DISClaimer Single Reviews: Brothers Osborne & Cody Johnson Team For Disc Of The Day

This listening session rocked my world. I absolutely flipped over the new sounds offered by Kacey…

Brothers Osborne & Cody Johnson. Photo: Nick Swift

I absolutely flipped over the new sounds offered by Kacey Musgraves, Lady A, Brett Young, Wesko, Sheryl Crow, Jamie O’Neal, and the Brothers Osborne/Cody Johnson collab, which narrowly edges out the others for the Disc of the Day award.

Duking it out for the DISCovery Award were Max McNown, Summer Overstreet and our winner, Cassidy Daniels.

SUNNY BLACK / “ Does to Me ” Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Atlantic Outpost – Black stakes his claim as a romancer on this straightforward country slow-dance gem. Performed with finesse and warmth.

CASSIDY DANIELS / “ Ain’t No Jukebox ” Writers: Cassidy Daniels/Kenny Whitmire/Lee Starr; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Country Road Records – Snappy rhythms, saucy lyrics, smart attitude. She sings like a hillbilly angel and dishes up kiss-off lines like the devil. Cool guitar riffs wrap up the whole country-rock package. I’m in.

LADY A / “ Bigger Picture ” Writers: Andy Albert/Devin Dawson/Paul Sikes/Trannie Anderson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Lady A Entertainment – Awesome & eloquent. Hillary sings lead on a song that says there’s a higher power at work that you can’t see while you’re going through the pain and grief of life. The lyric seems extra poignant in the wake of Charles’ cancer diagnosis.

SUMMER OVERSTREET / “ Call Me Candy ” Writers: Gina Venier/Savana Santos/Summer Overstreet; Producer: Savana Santos; Label: Baby Bird Records – This is evidently about illicit, barroom-pickup sex. The cool, spare production is a groove, and you can’t beat the sweet/tart quality of her performance. Summer has penned hits for Tucker Wetmore (”3-2-1”) and Lainey Wilson (”Phone Keys Wallet”) and was a nominee for MusicRow ’s Breakthrough Songwriter award this year. Papa Paul was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this month.

BRETT YOUNG / “ Me Holdin' On ” Writers: Mark Nesler/Todd Smith/Tony Martin; Producer: Jimmy Robbins; Label: Blue Highway Records – The echoey, swirling, rhythm-saturated production is brilliant. Brett’s furry, throaty, warm, and involving vocal is an enveloping comfort as he delivers a heart-piercing lyric about being reminded of a love that has ended. A hooky ear worm if I’ve ever heard one.

BOTTOMLAND / “ Colder ” Writers: Cannon Brand/Jared Hampton/Tate Howell; Producer: Will Braun; Label: Sony Music Nashville – Heartbreak, served in a plodding track and with a listless vibe. Pass.

KACEY MUSGRAVES / “ Weekend In Texas ” Writers: Ilsey Juber/Kacey Musgraves/Shane McAnally; Producers: Daniel Tashian, Kacey Musgraves; Label: Lost Highway – This delightful Lone Star State travelogue boasts a dandy Tex-Mex production with touches of Latin, spaghetti-western, and rockabilly flavors. She’s getting over a heartbreak by heading for a tequila-for-breakfast getaway. You’ll want to ride along.

JULIA COLE & BRELAND / “ Loving Someone Like That ” Writers: Daniel Breland/Julia Cole/Mason Sacks; Producers: Josh Ronen, Julia Cole; Label: broke – Falling in love with a loser has never sounded better. These two harmonize splendidly.

BROTHERS OSBORNE & CODY JOHNSON / “ Born and Raised Hell ” Writers: John Osborne/Kendell Marvel/Lee Thomas Miller; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: MCA – Two superstar acts. One slammin’ country-rock track. Thousands applaud. Both TJ and Cody sing their faces off while John churns out guitar magic and tenor vocal harmonies. LOVE this single.

SHERYL CROW / “ Pick You Up ” Writers: Jeff Trot/Sheryl Crow; Producers: Jeff Trott, Sheryl Crow; Label: Old Green Barn Productions – The title tune of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s new collection is a loping, swingin’ ode to friendship. Whatever happens, she’s got your back. Love it that she uses her lowest also range as well as leaping into soprano vocal breaks. Delicious listening. Catch this legendary singer-songwriter on the road with Kenny Chesney and Eric Church in 2027.

MAX McNOWN & CARLY PEARCE / “ Not Falling Out ” Writers: Hillary Lindsey/Jamie Kenney/Max McNown/Scott Harris; Producer: Jamie Kenney; Label: Fugitive Recordings – Tuneful and charming. They vow to keep falling in love over and over. These two sing splendidly together, and the lilting, mid-tempo production groove is enchanting.

WESKO / “ Feel Something ” Writers: KK Johnson/Sam Backoff/Wesley Holmes; Producer: Ryan Gore ; Label: Underscore Works Recordings/Warner Records – This lifted me out of my chair. It’s kinda masochistic. “ I just wanna cry…bleed…feel the pain…go insane .” But here’s the thing: He’s a helluva singer, and the production is a propulsive pleasure. A single with tension, passion, power, and irresistible magnetism. This artist has released nothing but gems and is batting 1,000.

HARDY / “ Man in the Box ” Writers: Chase McGill/David Garcia/Hunter Phelps/Michael Hardy; Producers: David Garcia, HARDY; Label: Big Loud Records – This is an 8-minute song cycle, flowing through multiple melodies and tempi. The enigmatic lyrics describe equally multiple personalities and moods. Highly creative. Fascinating listening. Catch Hardy at the new venue The Truth in WeHo. He’s there tonight and tomorrow for his “Hardy Halloween” tour stop.

JAMIE O’NEAL / “ Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain ” Writers: Brandy Clark/Mark Narmore/Shelley Skidmore; Producer: none listed; Label: JO – Jamie was a standout on the star-studded, PBS Tammy tribute TV special last Friday with her torrid, torchy performance of this brilliant ballad. The whole “Great Performances” show is worth your time, and it’s now available on YouTube.