DISClaimer: Brantley Gilbert’s Latest Hit ‘Potent and Believable’

Brantley Gilbert

Most of these folks are rocking their way into the fall season.

Aaron Watson, Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean, Deeann Dominy and Dianna Corcoran are all bringing forth uptempo tunes this week.

But bucking the trend and despite competition from bigger stars, it’s Brantley Gilbert who rides away with the Disc of the Day prize.

Texan Deeann Dominy and Oklahoma’s James Robert Webb duked it out for this week’s DisCovery Award. The Texas diva takes it home.

Deeann Dominy

DEEANN DOMINY/This Train Is Leaving
Writers: Deeann Dominy/Jack Harris; Producer: Anson Funderbrugh; Publisher: none listed; ASCAP/BMI; DD (track)
-This former DisCovery Award winner is back and sounding better than ever. Her raspy, blue-eyed soul voice remains truly gripping. The bass groove on this bluesy country rocker rumbles righteously, and her electric guitarist totally gets on board. Essential listening.

STONEY LARUE/Us Time
Writers: Stoney LaRue/Dean Dillon; Producers: R.S. Field/Van Fletcher; Publishers: Tiltawhirl/ACBM/Sixteen Stars/Tenorado, BMI/ASCAP; eOne (track)
-The title track of Stoney’s latest is a slow romantic ballad with a dreamy, gentle atmosphere and a softly winning vocal. Elsewhere on the CD, he gives us fine revivals of Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman,” Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” Willie Nelson’s “Seven Spanish Angels” and Gary Stewart’s “Empty Glass.” I remain a fan.

DIANNA CORCORAN/God Did Good
Writers: Dianna Corcoran/Jeff Cohen/Kristian Bush; Producer: Dianna Corcoran; Publishers: Tenyar/Silent Gate/As You Wish/Songs of the Architect, BMI; Krlan
-This Aussie chanteuse is already an award winner in her native land. Her U.S. debut is a sprightly, bright bopper with slamming Shania-style percussion and a personable, penetrating country-soprano vocal. Well done.

SAM HUNT/Break Up in a Small Town
Writers: Sam Hunt/Zach Crowell/Shane McAnally; Producers: Crowell/McAnally; Publishers: Universal/Three Mules/External Combustion/Who Wants To Buy My Pub/Atlas/Songs of Southside Independent/I Love Pizza/Smack Ink, ASCAP; MCA (CDX)
-This rocketing rookie again combines conversational spoken passages with sung choruses. Hip-hoppy, yet unmistakably country, because the subject matter is heartbreak. Another winner.

LAUREN ALAINA/Next Boyfriend
Writers:Lauren Alaina/Emily Weissband/Matt McVaney; Producer: busbee; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Lylas/WB/Thankful For This/A Frank/Song House/Kobalt, ASCAP/BMI; Mercury/19
-Cleverly written and cut with peppy personality.

AARON WATSON/Getaway Truck
Writer: Aaron Watson; Producers: Keith Stegall/Aaron Watson; Publisher: Tunes From HTK, BMI; Thirty Tigers/Big (CDX)
-A toe tapper with twang. He’s inviting her to escape onto the open road of romance. If you’re looking for tempo on your playlist, look no further.

THE BAND PERRY/Live Forever
Writers: RedOne, T.I Jakke, Kimberly Perry, Reid Perry, Neil Perry, Jenna Andrews and Karl-Ola Kjellholm; Producers: RedOne/Dann Huff; Publishers: Sony ATV / Songs of RedOne/ Songs by Team Red / Lionheart Music Group/ Sony/ATV Countryside/Pearlfeather Publishing/Sony/ATV Countryside/When I Go to the Moon Music/Sony/ATV Countryside/Famdamily Music; BMI/SESAC; Republic Nashville (ERG)
-It has a big-sounding, beefy, burly pop track, almost Queen-like at times. The siblings’ harmonies and vocal interplay are more vivid than ever. It’s a crazy-quilt of various textures and sounds, but it works in a chesty, anthemic kind of way.

JASON ALDEAN/Gonna Know We Were Here
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Broken Bow (ERG)
-They’re going crazy as young folks on a rampage. Together, they plan wild times with burning ambition. Guitars scream along.

BRANTLEY GILBERT/Stone Cold Sober
Writers: Brantley Gilbert, Brett James, Dan Layus; Producer: Dann Huff; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Indiana Angel Music/External Combustion Music / WB Music Corp. / Songs Of Brett / Atlas Music Publishing/ Yawyer Three Music; ASCAP/BMI; Valory (ERG)
-I think this guy has the coolest singing voice. Here, he rides atop a throbbing electronic track as he asks for a little mercy and forgiveness in hushed, husky tones. Potent and believable.

JAMES ROBERT WEBB/Makin’ Love Tonight
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Bison Creek
-Earnest sounding. He doesn’t set off any explosions as a singer, but he has a solid, journeyman, countryboy delivery. Why fight when we could be loving, he asks. The country rocking instrumental support is super tasty.