DISClaimer: Newcomers Take The Lead With Fresh Releases

The Springs Dance With Me

Sometimes, it’s the smaller stars that shine the brightest.

We have no shortage of shiny celestial phenomena in today’s DisClaimer. Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Eric Paslay and the legendary Moe Bandy are all here. But none of them took home our prizes.

Instead, the minorities win. And speaking of minorities, this is the first week in forever when we have an equal number of male and female voices in a country column. And as it happens, the distaff performers are our winners.

The Disc of the Day goes to RaeLynn, for having both a cool sound and a well-written lyric.

The DisCovery Award goes to The Springs, an enchanting duo with a female lead singer.

ERIC PASLAY/Angels In This Town
Writers: Eric Paslay/Corey Crowder/Erik Dylan; Producer: Marshall Altman; Publishers: Spirit Catalog Holdings/Five Stone/Spirit Two Nashville/WB/Songs From the Rose Hotel/Warner-Tamerlane/Songs of the Corn, ASCAP/BMI; EMI (track)
– A choppy, crunchy, multi-layered track (complete with strings) underscores a soaring, anthemic vocal performance about unlikely survival. Skimpy on the verses, strong on the repeated and repeated choruses.

 

CHELY WRIGHT/What About Your Heart
Writers: none listed; Producer: Joe Henry; Publishers: none listed; Megaforce (track)
– The advance single from Wright’s forthcoming I Am the Rain CD is a strummy, melodic and beautifully-produced outing with a steady rhythm and a thoughtful lyric. Vocal harmonies, chiming guitars and an echoey ambiance are all simply perfect. An excellent performance all around. Guests on the CD will include Rodney Crowell, The Milk Carton Kids and Emmylou Harris.

LUKE BRYAN/Move
Writers: Luke Bryan/Michael Carter/Jay Clementi; Producers: Jeff Stevens & Jody Stevens; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Peanut Mill/Sony-ATV Cross Keys/234 Music, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (track)
– Unashamedly rocking, this celebrates a Yankee gal who “goes country” and learns to move her “rockin’ little body” “sexy and smooth.” Whatever…

RAELYNN/Love Triangle
Writers: Nicolle Galyon/Jimmy Robbins/RaeLynn; Producers: Nicole Galyon & Jimmy Robbins; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/A Girl Named Charlie/Round Hill/Jimmy Robbins/Extraordinary Alien/Super Big/Prescription/Take the Bull By the Horns, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– Very, very cool sounding. The atmospheric vibe of shuddering guitars and chugging percussion is fantastic enough. Add a broken-hearted girl’s lyric of watching her parents head for divorce and you’ve got something extra special. Take this to the top.

 

ADAM CRAIG/Reckon
Writers: Jeremy Stover/Randy Montana/Derek George; Producer: Derek George; Publishers: ole Red Cape/OLE Real Big Red Tunes/Sony-ATV Tree/WB/Funky Friars, ASCAP/BMI; Stoney Creek/BBR
-I dig his Southern-accented singing as well as his yearning, wounded interpretation of this lonely-boy song. The track shifts tempo and tone several times, but the whole thing holds together admirably, thanks to a highly accomplished production. Well worth your spins.

MOE BANDY/Lucky Me
Writers: Ernie Rowell/Dave Lindsey; Producer: Jimmy Capps; Publishers: none listed; MBP (track)
– The title tune of Moe’s new CD is a merry little Western swinger with built-in sunshine. Fiddle, steel and guitar “answer” his vocal phrases with jazzy phrases that are just dandy.

LAUREN ALAINA/Road Less Traveled
Writers: Lauren Alaina/Jesse Frasure/Meghan Trainor; Producer: busbee; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Lyles/Rio Bravo/Year of the Dog/M Train/Words & Music, BMI/ASCAP; Mercury/19/Interscope (CDX)
– Will a co-write with pop star Meghan Trainor be Lauren’s ticket to stardom at last? Maybe so, when it is something this hooky, catchy and poppy. Not to mention positive-thinking, upbeat and empowering.

 

DARIUS RUCKER/If I Told You
Writers: Ross Copperman/Jon Nite/Shane McAnally; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Songs By the Red Room/EMI April/Jon Nite/Smack Hits/Smack Songs/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP/GMR; Capitol (CDX)
– A suitor doubts the authenticity of his lover, so he’s afraid to tell her about his darkest and dumbest and dreamiest thoughts and actions. I love the stately pace of this, as well as Rucker’s hushed, urgent performance. A winner.

LESLIE COURS MATHER/We Are America
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Cours Mather, BMI; Lion Eyes
– She’s a solid singer. The song is one tired patriotic cliche after another.

THE SPRINGS/Dance With Me
Writers: Stewart Halcomb/Holly Halcomb/Emily Rose; Producer: Shayne Hill; Publishers: Stewart E. Halcomb/CMFH, BMI/SESAC; CFC (CDX)
– Lilting, innocent and charming. It’s a simple invitation to romance that wafts through your speakers like a spring breeze. These native Alabamans met at The Bluebird Café, and two years later he proposed to her there. Holly sings lead. Stewart backs her with soft harmonies and cool, sung, interwoven vocal passages. This is the title tune of their debut EP.

DISClaimer: Music Veterans, Female Leaders, And A New Label In Town

Curtis Wright

Curtis Wright

Today’s stroll through the fields of bluegrass has several scenic views.

First, female personalities continue to make news in this once almost exclusively male genre. Kristin Scott Benson of The Grascals, singer-songwriter Irene Kelley and the women in the young bands NewTown and Flatt Lonesome are all in the spotlight today.

Second, three of this column’s discs come from performers who have migrated to bluegrass after making names for themselves in mainstream country. Kelley is one of them. Another is Ilya Toshinskiy. The third is Curtis Wright, a veteran who nonetheless wins a DisCovery Award for entering a new genre.

Third, there’s a new sheriff in town, label-wise. Companies such as Rebel, Pinecastle and Rounder have long dominated bluegrass music. But in today’s column, fully half of the entries come from the North Carolina based label Mountain Home, which has been expanding its influence dramatically during the past decade.

One of the Mountain Home entries is the Disc of the Day. That would belong to the utterly endearing Flatt Lonesome.

Flatt Lonesome

Flatt Lonesome

LONESOME RIVER BAND/Showing My Age
Writers: Brandon Rickman/Jerry Salley; Producer: Lonesome River Band; Publisher: We Don’t Rent Pigs/Universal Brentwood Benson/Lasso the Moon, SESAC; Mountain Home
– These guys have been at it for 25 years, now. Their new Bridging the Tradition finds them exploring some deeper lyrics and sounds. One example is this terrific meditation on turning 40 years old. The midtempo groove is as mellow and flawless as the men’s harmony singing. I remain a fan.

