Lainey Wilson. Photo: Erick Frost

This month’s ACM Awards put a spotlight on several of today’s DISClaimer candidates.

Among the Top New Male and Female nominees were Kameron Marlowe and Kassi Ashton, both of whom have fine new sounds. Entertainer of the Year nominee Kane Brown shows a whole new side of his artistry with “Georgia on My Mind.” Artist/Songwriter of the Year nominee Hardy is paired today with Travis Denning. Songwriter of the Year nominee Chase McGill is present as a co-writer on that same collaboration.

And then there’s Lainey Wilson, wearing the ACM Female Vocalist sash and the Entertainer of the Year crown. She rules in DISClaimer, too, with our Disc of the Day.

Dust off a tiara for Kayley Green, too. She takes home a DISCovery Award.

HARPER GRACE / “Getaway”
Writers: Cooper Bascom/Harper Gruzins/Nate Kenyon/Tedd Tjornhom; Producers: Cooper Bascom/Tedd T.; Label: Curb Records
– Electro-pop meets country in this rushing, open-road blast of uptempo energy. Grace is a highly skilled vocal communicator, leaping effortlessly from the deep alto passages in the verses to the sunny soprano soaring in the choruses. The whole thing feels like warm summer wind in your face.

MIDLAND / “Old Fashioned Feeling”
Writers: Cameron Duddy/Jess Carson/Josh Osborne/Mark Wystrach/Matthew Dragstrem; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Big Machine Records
– Bittersweet barroom heartache, served with the group’s trademark California-country harmonies. A super strong comeback tune.

TRAVIS DENNING & HARDY / “Southern Rock”
Writers: Jessi Alexander/Chase McGill/Travis Denning; Producers: Jeremy Stover/Paul DiGiovanni; Label: Mercury Nashville
– Guitar rock is dead on pop radio. All you’ll find there is diva singing, rap shouting and synthesized sounds, sometimes in the same single. What’s a rock lover to do? Country music is still about guitars, so that is where these Southern rockers head, proudly singing of their love for Skynyrd. Denning’s guitar states its case, as do both vocalists. Rock on, bro’s.

KANE BROWN / “Georgia On My Mind”
Writers: Hoagy Carmichael/Stuart Gorrell; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: RCA Records Nashville
– Brown demonstrates his talent for crooning on this string-embellished revival of a much-loved pop standard. He holds his own by comparison with well-known prior versions by Mildred Bailey (1932), Ray Charles (1960), Willie Nelson (1978) and Michael Bolton (1990).

KAYLEY GREEN / “Live Fast Die Pretty”
Writers: Joey Hyde/Kayley Green/Kylie Sackley; Producer: Ross Copperman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Green is a Lower Broadway veteran who is a regular entertainer at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row honky-tonk. She was heard there by Keith Urban, who invited her to sing with him at Bridgestone Arena. That’s where she got Sony’s attention, and, voila, a rocking major-label single. It’s a little over-produced, but shows great promise.

PAUL OVERSTREET / “All I Ever Wanted To Be (Was A Cowboy)”
Writers: Christopher Harris/Paul Overstreet/Steve Thomas; Producer: Paul Overstreet/Christopher Harris; Label: Horsefly Music
– This stone-country cowboy outing salutes legendary rodeo champion Jack Roddy. Accompanied by a loping western beat and sighing steel, Overstreet still sings with a warm heart.

LOUIE THESINGER / “Desperado”
Writers: Bordeaux/Jake Angel/Luis Alfonso Palacios II/Non Native/Xzavier; Producers: Bordeaux/Non Native/Xzavier/Jake Angel; Label: UMG Nashville
– He’s a Mexican-American stylist who sounds confident and cool on this moody portrait of an outsider. The song seems to meander aimlessly despite its repetitive lyric. He needs better material.

LAINEY WILSON / “Hang Tight Honey”
Writers: Driver Williams/Jason Nix/Lainey Wilson/Paul Sikes; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Broken Bow Records
– Wilson premiered this new tune on The Voice. Its a snappy hillbilly rocker that comes on with whiplash energy and wildfire heat. The lady rules, and this is a summertime smash.

