DISClaimer: A Good Stack of Platters

Missouri Mile

For me, it’s a good day when most of the new music I hear is as good as this stack of platters is. I was particularly smitten with the Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison duets package, the Ron Davies tribute album and Erica Nicole, Gretchen Wilson and Justin Moore. Lend all of them your ears. The Disc of the Day honor belongs to the always superb Pistol Annies for “Hush Hush.” The DisCovery Award goes to the surprisingly accomplished newcomers of Missouri Mile.

PHILIP CLAYPOOL/I’m Gonna Lie
Writers: Gary Hannan/Ira Dean/Aaron Baker; Producer: Michael Lloyd; Publishers: Gary James Hannan/Little Biscuit/Chobe/Sony-ATV Tree/Hillbilly Rich/Skymonkey, BMI
-The grinding, distorted, screaming rock guitars are hugely irritating, but his vocal performance is solid, and the song’s a winner.

GRETCHEN WILSON/Still Rollin’
Writers: Gretchen Wilson/Vicky McGehee; Producer: Gretchen Wilson; Publishers: On Cloud 27/Calhoun Enterprises/peermusic/February 4, ASCAP/BMI
-The rumbling, gently rocking track has a vaguely Bob Seger vibe, which makes me automatically predisposed to love it. Gretchen remains a vocalist of immense personality, and she gives the “survivor” lyric warmth and likeability. Stay tuned for the cool instrumental coda at the song’s end.

ERICA NICOLE/Better Beer
Writers: Kevin Fisher/Darby Orr; Producer: Michael Lloyd; Publishers: Stone Poet/Surface and Dream, BMI/ASCAP
-It’s a happy handclapper about a working girl raising her glass and toasting to a brighter future. Totally catchy and addictive, as well as irresistibly good-natured. This is this artist’s second consecutive delightful disc.

PISTOL ANNIES/Hush Hush
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley; Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell and Glenn Worf; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Pink Dog/Reynsong/Ayden/Angaleena Presley/Ten Ten/EMI April, BMI/ASCAP
-Miranda, Ashley and Angaleena try on some country-rock slippers, and they fit just fine. The ultra witty lyric about a dysfunctional family with secrets is delivered with winks and sly smiles all around. A total hoot from start to finish.

SARA BETH/Kickin’ and Screamin’
Producer: Dean Sams
-Lonestar’s Dean Sams has formed his own record label, and this gal is his first project for it. She sings with winning assurance. His crisp production is utterly contemporary. The song is about holding onto your good times, no matter what.

KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON/Cheater’s Game
Writers: Bruce Robison/Liz Foster/Savannah Welch; Producer: Brad Jones; Publishers: Bruce Robison/W.B.M./Dueling Poets/Shimmy Shake, BMI/SESAC
-Their new duets album has been out for awhile, but I can’t get it out of my head. This is the title tune to a collection that ranks as one of the best of the year so far. Kelly’s lead vocal on the ballad about a woman hitting the bottom aches with emotion, and Bruce’s harmony work is pitch perfect. The rest of the CD is packed with equally dandy tunes by the likes of Robert Earl Keen, Hayes Carll and Dave Alvin (plus chestnuts from Don Williams and Razzy Bailey), as well as originals by the oh-so-talented Bruce. Buy this record.

MAKKY KAYLOR/A Little Sentimental
Writers: Joseph Babcok; Producers: Mark T. Jordan and Makky Kaylor; Publishers: Noma/Unichappel/Elvis Presley, BMI
-Makky is a top Music Row session singer, jingle vocalist and songwriter. The idea behind his album is to recapture the class and style of the classic Nashville Sound of the 1960s. To that end, he reinterprets classics by Don Gibson, Eddy Arnold, Dottie West and Jim Reeves, as well as offering some of his own compositions in the style. The album’s title tune is a 1961 Marty Robbins song. Makky gives the shuffle ballad a warm reading with just a teardrop touch of vibrato. Co-producer Mark T. Jordan’s deft acoustic piano filigrees anchor the lustrous arrangement. Recommended.

MANDY BARNETT/Long Hard Climb
Writer: Ron Davies; Producer: Gail Davies
-The late Ron Davies wrote more than 600 songs, including the Three Dog Night favorite “It Ain’t Easy,” also covered by David Bowie, Mitch Ryder, The Raconteurs and others. Twenty-two of Ron’s tunes are revived on Unsung Hero, an excellent all-star collection featuring John Prine, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, John Anderson, Rodney Crowell, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Bramlett and more. Helen Reddy had success in the 1970s with Ron’s ballad “Long Hard Climb,” which is also associated with Maria Muldaur. Mandy sings it in a languid, dreamy, jazzy fashion. Soft strings cushion the arrangement. Produced by Ron’s younger sister Gail Davies, Unsung Hero is consistently terrific. Sales benefit Nashville’s W.O. Smith Community Music School.

MISSOURI MILE/Exit 214
Writers: Sheena Persons/Sheila Rochelle/Byron Hill; Producer: Byron Hill; Publishers: Song Source/Triage/Byron Hill, ASCAP/BMI
-Songwriters Sheena and Sheila are sisters who comprise the duo Missouri Mile. They harmonize as only siblings can. The lilting title tune to their seven-song EP reveals them to be simply audio awesome. The song is completely captivating as both a melody and a lyric, and Byron Hill’s production frames their vocals with a lovely, luscious mix of mandolin, bass and acoustic guitar. In a word, enchanting. Producers and A&R folks take note: All of these songs are worth cutting, pronto.

JUSTIN MOORE/Point at You
Writers: Ross Copperman/Rhett Akins/Ben Hayslip; Producer: Jeremy Stover; Publishers: EMI Blackwood/Ross Copperman/4 Tunes/WB/Tar-Cam-Knox/Get a Load of This, BMI/ASCAP
-He drawls his tale with gusto. He has a wild side, but if you want to see his soft, sweet, best side, look at his gal. Sonically, it’s a jumbo joyride that romps along with all the goofy best of intentions. This will sound splendid on the radio.