ILYA TOSHINSKIY/Red Grass
Writer: Ilya Toshinskiy; Producer: Ilya Toshinskiy; Publisher: Uncle Hadley, ASCAP; Hadley Music
– The seven-time MusicRow Guitarist of the Year winner returns to his first loves of bluegrass and banjo playing on his new Red Grass album. The “Red” in the title refers to his roots in the much-applauded Russian country band Bering Strait. This signature instrumental from his debut solo CD has lightning-flashing playing not only by Toshinskiy, but such wizards as Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton and Andy Leftwich. Prepare to be dazzled.

CURTIS WRIGHT/Mama Prayed For Me
Writers: Curtis Wright; Producer: Jimmy Metts; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Voxhall
– In the ‘90s, this guy landed a country deal at Liberty Records. He always was a sublimely expressive vocalist, and now he’s applying his talents in the bluegrass field. This outstanding story song from his debut ‘grass collection is beautifully crafted, deeply emotional and tenderly performed. In addition to his own songs, the Curtis Wright CD includes interpretations of works by such talents as Shawn Camp, Merle Haggard, Jerry Salley, Lowell George and John Scott Sherrill. Through it all, this is a performer with a huge country heart.

NEWTOWN/Harlan Road
Writers: Tyler Childer; Producer: Barry Bales; Publishers: Hickman Holler, BMI; Mountain Home
– Kentucky’s NewTown is a fairly recent addition to the bluegrass scene. It brings a modern sensibility to song selection and a vaguely jazzy sensibility to playing. This yearning-for-love CD title tune showcases both. Highly listenable, as is the entire set.

IRENE KELLEY/Carolina Wind
Writers: Irene Kelley/Thomas Jutz/Milan Miller; Producer: Mark Fain; Publishers: Shiny Stuff/Thomm Songs/Songs From the Sillhouse, BMI/SESAC; Mountain Fever
– Like NewTown’s Kati Penn and the gals in Flatt Lonesome, Irene Kelley is part of the next wave of female bluegrassers. Kelley sings like a hillbilly angel on her new These Hills collection. But what is just as jaw dropping is her songwriting. She co-wrote all 11 selections, and they are all shimmering jewels. The collection kicks off with this breezy, rippling mountain melody that has already found favor at bluegrass radio. But you’re in for a treat wherever you land on this CD. Its cast is stellar — Stuart Duncan, The Whites, Adam Steffey, Dale Ann Bradley, Randy Kohrs, Ronnie Bowman, Claire Lynch and Bryan Sutton are just a few of the bluegrass biggies who drop by to pick and sing with her.

THE GRASCALS/I Know Better
Writers: Billy Droze/Christopher J. Myers; Producer: Grascals; Publishers: Broad Vision/Chris Myers, BMI; Mountain Home
– The irrepressible Grascals are back with an album titled And Then There’s This. Its breakneck-speed lead-off track is already at No. 2 on the Bluegrass Unlimited hit parade. Kristin Scott Benson’s fleet-fingered banjo work sets the pace, and the boys are right behind her. The album’s cover photo was shot at Carter Vintage Guitars, a Nashville site that’s well worth visiting.

STEEP CANYON RANGERS/Radio
Writers: Graham Sharp; Producer: Jerry Douglas; Publisher: none listed; Rounder
– This North Carolina group gained fame by backing banjo player, actor and comic Steve Martin. On its own, it has generally been a somewhat more mundane band. But this new Radio CD has a definitely more progressive, denser and increasingly complex sound. An intriguing step forward.

CHRIS JONES & THE NIGHT DRIVERS/Laurie
Writers: Chris Jones/Jon Weisberger; Producer: Tim Surrett & Chris Jones; Publishers: Gal Sal/Wise Kings Global, BMI; Mountain Home
– Infectiously catchy, this single from the band’s current Run Away Tonight collection manages the tricky feat of sounding old-timey and thoroughly modern simultaneously. Lead singer Jones has a hearty, warm baritone delivery that is always immensely appealing.

ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY/Pray Enough
Writers: Oliver Wood/Chris Wood; Producers: Rob Ickes/Trey Hensley; Publishers: Royal Kook/Wood Sound, BMI; Compass
– This collection contains folk, honky-tonk and blues tones, as well as bluegrass performances. This track, for instance, is an acoustic-funk number, embellished by Ickes’ jazzbo resonator-guitar solo. Elsewhere, the repertoire on The Country Blues CD includes such eclectic sources as Ray Charles, The Grateful Dead, Hank Williams, Elton John and Charlie Daniels. It’s a joyful journey of discovery. Happy hunting.

FLATT LONESOME/You’re The One
Writers: Dwight Yoakam; Producers: Danny Roberts, Jeff Collins & Andrea Roberts; Publishers: Figs D, BMI; Mountain Home
– This harmony-soaked, ballad-tempo treatment of Dwight Yoakam’s 1991 country hit has been a fixture on bluegrass radio for months. The overtones in the blending voices of Tennessee siblings Charli Robertson, Kelsey Robertson Harrigill and Buddy Robertson are simply thrilling. And heart melting. There’s a another single called “You’ll Pay,” plus stupendous versions of Gram Parsons’ “Still Feeling Blue” and their own gospel rouser “In the Heat of the Fire,” but I have a hard time tearing my ears away from this audio masterpiece. All four songs are on this young band’s third album, Runaway Train. Buy it.

DISClaimer: Summer In The Country

unnamed

Summer is in full swing, and so are Nashville’s country sounds.

Tim McGraw and Dylan Scott have splendid new singles. But the man with the Disc of the Day is the mighty Randy Houser.

Give a DisCovery Award to singer-songwriter Lockwood Barr. She has the goods.

QUAKER CITY NIGHT HAWKS/Mockingbird
Writer: David Matsler; Producer: Beau Bedford & Quaker City Night Hawks; Publishers: none listed; Lightning Rod (track)
– This is being released as a country single? Alrighty, if your idea of country is loud, electric boogie rock.

RANDY ROGERS BAND/San Antone
Writers: none listed; Producer: Buddy Cannon; Publisher: none listed; Tommy Jackson/Thirty Tigers (track)
– I believe this was previously released as a single last year. It still sounds fresh and lilting and breezy. Well worth your spins.