ALEX MILLER / “My Daddy’s Dad”
Writers: Alex Miller/Jerry Salley; Producer: Jerry Salley; Label: Billy Jam Records
– Miller is a marvelously expressive country vocalist, and this heart-warming word portrait is right up his alley. Father’s Day is approaching, so this ode to a loved granddad couldn’t be more timely. Deserving of many spins.

KAMERON MARLOWE / “I Can Run”
Writers: Tucker Beathard/Oscar Charles/Ben Roberts; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Columbia Records
– This is the focus track from Marlowe’s sophomore album Keepin’ the Lights On. I have said many times before how much I love his emotional singing. Backed by a rhythmic thump and sympathetic guitar work, he is splendid on this tune of a troubled soul. No one deserves stardom more.

KASSI ASHTON / “I Don’t Wanna Dance”
Writers: Oscar Charles/Kassi Ashton/Emily Landis; Producers: Luke Laird/Kassi Ashton/Oscar Charles; Label: MCA Records
– I dig the bluesy vibe in her alto delivery. The midtempo meditation is sultry and inviting, but, “I don’t wanna dance/If I ain’t dancin’ with you.” So back off, buddy.

JAMEY JOHNSON / “21 Guns”
Writers: Jamey Johnson/Jim Brown; Producer: The Kent Hardly Playboys; Label: Big Gassed Records/Warner Music Nashville
– Johnson premiered this on the PBS Memorial Day concert special. Which was so fitting, because the song is literally about Memorial Day. The somber ballad salutes a fallen young soldier. The singer is a former Marine, himself, and means every last word of this moving meditation. Intense and powerful.

Megan Moroney. Photo: CeCe Dawson.

DISClaimer is running all the country-music bases this week—hip-hop, disco, bluegrass, rock, honky-tonk, alt-pop—you name it.

The most “country” thing in the line-up is, of course, the Randy Travis entry. But it’s rocker Dylan Taylor who has the DISCovery Award winner. The record to watch is Avery Anna’s “Blonde,” which drops tomorrow. Making it a female grand slam is Megan Moroney who wins Disc of the Day with the advance track from her upcoming sophomore album.

Having said all that, the single in this stack that is almost certainly going to be the smash hit is the Kane Brown collaboration with Marshmello.

CARSON PETERS / “Long Twin Silver Line”
Writer: Bob Seger; Producer: Randall Deaton; Label: Lonesome Day
– I have always thought that Bob Seger’s songs were somehow “country,” but I confess I never considered how cool one could sound as bluegrass track. Here’s the evidence, complete with Dobro, mandolin, fiddle, banjo and guitar. More, please.

RUSSELL DICKERSON / “Good Day To Have A Great Day”
Writers: Eren Cannata/Jesse Frasure/Justin Tranter/Russell Dickerson; Producers: Russell Dickerson/Josh Kerr; Label: Triple Tigers
– This one is a big ol’ smile. Designed to start your morning with a bopping good attitude, optimism, positivity and love. Euphoria on the hoof.

LAUREN WATKINS / “Mama, I Made It”
Writers: Lauren Hungate/Lauren Watkins/Rocky Block; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– The jaunty track ripples along, but it’s the lyric that captures your attention. Her relationship has gone south. It’s a mess, and “Mama, I made it.” Wonderfully catchy and cool. So nice I played it twice.

RANDY TRAVIS / “Where That Came From”
Writers: John Scott Sherrill/Scotty Emerick; Producers: Jerry Douglas/Kyle Lehning; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Country music’s first AI-generated single sounds like a miracle. Randy’s voice may be stroke-stilled, but here it is very much present and accounted for, thanks to technology. Heart-touching listening.

KEITH URBAN & LAINEY WILSON / “Go Home W U”
Writers: Breland/Keith Urban/Sam Sumser/Sean Small; Producers: Keith Urban/Sam Sumser/Sean Small; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– It’s closing time at the bar, and he’s too loaded to drive home. So maybe she should drive him to her place. The chorus is arranged with gang vocals like it is meant to be a rowdy roadhouse sing-along.

