DisClaimer: Bluegrass In The Springtime

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Today’s stroll through the field of bluegrass is as refreshing as springtime.

Highlights include outstanding outings by such stars of the genre as The Grascals, The Infamous Stringdusters and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.

Finishing in a dead heat for Disc of the Day are the chart-topping Lonesome River Band and the reigning Vocal Group of the Year Flatt Lonesome.

Our DisCovery Award goes to The Farm Hands.

LONESOME RIVER BAND/Wrong Road Again
Writers: Allen Reynolds; Producers: Lonesome River Band; Publishers: Universal Songs of PolyGram, BMI
– Perched at No. 1 on the current bluegrass chart is this lively remake of Crystal Gayle’s 1974 country smash. Award winning Sammy Shelor’s rippling banjo leads the sprightly way with the stellar harmony singing of his band mates turning the tune into an extra audio delight. This veteran group has long been one of my faves. Here’s one more reason why.

DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER/Life To My Days
Writers:Jerry Salley/Lee Black/Devin McGlamery; Producers:Doyle Lawson; Publishers: Banner/Extry Good/Christian Taylor/Winding Way/Dixie River, SESAC/BMI/ASCAP
– Year after year, bandleader and Bluegrass Hall of Famer Lawson attracts and trains his genre’s finest vocalists. This philosophical song about making the most of your time on earth deservedly enters the bluegrass top-10 this month.

THE GRASCALS/Sleepin’ With the Reaper
Writers: Becky Buller/Grant Williams; Producers: The Grascals; Publishers: Goodnight Sparky/Fun Money, BMI
– The new album by these Nashville favorites is titled Before Breakfast, and it kicks off with this haunting story song. The married guy gets in over his head with a temptress who has dark intentions. Co-writer Buller, by the way, has a new solo CD coming out next month.

VALERIE SMITH & LIBERTY PIKE/Small Town Hero
Writers: Sarah Majors/Penny Clark/Katy Clark; Producers: Valerie Smith; Publishers: Nashgrass/Sony-ATV Harmony, ASCAP
– A couple of counties south of Music City lies the charming village of Bell Buckle, TN. Smith rules the bluegrass kingdom there, issuing a string of homemade CDs. Her sturdy, earnest voice anchors this ode to small-town values. It’s the theme song of her current collection, Small Town Heroes.

DONNA ULISSE/Back Home Feelin’ Again
Writers: Donna Ulisse/Marc Rossi; Producers: Doyle Lawson; Publishers: Uncle Hadley/Marc My Words, ASCAP
– Singer-songwriter Ulisse is a leading light of today’s influx of female bluegrass performers. She’s currently midway up the Bluegrass Unlimited chart and climbing with this lilting, winsome, nostalgic ditty. She is the reigning Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year whose current collection is titled Breakin’ Easy.

STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS/Caroline
Writers: Steve Martin; Producers: Peter Asher; Publishers: None listed
– Movie star Martin is merely an adequate banjo player. The Steep Canyon Rangers are a somewhat average band. But in this case, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Together, they create delightful listening experiences like this comedic tune about a guy who can’t help talking about his ex while on a dinner date. Taken from The Long Awaited Album (yes, that’s the CD’s title), it has just entered the charts.

THE FARM HANDS/Rural Route
Writers: Daryl Mosley; Producers: Lonnie Lassiter & Ethan Burkhardt; Publishers: Songs of Daryl, ASCAP
– Everyone is picking their brains out here, guitar and dobro, in particular. The toe-tapping tune skips along with a built-in smile. The band lacks a distinctive lead vocalist, but when the four members sing together in harmony, magic happens. Other highlights of its new Colors CD include remakes of “Nashville Skyline Rag,” “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like My Daddy Anymore” and “Sin City.”

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS/What’s Going On
Writers: Brooks/Cleveland/Gaye; Producers: James Tuttle & Jon Gold; Publishers: none listed
– Marvin Gaye goes bluegrass? I’m afraid so, complete with a dazzling acoustic instrumental jam in mid song. These hot-picking crazies are in the midst of a series of cover recordings of rock classics. The current batch also includes tunes by My Morning Jacket, The Allman Brothers, Daft Punk and The Cure.

SHANNON SLAUGHTER/That Old Country Road
Writers: Rusey Hendrix/Shannon Slaughter; Producers: Wes Easter, Randy Kohrs & Shannon Slaughter; Publishers: Sonic Hill/Elite Circuit, no performance rights listed
– Slaughter is perhaps best known in bluegrass circles as a songwriter for Blue Highway, Lonesome River Band, IIIrd Tyme Out, Lou Reid, Larry Stephenson and others. His second solo CD, Never Standing Still, illustrates that he’s a fine interpreter of his own stuff. His homespun tenor conveys loads of warmth on this jaunty romantic ditty.

