Riley Green and Ella Langley
Newcomers and old friends vie for our listening attention in today’s DISClaimer.
In the latter category are Brett Young, Dustin Lynch, Chris Young, Cam, Joy Oladokun and Disc of the Day winners Riley Green & Ella Langley.
Among the youngsters, Will Jones stands out as the DISCovery Award artist of the week.
HUDSON WESTBROOK / “Damn Good Taste in Whiskey”
Writers: Hudson Westbrook/Randy Montana; Producer: none listed; Label: River House Artists/Warner Music Nashville
– He’s a loser in love in this honky-tonk lament. He has bad taste in women, but knows his liquor. Westbrook is donating 100% of his merch sales this weekend to Texas Hill Country flood relief. This sounds like an idea worth spreading to other acts.
DUSTIN LYNCH / “Easy to Love”
Writers: Hunter Phelps/Ben Johnson/Dustin Lynch/Jon Hall/Zach Crowell; Producer: Zach Crowell; Label: Broken Bow Records
– It’s a country vocal. The track takes you on a rapid-beats disco trip. Electronic loops and chattering percussion stir the stew. His sampled vocal repeats the hooks. The artist does late-night “club sets” for dancers at his shows, hence this release.
WILL JONES / “Lonesome Dove”
Writers: Will Jones/Davis Corley/Lee Starr/Dan Wilson; Producers: Cliff Audretch & Rob McNelly; Label: Empire
– Eloquent and extraordinary. A listening experience that stopped me in my tracks. The ballad is beautifully written, and his vocal performance is Country Heaven. Plucked guitar strings and sighing steel frame a lyric about man feeling sorry for a lonely lady sitting in the corner. Stop what you are doing and lend this your ears.
RILEY GREEN & ELLA LANGLEY / “Don’t Mind If I Do”
Writer: Riley Green; Producer: Dann Huff, Scott Borchetta & Jimmy Harnen; Label: Nashville Harbor
– The “You Look Like You Love Me” team returns with a lovelorn ballad that aches with yearning. Green carries the song, then Langley floats in with her harmonies and a gentle, haunting finale. Sublime listening.
JOY OLADOKUN / “I’d Miss the Birds”
Writer: Olubukola Oladokun; Producer: Joy Oladokun; Label: Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records
– Her current album, Observations From a Crowded Room, contains this contemplative folk-country ode that sounds like she’s thinking about leaving town and finding peace in the countryside. “The Proud Boys and their women” have tainted the Nashville scene for Joy. Originally issued late last year, the track now has an updated post.
CAM / “Everblue”
Writers: Cameron Ochs/Gregory Aldae Hein/Tyler Johnson; Producer: Tyler Johnson; Label: RCA
– “I never knew evergreen could turn to everblue,” she intones in this acoustic soprano ballad. She describes the heavy-hearted performance as “peak sad girl.” Yes, but very pretty sounding.
BIGG VINNY / “WalMart Drip”
Writers: Vencent Hickerson/Ken Harrell/Jenny Goforth Hickerson; Producer: Marc Fortney (BUTTER); Label: Nashville Universe
– Remember this guy from The Trailer Choir? For starters, he’s not so “Bigg” anymore, having shed hundreds of pounds on NBC’s The Biggest Loser. This solo, hip-hoppy outing is a boatload of goofy fun in praise of being clothed by Walmart during a shopping spree. The video is a hoot. Find Vinny for the next three days (10th, 11th, 12th) as he entertains at Shiners in the old Woolworth store.
CHRIS YOUNG / “I Didn’t Come Here to Leave”
Writers: Chris Young/Kyle Fishman/Dallas Davidson; Producers: Chris Young & Andy Sheridan; Label: Black River Entertainment
– The title tune of Young’s forthcoming (October) album is a breezy bopper. He vows that he’s not quitting when the bar says it’s 2 a.m. closing time. He’s gonna drink and sing and party on. This guy is always a dependable hit maker.
DYLAN MARLOWE / “Sorryville”
Writers: Dylan Marlowe/Jimi Bell/Joe Fox/Seth Ennis; Producer: Joe Fox; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– He’s in Sorryville because his gal has gone. The verses on this midtempo barroom weeper are cool, but the mood is ruined by the overproduced choruses.
BRETT YOUNG / “You Still Got It”
Writers: Brett Young/Justin Wilson/Dave Pittenger; Producer: Jimmy Robbins; Label: Nashville Harbor
– She has his old clothes and other stuff. All he wants back is his heart. Well written and produced with propulsive panache. Wooshing electronics frame his expressive vocal. Arguably his finest performance yet.
LANCE COWAN / “Against the Grain”
Writers: Lance Cowan/Sam Gay; Producers: Jason Stelluto & Scott Paschall; Label: Lantzapalooza Muzik/Orchard
– The captain builds his own boat and dreams of life on the water. Cowan’s skill as a storyteller is on full display on his current collection. This title tune ripples with folkie pleasure. The troubadour did a fine job during his WMOT appearance a few days ago to promote this worthy song set.
KETCH SECOR / “Catch Me If You Can”
Writers: Jody Stevens/Ketch Secor; Producer: none listed; Label: Ketch Secor
– Secor’s debut solo album drops tomorrow. Titled Story the Crow Told Me, it finds the Old Crow Medicine Show leader and “Wagon Wheel” creator in a different audio zone than the string-band mode we are used to hearing by him. For instance, this emphasis track is a full contemporary-country production. Electric guitars and harmonica back him on the rambling-man ode. Refreshingly different.
Robert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