RANDY HOUSER/Chasing Down A Good Time
Writers: Randy Houser/Jeffrey Steele/Anthony Smith; Producer: Derek George; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Little Britches/Jeffrey Steele/BPJ/Krankit/Hillbilly Science and Research, BMI; Stoney Creek
– A steady beat propels this soaring ode to an endless romance party. Houser’s bountiful, chesty singing is as rousing and robust as ever. Love it, love it, love it.

 

 

BRIAN WRIGHT/Lonesome, On’ry & Mean
Writers: Steve Young, Brian Wright; Producer: Matt McClure; Publisher: none listed; Big City (track)
– It’s old-school “outlaw” country. In fact, his vocal sounds way too much like a Waylon Jennings imitation. Find your own style.

DYLAN SCOTT/My Girl
Writers: Dylan Scott, Josh Kerr; Producer: Matt Alderman, Jim Ed Norman; Publisher: Curb Songs/Songs of Black River, ASCAP; Curb (track)
– His resonant baritone eases into the verses with a hushed intimacy, then opens up into urgency on the choruses. Gently forceful, thumping rhythms underscore the whole thing. It sounds just like a hit.

TIM MCGRAW/How I’ll Always Be
Writers: Jeremy Stover/Chris Janson/Jamie Paulin; Producer: Byron Gallimore & Tim McGraw; Publishers: Ole Red Cape/Real Big Red/Red Vinyl/Words & Music/Songs of Universal, ASCAP/BMI; Big Machine (track)
– The rippling tempo with brushed drums skips along charmingly. Sung in his upper range, the song has a dandy lyric about being an everyday guy, rather than an exceptional one. The guitar solo is a chiming gem.

 

 

 

KEITH WALKER/Friends With Boats
Writers: Keith Walker/Rich Karg/Dustin James; Producer: Chris Wright; Publishers: Break Down the Wall/Karg/Songs of Green Hills/Grin Like a Fool/Dustin James, ASCAP/SESAC; KW (track)
– It’s a nice idea, but the execution is rather ordinary. Inoffensively summery.

TRENT HARMON/There’s A Girl
Writers: Trent Harmon/Jimmy Robbins/Laura Veltz; Producer: Jimmy Robbins; Publishers: Big Machine/19/Trent Harmon/Round Hill/Warner-Tamerlane/Extraordinary Alien/Jimmy Robbins/Oh Denise, BMI/ASCAP; Big Machine
– The message is that gals make guys go crazy. The performance is jaunty and youthful, and the production is just right. Lightweight, but very, very listenable.

 

 

STEPHANIE QUAYLE/Drinking With Dolly
Writers: Rachel Proctor/Victoria Banks; Producer: Matt McClure; Publisher: Round Hill Music/Rate Spark Music; Rebel Engine
– She yearns for country music’s good old days. Simply sung. Written with aplomb.

LOCKWOOD BARR/Forgotten How To Cry
Writers: Lockwood Barr/Karleen Watt; Producer: Matt Odmark; Publishers: none listed; LB (track)
– Well done. The light echo on her vocal and the stark instrumentation give the melodic ballad an extra edge. Extremely promising.

DISClaimer: Elizabeth Cook, Paul Burch, Derik Hultquist Among Americana’s Top Offerings

Elizabeth Cook

Elizabeth Cook

There is a whole lot to like in today overview of current Americana recordings.

So much so, that I’m splitting the Disc of the Day award in two. Our female winner is Elizabeth Cook, and our male prize goes to Paul Burch. These two are among the best this genre has to offer.

The DisCovery Award goes to singer-songwriter Derik Hultquist. His is the most “different” sounding record in this stack, and for that we applaud him. Don’t be surprised if pop/rock programmers aren’t smitten by him as well.

 

DARRELL SCOTT/Love Is The Reason
Writer: Darrell Scott; Producer: Darrell Scott; Publisher: none listed; Full Light (track)
-Scott’s songwriting resume includes “Born to Fly,” “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “Long Time Gone,” “Heartbreak Town,” “No Way Out,” “Family Tree” and “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” all of which are best known in versions by others. But he remains his own finest interpreter, as the performances collected on his new Couchville Sessions CD demonstrate. The album includes treatments of songs by Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, Peter Rowan and James Taylor, but at its heart are the nine gems from the songwriter, himself. This one is a rippling, lilting, uplifting tune sung in Scott’s characteristically warm, enveloping voice.

THE HONEYCUTTERS/On The Ropes
Writers: Amanda Anne Platt; Producers: Amanda Anne Platt; Tim Surrett; Publishers: Button Down/Windsor Forest, ASCAP; Organic (track)
– Don’t let the name throw you: This is a country combo. The group is fronted by singer-songwriter Amanda Anne Platt, who delivers the goods in a tart, yearning tone that is captivating. Her fellow band members are tight and super engaging. This title tune to The Honeycutters new CD is a portal into a myriad of alternative honky-tonking delights. The group is a cornerstone act on the Asheville, North Carolina, music scene. Sign me up for the Nashville fan club.

SAM BUSH/Bowling Green
Writers: Sam Bush/Jon Randall Stewart; Producer: Sam Bush; Publishers: Samanda Lynn/BMG/Whayasay/Reynsong, BMI; Sugar Hill (track)
– How do I love him; let me count the ways: Awesome instrumentalist, hearty vocalist, great record maker, fabulous human being. Bush’s upcoming Storyman CD is all over the map, stylistically. Which is another reason to love him. Jazz, folk, blues, reggae, swing and more bubble in the mixes. This toe-tapping ode to his hometown is so rootsy and grassy it sounds like a folk song. It is immediately followed by a honky-tonk shuffle called “Handmics Killed Country Music” (co-written with Emmylou Harris and complete with Pig Robbins on piano) and then a down-home blues titled “Where’s My Love.” Go, man, go.

DERIK HULTQUIST/Dark Side Of Town
Writers: Derik Hultquist; Producers: Frank Liddell/Eric Masse; Publishers: Scrambler/Carnival, ASCAP; Carnival (track)
– This singer-songwriter is a real find. This clear, dark, direct song is delivered in a conversational hush that’s surrounded by an ethereal electronic soundscape. The mysterious audio settings throw his super-strong songwriting skills into high relief throughout his Southern Iron collection. Enthusiastically endorsed. Pop tastemakers also take note.

 

ELIZABETH COOK/Straightjacket Love
Writer: Elizabeth Cook; Producer: Dexter Green; Publishers: Agent Love/Wixen, SESAC; Agent Love (track)
Exodus of Venus is Cook’s brand new collection. She simply doesn’t know how to make a dull disc. This rousing mountain country rocker features harmony vocals by the sublime Patty Loveless. It’s great, but you can “needle drop” anywhere on this record and strike audio gold.