FLATT LONESOME/All My Life
Writers: Paul Harrigill/Tim Stafford; Producers: Flatt Lonesome & Danny Roberts; Publishers: Truegrass/Daniel House, BMI
– With two consecutive IBMA Vocal Group of the Year honors under its belt, Flatt Lonesome is flying high. It’s a measure of how great these six musicians are that this somber yet uptempo hit single isn’t even the strongest track on its CD Silence In These Walls. The absolutely jaw dropping gospel ballad “Draw Me Near,” the heart-tugging, lovelorn “It’s Just Sad” and the soaring, contemplative “Where Do You Go” are just three other standouts on an album that has brilliance around every corner. You won’t find better country picking and singing anywhere on this planet.

DISClaimer: Trent Harmon’s Star-Making Heartache Ballad

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Trent Harmon

Nostalgia seems to be the order of the day.

The new tracks by Wade Bowen, Mary Chapin Carpenter and The Swon Brothers all have this theme in their lyrics. And if you’re feeling nostalgic about the ‘90s, Carpenter, Michael Peterson and John Berry are all here to refresh your memory about what great talents country produced in that decade.

Dynamic vocalist Trent Harmon has this week’s Disc of the Day.

The DisCovery Award goes to Adrian Johnston’s duet partner Jordan Isaac, who is making his debut in the column today.

THE SWON BROTHERS/What Ever Happened
Writers: Zach Swon/Colton Swon; Producers: The Swon Brothers & Brad Hill; Publishers: none listed; SB (download)
-Breezy, wafting nostalgia for “the good old days.” It sounds like ‘70s pop.

WADE BOWEN/Acuna
Writers: Bowen/Gattis/Freed; Producer: Keith Gattis; Publishers: They Call Me Paul/Gattis/In Stereo, ASCAP/BMI; Bowen
– The good times have faded away and ain’t comin’ back in this rolling, dusty, inescapably “Texas” performance. I have always enjoyed this artist’s work. His new Solid Ground collection includes collaborations with Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall and Jack Ingram.

MICHAEL PETERSON/Lookin’ For Love
Writers: Mallette/Ryan/Morrison; Producers: Steven McClintock, Billy Yates & Michael Peterson; Publishers: EMI/Music City/Bluewater/Southern Days, No performance rights listed; 37 (track)
-Peterson has such extraordinary warmth in his voice that he makes this 1980 classic sound utterly fresh. A glowing performance that’s worth your spins.

CHRIS YOUNG/Hangin’ On
Writers: Chris Young/Corey Crowder/Josh Hoge; Producers: Chris Young/Corey Crowder/Josh Hoge; RCA (track)
– She has him dizzy in love. The track is appropriately swirling and spinning. His vocal is, of course, as super expressive as always.

ADRIAN JOHNSTON & JORDAN ISAAC/Damn I Want A Love Like That
Writers: Maloy/Ottestad; Producer: Zac Maloy; Publishers: none listed; AJ (track)
– Both vocalists are strong, penetrating vocalists. This is as potent a duet performance as I’ve heard so far this year. Highly recommended.

MAGGIE ROSE/Pull You Through
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; MR
– I dig this. It has a bluesy, doo-wop, retro feel that is robo cool. She makes the most of its r&b groove with some minor-key swoops and phrasing embellishments.

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER/This Shirt
Writers: none listed; Producer: Ethan Johns; Publishers: none listed; Lambent
– A performance to get lost in. A gentle, echoey, acoustic production backs her intimate, resonant, alto delivery. Complete audio magic. Those of you with long memories might recall the song as being a promotional Sony video back in 1990. Its nostalgic warmth still casts a dreamy spell.

TRENT HARMON/You Got ‘Em All
Writers: Trent Harmon/Justin Ebach/Jordan Minton; Producers: Jimmy Robbins/Scott Borchetta; Publishers: none listed; Big Machine
– Trent pinned everyone’s ears back at CRS when he debuted this powerful, urgent, passionate and super melodic slab of sound. He was the champ on the 2016 American Idol season. Based on this torrid heartache ballad, he just might be that rare AI singer who actually becomes a star.

JOHN BERRY/Beautifully Broken
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; JB (download)
– Chesty, soaring and anthemic. Which seems apt, since it is an upcoming inspirational-movie theme song.

Bobby Karl Works The Room: 2018 BMLG Luncheon At CRS

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Pictured (back row L-R): Big Machine Records GM Jim Weatherson, BMLG EVP & BMLG Records President Jimmy Harnen, CRB Executive Director Bill Mayne, The Valory Music Co. GM George Briner, CRB Board President Kurt Johnson (Townsquare Media); (middle row L-R): Drake White, Tyler Rich, Trent Harmon, Brett Young; (front row L-R): Sugarland, BMLG President & CEO Scott Borchetta, Thomas Rhett. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Any way you look at it, the Big Machine Label Group is red-hot, and the company proved it at its Country Radio Seminar (CRS) luncheon showcase on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

“Thank you for a great 2017,” label CEO Scott Borchetta said to the assembled radio gatekeepers. The company has brought a slew of new hit makers into country music, and judging by its showcase lineup, it is far from finished.

Scott’s surprise opener was Thomas Rhett, whom he described as “the biggest artist in our music today.” Rhett delivered his current heartache ballad “Marry Me” in a stripped-down, semi-acoustic arrangement.

“Thomas Rhett is so on fire,” said Scott. “He’s been writing with Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers. I can’t say enough great things about Thomas Rhett.”

