts put together. Handsome and 6-foot-5, he’s one of the highest-profile country stars to appear regularly in prime time since the days Buck Owens hosted “Hee Haw.” Apart from perhaps Taylor Swift, he’s becoming the most important and visible ambassador from Nashville to the American mainstream.”

Now there is a new fact-filled (read: wildly exaggerated) video which details the rise of Blake Shelton, the Most Interesting Man in Country Music. The video notes for example, that Shelton has been the protagonist and hero in over 300 best selling novels; that the name “blake shelton” in binary form opens the vaults of 83% of the world’s top banks; and lastly, “Carrie Underwood’s legs notice Blake Shelton.”
How does Mr. Honey Bee respond to these video accolades? He’s uncharacteristically speechless, but offers a piercing look that says it all….
Press Facts: Shelton is the reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year; “Honey Bee” is his 4th consecutive No. 1 single and has sold over one million digital downloads; Won CMT Video Awards for Male Video and Best Web Video… Named MusicRow New Artist Critic’s Pick 2002.

Miranda Lambert's New Album Due Nov. 1

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Miranda Lambert announced on Good Morning America today (7/8) that her new album Four The Record will be released November 1, 2011 on Columbia Nashville.
The album follows her acclaimed platinum third album Revolution, which produced the No. 1 hits “White Liar,” “The House That Built Me,” and “Heart Like Mine.” A special website for Four The Record has been set up at whatis11111.com.
“Four The Record has so many meanings,” explains Lambert. “I love the play on words and my records always have a little crime in them and this is the fourth record of my career. This album pushes the limits for me in many ways and I collaborate with friends and heroes. It builds on my previous albums with a whole new flair. ‘For The Records’ sake, don’t forget 11/1/11.”
Additionally, Lambert’s band the Pistol Annies (with Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley) will release its debut album Hell On Heels to digital retailers August 23. The CD will be sold through the trio’s website, and pre-orders are available now.
“How lucky is it that I have two amazing singer songwriter friends and together we make an unstoppable musical force,” adds Lambert. “We say things in our music that women all across the country are thinking. This is a great creative outlet for me as a solo artist and it’s cool as hell! Hell On Heels will knock your socks off.”
Lambert also has numerous tour dates scheduled through August. Check her website calendar for details.

Photo: Deaton and Flanigen Speak At SOURCE Luncheon

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SOURCE, the organization of female executives in Nashville’s music industry, recently held its monthly members’ luncheon at ASCAP’s Nashville offices. Award-winning music video and television production directors Robert Deaton and George Flanigen of Deaton Flanigen Productions, who have worked with Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and more, were the guest speakers at the event.

(L-R): SOURCE President Laurie Hughes, Deaton, Flanigen. Photo: Denise Fussell.