NED VAN GO/Lost In The Trouble
Writers: N. Hill/B. Grant/R. Becker/C. Becker/M. Webb; Producer: Michael Webb; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC; DSF (track)
– This Nashville band used to lean toward a rock sound. But the addition of mandolin ace Bob Grant in 2010 led to its evolution into an Americana act. The group’s current CD, The Dirt and the Sun, features this wildly energetic crowd favorite. It brilliantly fuses rock attitude with acoustic instrumentation.

TONY JOE WHITE/Hoochie Woman
Writers: Tony Joe White/Leann White; Producer: Jody White; Publishers: Wampus Cat/Wolf Woman, BMI; Swamp/Yep Roc (track)
– This ageless cult figure still conjures magic with his groove-tastic swamp rhythms and spooky lyrics. His womper-stomper guitar sets the tone in this dark, sexy, throbbing portrait of a witchy beguiler. It leads off a splendid collection titled Rain Crow.

JENNIFER WARNES/The Well
Writers: Jennifer Warnes/Doyle Bramhall; Producers: Martin Davich/Jennifer Warnes; Publishers: Warnes/BMG, BMI; Porch Light/BMG
– I have been in love with this woman for years. Best known as a peerless interpreter—“Right Time of the Night,” “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” “Up Where We Belong” and the like—she now emerges as a songwriter of striking strength. This CD was originally recorded in 2001, but is only now getting an “official” release. Its title tune is a heartbeat pulsing meditation on nature that marries lilting instrumentation to her always caressing vocals. The album also features her silky versions of songs by Tom Waits, Billy Joel, Jesse Winchester, Cindy Walker and Arlo Guthrie, in addition to her originals. Warnes is now working on a new collection. I can’t wait.

 

PAUL BURCH/Back To The Honky Tonks
Writers: Paul Burch; Producers: Paul Burch/Dennis Crouch; Publishers: Borrowed & Broke, BMI; Plowboy (track)
Meridian Rising is a stunning achievement. Burch imagines the life of the legendary Jimmie Rodgers in a 20-tune song cycle that takes the Singing Brakeman from his Mississippi roots to his premature death from TB in a Manhattan hotel room. On this tune, he’s vowing to die as he lived, to the accompaniment of a cool little jazz combo. This whole project is absolutely essential listening. Buy it now.

JIMBO MATHUS/Play With Fire
Writers: Jimbo Mathus/Robert Earl Reed; Producer: Jimbo Mathus; Publisher: none listed; BLM (track)
– Mississippian Mathus is a mainstay of the esteemed vaudeville/folk/swing ensemble The Squirrel Nut Zippers. His new solo project is a nine-song, gumbo/voodoo delight titled Band of Storms. This track is a neo-rockabilly summons to romance featuring twang guitar, echo-chamber vocal and a cool, lingering hiss each time he sings the word “yes.” Elsewhere on the collection, you’ll find elements of blues, rock, honky-tonk and bluegrass. It’s all good.

 

DISClaimer: Blake Shelton Has A Way With Hit Songs

Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton

I was going to take a break from mainstream country and review some other genre this week, but the stars had other plans. In the wake of the CMA Music Festival, a large crop of hillbilly headliners released new music. So I was compelled to scrap my agenda.

Swatting away all competitors, Blake Shelton rules the roost with the Disc of the Day. This fella really is the bomb. Since everyone here is a proven quantity, there is no DisCovery Award winner. Let me just say that the two records that came closest to matching Blake’s in song quality were the new singles by Darius Rucker and Pat Green.

BLAKE SHELTON/She’s Got A Way With Words
Writers: Wyatt Earp/Andy Albert/Marc Beeson; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: Western Legend/Downtown DL/Son of Ron, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– Very cleverly written. And in case you haven’t noticed by now, this guy is one of the greatest country singers of our time. This is going straight to the top.

 

 
MAREN MORRIS/80s Mercedes
Writers: Maren Morris/busbee; Producers: Maren Morris/busbee; Publisher: none listed; Columbia (track)
– It ain’t all that “country,” but it sure is cool. Synth lines throb beneath her exuberant, youthful vocal about a babe out on the town.

JACK INGRAM/I’m Drinking Through It
Writers: Jack Ingram/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose; Producer: Jon Randall; Publishers: Beat Up Ford/Songs of Universal/Hoodie/Crazy Girl/Warner-Tamerlane, BMI; Rounder (track)
– His drawling performance is charming, and the song is a dandy. The only thing I didn’t like was the continuous bass rumble that assaulted me in one speaker. Somebody remix this.
 

 
JERROD NIEMANN & LEE BRICE/A Little More Love
Writers: Shane McAnally/Ross Copperman/Natalie Hemby/Kristi Neumann; Producers: Jimmie Lee Sloas, Jerrod Niemann & Lee Brice; Publishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs/Kobalt/EMI Blackwood/Songs By Red Room/Happygownucke/Creative Pulse/These Are My Pulse/Hello Jerry, GMR/BMI/SESAC; Curb (CDX)
– I could put up with the country-rap verses if the song was more interesting. As it is, it’s just an endless loop of the same repeated phrases.

PAT GREEN/Day One
Writers: Shane McAnally/John Osborne/Matt Ramsey; Producers: Jon Randall Stewart, Justin Pollard & Gary Paczosa; Publishers: Universal/Smack Ink/Songs of Black River/One Little Indian Creek/RPM/Sonic Geo/HoriPro/Calhoun, ASCAP; Greenhouse (CDX)
– Nicely done. He counts down the days as he survives a breakup. His pleading delivery is accompanied by a sweet, spare, guitar-chiming track. Whoever is singing the tenor harmony part is flawless.
 

 
DARRYL WORLEY/Rainmaker
Writers: Darryl Worley/Jay Brunswick/Brock Berryhill; Producers: Jim “Moose” Brown, Billy Lawson & Brock Berryhill; Publishers: Myers/Worleybird/Spirit, ASCAP/BMI; Worleybird (CDX)
– Thunderstorm audio effects underscore his delivery of this sexy lyric.

BRAD PAISLEY & DEMI LOVATO/Without a Fight
Writers: Brad Paisley, Kelley Lovelace and Lee Thomas Miller; Producer: Brad Paisley and Luke Wooted; Publisher: none listed; Arista (ERG)
-They fuss and scrap, then make up. The big, pounding track tries to stir up excitement, but the song just isn’t that compelling.