DYLAN TAYLOR / “Damn My Heart”
Writer: Dylan Taylor; Producer: RS Field; Label: Vertical Records
– It’s a spitfire country rocker with forward-motion propulsion and a saucy female vocal. A total summer jam. Highly promising. Taylor is a SESAC writer recently signed by Bluewater Music.

MEGAN MORONEY / “Indifferent”
Writers: Ben Williams/Mackenzie Carpenter/Megan Moroney/Micah Carpenter; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Columbia Nashville/Columbia Records
– The creativity and wit in this woman’s songwriting always delight me. This female-empowerment romp has oomphy stadium chords, but it’s the feisty attitude that keeps you hanging on every line. Love her. Love this.

MARSHMELLO & KANE BROWN / “Miles On It”
Writers: Castle/Connor McDonough/Earwulf/Jake Torrey/Kane Brown/Marshmello/Nick Gale/Riley McDonough; Producers: Marshmello/Digital Farm Animals/Earwulf/Connor McDonough; Label: RCA Records Label Nashville
– Brown’s ready to roll, with a Chevy truck bed eager to welcome him and his gal. He wants to, “Put some miles on it/If you know what I mean.” Disco mix master Marshmello puts some rhythmic thump on the track to help make it a road-worthy, wicked-good, summertime banger.

MONTE WARDEN & THE DANGEROUS FEW / “Waxahachie Hoochie Coo”
Writers: Brandi Warden/Montgomery Warden; Producers:Erik Telford/Mas Palermo/Tim Palmer; Label: Break A Leg Records
– It’s a groovy, good-time, R&B track with horns, topped by a country vocal. Warden is a two-time Texas Music Hall of Famer, once as a member of The Wagoneers and once as a solo artist. He has a longtime residency in the honky-tonks of Austin and periodically surfaces as a songwriter for George Strait, Patty Loveless, George Jones, Travis Tritt, Josh Turner and more.

GEORGIA WEBSTER & NIGHTLY / “This Ain’t A Breakup”
Writers: Georgia Webster/Conner Moye/Spencer Rabin; Producer: King Henry; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– “If this ain’t a breakup, then why am I broken?” they both ask. Beats burble around their echoey voices in a highly electronic track. Hooky and quite engaging. Nightly is a Nashville alt-pop band fronted by singer Jonny Capeci.

RVSHVD / “Dear Mama”
Writers: Bruce Hawes/Charles B. Simmons/Joe Sample/Joseph B. Jefferson/Terence Thomas/Tony D Pizarro/Tupac Amaru Shakur; Producer: Dream Addix; Label: Sumerian Records
– This country rapper’s name is pronounced Ra-Shad. His revival of the million-selling 1995 Tupac Shakur hip-hop hit is right on time for Mother’s Day.

AVERY ANNA / “Blonde”
Writers: Avery Anna/David Fanning/Andy Sheridan/Ben Williams; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– So excellent! She takes the cliches of being a blonde and turns them on their heads in this drawling, winking, snarky response to a condescending male. Anna’s vocal delivery is priceless. Absolutely play this.

Johnny Cash at Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Photo: Alan Messer

It’s Ladies Day here at DISClaimer.

Leading the pack in this stack of sounds are Clare Dunn, Tiera Kennedy, Kylie Frey and Chapel Hart. They have the discs to beat.

But let’s be honest. Does anyone ever top The Man in Black? Johnny Cash wins the Disc of the Day prize.

The DISCovery Award goes to a hip-hop artist whose new music is veering into country music territory. That’s Virginia-born Shaboozey, who is gearing up for the release next month of an album titled Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going.

DYLAN GOSSETT / “Somewhere Between”
Writer: Dylan Gossett; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: Big Loud Texas/Mercury Records/Republic Records
– It’s a rumbling, riding-the-rails song with poetic images that pile up on each other but go nowhere. The Texan sings at the top of his range. He made some noise with a tune called “Coal” last year. This seems unlikely to duplicate that.

