DISClaimer Single Reviews (7/11/12)

Disc of the Day winner Pistol Annies

Country music comes in all kinds of styles this week.

You connoisseurs of old-school, barroom story telling need go no farther than “I Just Come Here for the Music.” It’s as fine a country song as I’ve heard all year. And it sure doesn’t hurt that it’s in the throats of the masterful Don Williams and Alison Krauss.

Those of you of a forward-looking, cutting-edge persuasion owe yourselves a listen to “Truck Yeah.” You won’t find a more adventuresome single than this latest outing by Tim McGraw. The man definitely knows a hit when he hears one.

Gretchen Wilson is offering blue-eyed soul. Brian Milson is our balladeer du jour. Randy Rogers Band and Sarah Jarosz add two more, totally different, flavors to the mix.

DisCovery Award winner Her & Kings County

Our Disc of the Day prize goes to Pistol Annies for their left-field take on life as a touring musician, “Takin’ Pills.” I’m smitten with all three of these babes.

Speaking of “different,” do your ears a favor and spin “Family Tree” for them. The quirky audio charms of this platter earn Her & Kings County this week’s DisCovery Award.

RANDY ROGERS BAND/One More Sad Song
Writer: Randy Rogers/Sean McConnell; Producer: Jay Joyce; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/Lonely Model/Little Beluga, BMI; MCA Nashville (CDX) 
—Wonderfully melodic and marvelously atmospheric. The softly attractive, moody, cloud-shadowed and captivating verses draw you in inescapably, then give way to brightly brilliant sunbeams in the soaring choruses. Totally engaging.

SARAH JAROSZ/Annabelle Lee
Writer: Sarah Jarosz/Cameron Scoggins; Producer: Gary Paczosa; Publisher: SoRaw/Pounding Paw, BMI; Sugar Hill (CDX) 
—Based on the famed 1849 Edgar Allan Poe poem (published two days after his death), this is appropriately haunting and minor-key. But there is rhythm and drive here as well. Check it out.

COLT FORD & JAKE OWEN/Back
Writer: Colt Ford/Shannon Houchins/Noah Gordon/Mike Hartnett; Producer: Shannon Houchins, Noah Gordon & Mike Hartnett; Publisher: Average ZJS/Mike Harnett/ZJS, BMI/ASCAP; Average Joe’s (CDX) (615-733-9983)
—It was so pretty and nostalgic and tuneful, until he started to rap.

DON WILLIAMS & ALISON KRAUSS/I Just Came Here for the Music
Writer: John Ramey/Bobby Taylor/Doug Gill; Producer: Garth Fundis & Don Williams; Publisher: Sixteen Stars/Stella Dog/Peacehouse, BMI; Sugar Hill (track) (www.donwilliams.com)
—Wistful, poignant and loaded with emotion. From the aching lyric of two lost souls to the awesomely heart-tugging vocal work, this is country-music heaven.

BRIAN MILSON/Too Damn Young
Writer: Casey Kessel/Arlis Albritton; Producer: James Stroud; Publisher: Major Bob/EMI, ASCAP; Permian/Quarterback (www.brianmilson.com)
—Remembering a youthful romance with just the right amount of wisdom and lingering innocence. Well written, well sung and well produced.

TIM McGRAW/Truck Yeah
Writer: Chris Janson/Preston Brust/Chris Lucas/Danny Myrick; Producer: Ryron Gallimore & Tim McGraw; Publisher: Red Vinyl/Sony-ATV Tree/Root 49/DannyMyrick, BMI; Big Machine 
—It’s borderline offensive. Which is probably why I like it so. Also: It’s a decidedly different musical approach, and that’s always a welcome thing from a veteran superstar.

GRETCHEN WILSON/One Good Friend
Writer: Dennis Morgan/Billy Burnette/Bekka Bramlett; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Little Shop of Morgansongs/Still Working for the Man/Irving/Miss Ivy, BMI; Redneck 
—As usual, she is an immensely expressive vocalist. This time around, she’s delving into an r&b, soul-sister groove, to the accompaniment of a fuzz-tone guitar, a stately backbeat and a searing organ solo. The super-cool song deserves to be covered by every blues-leaning artist on the planet.

PISTOL ANNIES/Takin’ Pills
Writer: Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley; Producer: Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Reynsong/Ayden/Ten Ten, BMI/ASCAP; Columbia (track) 
—“One’s drinkin,’ one’s smokin,’ one’s takin’ pills.” Now THAT’S a country lyric you don’t hear every day from a gang of gals on the honky-tonk trail. Mix the vocal attitude with a dose of raucous band noise, a dollop of feisty harmonies and a pinch of lively snare and you’ve got the perfect hillbilly cocktail recipe.

KELLY PARKES/All Cried Out
Writer: Ron Irving/Lynda McKillip/Kathleen Higgins; Producer: Darran Smith, Mark Lambert & Mike Borchetta; Publisher: SueCo/McKiller/Marydian, SOCAN; Edge (615-288-4234 ext. 101)
—Bopping and cheeky, if a little uncertain vocally in spots. It kinda sounds like if they’d taken a few more passes at it, she’d have locked into the band’s groove a mite more and nailed it. But make no mistake, there’s definite promise here.

HER & KINGS COUNTY/Family Tree
Writer: Caleb Sherman/Monique Staffile/Larry Florman/Justin Sherman/Alex Haddad/Frank Gagliardi; Producer: Caleb Sherman, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Josh Leo; Publisher: Warner-Tamerlane/ Therealcaleb/ Tweetleberry/ Brolo/ Shuggafree/ Alex Haddad/Katie Ro, BMI/ASCAP; Elektra Nashville/Warner Bros. 
—This mixes hearty group choral harmonies with crunchy beats, spoken-sung passages, superb production finesse and a ridiculously catchy song. Plus, it’s completely joyful. A delightful surprise.