This week, we check out 10 new country music singles from a range of talent. From talented up-and-comers like Florida Georgia Line and Chase Rice to really new singer/songwriters like Lucas Hoge and Ryan Broshear to star talents like Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, The Lost Trailers and Lauren Alaina. Broshear, FGL, Rice and Church deliver the most memorable singles of the bunch but we'd be remiss if we didn't say we were also groovin to the other ones mentioned here with the exception of one.
Ryan Broshear - "Let Your Redneck Out"
It may follow a theme that's been played out in other singles but what this single does showcase is a newcomer with a DYI effort that's as good and country as anything that's been on the radio the past couple of years. It's a feel-good party song that says to not be ashamed of the wild-child, possibly trashy side of your personality out. It's a strong first effort and it's not even the best song on Broshear's mostly neo-traditionalist leaning record.
Listen to "Let Your Redneck Out"
Eric Church - "Creepin'"
Lyrically sharp with strong turns of phrase everywhere, "Creepin'" has a melody to it that will certainly appeal to anyone who has enjoyed past Eric Church rockers and tracks from his past records. Jay Joyce keeps the production tight and as usual there are some interesting uses to the instruments before EC gets in full-on rock star. There may be some out there who don't like the song for the 'stalker' vibe they may think it's about but what the song is really about is a guy who cannot shake the heartbreak he has, no matter how much he tries, thus it's just 'Creepin'.'
Jason Aldean - "Take A Little Ride"
Already the #1 song on the country digital singles chart, "Take A Little Ride" doesn't go for official radio adds until the 30 of July yet don't expect it to be anywhere but in or near the Top 10 by that point. Quite simply the song has not only hit all of the hallmarks of a song that Aldean's audience expects but he simply hit a home run with all of the fans of country and redneck rock as the Georgia native has hit #1 on the iTunes digital single chart and if he remains there for most of the week, he could very well have the #1 digital single in all genres, which would be the first time in country music history that a male country artist (maybe even a country artist) would be #1 let alone debut at #1. The lyrics aren't more than speaking about the guy, his girl and his truck with country music playing on the radio but it's a theme clearly most of the 'Fly Over States' love to listen and sing-a-long to.
Listen to a 90 second sample here!
Chase Rice - "How She Rolls"
Chase Rice' lead single (listen here) from Dirt Road Communion, "How She Rolls" finds the just-signed-to-CAA artist showcasing his strong songwriting skills which marry nicely with the production from Chad Carlson. It's a tight, radio ready mix that is strong and perfect in the modern country music pocket. Chase is a natural and charming artist in the Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley mold with a playful side that is more 'rock-n-roll' than awe-shucks country boy next door and showcases all of that here.
Brantley Gilbert - "Kick It In The Sticks"
Here's a case of a viral single getting official single status. Originally a single from Brantley's days with Average Joes Entertainment, the video for the track ended up getting over 11 million streams before the song ever got a chart placement. It's awful loud and it's hard to not think that these lyrics could do without so much noise. But clearly there's a market for the single and it's a market that will likely eat it up on 'country' radio, now that the song is a single.
The Lost Trailers - "American Beauty"
A great sounding song, "American Beauty" is nonetheless a song that feels like an interpolation of Jason Mraz's mega pop hit "I'm Yours." The melodies are quite similar. Written by Mason Douglas, Josh Osborne and Matt Jenkins, "American Beauty" is catchy, up tempo modern country pop done right. The strong melody, along with the catchy lyrics allow the song to breeze past our ears in a way that makes it entirely listenable and a song that can get into your head.
Florida Georgia Line - "Cruise"
With well over 100,000 singles sold leading FGL to a major record deal with Republic Nashville, "Cruise" is certainly in its way to breaking out at country radio. "Cruise" is catchy as all get out and the singers are two of the nicest, most-hardworking artists I've met in Nashville. Their sound is wholly contemporary and the thump-y twangy telecasters are married to a modern production sound from Joey Moi and it all ads up into a winning combination. There's just no way this song isn't a hit and that's exactly what I thought when I first heard it this spring when Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard were still indie.
Her & Kings County - "Family Tree"
Yet another new act signed to the Warner Music Nashville stable of artists (it seems they're either newish or superstar veterans), Her & Kings County represent the label's most adventurous country music signing since Big & Rich. With "Family Tree," the energetic group might just have found the song to break at radio. It was always going to be a 'leap of faith' for radio (and fans) to embrace the 'country No Doubt' but if any song will make 'em do it, it is this song.
Lucas Hoge - "Do What Makes You Feel Good"
This photogenic artist has continued to plug away in this crazy music business and "Do What Makes You Feel Good" feels exactly like the kind of song that a nose-to-the-grindstone artist should be releasing. What makes it work as well as it does is the even production, jovial melody and lyrics which remind us to 'not sweat the small stuff.' Promising.
Lauren Alaina - "Eighteen Inches"
Lauren Alaina has hit the Top 30 with both of her singles in her career thus far ("Like My Mother Does" and "Georgia Peaches") and while that could be considered a 'failure' for an American Idol alumni, she's done nearly as well as her 2011 Idol co-finalist, Scotty McCreery and certainly has sold quite a few albums (well over 200,000) which positions her well enough to warrant not only one more single released from Wildflower but also to release another single and album sometime in 2013. Now, talking about this single "Eighteen Inches," Lauren's picked up a single that was written by her own personal favorite country singer, Carrie Underwood in one of the writer retreats for one of Carrie's past albums. While some would say then that Lauren's trying to 'copy' Carrie, I think it's more of a case of a song that suits Alaina better than Underwood at this point in their careers. If this single doesn't break her through, the label will have to go back to the drawing board for her sophomore album as this is her most radio-friendly single yet.
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