ZAC BROWN BAND & MAC MCANALLY / “Pirates & Parrots”
Writers: Andy Sheridan/Ben Simonetti/Drew Parker/Erik Dylan/Jonathan Singleton/Wyatt McCubbin/Zac Brown; Producers: Ben Simonetti/Zac Brown; Label: Home Grown Music/Warner Music Nashville
– This is eloquently sweet and touching as a eulogy for the departed Jimmy Buffett. It’s a dear farewell to a widely beloved music legend, and it hits an emotional bullseye. Strings sigh as the singers harmonize on the island vibe. “Adios, my friend/Anchor where that ocean ends/We’ll pick up where you left off/Strumming on a sailor’s song.”

Blanco Brown, Lily Rose

There’s a lot of pop in this week’s country music offerings.

I believe they call it “pushing the envelope.” Whatever the case, it’s what Tanner Adell, Little Big Town with Sugarland, Kelsea Ballerini and Blanco Brown are bringing. On the country side, we have Tracy Lawrence, Lily Rose, Dylan Marlowe, Tenille Townes and Luke Bryan.

Taking one from each column, we have two winners of the Disc of the Day award, Blanco Brown and Lily Rose.

TENILLE TOWNES / “Thing That Brought Me Here (Truck Song)”
Writers: Tenille Townes/Ben Rector; Producers: Tenille Townes/Logan Wall; Label: Columbia Nashville
– The gifted Canadian award winner returns with a “road” song that rolls along on wheels of rhythm. The track ebbs and flows with an echoey twang and a gripping lead vocal that keeps you glued to the speakers. I remain a huge fan.

KELSEA BALLERINI / “Love Me Like You Mean It (Reimagined)”
Writers: Forest Glen Whitehead/Josh Kerr/Kelsea Ballerini/Lance Carpenter; Producers: Kelsea Ballerini/Alysa Vanderheym; Label: Black River Entertainment
– I have always liked this song, and Ballerini’s new arrangement of her 2014 breakthrough hit sparkles with imagination. It begins with a stark, unadorned vocal then gradually builds with electronic percussion burbles and deft guitar touches. Highly listenable and downright addictive.

TANNER ADELL / “Whiskey Blues”
Writers: Tanner Adell/Akii King/Stephen McGregor/Will Weatherly/Anthony Germaine White; Producers: Tanner Adell/Akil “worldwidefresh” King/Stephen McGregor/Will Weatherly/Anthony Germaine White “J. White Did It”; Label: Columbia Records
– Adell’s appearance on the Beyoncé album has raised her profile dramatically. But the “Buckle Bunny” singer’s new single sounds like an ‘80s rock track rather than a country performance.

LUKE BRYAN / “Love You Miss You Mean It”
Writers: Rhett Akins/Ben Hayslip/Jacob Rice/Jordan Minton; Producers: Jeff Stevens/Jody Stevens; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– A country romance, written with panache and hooks a-plenty. Hit bound.

LILY ROSE / “True North”
Writers: David Garcia/Hillary Lindsey/Trannie Anderson/Lily Rose; Producers: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records/Republic Records
– Deliciously melodic and marvelously evocative as a lyric. When she feels like she’s losing her way, “I head down South to my True North.” Authentic and honest. Sung with ringing conviction. This Georgia artist hits a bullseye every time. Lily Rose stages her Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night. They’re lucky to have her.

RHIANNON GIDDENS / “The Ballad Of Sally Anne”
Writers: Alice Randall/Harry Stinson/Mark O’Connor; Producer: Ebonie Smith; Label: Oh Boy Records
– Dropping tomorrow, My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall is an all-star album that casts the songwriter’s works as expressions of the Black female experience. It is part of a package deal that also includes Randall’s memoir of the same title. On this advance track, Giddens takes Randall’s song on an old-time music journey that evokes an ancient, tragic folk ballad. Her banjo leads the way. Others on the album include such favorites as Valerie June, Miko Marks, Rissi Palmer, SistaStrings, Layla McCalla, Allison Russell and Adia Victoria.

