Country music is rocking out this week.

This edition of DISClaimer features roaring sounds from Morgan Wade, Jelly Roll & Marshmello and Kip Moore. The best sounding one is a collaboration, Zach Bryan performing with Music City’s finest rock band, Kings of Leon. It is our Disc of the Day. 

Our DISCovery Award winner for today is Canadian country star Aaron Goodvin.

LACI KAYE BOOTH / “George F***king Strait”
Writers: Anderson East/Laci Kaye Booth/Melissa Fuller; Producers: Anderson East, Ben West; Label: Geffen Records
– Ultra modern sounding: Twangy, echoey track with a slow-burn vibe overlaid with her sly, drawling delivery. She yearns for a guy who gets better with age, like the country singer.

CHRIS YOUNG / “Jesus, Mama, Country Radio”
Writers: Chris Young/ChrisDeStefano/Josh Phillips/Taylor Phillips; Producers: Andy Sheridan, Chris Young; Label: Black River Entertainment
– Bright and upbeat. A toe tapper with jangling guitars and a thumpin’ beat.

AARON GOODVIN / “Said No Redneck Ever”
Writers: Aaron Goodvin/Brent Baxter/Trea Landon; Producers: Aaron Goodvin, Matthew Evan McClure; Label: Sakamoto Music
– “That beer’s too cold; that girl’s too hot; somebody turn Bocephus off.” You get the idea. No redneck says the words in the lyrics of this light-hearted ditty. A fun listen.

LAUREN ALAINA / “Little Things”
Writers: Emily Falvey/Lauren Alaina/Ross Copperman/Seth Ennis; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– The autobiographical power ballad reminisces about her late dad. Alaina’s singing sounds stronger than ever.

DUNCAN DANIELS / “Cowboys Wear Stetsons”
Writers: Darbi Shaun Lacagnina/Duncan Daniels/Ron Pope/Zach Berkman; Producer: Justine Blazer; Label: Dunkishrock Production
– He’s aiming for a traditional sound here. But his singing is quite weak.

JON PARDI / “Hey California”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Hunter Phelps/John Charles Reno Prentice/Jordan Minton; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– A breezy tempo track is married to a country heartbreak lyric in this catchy, listenable, easy-going outing.

ZACH BRYAN & KINGS OF LEON / “Bowery”
Writers: Caleb Followill/Jared Followill/Matthew Followill/Nathan Followill/Zach Bryan; Producer: Zach Bryan; Label: Warner Records
– This rocks splendidly. Bryan’s wailing lead vocal hits the mark, and the slammin’ Nashville band kicks serious butt. The whole thing sounds exactly like a great big hit record.

TY HERNDON & ASHLEY McBRYDE / “A Man Holdin’ On to a Woman Letting Go”
Writers: Bobby Taylor/Gene Dobbins/John Ramey; Producers: Jimmy Thow, John Osborne; Label: Club44 Records
– Herndon revisits his 1998 hit, this time as an electrifying duet with the peerless McBryde. Both artists absolutely nail their vocals, separately and harmonizing together. Magnificently done.

JELLY ROLL & MARSHMELLO / “Holy Water”
Writers: Danny Majic/Jason Deford/Justin Franks/Kameron Alexander/Marshmello/Ryan Vojtesak; Producers: Charlie Handsome, Danny Majic, Frank E, Marshmello; Label: Mercury Records
– It’s a slowly paced eulogy for those who have left us. The totally electronic track is pop all the way.

KIP MOORE / “American Heartbreak”
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Kip Moore; Producers: Jaren Johnston, Kip Moore; Label: Virgin Music Group
– Urgently rocking, with its blue-collar roots on full display. This talented guy never disappoints.

MORGAN WADE / “The Party Is Over”
Writer: Morgan Wade; Producer: Clint Wells; Label: Ladylike Records/RCA Nashville
– Bitter and weary. She knows the relationship is over, but she can’t stop wanting him. The midtempo track seethes with electric-guitar power. It’s the title track of her just-released fourth album.

JOSHUA HEDLEY / “Fresh Hot Biscuits”
Writer: Joshua Hedley; Producers: Joshua Hedley, Ray Benson; Label: New West Records
– Old-school country champion Hedley has been a fixture at Robert’s Western World on Lower Broadway for years. Prior releases have featured him in honky-tonk and Nashville Sound settings. His next project will be a western-swing collection, produced by Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson. And, yes, those snappy fiddle breaks are Joshua’s own. This delightful ditty is an advance taste of what we can expect when Hedley’s All Hat collection drops in October.

