This week we take a look at brand new singles from Tim McGraw, Matt Kennon, Love and Theft, Jana Kramer, Jason Cassidy, Zac Brown Band, Dustin Lynch, Thompson Square, Clay Walker and Kip Moore.
Last week we shared with you the debut of this weekly series featuring 10 new or recent singles and now we’re proud to bring you our second installment of new singles. Below we collect 10 new/recent tunes from mainstream and beyond to briefly share our thoughts here about these 10 new songs!
Love and Theft – Angel Eyes
It’s always hard for a band to move on from trio to duo but like Sugarland before them, Love and Theft seem to work just as good, if not better as a duo. One listen to “Angel Eyes” is all that is needed to know that the duo – just nominated for their first ACM Award today – is on the right track.
Matt Kennon – You Had To Pick On Me
Matt delivered an emotional and successful single in “The Call” in 2010 and he’s back in 2012 with an even better and equally important single with “You Had To Pick On Me.” Yes, Kennon’s voice isn’t the standard mainstream sound and that’s part of the appeal here. The main appeal of this song is the fantastic lyric which discusses bullying and the impact it has on all kinds of people. Masterful
Thompson Square – Glass
Thompson Square broke through last year with “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” and “I Got You” but both of those songs were up tempo songs so it’ll be interesting to see how radio reacts to Glass. It’s the first song where Shawna Thompson takes the lead vocal instead of her husband Kiefer and the lyrics are interesting and use Glass as a metaphor for the fragility of the human condition.
Clay Walker – Like We Never Say Goodbye
Clay Walker was one of my favorite artists growing up in the 1990s. So it’s always interesting to hear a new single from Clay. From the same album that gave us his Top 10 title hit “She Won’t Be Lonely Long,” this ballad sounds like one of his better songs and it has a sweet story about a couple finding each other after years apart. The only problem the tune will have is if it’s too ‘old’ or ‘slow’ for modern country radio to give two thoughts about.
Jana Kramer – Why You Wanna
Selected as one of Roughstock’s ones to Watch in 2012, Jana Kramer has seemingly broken through quite early with “Why You Wanna.” With an appealing voice that sounds like a cross between Taylor Swift’s pop-leaning sound and Ashton Shepherd’s elegant twang, Jana Kramer questions why a boy keeps playing games with her heart.
Jason Cassidy – What If
This song is currently rising the Texas Music Charts and it’s not hard to see it being a hit nationwide if country radio actually would make room for sharp, traditional-leaning fiddle-filled ballads like “What If.” Cassidy is a fine vocalist and the production on this track is as good as anything coming from the majors. Do yourself a favor and take a listen to this song and look for Cassidy’s whole My Redemption record.
Kip Moore – Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck
This single is already inside the Top 30 and it’s from an artist many are considering one of country music’s true break-out artsits for 2012. The second single from Kip Moore after the interesting “Mary Was The Marrying Kind,” “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck” tells a familiar story about country lifestyle without ever getting too clichéd. It works very well in a Sprinsteen kind of way, something that also applies to Moore’s identifiable gritty twang as well.
Dustin Lynch – Cowboys And Angels
This newcomer is one of Roughstock’s new artists to watch (Ones to Watch in 2012) and it’s because of “Cowboys and Angels” that the newcomer is here. His smooth baritone is clear and effective and the lyric is sweet and right on point. The production never gets too far in the way of the Tennessee-native’s charismatic voical. This is a song that mixes the earnestness of Brad Paisley’s best with the romantic sly sexiness of Garth Brooks’ best. IF this song isn’t a hit, I’d be shocked.
Tim McGraw – Better Than I Used To Be
Written by Ashley Gorley and Brian Simpson, the song is one of McGraw’s most “country” songs to date with strong lyrical imagery which co-incides with what can only be described as one of Tim’s best vocal efforts in years. Reflective, emotive and just downright strong, this is a song that needs to get to the Top 10 in any way possible, though we suspect the circumstances around the release of the record will prevent it from doing so.
Zac Brown Band - No Hurry
Every single from the band since breaking through with "Chicken Fried" in 2008 has hit the #1 slot on one or both of the major country music charts (Billboard & Country Aircheck/USA Today) so it's always interesting to see which song is going to break that streak. If the band can hit #1 with this one, they'll not only have their ninth such hit in a row but they'll also tie Rodney Crowell's record of #1 hits from one album. That record happened in 1988/1989 with the Diamonds and Dirt album. "No Hurry" finds Zac and crew delivering another acoustic and fiddle-laced song that recalls classic folk/pop. The song showcases Brown's James Taylor-like tenor and finds a man whose not in a rush to try and worry about problems in his life. Basically, "No Hurry" is a "stop and smell the roses" kind of song.
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