This week we are taking a look at 10 new singles from country stars like Eric Church, Jason Aldean, David Nail, Brantley Gilbert, Josh Kelley and Shania Twain (With Lionel Richie). We also take a look at singles from up and coming artists JB and the Moonshine Band, Granger Smith, Jason Cassidy and Moot Davis.
We're happy to bring you a new list of songs this week that is a blend of well-known mainstream country artists like Jason Aldean and Eric Church along with discussing some new material from Texas and California from artists we really like at the Roughstock Offices in Nashville. We really think JB and the Moonshine Band has break-out stars written all over their new material while we're proud to introduce Moot Davis to some of you fans looking for strong traditional country torchbearers. We also can't say enough good things about the soon to be big hit from Eric Church. As always we hope you enjoy the rundown of new music presented here.
David Nail – “The Sound of a Million Dreams”
The title track to David’s recently released album, the song follows the soon to be Gold single “Let It Rain” and it also has Nail’s hopes high for a second consecutive Top 10 hit on country radio (he’s had Top 5 hits and Top 20 hits but never Top 10s in a row). While the going might’ve been easier for David had he released a different single with more of a generic mainstream radio sound (admittedly something hard to do from this album), we’re quite pleased that he has instead decided to go down the road less traveled and released this brilliantly written (by Phil Vassar and Scooter Carusoe) song as the new single. While Top 10 isn’t a given, the song is expertly performed and it’s just heartening to have a singer and record label take a chance with a song like this song, a song that will likely be called ‘boring’ by people with too short of an attention span. It’s different and will stand out on the radio. And that’s always a good thing.
Jason Cassidy – “What If”
Fans with long memories will likely remember this song as the debut single as the lead single from Shane Stockton’s Stories I Could Tell album from 1998. The song was slightly re-worked by Cassidy, changing some of the verses and adding simply beautiful fiddle fills into the mix, to have the song fit Cassidy a bit more without completely changing the song. The verses were altered but the basic theme of the song is the same (a guy proclaiming to change for good in order to keep the love of his life in his life). Well-written, strongly produced by Doug Deforest and superbly sung by Cassidy, this is the kind of song that used to dominate country radio charts but sadly only finds a home in more open secondary radio markets and in Texas, where Cassidy is from (it’s already a hit there)
JB and the Moonshine Band – "The Only Drug"
JB Patterson fronts JB and the Moonshine Band and the up and coming group has found success in Texas with their debut album Ain’t Goin’ Back To Jail from 2010. Set to release follow-up Beer For Breakfast in less than a Month, JB and the Moonshine Band have released this really strong single to country radio. The immediate thing to notice with the tune is how strong of a vocalist JB is. In addition to those vocals, the band manages to provide Zac Brown Band-like harmonies on a song that discusses a man who is ready to settle down from his ramblin’ man ways “I’ve given up my addictions, I’m a brand new man it’s true, baby all I wanted was you.” It’s a song that all women wanna hear and guys usually have a hard time saying. But one of the 14 strong songs from Beer For Breakfast, “The Only Drug” is a song that needs to be added by mainstream country radio stations across the country.
Lionel Richie & Shania Twain – “Endless Love”
It’s hard to take a classic song – deemed by Billboard Magazine as the #1 duet of all time – and make it feel refreshed and new but that’s exactly what Lionel and Shania have done with this, the lead single from his Tuskegee duets project with country artists. The song – and project – prove what we’ve always suspected, that Lionel’s a natural fit as both a country writer and singer. Here’s hoping that this single hits at least the Top 20 but we suspect that radio may have just enough fans willing to help make the song a Top 10 record.