Country music gets back to its roots in today’s edition of DISClaimer.

Guitars, not synthesizers, are the lead instruments. Ballads with powerful lyrics take over from the rock and pop productions that have dominated the genre for too long. Leading the way are Riley Green, Walker Hayes, Old Dominion, Aubry Rodriguez, Carter Faith and our Disc of the Day winner, Jordan Davis. All of them deserve massive airplay and streams. 

The DISCovery Award goes to JoJo Mason.

JOJO MASON / “Gold”
Writers: Bonnie Baker/Cameron Bedell/Hunter Hayes; Producer: Ryan Stead; Label: 604 Records
– This rising Canadian star blends country and soul beautifully on this warm, radiant, luscious ballad. He likens his sunshine lover to gold while a wafting choir whispers and sighs along. A zephyr of sound.

JORDAN DAVIS / “Turn This Truck Around”
Writers: Devin Dawson/Jake Mitchell/Jordan Davis/Josh Thompson; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: MCA Nashville
– I am such a huge fan of this guy. His furry, throaty vocals are so emotionally compelling, and his songwriting is just terrific. On this outing, an insistent rhythm track beats like his broken heart while he heads for a destination unknown—unless her memory becomes so powerful that he heads back home. I hung on every line.

LAUREN WATKINS / “Marlboro Man”
Writers: Jeremy Spillman/Lauren Watkins/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Will Bundy; Label: Big Loud Records
– Watkins waxes nostalgic about an idealized, vanished macho cowboy on this languid track. Deep twang guitars and sighing steel accompany her as she muses about sharing horsebacks and smokes with him.

MORGAN WALLEN, LIL WAYNE & RICK ROSS / “Miami”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/Charlie Handsome/Chase McGill/Dean Dillon/Dwayne Carter/Ernest Keith Smith/Hank Cochran/Michael Hardy/Morgan Wallen/Royce Porter/William Leonard Roberts II; Producers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– There are faint echoes of Keith Whitley’s “Miami My Amy” in between Wallen’s plaintive singing and the stoned-out rapping. The track is a looped, electronic confection that will find more acceptance on pop playlists than on country ones. At least I hope so.

CARTER FAITH / “Bar Star”
Writers: Aaron Raitere/Carter Faith/Tofer Brown/Tyler Halverson; Producer: Tofer Brown; Label: MCA
– “Bless his liver and his honky-tonk heart, ‘cause my baby’s a bar star.” Instead of going for a stay-at-home straight arrow, she goes for the roadhouse boozer on this delightful two stepper. Ms. Faith delivers the tune like a modern-day Loretta and Russ Pahl’s steel guitar sizzles and stings to answer her every hillbilly phrase. This, my friends, is by-gawd country music.

WALKER HAYES / “17 Year Old Problems”
Writer: Walker Hayes; Producer: Billy Dawson; Label: RCA Records
– Fake IDs, curfews, flunking a class, losing football games, spring break issues, breakups, summer jobs and teen angst. These issues are long gone as he faces the deaths of loved ones, paying bills, going to rehab and the broken dreams of adulthood. Now he wishes all he had to worry about were those teenage problems. This is a tremendously effective single, produced sparingly, sung with heart and written with insight. Brilliant work.

LAUREN ALAINA & CHASE MATTHEW / “All My Exes”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Jimmy Gutch/Lauren Alaina/Whitney Phillips; Producers: Jacob Durrett, Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– Irritating and utterly tuneless. Both of them blathering about how hard they are to love. There’s no harmony singing, but how could there be when there’s no melody?

RILEY GREEN / “Bartender in Destin”
Writers: Nick Walsh/Sam Banks; Producer: Erik Dylan; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– I wish more country stars would release music like this—Green shines brighter than ever by singing with just an acoustic guitar accompaniment. The lyric deftly paints a laid-back romantic scene. Highly recommended listening.

AUBRY RODRIGUEZ / “Leaving Texas”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: AR
– She sings softly to convey the longing for a lost loved one and missing home. Simple bass and acoustic guitar gently support the lovely ballad. Aubry is the daughter of the late, great Johnny Rodriguez, whose Celebration of Life is scheduled for Aug. 11 at the Troubadour Theater in Music Valley at 5:30 pm.

