This week we have quite a few new releases and certainly something for every fan of country music's various shades of the Crayola Crayon box. Below is our quick-hit thoughts about each of these albums.
Jon Pardi - The B Sides, 2011-2014 (Capitol Records)
This new six track EP features songs recorded for the rising singer/songwriter’s debut album Write You A Song. Many of these tracks have been performed live in concert through the years (especially while out opening for Alan Jackson) and that’s what ultimately lead to the release of this enjoyable extension of the album. Pardi’s still an engaging country music singer, many of these songs are steeped in country, blues and country rock and not one of them has a hint of any other genre with loads of fiddle and steel guitar laced throughout. Standouts include “Drinkin’ With Me,” “Back On The Backoads,” “Fightin’ The Fool” and “Borrowed Time.”
Darrell Scott - 10 (Songs of Ben Bullington) (Full Light/Thirty Tigers)
Ben Bullington was a well-known physician in who wrote folk/country songs while not practicing medicine in Livingston, Montana. The talented artist passed away from pancreatic cancer in November 2013 but in the year following his diagnosis, he did more living (and gigging) than most people do in a life time. This record from Darrell Scott serves as both a tribute to Bullingon’s musical legacy and to get more people aware of the talented artist’s music. Scott, a distinctive songwriter and musician himself, infuses each of these 10 tracks with the kind of passionate playing and singing that we’ve come to expect from Scott. Burlington’s songs are often stunning and there’s not a terrible track on the album with each song containing strong lyrical phrases. “Thanksgiving 1985,” “Born In ’55,” “His Chosen Time” and “I’ve Got To Leave You Now” (this one the actual iPhone recording that Bullington heard) are the instant standouts but it’d be foolish to not discuss “Country Music, I’m Talking To You,” a “protest song” about the recent state of affairs in Nashville and country music radio. This one will be a highlight for many.
Della Mae - Della Mae (Rounder)
The talented band returns with their sophomore album via Rounder Records (Third overall) and working with Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, James Bay, Norah Jones, The Punch Brothers), they expand on the sound of their previous album This World Oft Can Be, and it’s an expansion that may turn them from Grammy Nominees to Grammy winners. Quite simply, the band sounds ready to be the next big radio stars in Country music, if only country music radio would play a band who writes and sing songs like this. Standouts include “Rude Awaking,” “To Ohio,” “Can’t Go Back,” “No Expectations” and “Shambles.”
Christian Lopez Band - Onward (Blaster Records)
The talented baby-faced singer songwriter (who still is just 19) presents his full-length debut after last fall’s fine Pilot EP (only two tracks are ported from the EP to the final album). Working with Dave Cobb behind the boards, Christian Lopez and his band present a lean 10 track collection of songs that should place him right with other artists in Cobb’s stable as artists (Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, etc.) worthy of your time. “Take Your Time” is a sturdy opener while the rocker “Don’t Know How” could be a radio gem, if not on country then on AAA radio. There’s a nice Jayhawks-like vibe to the track (in both melody and harmony), and “Will I See You Again” and “The Man I Was Before” fight nicely within this album just like they did the eye-opening EP. There’s really not a bad track on the album and it shows the potential for a singer/songwriter who should grow into one of Americana/Country’s household names in the years to come.
Nashville Cast - The Music Of Nashville Original Soundtrack Season 3, Volume 2 (Lions Gate/Big Machine).
What’s interesting is the music in the world of Nashville, the TV show comes FROM Nashville but save for a couple of songs (“I’m On It” from Chris Carmack,” “If I Drink This Beer” — both written by members of Old Dominion — and “Mississippi Flood”), the majority of these songs would be classified as Americana songs. That doesn’t mean the album isn’t ready for fans of all flavors of country music, even if you’ve never once watched the TV program (which was renewed for a fourth season). Standout tracks include “Borrow My Heart,” “Longer,” “I’m On It,” “Mississippi Flood,” “Sad Song,” “My Song,” “Broken Song,” and “Heart On Fire.”
Kelsea Ballerini - The First Time (Black River Entertainment)
The first potential breakout star for Black River Entertainment, Kelsea Ballerini is primes to step into the large space within country music vacated by Taylor Swift’s move to pop music. Ballerini, also a young singer/songwriter who co-wrote (or wrote) the entirety of The First Time, showcases a confident vocal and stylistic presence, even if the lyrics touch on subjects young women often go through in life. Standouts include “XO,” “Square Pegs,” “Secondhand Smoke,” “The First Time,” “Dibs,” “Sirens.” See our longer-form review of The First Time here.
The Grahams - Glory Bound (12 South/Creative Entertainment/RED)
Talented duo Alyssa and Dough Graham present a wonderful collection of Americana/roots music for fans looking for stuff that may not be ‘mainstream’ but isn’t any worse for that (some would probably say that makes it instantly better) There band’s music is strong while Alyssa has as strong a voice as anyone you could imagine, the kind of vocalist who should be heard by more people, particularly fans looking for strong female artists within country music. Standouts on the project — produced by Wes Sharon - include their own innuendo-laced song “Biscuits,” “Griggstown,” “Blow Wind Blow,” “Glory Bound” “Promised Land” and “Lay Me Down.”
Brantley Gilbert - Just As I Am [Platinum Edition] (The Valory Music Co.)
The talented “outlaw” has added a few new tracks to his year old album Just As I Am. In addition to the bonus tracks from the original “Deluxe Edition” of Just As I Am, (“Grown Ass Man,” “G.R.I.T.S.” and “Read Me My Rights,”) This album features the remix of hit “Bottoms Up” with rapper T.I., “Do What The Night Wants, “Same Old Song,” “Just As I Am,” and “Stone Cold Sober.” “Do What The Night Wants,” and “Stone Cold Sober” could both be potential radio hits. These songs might be enough for longtime fans to take home the album and certainly for only $10 on iTunes this record represents a bargain with 19 full tracks but if you already have the 2014 release, you may be better off just adding the specific songs which strike your fancy.
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