BLANCO BROWN / “Good As It Gets”
Writers: Bennie Amey III/David Fanning/Matt Thomas/Tommy Cecil; Producer: Blanco Brown; Label: Wheelhouse Records
– The charismatic “Git Up” man has returned with a new EP and this change-of-pace, deeply romantic outing. Instruments swirl around him as he soars into his upper vocal register. Sonically innovative and totally dreamy.

DAVE ALVIN & JIMMIE DALE GILMORE / “We’re Still Here”
Writers: Dave Alvin/Jimmie Dale Gilmore; Producer: Dave Alvin; Label: Yep Roc Records
– The Blasters front man and The Flatlanders Texas great teamed up as a duo in 2017. In advance of Texicali, their sophomore album together, they’ve released this rollicking, rootsy romp. Guitar twang and barrelhouse piano abound.

DANIELIA COTTON / “Roll On Mississippi”
Writers: Dennis Morgan/Kye Fleming; Producer: none listed; Label: Cottontown
– Cotton salutes her Black country forefather with this revival of Charley Pride’s 1981 hit. She struggles painfully with the high notes.

LITTLE BIG TOWN & SUGARLAND / “Take Me Home”
Writers: Phil Collins; Producers: Little Big Town/Kristian Bush; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Little Big Town has long peppered its concerts with reworkings of pop/rock oldies. On this week’s CMT Awards, the group and its tour mates of Sugarland stunned viewers with this spectacular treatment of the Phil Collins 1986 pop smash. Drenched in vocal harmonies, it is absolutely gorgeous. It has nothing to do with country music, but what a sound.

TRACY LAWRENCE / “Gulf Of Mexico”
Writers: Monty Criswell/Derek George/Bubba Strait; Producers: none listed; Label: TL
– The honky-tonk master nails this heartache ballad completely. It’s a slow dance for the down and out who can’t drink away a memory.

DYLAN MARLOWE / “Bat Outta Hell (With A Boat On The Back)”
Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon/Dylan Marlowe/Kyle Fishman; Producer: Joe Fox; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– The fisherman is speeding home to get to her before she leaves him. The energetic track pushes things along.

Zac Brown. Photo: Tyler Lord

Spring has sprung, and country music has a treatment for those pollen allergies.

Head for a windy seashore: That’s what our Zac Brown Band is prescribing in its “Tie Up” song. This week’s Disc of the Day is the introductory song of summer 2024.

Also bringing wafting breezes to the season are Lacy J. Dalton, The Frontmen, Sam Hunt and the duet by Jordyn Shellhart & Donovan Woods. The last-named was actually my favorite record today, but I fear that it might be way too creative for intelligence-insulting terrestrial country radio.

And speaking of creative, lend your ears to Wardel, whose zephyr of sound wins a DISCovery Award.

JORDYN SHELLHART & DONOVAN WOODS / “Search My Name”
Writers: Ava Suppelsa/Donovan Woods/Jordyn Shellhart/Robyn Dell’Unto; Producer: Cameron Jaymes; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Utterly enchanting. Their voices harmonize and intertwine amid a sonic swirl of electronic flavors. Their singing, the fever-dream song and the production are all wonderfully innovative. Essential listening.

SAM HUNT / “Locked Up”
Writers: Jerry Flowers/Josh Osborne/Sam Hunt/Shane McAnally/Zach Crowell; Producers: Zach Crowell/Chris LaCorte/Jerry Flowers/Sam Hunt; Label: MCA Nashville
– He made some bad decisions and wound up in the slammer. But she stood by him, and that’s when he knew that she was The One. Hunt scores again with this mid-tempo tune that name-checks Tammy Wynette in its lyric.