OLD DOMINION / “Miss You Man”
Writers: Matt Jenkins/Matthew Ramsey/Ross Copperman/Trevor Rosen; Producers:Old Dominion, Shane McAnally; Label: Three Up Three Down/Columbia Nashville
– As always, brilliantly written. This is a powerfully touching ode to grief. It’s been six years, but he still misses his best pal. Echoing guitars swirl around the lead vocal in this exquisite production.

GABBY BARRETT / “The Easy Part”
Writers: Gabby Barrett/Jon Nite/Michael Hardy/Zach Abend; Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Abend, Zach Kale; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Tears turn to triumph in this breakup anthem. Piano and percussion drive the oomphy pop-country production.

THE BAND LOULA / “Sweet Southern Summer”
Writers: Gary Nichols/Greg Bieck/Logan Simmons/Malachi Mills; Producer: Greg Bieck; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Haunting and transfixing. The moody, minor-key track evokes a sultry, heat-soaked season in Dixie (which sounds pretty familiar these days). Logan Simmons sings the bluesy lead while Malachi Mills matches her with close harmony work. John Osborne of Brothers Osborne provides the yearning, dobro-centered production.

Country’s female artists take the spotlight today in DISClaimer.

Eight of our finest are in today’s playlist—Miranda, MŌRIAH, Dasha, Sacha, Brooke Lee, Carter Faith, Priscilla Block and Sara Evans. From their ranks come the prize winners. The Disc of the Day unquestionably belongs to Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, but lend an ear to Ms. Carter Faith, who was also a mighty strong contender.

Brooke Lee takes the DISCovery Award. She’s good enough for Lukas Nelson, so she’s good enough for me.

Among our male discs, those by Russell Dickerson and the late Mike Henderson are the ones to definitely hear.

MIKE HENDERSON / “Weepin’ & Moanin’”
Writer: Mike Henderson; Producer: Kevin McKendree; Label: Qualified Records
– Mike Henderson held court every Monday night at The Bluebird Cafe for nearly 40 years until his sudden death in 2023. A veteran of The SteelDrivers (2005-2011) and The Bluebloods, he wrote hit songs with Chris Stapleton and crafted five solo albums showcasing his blistering slide guitar work and roadhouse sense of humor. The beloved entertainer is being saluted with Last Nite at the Bluebird, a posthumous compilation of some his best live tracks from those “Blue Monday” gigs. It kicks off with this self-composed grinder that includes his wry welcoming remarks. The set also includes such faves as “Pay Bo Diddley,” “Matchbox” and “Too Much Alcohol.” Friends and fans gathered to celebrate the CD and his memory this past Monday at the club.

MIRANDA LAMBERT & CHRIS STAPLETON / “A Song to Sing”
Writers: Chris Stapleton/Jenee Fleenor/Jesse Frasure/Miranda Lambert; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Republic Records
– Groove soaked and soulful. A stately, rump-shaking beat and some smokey, swirly guitar-organ-violin atmosphere back a masterpiece of duet singing. Stunning, beautiful and absolutely essential.

BRYAN RUBY / “Diggin’ (’Til the Corn Comes Up)”
Writer: John Trentes; Producers: Bryan Ruby, Smith Curry; Label: Rubies In The Rough Music
– This rocking hunk of sound roars the saga of a hard-working man trying to keep his head above water. It is drawn from Ruby’s Growing Season EP. The collection’s release party occurred at The Green Light Bar on Tuesday evening (July 15).

OLD DOMINION / “Making Good Time”
Writers: Brad Tursi/Matthew Ramsey/Ross Copperman/Ross Ellis/Trevor Rosen; Producers: Old Dominion, Shane McAnally; Label: Columbia Nashville
– A country rocker for the young at heart. The teenagers in these lyrics are hot to trot and also plotting to escape their “slow down town.”

BROOKE LEE & LUKAS NELSON / “Dandelion”
Writers: Bobby Hamrick/Brinley Addington/Brooke Lee; Producer: Derek Wells; Label: Spirit Nashville Recordings/2 Mix Music
– This has a cool, swampy groove and a lyric of resilience. A dandelion will push up through the smallest crack in the pavement and persevere. That flower is what she compares herself to. Nelson contributes guitar, a harmony vocal and solo spots.

MARCUS HUMMON & SARA EVANS / “I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed”
Writers: Emily Dickinson/Marcus Hummon; Producer: Marcus Hummon; Label: 3686 RECORDS
– Songs for Emily is an album comprised of songs marrying Emily Dickinson’s poetry to Marcus Hummon’s melodies. On this track, the poet was joyously enraptured by a summer day. Evans sings lead on the bopping number. Hummon takes over during the bridge and sings along elsewhere. Sunny sounding.