Passionate performer Drake White was next. He did “Livin’ the Dream” and then introduced two new tunes. “All Would Be Right With the World” was a sweet message song. “Girl In Pieces” was a summer-sounding toe tapper about healing a gal’s wounded soul.

Newcomer Tyler Rich performed with just his own guitar accompaniment. “Adrenaline” was a romantic power ballad. His forthcoming single “The Difference” had a lilting, plaintive quality.

In between performers, Scott hyped his label’s new Big Machine Vodka. You can sample and/or buy it at the BMLG store at 120 3rd Ave. S. He’ll feature it in a music fest at Indie’s Brickyard 400 in September.

Brett Young and Midland and Carly Pearce were all brought to the top of the charts with debut singles by the aggressive BMLG team. Brett sang his debut song, the percolating “Sleep Without You,” as well as his two succeeding No. 1 hits. “Like I Loved You” was steadily driving and full of tension. His triple Platinum “In Case You Didn’t Know” was dreamy and swooning. It became the country wedding anthem of last year.

“Thank you for the platform that you give us,” he told the radio folks. “I feel very, very grateful that y’all took a chance on me.”

Former American Idol winner Trent Harmon has been woodshedding as a songwriter in Nashville and was ready to show the results. “Her” was an intense, slow-burning blues. His super-melodic pop tune “I Think You Got ‘Em All” was even better. His powerful vocal delivery of it earned him the day’s only standing ovation.

“This is why we do this, right?” commented Scott about his leather-lunged artist’s stunning reception.

The reunited Sugarland closed the show with a vivacious mini set of its oldies “Baby Girl” (2004), “All I Want to Do” (2008), “Something More” (2005) and “Stuck Like Glue” (2010). The group’s finale was its stirring new single “Still the Same.”

“So many memories are made during this week,” Scott accurately observed.

Prior to the label luncheon, indie artist Kaylee Rutland serenaded the waiting crowd with a spirited set of tunes. She was backed by her tight, five-piece band featuring twin lead guitars.

Mixing and mingling on Wednesday afternoon around the Omni Hotel “campus” of this year’s CRS were Tony Jackson, Scott Hendricks, T.G. Sheppard & Kelly Lang, Drew Bennett, John Schneider, Chuck Aly, Jamie O’Neal, Larry Vincent, Stephanie Quayle, Bob Paxman, Drew Baldridge, Cindy Watts, Daniel Hill, Tom Roland, Ben Vaughn, Chuck Dauphin, Allison Jones and Preshias Harris.

DISClaimer: Smithfield, Brett Young Offer Soulful, Emotional New Tracks

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Perhaps it is the upcoming CRS convention.

This week, a bevy of country stars-in-the-making are issuing new sounds, hoping to catch radio’s ears. They include Devin Dawson, Luke Combs, Lance Carpenter & Krystal Keith, Brett Young and Walker McGuire, with a dandy little bonus track from Ryan Kinder thrown into the mix.

Brett Young emerges from the pack with the Disc of the Day.

The new duo Smithfield wins our DisCovery Award today in DisClaimer.

SMITHFIELD/Hey Whiskey
Writer: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; In2une (ERG)
– She can’t hold her lover while he’s in the clutches of alcohol. The lyric is dynamite. The delivery is piercing and emotional. The production is solid. Play it.

WALKER MCGUIRE/Lost
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Wheelhouse (ERG)
– I like his innocent-sounding Southern accent, and it suits this story of a country boy who gets lost in love. Swirling and endearing.

BRETT YOUNG/Mercy
Writers: Brett Young/Sean McConnell; Producers: Dann Huff; Publishers: Super Big/Caliville/Big Machine/Warner-Tamerlane/Little Beluga, ASCAP/BMI; BMLG (TRACK)
– A stately slab of heartache. The ballad is soulfully sung, and the piano-dominated arrangement punctuates every emotional wound. Highly recommended.

JASON ALDEAN/You Make It Easy
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BBR
– It’s a power ballad with fairly generic romantic cliches and the obligatory rock guitar solo.

DEVIN DAWSON/All On Me
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Atlantic (download)
– A pop-flavored come-on with a percolating track and jaunty vocal delivery. Easy on the ears.

KRYSTAL KEITH & LANCE CARPENTER
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Show Dog
– Very exciting. An “escape” road song with perfect harmonies and lotsa rhythmic drive. Newcomer Carpenter delivers the goods, vocally, while Krystal solidifies her promise.

RYAN KINDER/Fortunate Son
Writer: John Fogerty; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– It’s such a great song. Kinder slows it and strips down the instrumentation to throw the spotlight on its extraordinary lyric. Bluesy, groovy, stark, soulful and meaningful.

HUNTER HAYES/This Girl
Writers: Jordan Schmidt/Andy Albert/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Atlantic (download)
– The rapid-fire lyric is quite well written. Hayes, as usual, gives it plenty of oomph in his vocal-and-guitar delivery. Radio ready, for sure.

SARA EVANS/All The Love You Left Me
Writers: Hillary Lindsey/Gordon Sampson/Ben West; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Born To Fly
– Somebody pushed down too hard on the “echo chamber” button.