DARIUS RUCKER/So I Sang
Writers: Darius Rucker/Rivers Rutherford/Tim James; Producer: Frank Rogers; Publishers:Universal Music Corp./Cadaja Publishing/ Universal Music Corp./Memphianna/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./T-Bird’s Music, ASCAP/BMI; Capitol Nashville
-I love this. He is just an ordinary guy, who excels at nothing much. Except for one thing: At every twist and turn in life, he sings his heart out. Resonant and moving.

 

CASSADEE POPE/Summer
Writers: Cassadee Pope, Kelly Archer, Emily Shackelton; Producer: Corey Crowder; Publisher: Universal Music Corp./It’s the Coolest Publishing/Canal Music Publishing BV/Stars and Stripes and Maple Leaf Music/Downtown DMP Songs/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Better Boat Music; ASCAP/BMI; Republic Nashville (ERG)
– His love burns like the sunshiny weather. Her bright vocal matches the lyric. The drummer is working overtime, but the rest of the instrumental track is pretty ordinary.

GARY ALLAN/Do You Wish It Was Me
Writers: Gary Allan/Jonathan Singleton/Andrew Dorff; Producers: Gary Allan/Greg Droman; Publishers: Crystal Beach/Super Big/Jett/Big Machine/Songs of Universal/Morendorffin, BMI/ASCAP; EMI (CDX)
– The steady driving track is just right for Gary’s impassioned delivery. A guy misses his gal fiercely and hopes desperately that she feels the same.

DISClaimer: Maggie Rose’s “Same Sky” Wins Disc Of The Day

Maggie Rose. Photo: Dusty Barker

Maggie Rose. Photo: Dusty Barker

We’ll be hearing a lot of new songs during these next few days of the CMA Music Festival. Here are the 10 that wound up on my fiesta playlist.

The Disc of the Day turns out to be a contest among powerful female voices. The new sounds by Martina McBride, Maggie Rose and Maren Morris are all worth your attention. They pretty much finished in a dead heat, so I’m going with the indie underdog, Maggie Rose.

There was not as much competition for the DisCovery Award. Multi-talented Hudson Moore pretty much nailed that one down, with The Last Bandoleros snapping at his heels.

Maren Morris

Maren Morris

MAREN MORRIS/Rich
Writers: Maren Morris/Jesse Jo Dillon/Laura Veltz; Producers: busbee & Maren Morris; Publishers: International Dog Music/Nettwerk One B Music/Revelry Music/Jay Gatsby Music/Warner-Tamerlane/Oh Denise Publishing/Big Music Machine; BMI; Columbia Nashville
-If you pre-ordered Maren’s new Hero CD, you got this track as an early taste. It’s a stomping female “attitude” tune about having a dime for every time he made her feel cheap with his lies. This lady has some serious vocal firepower.

THE LAST BANDOLEROS/Where Do You Go?
Writers: Jerry Fuentes/Emilio Navaira/Derek James/Diego Navaira; Producer: Jerry Fuentes; Publishers: Aboretum/Melt My Mind/Kobalt/Kickin’ed/Derek James Breslow/Derek James/Dayside, ASCAP; Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville
-A rollicking Tex-Mex beat drives this relentlessly forward while flecks of squeezebox notes dance in and out of the mix. The vocals are wrapped in smooth-as-silk harmonies as they complain about being left by a hot honey. Super hooky. The song is cowritten by the late Tejano superstar Emilio and his son Diego, who is a member of this fresh-sounding band.

MAGGIE ROSE/Same Sky
Writers: Maggie Rose/Alex Kline/Jason Saenz; Producer: Maggie Rose & Alex Kline; Publishers: none listed; Play It Again
-I like this sleek, feisty gal. So do Tim McGraw and Lee Brice, who have her opening their road shows. This juicy, pop-inflected slab of sound lets her personality-packed voice fly high and free while drums and guitars crunch with oomph beneath her. A great listening experience.

Thomas Rhett Vacation

THOMAS RHETT/Vacation
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Thomas Allen/Harold Brown/Morris Dickerson/Sean Douglas/Gerry Goldstein/Leroy Jordan/Charles Miller/Lee Osker/Andreas Schuller/Howard Scott/Joe Spargur/Eric Frederic/John Ryan; Dann Huff & Jesse Frasure; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Cricket on the Line/Sony-ATV/BMG Gold/Far Out/Warner-Tamerlane/Eastman Pond/Frederic & Reid/Songs From the Boardwalk/BMG Platinum/The Family Songbook/Music of Big Deal/Bob Erotik/Artist 101/The Viking Pimp/Honua/Nice Life, BMI/ASCAP; Valory Music Co.
-The classic rock sounds of War meet bro country. The message? “Hey, let’s party like we on vacation.” Catchy, if not particularly deep.

THE DANBERRYS/Lady Belle
Writer: Dorothy Daniel; Producer: Ethan Ballinger; Publisher: none listed; Danberrys
-On the acoustic, folksy side of things, this ballad is carried by strumming guitar, heartbeat bass, weaving fiddle notes and a wafting soprano vocal. It’s all a little too “pretty” for my taste.

MARTINA McBRIDE/Just Around the Corner
Writers: Cary Barlowe/Sarah Buxton/Sam Ellis; Producers: Dann Huff, Nathan Chapman & Martina McBride; Publishers: Castle Bound/We Be Pawtying/Round Hill Works/Big Loud Proud/Bux Tone/Universal, SESAC/BMI; Nash Icon
-The second single from Martina’s superb Reckless collection is about holding onto hope when you’re at your lowest. The power ballad throbs with intense conviction in the throat of this sublime vocalist. Echoey touches in the production are wonderfully ear catching, as well.

Martina McBride. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Martina McBride. Photo: Joseph Llanes

MADISON STATION/Back in the Day
Writers: Todd Anderson/Craig Anderson/Quinn Loggins/Lisa McCallum; Producer: Todd Anderson, Craig Anderson & Bart Busch; Publishers: Anderson Boyz/Wanted Woman/BMG, BMI/ASCAP/SOCAN; ABM Music (CDX)
-This slams right into a rock mode from the opening notes. The nostalgic song is pretty cool, but this band needs a lead singer with more charisma.

VINCE HATFIELD/The Okie From Muskogee’s Headed Home
Writer: Vince Hatfield; Producer: Vince Hatfield; Publisher: Sharp Image, BMI; Blue Moon (CDX)
-We all miss Merle mightily. Hatfield tries to evoke him with a studied honky-tonk vocal, some Strangers-style instrumental picking and name-dropping song titles like “Silver Wings,” “If We Make It Through December,” “Mama’ Hungry Eyes,” “Movin’ On” and “Lonesome Fugitive.”