MŌRIAH / “Superwoman”
Writers: Ivory Lane/Mōriah Smallbone/Paul Mabury; Producer: Paul Mabury; Label: F2 Entertainment Group
– This ballad mourns the loss of youthful bravery. She misses the hopes and dreams and aspirations that made her feel like a super hero when she was a kid. She wants to fly again, but she’s earthbound now. MŌRIAH’s delivery is spell binding, going from a dusky, whispery alto to a yearning, airy soprano. Recommended.

DASHA / “Oh, Anna!”
Writers: Anna Dasha Novotny/Chris LaCorte/Emily Weisband/Hillary Lindsey; Producer: Chris LaCorte; Label: Warner Records
– This gentle bopper asks her little-girl self to come back and bring her innocent courage, optimism and confidence. Sprightly yet thoughtful. This gal is batting a thousand.

RUSSELL DICKERSON / “Happen to Me”
Writers: Chase McGill/Chris LaCorte/Jessie Jo Dillon/Robert Hazard/Russell Dickerson; Producers: Chris LaCorte, Josh Kerr, Russell Dickerson; Label: Triple Tigers
– Dickerson leads a dance party in a wild whirl of merriment. Along the way, he assures us that “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” It will come as no surprise to learn that the track also has a dance remix.

SACHA & RESTLESS ROAD / “Shooting Star”
Writers: Cole Miracle/Colton Pack/Garrett Nichols/Sacha Visagie/Sam Martinez/Zach Beeken; Producers: Eric Arjes, Jimmy Robbins; Label: Sony Music Canada
– Sacha is a Canadian country chart topper, previously noted for “Hey Mom I Made It.” Teamed with the Restless Road trio, she sounds even better than before. The rolling, swaying country rocker sports electric-guitar licks galore as well as some fine vocalizing by both acts.

PRISCILLA BLOCK / “You’re Breaking My Heart (Cecelia)”
Writers: Chris Tompkins/Hailey Whitters/Jesse Frasure/Jessie Jo Dillon/Paul Simon; Producers: David Garcia, Jesse Frasure; Label: UMGN InDent Records
– This is a fascinating mash up of Simon & Garfunkel’s 1970 hit with her lyrics about a “Jolene” who’s up to no good. Pretty dang irresistibly catchy.

CHARLIE DANIELS & THE BEAU WEEVILS / “How We Roll”
Writer: Charlie Daniels; Producer: Casey Wood, James Stroud; Label: Blue Hat Records
– This Southern rocker with redneck pride was originally issued as by The Beau Weevils. Seven years later, the band’s ouput is being reissued, re-branded with the late Daniels’ name and re-tooled for digital consumption.

CARTER FAITH / “Sex, Drugs and Country Music”
Writers: Carter Faith/Lauren Hungate/Tofer Brown; Producer: Tofer Brown; Label: UMG Nashville
– An absolute delight. The lilting melody and her airy vocal sweetly reflect on the fact that “love is stupid” and that the best way to get through a heartbreak is with “Sex, Drugs and Country Music.” Winsome and wonderfully charming from start to finish.

Zach Top. Photo: Citizen Kane Wayne

The country stars make the summer season official this week.

In this edition of DISClaimer, you’ll find a number of sounds crafted to accompany fun in the sun. To varying degrees, Kane Brown, Brett Eldredge & Pedro Capo, Ketch Secor, Kameron Marlowe and Disc of the Day winner Zach Top are all conjuring warm weather.

Of the non-summer offerings in this week’s column, the strongest one belongs to the waltz-time duet by the brilliantly talented Kashus Culpepper and Sierra Ferrell, both of whom deserve far more renown than they have been given to date.

This week’s DISCovery Award goes to Mae Estes. She sounds like a singer-songwriter to reckon with.

AVERY ANNA / “Cheerios”
Writers: Andy Sheridan/Avery Anna/Ben Williams/David Fanning; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– Avery Anna has two new videos. “Cheerios” is a deceptively jaunty song about a struggle with alcohol addiction. “Grave” is a harrowing ballad about domestic violence. I caught her set on the Opry TV show last weekend and was reminded how talented this lady is. If you need proof of her country bona fides, check out her superb heartache two-step “It’s Just Rainin’” from late last year.