DISClaimer: Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris Get Feisty And Fiery On New Tracks

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It’s Ladies Day here at DISClaimer.

Get set to play the dickens out of the new platters by Maren Morris and Ashley McBryde. They are sharing the Disc of the Day prize.

Cash Creek, Locash and Zac Brown continue their winning ways, so pay heed to those releases as well.

NASCAR driver Tyler Williams earns this week’s DisCovery Award.

CASH CREEK/Make Your Mama Proud
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Heartland
– Jaunty, light-hearted and highly enjoyable. The message is a winner, too: Don’t try to be what you’re not or chase after what’s not important. Just be yourself, shine in your own space and live with honor. Love it.

KID ROCK/American Rock ‘n’ Roll
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; BMG (download)
– I dislike pretty much everything about this artist. His rapping. His looks. His attitude. His genre hopping. And today, his singing this bogus anthem.

AARON WATSON/Run Wild Horses
Writers: none listed; Producers: Aaron Watson/Marshall Altman; Publishers: none listed; Big Label (track)
– This atmospheric, steady thumper has very groovy guitar licks. The lyric compares the rush of romantic passion with an out-of-control mustang. Watson is a highly successful, d.i.y. artist with a dozen albums and a string of sold-out concerts. This nicely produced track is drawn from his 2017 CD Vaquero.

 

ZAC BROWN & SIR ROSEVELT/It Goes On
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed
-This is from the soundtrack of the Chris Hemsworth movie 12 Strong. But it stands on its own as a soaring sentiment about enduring devotion. The orchestral accompaniment as it builds in intensity is superbly arranged. Sir Rosevelt is a trio that is Zac’s side project, but he will also continue to make music with his band.

TYLER WILLIAMS/Good For Me
Writers: none listed; Producers: Jonathan Roye; Publishers: none listed; Eight Seven (track)
– This guy is a champion NASCAR driver who sings in a solid, confident way about weathering a failed relationship. The swirling track supports him at every turn. Williams is also a motivational speaker and the author of an inspirational-style book titled I Have a Voice.

MAREN MORRIS/Rich
Writers: Maren Morris/Jessie Jo Dillon/Laura Veltz; Producers: busbee/Maren Morris; Publishers: none listed, BMI; Columbia Nashville
– This bopping tune has been delighting her audiences for months. Feisty and frothy, it’s about a no-good guy she keeps returning to. If she had a dollar for every time she was right about what a bum he is……

GREG HUDIK/She Loves Kissing Girls
Writers: Hudik; Producer: Hudik; Publishers: none listed; Platinum
– His vocal has a muffled audio quality and is somewhat buried in the mix. Which is probably okay, since he doesn’t sing all that well to start with.

ASHLEY McBRYDE/American Scandal
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– She sings the fire outta this. The song is torrid enough with its lyric of forbidden love (”love me like Kennedy and Monroe”). Her performance of it burns the house down. I absolutely cannot wait for the album by my newcomer-of-the-year.

 

LINDI ORTEGA/The Comeback Kid
Writers: Ortega/Skylar Wilson; Producer: Skylar Wilson; Publishers: Last Gang/Ole Media Management/Catpad, SOCAN/SESAC; Shadowbox (track)
– I am a fan of this quirky Canadian singer-songwriter. On this oddball ballad, she sings in a wispy soprano in an echo chamber. The haunting lyric seems to be about someone who was killed, but didn’t really die or somehow returned from beyond the grave. It is the lead single from her CD titled Liberty, due in six weeks.

LOCASH/Don’t Get Better Than That
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Reviver (download)
– It has a certain nervous energy that is infectious. The double-time rhythm track is the star here, but the top-down, head-to-the-sky, soaring vocals will grab ya, too.

DISClaimer: Brothers Osborne, Dugger Band Top New Tracks

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Brothers Osborne

It’s a new year brimming with new country talent.

Tegan Marie, Sara Morgan and Dugger Band are all making their DisClaimer debuts today, while Jenny Tolman, Noe Palma and Cale Dodds are stepping up to the plate with their sophomore efforts.

Dugger Band wins the DisCovery Award. This brother duo had to compete for the big prize with two other teams, Dan + Shay and Brothers Osborne, plus the band LANco. Despite the worthy competition, Brothers Osborne wins Disc of the Day.

LANCO/Born To Love You
Writers: Brandon Lancaster/Ross Copperman/Ashley Gorley/Josh Osborne; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Concession 114/Neon Cross/EMI Blackwood/Plain Jane/Rezolant/Sony-ATV/Combustion Engine/Sadie’s Favorite/WB/Anderson Fork in the Road/Smackville/Smack Songs/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP; Arista (track)
– Percolating country-pop with hooks a-plenty, crunchy beats and charming vocals. Absolutely addictive.

DUGGER BAND/East Tennessee Son
Writers: Jordan Dugger/Seath Dugger/Bill DiLuigi; Producers: Paul David/Jordan Dugger/Seth Dugger; Publishers: Dughouse/888 King, ASCAP/SESAC; DB (track)
– The sibling harmonies are skintight. The lyric praising Appalachian beauty is evocative. The soaring melody is lovely. The production is sophisticated and nicely layered. Get on board.

