In any given music venue on any given night in Nashville one is likely to hear great songs.  While a visitor to Nashville may know the songs they're hearing, they're likely to not know that the guy or girl singing those songs is the writer behind the songs.  With that thought in mind Adroit Records was created by Jim Tract to focus on some of the greatest songwriters in Nashville.   "Words & Music Nashville" is the first in a series of albums that showcase some of the city's up-and-coming writers along with some of the industry's best-known writers. 

Leading off the record is Lucas Hoge and his fiddle and mandolin-laced song "Dirt" (co-written with Eddie Kilgallon and Jeff Dayton). Quite simply, it's one of the better farming songs that I've heard in a while and it's sure to impress people who like their songs to be about country themes. While the song "International Harvester" was fun, "Dirt" is the kind of song that shows a man's pride in his family's farm and the hard-workin' life of a farmer.  Craig Monday has had songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Mark Wills, and others and with one listen to "Heaven Is A Small Town" (co-written with Chris Wallin) it's easy to see why.  With a honey smooth tenor that's not unlike Vince Gill's, Monday sings a wonderful story song about what life is like on the other side and the fact that in heaven everyone knows you, loves you and gets along: in other words it's utopia.  The most famous song on this collection is Vince Melamed's "Walkaway Joe," a song (co-written with Greg Barnhill) that was a big hit for Trisha Yearwood in the 1990's.  It's another story song and while Melamed isn't able to sing like Trisha, he does a remarkable job singing the song.

With a soul-influenced voice, Joshua Rush sings his soft, steel-guitar laced ballad that he co-wrote with Warren Sellers and Dee Briggs, "I Found Myself Dancin'," a song with a remarkably catchy chorus while Brendan McKinney sings his dobro and slide guitar inflicted, toe-tappin' mid-tempo rocker "Yeah, She Does."  Written with Craig Monday, Ray Sisk's "Memphis" is a soul-drenched song that recalls many of Memphis' great songs of the past, particularly with an awesome guitar solo in the middle of the song.  One of the most remarkable vocalists on this first "Words & Music Nashville" project is Cheley Tackett.  Imagine Allison Moorer's blissfully soulful voice and you've got yourself a good comparison for Cheley.  Written with Nicole Witt and Rick Tiger, "Play The Song I Like" is a truly wonderful track that showcases Tackett’s great songwriting as well. 

Karleen Watt's pretty story song "I'm Not Ready" is heart-tugging while Mason Douglas' "Home Free" tells one of the better stories about a soldier that you're likey to have heard in a long time.  It is a very good way to end the album but for my money the best song on the whole "Words & Music Nashville" compilation is Lisa Carver's "Bullets."  With a simple acoustic melody, Lisa sings a story of the life of a bullet.  It's equally haunting and poetic at the same time and I doubt there isn't one person in the world who isn't affected by the lyrics, that is if they will actually listen to the lyrics as this is a song that demands that people do just that.  If you don't listen to the lyrics, you'll miss part of the song and lose the story. 

With 10 great songs, Adroit Records has presented a wonderful collection of songs that any fan of great songs and songwriting would be a fool not to pick up.

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