Vince Gill & Carly Pearce
Fall is in the air, and so is a gust of new country sounds.
Vince Gill and Carly Pearce lead the way with ballads that share this week’s Disc of the Day award. Cali Tucker is our DISCovery Award winner.
But be sure and also check out this week’s offerings from Randy Houser, Ne-Yo, Priscilla Block and Emily Ann Roberts. They also have something to say that you’ll want to hear.
CARLY PEARCE / “Dream Come True”
Writers: Carly Pearce/Emily Weisband/Lauren Hungate/Tofer Brown; Producers: Ben West, Carly Pearce; Label: Big Machine Records
– She has it all, except for love. Pearce delivers the aching lyric with throaty, emotional force. This is country music royalty at work.
EMILY ANN ROBERTS / “Come Home To You”
Writers: Jim McCormick/Makayla Parry/Michael Wayne Wilkes; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Heartache on the hoof. Sad country music is always in fashion, and this is a pluperfect example of just how aching it can be. This woman is gem.
RANDY HOUSER / “Back In The Bottle”
Writer: Randy Houser; Producers: Blake Chancey, Randy Houser; Label: Magnolia Music Group
– This mighty voice stopped the show at this week’s BMI Awards. Houser’s ferocious vocal attack lights a fire under this propulsive drinking song as his new single. Play and become a believer—he’s one of country’s true treasures.
NE-YO / “Simple Things”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Motown
– If you are wondering what this Grammy-winning, Platinum-selling R&B star was doing at the CMA Awards, here’s your answer. Ne-Yo (Shaffer Chimere Smith) applies his lustrous, fluttery tenor voice to a super catchy romance tune with a terrific acoustic track. He totally crushes it. Country? You bet.
LUKE COMBS & BIGXTHAPLUG / “Pray Hard”
Writers: Bandplay/Dave Cohen/Jon Robert Hall/Krishon Gaines/Luke Combs/Mark Nilan Jr/Nick Monson/Tony Coles/Xavier Landum; Producers: Bandplay, Dave Cohen, Mark Nilan Jr, Nick Monson, Tony Coles; Label: UnitedMasters
– It’s about faith and perseverance. Like most country-rap collaborations, it’s quite repetitive.
PAUL KENNERLEY / “Born to Run”
Writer: Paul Kennerley; Producer: Paul Kennerley; Label: PK
– Songwriting legend Kennerley has released a 30-track compilation of his demos. This tune was a hit for Emmylou in 1982, and it’s fascinating to hear the acoustic, strummy, raw, rootsy version that she would have learned it from. On this album, you’ll listen to “Hillbilly Rock,” “Have Mercy,” “Cry Myself to Sleep,” “Heaven Only Knows,” “Give a Little Love” and other hit tunes with fresh ears. This whole project is a keeper.
NICKELBACK & SHENANDOAH / “Church on the Cumberland Road”
Writers: Bob Di Piero/Dennis Robbins/John Scott Sherrill; Producer: Noah Gordon; Label: 8 Track Entertainment
– This rocks. The two bands merge nicely, thanks largely to Nickelback’s genuine commitment to a country sound. As unlikely as it seems, this collab works splendidly.
TUCKER WETMORE / “Brunette”
Writers: Blake Pendergrass/Chase McGill/Chris LaCorte/Josh Miller; Producer: Chris LaCorte; Label: MCA
– His “3,2,1” single continues to climb, and now he’s issuing a cowboy-themed video to promote this new bopper. He’s through with Southern blonde heartbreakers and is out to find a brunette from north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
THE KENTUCKY GENTLEMEN / “Castle in the Sky”
Writers: Brandon Campbell/Derek Campbell/Gigi Rich/Hallie Hertrick/Paul Wrock; Producer: Hallie Hertrick; Label: Neon Holler
– Shaky fiddling and snappy handclaps underscore this uptempo reflection on the afterlife. They’ve done better.
GAVIN ADCOCK / “Perfect Man”
Writers: Colton Venner/Gavin Adcock/Jack Hummel/Rhett Akins; Producer: none listed; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– Drowsy musing in search of a hook.
PRISCILLA BLOCK / “Things You Didn’t See”
Writers: Brandon Paddock/Martin Johnson/Priscilla Block; Producer: Dave Cohen, David Garcia; Label: MCA
– “Everybody’s got a hurting heart they’re hiding underneath.” I have come to expect nothing but emotional Truth from this talented artist, and she has never let me down. This tuneful, insightful, autobiographical single is one more reason to love her.
LACOSTA TUCKER / “Woman Behind the Wheel”
Writers: Cathy Majeski/Stephony E. Smith/Sunny Russ; Producer: Roger Ball; Label: LT
– Women make the world go ‘round, says LaCosta in this midtempo ditty. Twangy retro guitars back the stacked vocal harmonies. Tanya’s sister is best known for a string of charters back in the ‘70s, including “Get on My Love Train.”
CALI TUCKER / “Last Name”
Writers: Cali Tucker/Derek Robertson/G’harah “PK” Deg/Tricia Battani; Producer: G’harah “PK” Degeddingseze; Label: Mother Tucker Music
– LaCosta’s daughter and Tanya’s niece also has a new single. It’s a languidly paced pop-leaning tune of reclaiming her independence. Like her better-known family members, she’s a strong and assured vocalist.
VINCE GILL / “Secondhand Smoke”
Writers: Derrick Southerland/Vince Gill; Producer: Vince Gill; Label: MCA Nashville
– This legend is in the midst of a monthly series of autobiographical EPs that chronicle his journey from Oklahoma. The series is titled 50 Years From Home. The title tune of the second EP recalls his late father with enormous heart and deep love. There is no finer living country-music artist. Nor one more beloved.
Robert K. Oermann is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. He is a respected music critic, author and historian.