ZACH TOP / “Good Times & Tan Lines”
Writers: Carson Chamberlain/Wyatt McCubbin/Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Label: Leo33
– Stuttering twang guitar, happy fiddle, singing steel and a bopping breezy beat — what more could you ask for in a summer single? As always, Top sings his face off. The ACM New Male Vocalist winner strikes again.

MAE ESTES / “Mr. Fix It”
Writers: Alex Kline/Jaida Dreyer/Mae Estes/Marti Dodson; Producer: Paul Sikes; Label: Big Machine Records
– Sweetly sexy, in praise of her guy who can fix anything, including her heart. Upbeat and endearing.

LAUREN ALAINA / “Heaven Sent”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Lauren Alaina/Michael Hardy; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– Motherhood heals her after the passing of a loved one. She imagines that her father sent her a baby down from heaven in order to get her past her grief. The mid tempo production builds from quiet strength to pounding drama.

KASHUS CULPEPPER & SIERRA FERRELL / “Broken Wing”
Writers: Brian Elmquist/Kashus Culpepper; Producer: Brian Elmquist; Label: Big Loud Records
– This acoustic waltz strums along on the simple strengths of gut-string guitar and their two compelling voices. His gravel delivery and her hillbilly soprano work surprisingly well together. This, my friends, is Pure Country.

JORDAN DAVIS / “Jesus Wouldn’t Do”
Writers: Jacob Davis/Jordan Davis/Joshua Cole Jenkins/Matt Jenkins; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Label: MCA Nashville
– He’s “Giving grace to folks like me, doin’ things that Jesus wouldn’t do.” A sinner reflects on his path and seeks absolution in this lovely, yearning sentiment. I remain a major fan of this troubadour.

KETCH SECOR / “Dickerson Road”
Writers: Jody Stevens/Ketch Secor; Producer: Jody Stevens; Label: KS
– Secor departs from the old-time string band sound of Old Crow Medicine Show to take a solo, hip-hoppy stroll down East Nashville’s most blue-collar street. His half-spoken lyric details the scenes along the way.

BRETT ELDREDGE & PEDRO CAPO / “St. Tropez”
Writers: Brett Eldredge/Mark Trussell/Pedro Capó/Yoel Enriquez; Producer: Mark Trussell; Label: Warm and Cozy Records
– An audio trip to the Riviera, spiced just right with Latino rhythms. Capo’s tenor voice weaves in and out of Eldredge’s solid delivery, alternately echoing lines and providing  lilting, high harmonies. This is a summertime sound if I’ve ever heard one. Essential listening.

DON LOUIS / “For The Broken”
Writers: Don Louis/Jon Kraft/Serg Sanchez; Producer: Serg Sanchez; Label: Money Myers Entertainment/EMPIRE
– I don’t like the way his fine baritone voice is mixed to sound muffled and buried. The production is too rock oriented. However, the song is cool, an uplifting message for folks facing tribulations.

KAMERON MARLOWE / “Seventeen”
Writers: Austin Goodloe/Bruce Springsteen/Joybeth Taylor/Kameron Marlowe/Tucker Beathard; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Columbia Nashville
– This summer country rocker praises the joys of being young and innocent. Electric guitars scream and drums pound while he shouts the news. Echoes of Seger and Springsteen.

VINNY TOVAR / “Call It A Night”
Writers: Christopher Mora/Miguel Angel Aguilar/Vicente Andres Tovar; Producers: Christopher Mora, Humberto Novoa, Julian Escamilla, Vinny Tovar; Label: Azteca Ranch Music
– Easy going and gently persuasive with steel-guitar licks. His languid vocal sounds resigned and kinda defeated as he suggests they stop fighting and quit for the day. His album is titled From San Antone, With Love. Tovar was previously noted as Aubry Rodriguez’s duet partner on her “Pass Me By” salute to her late father, Johnny.

KANE BROWN / “2 Pair”
Writers: Andrew Haas/Gabe Foust/Ian Franzino/Jacob Hackworth/Jaxson Free/Kane Brown; Producer: Jordan Schmidt; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– He’s crazy in love with his boots. The stomping, chanting, gang-bang, drum-line chorus sounds like a party in progress. Silly fun.

ASHLEY MONROE & BRITTNEY SPENCER / “Bitter Swisher Sweet”
Writers: Ashley Monroe/Emily Landis/Logan Wall; Producers: Ashley Monroe, Gena Johnson; Label: Mountainrose Sparrow
– Stoner country. This has a drowsy vibe and a smoky atmosphere as the two divas relax together in the echoey mix. Fire one up, take a deep hit, close your eyes and nod along.