DON LOUIS / “Long Time Comin’”
Writers: Demetric Jennings/Kaleb Jones; Producer: Serg Sanchez; Label: Money Myers Entertainment LLC/EMPIRE
– Don Louis is a hunk who was a defensive end football standout during his school days. The Texan’s vocal style is straight-up country with a tiny hint of rasp. His debut single is an ode about a struggling musician who perseveres despite the difficulties. An oomphy production underscores his earnest delivery. Recommended.

ZAC BROWN BAND / “Tie Up”
Writers: Jonathan Singleton/Ben Simonetti/Chris Gelbuda/Josh Hoge/Zac Brown; Producers: Zac Brown/Ben Simonetti; Label: Home Grown Music/Warner Music Nashville
– This loping, easy-going groove welcomes us to summer fun. Get on the water, pop a top when you dock the boat and relax in the sunshine. I can feel the warm weather already.

LACY J. DALTON / “Bonny Doon”
Writer: Lacy J. Dalton; Producer: Dino Nikolas; Label: Time-Life Music
– Dalton’s new Listen to the Wind collection contains new interpretations of her greatest hits alongside this folkie new ballad. While guitars gently strum, she sings of rejection, resignation and restoration. Soothing and peaceful.

RILEY GREEN / “Way Out Here”
Writers: Casey Beathard/David Lee Murphy/Josh Thompson; Producers: Dann Huff/Scott Borchetta/Jimmy Harnen; Label: BMLG Records
– We smoke, chew and fry everything. We like being rednecks with guns. Our trucks are dirty. We are backwoods and proud of it. There you have it.

MEGAN MORONEY / “28th Of June”
Writers: Ben Williams/Mackenzie Carpenter/Megan Moroney/Micah Carpenter; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Columbia Nashville/Columbia Records
– She’s enduringly creative. In this outing, a too-soon wedding falls apart and she’s heartbroken. The ache in her delivery is exquisite, and her lyric is plain-spoken, homespun poetry.

HUNEYFIRE / “Feeling Gray”
Writers: Caitlin Evanson/Cheaza Figueroa/Denny Mishler/Marriana Nevarez/Michael Vittima/Stephen West; Producers: Cheaza Figueroa/Jason Pennock; Label: Double Decades Entertainment
– The Afro-Latina, mother-daughter duo returns with a slow, bluesy jam. It’s a lost-love lament that gradually builds, stacks and mixes their vocal tracks. Highly listenable.

THE FRONTMEN / “Beatles And Eagles”
Writers: Ben Daniel/Larry McCoy/Riley Thomas; Producer: Mickey Jack Cones; Label: Broken Bow Records
– The Frontmen are Richie McDonald (Lonestar), Tim Rushlow (Little Texas) and Larry Stewart (Restless Heart). The new single from their new album shows that these voices of the ‘90s still have charisma. The lyric imaginatively quotes song titles immortalized by the two iconic bands of the title. Break out the vinyl!

THE WAR AND TREATY / “Stealing A Kiss”
Writers: Michael Trotter Jr./Tanya Trotter; Producer: Michael Trotter Jr; Label: UMG Nashville
– Sultry and swampy, this gives off heat as a soul ballad of passion. Searing organ notes, funk guitar, piano accents and gospel-y background vocals support their customary sensational singing.

ASHLEY MONROE / “I Like Trains”
Writer: Fred Eaglesmith; Producers: Gena Johnson/Ashley Monroe; Label: AM
– Her languid reading of the fine lyric is sleepy and sensuous. The under-produced track features simple, dull, acoustic-guitar strumming.

WARDEL / “Sleepless in Seattle”
Writer: Noah Gunderson; Producer: Idrise Ward-EL Jr; Label: Epochal Artists Records
– Idrise Ward-El Jr. is the offspring of a Mr. USA body-building champion. Both father and son are military veterans, and Ward-El Sr. is a Desert Storm veteran. Junior competed on The Voice as R&B stylist “Idrise” and is now transitioning into country music under his new “Wardel” billing. This single is a gentle, whispered lament for a fading city and a lonely guy. Wardel’s vocal has a sensitive, plaintive, folk quality that is quite attractive.