DISClaimer Single Reviews: Hudson Westbrook Claims Disc Of The Day
Country music teams and collaborations vie for our consideration at the moment in DISClaimer.
The Red Clay Strays, Midland and 49 Winchester are representing nation bands on this week’s column. Our collabs embrace Russell Dickerson with Fetty Wap, Rodney Crowell with the late Guy Clark, and this week’s DISCovery Award winners ALeeN Rose with Willie Nelson.
The Disc of the Day is “Backwards” by Hudson Westbrook.
Sunday is Mother’s Day. I’ve 4 strategies for the vacation’s soundtrack. Danny Kensy presents “Mama’s Recipe.” Camille Harrison is issuing “I Miss You, Mother.” Alex Miller has “Just a Mom.” Canadian Abigail Lapell has a whole assortment with the day’s theme. Her Shadow Child is “an album about motherhood whose nine songs each represent a month of gestation,” or so it says right here.
McCoy Moore / “Not Even Close”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/McCoy Moore/Sam Ellis; Producer: Will Bundy; Label: Sony Music Nashville/Cervidae Records
– Dishing out compliments to his lover. In her eyes, she’s the final word greatest.
THE RED CLAY STRAY / “Demons In Your Choir”
Writers: Brandon Coleman/Dakota Coleman/Matthew Coleman; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: RCA Records
– It’s a slow-burn, gospel-flavored anthem with moody, minor-key drama about religious supply. An completely searing lead vocal, righteous piano chords and an uplifting church choir. Somebody says, “Amen.”
ALYSSA MICHAELA / “Born In Boots”
Writers: Alyssa Micaela/Olivia Rudeen/Tori Tullier; Producers: Stormy Cooper, Will Braun; Label: Azteca Ranch Music
– Bouncing and bubbly. She’s a proud cowgirl who selected boots over dolls and by no means appeared again. Innocent enjoyable.
RODNEY CROWELL & GUY CLARK / “Are You One of Us?”
Writer: Rodney Crowell; Producers: Rodney Crowell, Steuart Smith; Label: New West Records
– Crowell explores the “us-versus-them” attitudes of at the moment with the late Clark interjecting fatherly knowledge. It begins off with a hushed sequence of statements underscored by insistently electrical guitar, then builds to a rocking crescendo. The complete factor is totally haunting and poetic. The music (and the beforehand reviewed “Go Light a Candle”) will seem on Crowell’s long-lost Then Again LP, which drops June 26. I’m buyin’ a duplicate.
ALeeN ROSE & WILLIE NELSON / “They’re There”
Writers: Amy Lee Nelson/Tina Rose Bridges/Willie Nelson; Producers: ALeeN Rose, Jeff Klein, Matt Hubbard; Label: Luna Wolf
– This duo is comprised of Willie’s daughter, Amy Nelson, and Tina Rose Bridges, who’s Leon Russell’s daughter. Their nation ballad invokes Amy’s late brother Billy and Tina’s late father, stating that their spirits stroll alongside them daily. Willie gives his distinctive guitar because the instrumental solo, then chimes in with a 3rd concord half. Lovely listening.
MIDLAND / “Shooting Memories With Tequila”
Writers: Joe Clemmons/Mike Walker/Ryan Beaver; Producer: Trent Willmon; Label: Blue Highway Records
– Give these guys a gold star for singing songs with present melodies. Breezy heartaches, laced with creamy vocal harmonies and lilting metal guitar characterize this one. Riffs and lyrics within the manufacturing lend the monitor a Latin accent. Wonderfully tuneful and effortlessly participating. By all means, play it.
JENNY TOLMAN / “Pony Show”
Writers: Dave Brainard/Jenny Tolman/Matt Willis; Producer: Dave Brainard; Label: Old Sol Records
– Tolman gallops a sprightly nation rocker across the monitor at a lickety-split tempo. The lyrics warn a man that his gal “ain’t nothin’ but a show pony you been trotting around” and never the thoroughbred he thinks she is.
DON WILLIAMS / “How Can I Miss What I Never Had”
Writer: Bob McDill; Producers: Garth Fundis, Tim Williams; Label: Craft Recordings
– Previously unheard performances by Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams will probably be issued subsequent month on a group titled Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes. This one is a tragic, resigned ballad a few useless relationship that is infused along with his trademark vocal heat. Tunesmith McDill was additionally behind such Don Williams classics as “Amanda,” “It Must Be Love,” “Love Me Tonight” and, unforgettably, “Good Ole Boys Like Me.”
HUDSON WESTBROOK / “Backwards”
Writers: Hudson Westbrook/Lukas Klingensmith/Nicolette Hayford/Reid Haughton; Producers: Lukas Scott, Ryan Youman; Label: River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville
– Her leaving turned his world the wrong way up. ACM New Male Vocalist nominee Westbrook delivers the midtempo meditation in a plaintive, expressive, softly aching style that is mighty affecting.
RUSSELL DICKERSON & FETTY WAP / “Boots”
Writers: Dylan Marlowe/Matt Dragstrem/Russell Dickerson; Producer: none listed; Label: Triple Tigers
– Top showman Dickerson lights up Ascend Amphitheater tomorrow (May 8). Don’t have tickets? Party-on anyhow by listening to his newest, a country-trap mash-up with million-selling Fetty Wap. The bopping singer sees a gal on the dance ground carrying boots and a sundress and is smitten. Beats abound.
49 WINCHESTER / “Slowly”
Writers: Chris Tompkins/Isaac Gibson/Jessie Jo Dillon; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: New West Records/Lucille Records/MCA
– I caught these guys on a latest Opry TV broadcast and was surprised by what a decent band they’re. From organ sighs to steel-guitar pinpricks, from note-perfect concord vocals to acoustic ripples and taut drumming, 49 Winchester has all of it goin’ on. The band’s newest single is a strummy nation toe tapper about shifting ahead regardless of feeling like crap. Highly really useful.
KACEY MUSGRAVES / “Middle of Nowhere”
Writers: Daniel Tashian/Ian Fitchuk/Kacey Musgraves; Producers: Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves; Label: Lost Highway
– Shifting time signatures, moaning metal and a male duet concord vocal characterize the title tune of Musgraves’ new album. Like the remainder of the gathering, the wafting sound leans again towards her Texas nation roots.
ERNEST / “What’s a Little Rain”
Writers: David Garcia/Ernest Keith Smith/Rodney Clawson; Producers: ERNEST, Jacob Durrett; Label: Big Loud Records
– An ethereal, beach-y manufacturing paints this as a watercolor wash whereas the singer exudes romance and dreamy rest. Irresistibly fairly.
Robert Ok. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a revered music critic, writer and historian.