DAN+SHAY/Tequila
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Anguish and heartache, brought on by a taste of tequila that brings back her memory. Beautifully produced and sung, as usual, with feeling and gusto. Highly recommended.

TEGAN MARIE/Keep It Lit
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– She’s 14. Her single is bouncy and youthful and romantic.

BROTHERS OSBORNE/Shoot Me Straight
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; EMI
– These two are the best thing to happen to country music in years. On this outing, they combine the swagger of Southern rock, the drawl of backwoods blues, stinging guitar licks and relentlessly righteous rhythm. Love them. Love this.

 

NOE PALMA/Swerve
Writers: Bridgette Tatum/Benjamin Drew Davis/Jason Matthews; Producers: Bart Busch & Jason Matthews; Publishers: none listed; Mae Capital
– I loved this dude’s last effort. This shouted rocker is heavier on attitude than it is on melody, but I imagine it goes down well in a rowdy nightclub setting.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD & LUDACRIS/The Champion
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista
– This is her anthem for the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics. Her vocal is compressed and processed. His is multi-tracked. I don’t hear the result as being programmable by either pop or country taste makers.

SARA MORGAN/The Boots
Writer: Sara Morgan; Producers: Carl Butler/Sara Morgan; Publishers: none listed; River Delta (track)
– “He might wear the pants, but I wear the boots.” Cleverly written and sung with spunk, moxie and verve. The steel-dominated track is a might thin sounding.

CALE DODDS/Take You Back
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– Dreamy and tuneful. His endearing, boyish, pleading vocal is paired with a swirling, chiming, echoey production. The lyric is of nostalgia and lost romance. I dig this.

JENNY TOLMAN/Something To Complain About
Writers: Dave Brainard/Aaron Raitiere/Jenny Tolman; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publishers: none listed; Jennyville (track)
– A working girl looks at the problems of privileged celebrities with a jaundiced eye. Then she compares the problems of her own life with those of a homeless person. Smartly written and engagingly sung. Somebody sign this indie gal pronto.

DISClaimer: Radney Foster, The DonJuans Top Americana Offerings

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Radney Foster

If you’re weary of commercial country music, might I suggest an audio trip to Americana?

That genre is where you’ll find the best music being made in Nashville today. The embarrassment of riches in today’s stack of Americana platters is proof.

The multi-star extravaganzas of the Loudermilk tribute CD and the Tommy Emmanuel collection give them somewhat unfair advantages in the contest for the Disc of the Day. Setting them aside, we still have awesome new solo efforts by Billy Burnette, the late Gregg Allman, John Oates, Radney Foster and Lee Roy Parnell.

In a very tough decision, I’m giving the prize to Radney Foster. His singing and songwriting are, as usual, superlative. The icing on the cake is the production by Will Kimbrough.

There was no question about who should get the DisCovery Award. That easily belongs to The DonJuans, veteran songwriters dressed up in spiffy new audio duds.

LEE ROY PARNELL/Hours In Between
Writers: Lee Roy Parnell/Greg Barnhill; Producer: Lee Roy Parnell; Publishers: Dean-Parnell/Lillie Dale/SB21/Easyana, BMI/SESAC; Vector (track)
– Lee Roy’s first album in 11 years is Midnight Believer, the r&b CD we always knew he had in him. Its lead-off track is a swampy groover loaded with his stinging guitar work and boasting a drawled, growled vocal that is a slow burn of fevered desire for affection in the darkest hours of the night. In a word, smokin.’

JOHN OATES & THE GOOD ROAD BAND/Arkansas
Writers: Oates; Producers: Oates/David Kalmusky; Publisher: Oates Shul, BMI; PS/Thirty Tigers
– Oates enlisted the cream of Nashville’s crop for the cast of his new Arkansas CD — Sam Bush, Guthrie Trapp and Russ Pahl for starters. The record is his tribute to Delta blues, flavored with country and folk elements. This title tune thumps with soulful conviction and is steeped in deep-fried Dixie flavors. Elsewhere on the collection, you’ll find echoes of Jimmie Rodgers, Emmett Miller, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake and more legends. Super highly recommended.

GREGG ALLMAN/My One True Friend
Writers: Allman/Scott Sharrard; Producer: Don Was; Publishers: D-Dem/Brickyard Blues, BMI; Rounder (track)
– Nominated for two Grammy Awards, the final Gregg Allman album is a everything his Southern-rock fans might desire. Titled Southern Blood, it leads off with this bluesy, gospel-ish, end-of-life lament. The album’s cast includes The McCrary Sisters, Jasckson Browne, Greg Leisz and Buddy Miller, and its repertoire spans tunes by Tim Buckley, Bob Dylan, Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham, Lowell George, the Dead and Willie Dixon. Haunting and evocative, this is an essential purchase.