BRAD PUCKETT/Start Your Engines
Writer: Brad Puckett; Producers: Buddy Hyatt & Brad Puckett; Publisher: BPM, no performance rights listed; Phoenix (CDX)
-The track rocks. So does his vocal … until he gets to the choruses. Instead of taking off, his performance kinda just lays there.

HUDSON MOORE/Some Are
Writers: Hudson Moore/Lance Carpenter/Phillip Pence: Producers: Dwight A. Baker & Hudson Moore; Publisher: none listed; Moorejamz LLC
-It says here that he’s playing all the instruments on his Getaway CD (out June 17), and all but one of its tunes are co-written by him. Plus, he co-produced it. The single is a super tuneful, big-time catchy and sung with youthful verve. This is a sound for summer if I’ve ever heard one. Lend him your ears.

Hudson Moore Getaway

DISClaimer: Dierks Bentley, Sammy Arriaga Bring Rhythm, Energy On New Singles

dierks-elle-sammy_570“T for Texas, T for Tennessee.”

That’s what the great Jimmie Rodgers wrote and sang. And it’s as true today as it was back in 1928. Just look at the match-ups in today’s column.

Representing the Lone Star State, we have Brad Cunningham, Mark McKinney and Sarabeth. On the other hand, we have Volunteer State recording artists Dierks Bentley, Old Dominion and Josh Goodlett.

Toss in California’s Corinne Cook and Lasers Lasers Birmingham, Georgia boy Tyler Hammond and South Florida’s Sammy Arriaga and you’ve got quite a geographic mix.

Dierks Bentley earns Disc of the Day. Sammy Arriaga is our DisCovery Award winner.

 

SAMMY ARRIAGA/Banjos N’ Bongos
Writers: Sammy Arriaga/James Slater/Bobby Hamrick; Producer: Lalo Guzman; Publishers: Sony/ATV, Disney, BMG; Latium (track)
– Very summer-y. The percolating bongo beats and light banjo plucks give it loads of burbling, bopping energy. His rapid-fire vocal delivery has lots of heart as he describes romance between a Kentucky girl and a Cuban-American boy. Endearing.

 

BRAD CUNNINGHAM BAND/Goin’ To Texas
Writers: Brad Cunningham; Producer: Wes Sharon; Publishers: none listed; Brad/Sony RED (track)
– It’s a cool little “road” song, with a jaunty beat, sawing fiddle, twangin’ guitar and a countryboy vocal that’s winning. Makes you want to go for a ride.

 

OLD DOMINION/Song For Another Time
Writers: Matthew Ramsey/Trevor Rosen/Brad Tursi/Matt Jenkins; Producer: Shane McAnally; Publishers: Smack/Big Deal Music/Combustion Music, ASCAP; RCA (track)
– As before, enormously tuneful. The lyric paints a picture of optimism in the face of uncertainty. The spare, percussive arrangement underscores how well written this is.

 

LASERS LASERS BIRMINGHAM/Royal Blue
Writer: Alex Owen; Producer: Jake Gideon; Publishers: Lasers Lasers Birmingham, BMI; LLB (track)
– Airy, California country with a way, way mellow vibe. Fluid organ and steel notes drift through the arrangement while a piano plinky-plunks in between the sleepy baritone’s vocal phrases. This is the title tune of the unusually named act’s second EP.

 

DIERKS BENTLEY/ELLE KING
Writers: Shane McAnally/J.T. Harding; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs/Kobalt/Songs Music/Mighty Seven/Heavy Metal Disco/Songs of SMP, GMR/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville
– Very atmospheric. An echoey track backs Dierks and pop chirper Elle as they duet on a lyric that explains how heartbreak affects different sexes. He can have meaningless sex, drown his blues in booze and switch his emotions off. She can’t. Love that thumping rhythm undertow.

 

TYLER HAMMOND/Drunk Over A Girl
Writers: none listed; Producer: Ira Dean; Publishers: none listed; TH
– Dean shows real ability as a producer. The crunchy beats and perfectly placed electric guitar phrases both work extremely well here. Hammond has a forceful country delivery with plenty of personality. Play this.

 

JOSH GOODLETT/I Don’t Usually Do This
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Good Entertainment (track)
– His tenor could use a little echo assistance to sound fuller. But everything else works perfectly. The song is extremely well written and the instrumental arrangement supports his expressive delivery at every turn. Very promising. Credits, please.

 

MARK McKINNEY & BRI BAGWELL/Why Haven’t You Left Yet?
Writers: Mark McKinney/Cassie Turano; Producers: Eric McKinney/Mark McKinney; Publisher: none listed; MMBB
-Very hillbilly cute. They’re thoroughly sick of each other. He offers her the used car that isn’t paid for, if she’ll just split. She says he can have all their unpaid debts. He says she always has her face planted in Facebook. She says he always has a belly full of beer and is planted in front of the TV or down at the bar. She’s taken over their bed; he’s sleeping in the LazyBoy.

 

CORINNE COOK/Little Miss Understanding
Writers: Lee Young/Julie Burton/Denny Martin; Producer: Denny Martin; Publishers: Boots in Nashville/Pileadough/Purple Daisy, SESAC/BMI; CCM (CDX)
– It’s a kiss-off song. A little more vocal firepower would make it more effective. As it is, she delivers it with a whine instead of a snarl.

 

SARABETH/You Rock My Rodeo
Writers: Sarabeth Swagertky/Glen Mitchell/Sandy Ramos; Producer: Glen Mitchell; Publishers: AmeriBrit/Delta Pearl/Lawyer’s Wife, ASCAP/BMI; Circle S (CDX)
– A feisty cowgirl ditty that, despite its title, never really rocks.

DISClaimer: Chris Young, Drew Baldridge, Wes Hightower Bring Stunning Tracks

Chris Young Sober Saturday Night

I’m running late this week, so let me be brief. Without question, Chris Young has the Disc of the Day.

I’d give the great Wes Hightower a DisCovery Award if he wasn’t so super well known as a studio ace. So the promising-sounding Drew Baldridge gets the nod.

SCOTT BRANTLEY/How Summer Goes
Writers: Scott Brantley/Derrick Hampton; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Studio Gold, BMI/ASCAP
-Very classy. He sings great. The song is put together well. The production swirls invitingly. Definitely worth your spins.

BRETT ELDREDGE/Wanna Be That Song
Writers: Brett Eldredge/Ross Copperman/Scooter Carusoe; Producers: Ross Copperman & Brett Eldredge; Publishers: Sony-ATV Countryside/Paris Not France/EMI Blackwood/Songs By Red Room/Scrambler/Abbots Creek Music Two, BMI/ASCAP; Atlantic
– The magic power of music. Brett’s best yet.