Eric Church – “Springsteen”
Naming a song after an iconic star can be hit or miss. Fortunately for Eric Church, “Springsteen” not is a hit but it’s a dang home run. Following-up the first #1 hit of his career, “Drink In My Hand,” Eric’s about to break open into the stratosphere with a single that will simply be everywhere in the country music world (and maybe adult contemporary and pop world) this spring/summer/fall. This is the kind of song with a timeless story (about songs that bring back memories and the feel good vibes of the past) and timeless melody that just gets into your skin and doesn’t leave. Welcome to the superstar level, EC, you’re likely not to leave for a while.
Granger Smith – “Oxygen”
Taken from Poets and Prisoners, Granger Smith’s latest self-released album, “Oxygen” is like much of the tracks from his album. It showcases a talented singer/songwriter with a distinct sound that works well in Texas and quite honestly, like other Texas Artists profiled this week, it’d work well in the mainstream as well. “Oxygen” is an emotive ballad about how a woman is the narrator’s whole world, “She’s the life that I take in, like Oxygen.”
Brantley Gilbert – “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”
New acts constantly have to take gambles to stay more than just a flash-in-the-pan; one wrong single choice can kill all the momentum of a big debut single. Brantley shouldn't worry, as "You Don't Know Her Like I Do" is an excellent single choice. So far, his material shows an interesting balance: though his topic choices are exactly what radio wants (party anthems, country pride, and now broken heart), he executes them tightly and tunefully, and he stands out with his gritty voice and hard-rock production. And as someone who likes it loud, I approve. – Bobby Peacock
Jason Aldean – “Fly Over States”
Jason Aldean’s on a roll. Quite Honestly, he’s been on a roll since releasing “She’s Country” in 2009. It’s the kind of musical roll that any artist would love to have and with My Kinda Party, the roll has taken Jason to the A-list and it’s for good reason. After releasing diverse singles like “My Kinda Party,” “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” “Dirt Road Anthem” and “Tattos On This Town,” Jason returns with the fifth and likely final single from the double platinum album in “Fly Over States.” I’ve long suspected that “Fly Over States” would make for a great radio single and it serves as a wonderful homage to those often maligned middle-America states that people from both coasts love to criticize and pick on. Yet when you get to the heart of the matter, middle-America is the heart of the whole country for what works there, will work anywhere and they often do the dirty work that those in left and right coasts don’t wanna do. Aldean’s salute to the states is a mini-patriotic song worthy of every ounce of success its about to receive. – Matt Bjorke. Look for Bobby Peacock’s take on the single (in a full-length review) soon!
Moot Davis – Fade To Gold
Now here’s a blast from country music’s past. Working with Kenny Vaughan (a member of Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives band), Moot has created a brand new collection of songs soon to be released on Highway Kind Records. This tune is a great representation of the record as a whole. The lyrics and melody are hauntingly beautiful and Vaughan’s production is as good as anything you’re likely to hear from mainstream country music and perhaps the best thing that can be said about “Fade To Gold” is that while it does recall the classic sounds of the past, the song definitely sounds current as well. This, my friends, is how one makes relevant, neo-traditionalist country music
Josh Kelley – Naleigh Moon
A year ago the soulful singer/songwriter (and brother of Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley) had a Top 20 hit with “Georgia Clay.” The one-time Adult Pop chart star (“Amazing”) adopted a daughter from Korea with Katherine Heigl, his actress wife, and this beautiful ballad was written to and for Naleigh and it showcases a man whose own selfishness has been removed thanks to that sweet little girl who has given him the true meaning and purpose in life. While not a radio hit, it really should be as it’s a universal and appealing song that is without a doubt the best song from Kelley’s Georgia Clay album for MCA Nashville
Well there you go folks, this week’s rundown of 10 recent new single releases in country music. As always, we thank you for taking the time to read this new feature. What do you think of the feature? Have you heard/heard of these songs listed yet? Please leave a comment below to let us know what you think!
Previous “Roughstock Weekly Single Recap” Articles
Weekly Single Recap January 19, 2012
Weekly Single Recap January 26, 2012
Weekly Single Recap February 2, 2012
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