MARE WAKEFIELD & NOMAD/Breathe
Writers: Mare Makefield; Producer: Nomad Ovunc; Publishers: Maresie, BMI; MW (track)
– These under-the-radar Nashvillians are rising stars on the folk circuit. This song from the new Time to Fly CD won them slots at the Kerrville and Falcon Ridge folk festivals. It is about survival through hard times. Her luminous vocal sounds mature and lived-in, which gives the ballad its trembling, emotional foundation. Wakefield & Nomad are booked to play The Country on Jan. 17 as the album-release event.

RADNEY FOSTER/For You To See The Stars
Writers: Radney Foster/Jay Clementi/Scott David Laurent; Producer: Will Kimbrough; Publishers: Alamo Lounge/BMG/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/2121, ASCAP; Devil’s River
– Now here’s an ambitious project. Each song on Radney’s new CD corresponds to a short story in his just-published book of fictional tales. This is the title tune, a tender ode to looking up when you might be feeling down. As usual, his warm singing is a thing of wonder. The crisp production is audio perfection. I remain an enormous fan.

THE DON JUANS/Garden of the Dead
Writers: Don Henry/Jon Vezner; Producers The Don Juans; Publishers: Poppermost/Jon Vezner, SESAC; Skratched (track)
– Music City tunesmiths Don Henry and Jon Vezner are now The DonJuans. Abetted by the stellar playing of Dan Dugmore, Diane Perry and Charlie McCoy, they’ve issued a self-titled CD of their songwriting collaborations. This one is a lilting, minor-key ditty about relaxing in a graveyard. Quirky and delightful. Folk legend Tom Paxton appears elsewhere on the CD, and he will joining the pair for an Alive Hospice benefit show at the Bluebird on Jan. 26.

BOBBY BARE/I Drink
Writers: Mary Gauthier/Crit Harmon/Melanie Howard; Producers: Jimmy Ritchey & Max T. Barnes; Publishers: none listed; Hypermedia (track)
– Among the many great Mary Gauthier songs, this is one of the greatest. Bare has just issued a video for it. The song has previously been recorded by Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton, but you won’t find a more devastating, heart-tearing rendition than in this presentation. You’ll find the audio track of it on Bare’s current, and excellent, Things Change album.

BILLY BURNETTE/Crazy Like Me
Writers: Billy Burnette/Dennis Morgan/Shawn Camp; Producer: Billy Burnette; Publishers: Still Working for the Man/Burnette A Billy/Little Shop of Morgan Songs/BMG, BMI; Rock N Roll With It
– This durable rockabilly cat has a new memoir and CD, both titled “Crazy Like Me.” The title tune is a driving, relentless romp with a rump-shaking backbeat and spat-out, rapid-fire, sassy lyrics. The book includes anecdotes from his recording adventures, tenure in Fleetwood Mac and Memphis roots. The album includes his versions of his George Strait hit tune “River of Love,” his Ray Charles/Bonnnie Raitt classic “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” his daddy’s rockabilly standard “Tear It Up,” his “She’s Gonna Win Your Heart” popularized by Eddy Raven and his own country success “Nothing To Do (And All Night to Do It).” And more, all in one rollicking package.

EMMYLOU HARRIS, MARY ANN KENNEDY, PAM ROSE/Where Have They Gone
Writer: John D. Loudermilk; Producers: John Jorgenson & Dixie Gamble; Publishers: Sony/ATV Acuff Rose, BMI; Vector/BFD
– Dixie Gamble and John Jorgenson decided to stage a tribute concert for ailing songwriter John D. Loudermilk while he was still alive. So in March 2016 a stellar cast assembled at The Franklin Theater to sing his songs to him. What a cast — Bobby Braddock, Lee Roy Parnell, Deborah Allen, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Jimmy Hall, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Becky Hobbs, Rodney Crowell, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Rosanne Cash and more. Emmylou, Pam and Mary Ann drew the evening’s most poignant elegy, his meditation on the passing of time. Loudermilk passed away five months after the show, but it lives on in an extraordinary document of that extraordinary night, A Tribute to John D. Loudermilk. Buy it now.

TOMMY EMMANUEL & RODNEY CROWELL/Looking Forward to the Past
Writers: Rodney Crowell; Producer: Tommy Emmanuel; Publishers: BMG Gold/RC One/We Jam Writers Group, ASCAP; CGP (track)
– This guitar master issues his new Accomplice One CD next week, on Jan. 19. It includes collaborations with Jason Isbell, Mark Knopfler, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Suzy Bogguss, David Grisman and more. His track with Rodney Crowell is a standout, a snappy toe-tapper that gives the writer’s Texas drawl and the picker’s lightning fingers plenty of room to shine. It goes without saying that the song is brilliant. A terrific listening experience.

DISClaimer: Sugarland’s Welcome Return

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Happy New Year.

This is a season of new beginnings, and that’s just what we’re hearing in the sounds from Jimmy Wayne, Scotty McCreery, Levi Hummon and Terry McBride. No one inhabits this concept better than Sugarland, our winner of the Disc of the Day award.

The DisCovery Award goes to Michael Tyler. This young Missouri native is previously best known for co-writing Jason Aldean’s “Laid Back” and Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere on a Beach.” Now he has his own spotlight.