REBEKAH LONG/Ain’t Life Sweet
Writers: Rebekah Long/Donna Ulisse/Rick Stanley; Producer: Donna Ulise; Publishers: Lotta LUK/Uncle Hadley/Pop ‘N Paw, ASCAP; LUK
– She sounds like she doesn’t have a lot of lung power on this bluegrass ditty. The harmony singers help her out.

 

CHRIS YOUNG/Sober Saturday Night
Writers: Chris Young/Brad Warren/Brett Warren; Producers: Corey Crowder/Chris Young; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Goodbye Pants/Sagequinnjude/Famlove/Sony-ATV, BMI; RCA (track)
– This man sings so wonderfully. On this power ballad, he gives a chesty shout to a heartache lyric. Vince Gill provides harmony vocal support.

DOLLY SHINE/Rattlesnake
Writer: Zack McGinn; Producers: Josh Serrato & Ben Hussey; Publishers: none listed; Vision/Thirty Tigers
– Just to be clear, there are no women in this Texas band. And certainly none named “Dolly.” There is, however, plenty of macho snarl in this atmospheric country rocker.

CHUBBY CHECKER/Lookin’ For Me
Writers: Chubby Checker/Gary Lefkowith/Mike Rogers; Producers: The Hill & HiFi; Publishers: CC/Sotto/Wax, ASCAP/BMI; TEEC
-It’s not “twist again, like we did last summer.” No, indeed. Chubby goes country with an acoustic, bluegrassy toe tapper embellished by fiddle and steel licks. It is wildly hooky and catchy. Play it.

 

DREW BALDRIDGE/Dance With Ya
Writers: none listed; Producer: Josh Leo; Publishers: none listed; Cold River (track)
– I like his voice. It’s strong and true. The bright horn bursts give the production some r&b oomph. The song is upbeat and all-the-way fun. Highly recommended.

RAY JOHNSTON BAND/Make Mine A Double
Writers: Steve Auburn/Hunter Hutchinson/Ray Johnston; Producer: Erik Herbst; Publishers: none listed; RJB (track)
– He’s from Texas. He can hardly sing. The band is sloppy.

WES HIGHTOWER/I’m Expecting Some Good News
Writers: Tom Shapiro/Wes Hightower; Producers: Jimmy Ritchey/Wes Hightower; Publishers: none listed; On The Boat (track)
– For those of you who read album credits, this man’s name will be instantly recognizable. He’s sung background vocals for every superstar in country music. He also writes songs, as his new Good News CD abundantly illustrates. This lead off track brilliantly showcases his winning way with a melody. It goes without saying that his vocal performance is flawless. And need I add that his studio reputation attracts an A-list cast of supporting musicians? Let me just say this: If I could be anybody in this industry, it would be Wes Hightower.

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DISClaimer: Raves For Parmalee, Wayne Toups, Jacey, Rob Baird

Parmalee

Parmalee

The stars got trumped by the indies this week.

The male performance of the day belongs to the super-soulful Wayne Toups on an old-school country slow dance. My favorite female was the wispy-voiced Jacey, whose CD is entirely self-penned. The group winner this week is Parmalee.

In an unusual twist of fate, all three of these Discs of the Day are ballads.

And so we leave it to our DisCovery Award winner to give us a kick in the pants. That would be Rob Baird, with his soul-man song “Ain’t Nobody Got a Hold on Me.” This is actually Baird’s second DisCovery Award. He won back in June 2013 with a more mainstream country sound. Now he’s reinvented himself as a blue-eyed soul stylist. I like him in both modes.

PARMALEE/Roots
Writers: Jared Mullins/Ben Stennis/Blake Bollinger; Producer: NV; Publisher: Music of Big Deal/The Stennis Mightier Music/Dead Aim Music/Young Guns Publishing/Parallel Music Publishing, ASCAP/BMI; Stoney Creek
– They scored three Top 10 hits from their debut CD — “Carolina,” “Close Your Eyes” and “Already Callin’ You Mine.” Now comes this aching nostalgia ballad about respecting where ya come from. Plaintively performed, this has the ring of truth and honesty. Another winner.

Rob Baird

ROB BAIRD/Ain’t Nobody Got A Hold On Me
Writers: Rob Baird/Brian Douglas Phillips; Producer: Brian Douglas Phillips; Publisher: Boots Baird/Western Night, BMI/ASCAP; Hard Luck (track)
– I like this guy. The accompaniment is spare, which allows his soulful singing to shine and his instantly memorable melody to penetrate. The moody, r&b tinged vibe is ultra listenable. Play it, as well as the rest of his excellent new CD Wrong Side of the River.

JASON ALDEAN/Lights Come On
Writers: Brian Kelley/Tyler Hubbard/Jordan Schmidt/Jimmy Robbins/Brad Warren/Brett Warren; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher:Big Loud Mountain/Pranch Ringle Music/T Hubb Publishing/Tree Vibez Music/dba Freshy Music/Major Bob Music/We-volve Music/Round Hill Songs Jimmy Robbins/Jammy Rabbins Music/Extraordinary Alien/Round Hill Works/Big Loud Brad Music/Big Loud Proud Crowd/Big Loud Brett Songs, ASCAP/BMI; Broken Bow (ERG)
– Rock ‘n’ roll guitar. Country-as-grits lyric about cutting loose with music. Party time.

MARGO PRICE/Hurtin’ (On The Bottle)
Writers: Margo Price/Mark Fredson/Jeremy Ivey/Caitlin Rose; Producer: Matt Ross-Spang/Alex Munoz; Publisher: Margo Price; Nine North (ERG)
– The band isn’t the tightest thing I’ve ever heard. But the beat is steady, her vocal is potent and the overall feeling is country, country, country.

ZAC BROWN BAND/Castaway
Writers: Zac Brown/Niko Moon/Wyatt Durrette/Coy Bowles/John Driskell Hopkins; Producer: In The Arena Productions; Publisher: Day For The Dead Publishing/Southern Ground/Life On Fire Music/Poppsolotamus Music/Brighter Shade, BMI/SESAC; EMI Nashville
– Bopping and beach-y. It makes you feel warm all over. Yes, please pour me another one.

Jacey

Jacey

JACEY/Hold On
Writer: Jacey Gutknecht; Producer: William Gawley; Publisher: none listed; Lighthouse (track)
– Dreamy with fluttering eyelashes. Soft strings surround her breathy, sighing delivery of this pretty love ballad. Heart melting.

