This week's weekly playlist is a mixture of stars like Eric Church, Zac Brown Band and The Band Perry with some rising tars like Frankie Ballard, Cole Swindell, Cassadee Pope and Joe Bachman. Continue on below to see our thoughts on the 10 tunes this week and then you can listen to them via our Spotify playlist below!
1. Cole Swindell - “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight”:
The key to any good playlist is to get a mood set and this track from Cole’s album due to be released next week (more info here) is one of our favorites from the album. It’s mid-tempo, the theme is familiar yet fresh and the performance from Cole helps sell the song to the point that it will be a big hit if/when it gets released as a single to radio.
2. Holly Williams - “The Highway”:
The daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. released her album of the same name last year and it remains one of our favorite releases from that calendar year and it’s because of strong performances like she gives on “The Highway.”
3. Eric Church - “Give Me Back My Hometown”:
On the surface this song — From the just released The Outsiders — seems like something that’s just pulling out tropes for the sake of making a song but then if you really listen there are clever turns of phrase, passionate vocals from Eric Church and downright inventive production from Jay Joyce.
4. Frankie Ballard - “Sunshine & Whiskey”:
The title track to Frankie’s just-released album, “Sunshine & Whiskey” showcases everything you could want to know about a modern country song with the sing-a-long lines, a sweet groove and lyrics about being intoxicated with love.
5. Zac Brown Band - “Natural Disaster”:
This song is everything that is good about Zac Brown Band. From the harmonies, to the passionate performances from the band to Zac’s strong lead vocal and the straight to the point lyric.
6. Chris Weaver Band - “Time Has Wings”:
He may be more “Americana” than mainstream Country but there’s something about this story song that just hits us. It’s a strong song from Chris Weaver Band’s latest album American Dreamer that showcases Weaver’s strong, guttural vocals that are among the best you’re likely to hear anywhere.
7. Joe Bachman - Lookatchu”:
Just-signed to indie powerhouse Rock Ridge Records, Joe Bachman has been a top touring draw across America for many years now and with “Lookatchu” he’s making a play for mainstream success with a well-written contemporary track which showcases what you might expect if you were to see Joe and his band in concert.
8. Kacey Musgraves - “Keep It To Yourself”:
Written by Kacey and her Grammy-winning co-producers/co-writers Shane McAnally and Luke Laird, “Keep It To Yourself” is from Same Trailer Different Park and while it’s likely too ‘slow’ to be a radio single, it also could be her best chance at a big radio hit after “Merry Go Round” from this album. The ballad is sweet and
9. The Band Perry - “Chainsaw”:
Another song co-written by Shane McAnally (with Josh Osborne and Old Dominion’s Matt Ramsey), “Chainshaw” is as clever as one’s likely to get with Modern country music and what’s fun about this one is you can hear inventive steel guitar flourishes (and a solo) along with fiddle fills in addition to The Band Perry’s traditional mandolin and acoustic base. It’s just a really cool and fun track.
10. Cassadee Pope - “Champagne”:
With a common theme (not unlike “Sunshine & Whiskey” or Tyler Farr’s “Whiskey In My Water,”) “Champagne” is then sold by Cassadee Pope’s strong vocal and inventive production from Dann Huff that helps bring an instant like-ability to the track and it makes for the perfect closer to this week’s playlist.
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