MICHAEL TYLER/Hey Mama
Writers: Michael Tyler/Jaron Boyer/Adam Argyle; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Peertunes, Ltd. obo itself, MTNoize and Jaron Boyer Music (SESAC) / Peermusic III, Ltd (BMI); Reviver (CDX)
-It looks like this time, she’s the right one. So that’s why I’m talking to you, Mom. The vocal is boyishly endearing, and the poppy, attractive track burbles along at a jaunty pace. Quite enjoyable.

SUGARLAND/Still The Same
Writers: Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush; Producer: Kristian Bush/Julian Raymond; Publishing: Jennifer Nettles Publishing (ASCAP)./ Magic Mustang Music Inc. / More And More Magic Publishing (BMI); Big Machine (download)
-The Sugarland comeback single packs a powerful punch. It builds nicely from an acoustic opening into an oomphy, anthemic melody and a multi-layered production pylon. A welcome return.

AC JONES/Buses and Trains
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; SSM (CDX)
– She tells mama she’s been hurt by love, but that it feels so good she wants to do it again. Jones sings with plenty of fire, but needs a better song.

LUKE BRYAN/What Makes You Country
Writers: Luke Bryan/Dallas Davidson/Ashley Gorley; Producers: Jeff Stevens/Jody Stevens; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill/Round Hill/Natalia’s Music Money/Combustion Engine/WB/Sadie’s Favorite, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (track)
– It’s a stompin’ rocker with a lively attitude. The rapid-fire lyric spits both cliches and truths. Absolutely a smash.

JIMMY WAYNE/Puppy Love
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Bea Hive (track)
– Jimmy Wayne’s latest project is a kids’ book called Ruby the Foster Dog. It has its own website with video stories. His companion Ruby Toons CD kicks off with this electronic bopper and is easily enjoyed by adults. Check it out.

SCOTTY MCCREERY/Five More Minutes
Writers: Monty Criswell/Scotty McCreery/Frank Rogers; Producers: none listed; Publishers: Sony/ATV/Spirit; Triple Tigers
– The good times in life seem to just fly on by. If only we had a “pause” button or just a few more moments to enjoy them. Very touching and heartfelt. The accompanying video has loads of cool, home-movie footage from the singer’s boyhood.

BEBE REXHA & FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE/Meant To Be
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros.
– The track is really groovy, and everyone is singing splendidly. A bit more melody would have been nice.

TERRY MCBRIDE/Boots Off
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; MV2 (CDX)
– Rolling, relaxing and laid back. A wanderer finds a home in her arms and, for a change, doesn’t feel like leaving.

THE PAT WATTERS BAND/Indigo
Writers: none listed; Producer: Evan Middlesworth; Publisher: none listed, BMI; PWB (track)
-Its upbeat, yet deals with heartbreak. I love the line, “Your future could be in your next hello, why are you dwelling on your last goodbye?” The production is rather minimal, but the steel playing is nifty. I dig these guys; they need an audio upgrade.

LEVI HUMMON/Stupid
Writers: Scooter Carusoe/Chris DeStefano/Levi Hummon; Publishers: Sony-ATV, no performance rights listed; Producer: none listed; Iconic
-He doesn’t want to over-think a kiss or a romance. The track jingles and jangles in all the right places, and his lilting performance is on the money. Catchy and well worth your spins.

DISClaimer: Indie Acts Bring Holiday Offerings

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Lucas Hoge

As we bid adieu to 2017, the indie country acts are bringing up the rear with their various holiday offerings.

Lucas Hoge wins the Disc of the Day with his strong vocal performance. The female prize goes to Heidi Raye, another confident belter. The group award goes to Bubba T & Natalie Rose, who sound like they’d be fun to have around at your Christmas party.

Happy holidays, one and all.

JEFF CROSBY/Christmas in the Palms
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed. Publishers: none listed; Rock By the Sea (CDX)
-It’s about getting out of sunny California to celebrate the holidays in snowy Idaho. He has a friendly, folkie delivery, and the production is appropriately spare.

LUCAS HOGE/Ho Ho Home for the Holidays
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Rebel (CDX)
– This swings gently with a lightly jazzy vibe. His vocal is confident, solid and right on the money. Highly recommended.

ANALISA & JOHN/Make Christmas Last This Year
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Analisa Rotella & John Gallo (track)
– Beyond amateurish. The recording quality is stunningly sub par. She can barely sing, and is buried in the mix way beneath his electric-guitar noodling in any case.

BRETT ELDREDGE/Glow
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Atlantic (CDX)
– This is the title tune to the big-band, pop holiday album that Brett issued last year. Despite his unquestioned country credentials, don’t look here if you’re looking for a country Christmas record. But if you feel like scratching a Sinatra itch, step right up.

 

CB30/The Christmas Song
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Buena Vista/Universal (CDX)
– Stacked vocal harmonies, finger snaps and a soaring string section. Thanks, I’ll take Nat King Cole instead.

BUBBA T & NATALIE ROSE/Frosty the Snowman
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; AmeriMonte (CDX)
-The quasi-rockabilly arrangement works surprisingly well. Natalie out-sings Bubba, but he has his own warm, low-key charm.