DIERKS BENTLEY & MAREN MORRIS/I’ll Be The Moon
Writers: Heather Morgan/Matt Dragstrem/Ryan Hurd; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Heather Feather/Round Hill BLS JV/BIg Loud Proud/Universal/Lake Allegan, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol (track)
– As soon as I got my hands on Bentley’s new Black CD, I couldn’t wait to hear what this collaboration would sound like. The answer is “pretty dang cool.” Dierks applies his rasp, and Maren provides the sass. The backing shuffle drumming (by Aaron Sterling) is fantastic. Essential listening.

TROY JOHNSON/Need Me Some Country
Writer: Greg Udik; Producer: Greg Hudik; Publisher: Double Dose Platinum, BMI; Platinum (CDX)
– This thumper rocks out on the theme of huntin,’ fishin,’ front-porch swingin,’ moonshine swillin,’ barbecuin’ and all things backwoodsy. Tempo, tempo, tempo.

KALEIGH JO KIRK/Liar Liar
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Lighthouse (track)
– Languid and slow, with a slightly bluesy edge. She’s a strong singer, if a not an especially distinctive one.

Wayne Toups

Wayne Toups

WAYNE TOUPS/A Good One
Writers: S. Monroe/S.P. Davis; Producers: James Stroud/Wayne Toups; Publishers: Ooska Riiver/Shoot Straight, ASCAP; Malaco (CDX)
– My favorite ragin’ Cajun is back with a change of pace. This outing finds him drawling a wistful tune about a lost love. It sways in all the right places. Hold your sweetie tight and take a slow spin around the dance floor while the steel sighs in your ear and Wayne pleads his soul. This is one gorgeous little record.

DISClaimer: Superb Vocalists Chris Stapleton, James Dupré Offer Soulful Singles

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton

There are lots of stars in the mix today, but they’re not always the artists who shine brightest.

Josh Turner, Alabama, the red-hot Cole Swindell and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott are all here with new discs. But the sound that stopped me in my tracks was by a newcomer. Louisiana-bred James Dupré submitted a minor masterpiece titled “Stoned to Death” and completely captivated me. Give that man an easily won DisCovery Award.

There’s one other red-hot star with a new offering today. That would be the mighty Chris Stapleton who far surpasses his peers and wins a Disc of the Day prize for “Parachute.”

COLE SWINDELL/Middle Of A Memory
Writers: Cole Swindell/Ashley Gorley/Zach Crowell; Producer: Michael Carter; Publishers: Sonuy-ATV Tree/Colden Rainey/Combustion Engine/Sadie’s Favorite/WB/External Combustion/Atlas/Songs of Southside Independent/Who Wants to Buy My Publishing, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– His raspy delivery works well on this saga of a frustrated, foiled budding relationship. Michael Carter’s echoey electronic production touches are also pluses.

James Dupré

James Dupré

JAMES DUPRÉ/Stoned To Death
Writers: Jessi Alexander/Jeff Hyde/Clint Daniels; Producer: Jordan Lehning; Publishers: none listed; Purfectt Pitch
– The title tune of Dupré’s upcoming album can be previewed on his website. And I urge you to do so. This is a singer who exudes charisma with every note. The song is stupendously well-written, boasting both perfectly executed turns of phrases and a beautifully swelling melody. Lehning’s slowly building production bonfire is magnificent. Sign me up for the fan club. Now.

CHRIS STAPLETON/Parachute
Writers: Chris Stapleton/Jim Beavers; Producers: Dave Cobb/Chris Stapleton; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (track)
– The heartbeat rhythm grabs you by the chest and doesn’t let go. Stapleton’s shouted, soulful delivery blazes like a fire iron. This is torrid, torrid stuff. Let it burn, baby, burn.

ALABAMA/Come Find Me
Writers: Tony Lane/David Lee; Producers: Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry & Randy Owen; Publishers: BMG Gold/We Jam Writers Group/Mood Merchant/4 Cow Ranch/Banz, BMI; BMG (CDX)
– It’s a quiet ballad about a road-weary musician. Randy Owen delivers it in an understated hush. It’s quite emotionally affecting.

JOSH TURNER/Hometown Girl
Writers: Marc Beeson/Daniel Tashian; Producer: Kenny Greenberg; Publishers: Downtown DLJ/Son of a Ron/Diver Dann/International Dog, ASCAP/BMI; MCA Nashville
– This sweet, airy rural portrait fits Turner like a glove. Not surprisingly, guitarist Greenberg produces it with plenty of electric-guitar flourishes.

GLENNA BELL/Tonight’s The Night
Writer: Glenna Bell; Producer: Mark Abernathy; Publisher: Glenna Bell, ASCAP; GB (track)
– Texas favorite Bell has a throaty, distinctive vocal style. Her records always perk up my ears. This outing is about young lovers graduating from high school. She recalls their courtship and vows to go all the way on their big night. I hung on every word. Her new collection is aptly titled Lone Star Songs and Stories Straight From the Heart of Texas.

HIllary Scott Thy Will 2016

HILLARY SCOTT & THE SCOTT FAMILY/Thy Will
Writers: Hillary Scott/Emily Weisband/Bernie Herms; Producers: Bernie Herms/Ricky Skaggs; Publishers: W.B.M./EKT/WB/Thankful For This/Songs of Universal/G650, SESAC/ASCAP/BMI; EMI (CDX)
– It’s very pretty. But is a hymn-like ballad swimming in strings going to fit summer playlists?

AMY BLACK/You Gotta Move
Writer: traditional; Producer: Lex Price; Publishers: public domain; RR (track)
– Massachusetts native Black might seem an odd fit for a themed collection called The Muscle Shoals Sessions. She tackles songs by Sam Cooke, Arthur Alexander, Don Covay, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, as well as some originals. This traditional spiritual puts the spotlight on her confident alto singing. Guess what? She pulls it off.

BRIAN PHARAOH/Sorry
Writers: Brian Pharaoh/Bill DiLuigi; Producer: Kent Wells: Publishers: none listed; Spunkem
– Words were spoken. She left. But he’s not sorry, because he’s a redneck babe magnet. If you say so.

SHANE OWENS/Country Never Goes Out Of Style
Writers: Galen Griffin/Jason Patrick Matthews/Kerry Kurt Phillips; Producer: James Stroud: Publishers: Galen Griffin/EMI April/Songfighter/Dixie Stars, BMI/ASCAP; AmeriMonte (CDX)
– Shane strikes again with his uber cool, note-bending vocals. The gently swaying tune is like a hammock in a spring breeze. And you can bet this pluperfect country stylist means every word of the lyric.