JOSEPH JAMES/Christmas in My Hometown
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; JJC (CDX)
– You probably know 20 people who can sing this well or better. 12/21/2017

HEIDI RAYE/I’m Gonna Wish You a Merry Christmas
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; HH (CDX)
– She’s a blue-collar babe who is defiantly not politically correct while shopping down at the Wal-Mart. Bopping and full of personality.

RE MATTEI/Santa’s Gone Country
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Trendy Girl (CDX)
– This double-time two-step is sure to liven up your holiday party. Everybody hit that honky-tonk dance floor!

JENNY TOLMAN/Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; JT
– This former DisCovery Award winner has a remake of the 1958 Brenda Lee rockabilly classic as her yuletide offering. This arrangement slows things down to a relaxed bop, embellished by honking harmonica, snazzy electric guitar and tinkling piano. Sweetly enjoyable.

DISClaimer: TobyMac, Hannah Kerr Release Top Christmas Offerings

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Nashville has always taken the lead when it comes to holiday music.

The city’s artists have given us such standards as “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Mary Did You Know,” “Blue Christmas,” “Reindeer Boogie,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Tennessee Christmas,” “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy,” “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Pretty Paper,” “Kentucky Homemade Christmas,” “Santa Claus Is Watching You” and “Christmas Time’s A-Comin.’”

Today’s stack of platters includes Yule offerings from some of Nashville’s biggest country stars. But it is the city’s CCM community that comes away with top honors.

TobyMac wins the Disc of the Day. Hannah Kerr earns the DisCovery Award.

JENNIFER HANSON/Under The Tree
Writers: J. Hanson; Producers: Jennifer Hanson/Nick Brophy; Publishers: none listed; JH (track)
– The track sounds like crystalline falling snow. Her winsome vocal exudes warmth and sincerity. The super melodic song is a jewel. This lady’s holiday four-song EP is essential.

TWIN KENNEDY/Cold Weather
Writers: Carli Kennedy/Julie Kennedy; Producers: Dustin Olyan/Twin Kennedy; Publishers: Twin Kennedy; Factor (Canada)
– These sisters from British Columbia accompany themselves on fiddle and guitar, which forms the basis of their gentle acoustic sound. They also harmonize beautifully on this ultra-romantic song. Very pretty. The album is called A Twin Kennedy Christmas.

TOBYMAC/Bring On The Holidays
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol/Forefront
– Naturally, Nashville’s CCM world embraces this season enthusiastically. This veteran of the genre kicks off his Light of Christmas CD with this jaunty pop rocker. The pulsing production is as irresistible as his tenor vocal. Highly recommended.

 

NORA COLLINS/Christmas Kiss
Writers: Collins/Arthur; Producer: Tony Harrell; Publishers: none listed; MV2 (track)
– This pert soprano’s six-song holiday offering is titled It Must Be Christmas. Its single is a slow, sweetly romantic ballad about waking up to a special smooch on Christmas morning. Languid and lulling.

REBA McENTIRE, KELLY CLARKSON & TRISHA YEARWOOD/Silent Night
Writers: Franz Xaber Gruber/Joseph Mohr/John Freeman Young; Producer: Greg Kurstin, Publisher: PD; Rockin R/Nash Icon
– Leave it to these three stellar vocalists to turn this most familiar of Christmas standards into an enchanting new audio experience. Kelly leads off, followed by Trisha with Reba taking the third verse. Throughout, the three voices echo softly in harmony in the background. Hang on for the trio-harmonized a cappella finale. It will stop you in your tracks. You’ll find it on Reba’s CD My Kind of Christmas, which also contains collaborations with Darius Rucker, Lauren Daigle and Vince & Amy.

BALSAM RANGE/Christmas Lullaby
Writers: Doc Watson; Producer: Balsam Range; Publishers: Hillgreen/Budde, BMI; Mountain Home
-The bluegrass genre’s holiday entry, It’s Christmas Time, comes from this 10-time IBMA awarded band. The group’s trademark, flawless, hearty harmonies and deft picking are paired with The Nashville Recording Orchestra. The mixture of banjo and fiddle with lush, soaring strings is an unexpected delight. Well worth your spins.

BLAKE SHELTON/Christmas Eve
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros.
-His heartbroken lead vocal on this downbeat waltz is dandy. He remains such a superb country singer. The track is marred by the presence of a kiddie chorus.

 

SHANE OWENS/Christmas in Dixie
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; AmeriMonte (CDX)
– This honky tonker’s revival of Alabama’s 1983 holiday classic is a welcome reminder of what a cool song it is. Winning and warm.

LUKE BRYAN/O Holy Night
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Capitol (CDX)
– His accent just feels out of place on this loveliest of Christmas melodies. To his credit, he does take the octave-leap finale in stride.

HANNAH KERR/Emmanuel
Writers: Hannah Kerr/Andy Gullahorn/Jill Phillips; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: Songs of Black River/The Gullahorns, ASCAP; Black River Christian
– This is the title tune of a six-song EP that introduces Black River’s first entry into the CCM field. Her soft, airy delivery gives the lilting ballad extraordinary intimacy and presence, particularly when her co-writers add their lovely, lacy harmony voices. I was hanging on every phrase, mesmerized.