The Weekly New Release Report For March 31, 2015

New releases from Darius Rucker, Jon Wolfe, Cam and the ACM’s Now disc lead the list of recordings hitting stores today.

This week, Darius Rucker enters with his latest album for Capitol Nashville while we discuss Brenn Hill’s release, Cam’s debut EP and Canaan Smith’s debut EP, the new Jon Wolfe project, the two disc Now That’s What I Call ACM Awards 50 Years album while looking at new albums released in the roots/American realm from James McMurtry and The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band.

Jon Wolfe -Natural Man (Fool Hearted Productions/Tone Tree Music)
If you’ve missed the kind of sturdy neb-traditionalist music that George Strait makes then you’re in for luck as Jon Wolfe’s Natural Man is a record that is very much in that lane. And, like Strait, Wolfe knows how to record songs that suit his voice while also being contemporary enough for mainstream radio tastes (he’s had a string of Top 10 hits in Texas). Standouts include lead single “Smile On Mine,” the haunting “Outrun Her Memory,” “It Just Feels Right,” the rockin’ title track, “I’m Doin’ Alright” and fiddle and steel guitar drenched “When I Get To Heaven.”

Canaan Smith - EP (Mercury Nashville)
Featuring five tracks, Canaan Smith’s EP kicks off with the Top 20 hit “Love You Like That” and is followed by four more strong songs that showcase the singer/songwriter’s unique take on mainstream modern country music. Everything is mid to up tempo with “Stuck” “Two Lane Road” and the twangiest of the bunch, “Hole In A Bottle” all strong tracks.

The Reverand Peyton’s Big Damn Band - So Delicious (Yazoo/Shanachie)
The band blends a modern Americana aestetic and blues into a blender and comes out with songs like “Pot Roast And Kisses,” Dirt,” “Hell Naw,” “Front Porch Trained” and “We Lived Dangerous.” The Reverend Peyton’s voice won’t be for everyone but it’s raw and real and gives the band an oomph that is needed to get noticed in the non mainsream (no matter how good the band sounds or the songs are). The band stands out and So Delicious is a strong showing from the band.

James McMurtry - Complicated Game (Complicated Game Records)
The talented singer/songwriter has made a career at bringing a literary style to songwriting and he does so again with the 12 tracks on Compliated Game, his first album since 2008’s Just Us Kids. “Copper Canteen” opens this album of story songs and instantly showcases why McMurtry is considered one of the best songwriters in the world, with songs as vivid lyrically as they are sparse, musically. Known for vivid musical stories that feel like short movies, “South Dakota,” “Carlisle’s Haul” and “Long Island Sound” are added to his canon of such stories while the percussive “How’m I Gonna Find You Now” paints a vivid and interesting lyrical story while “These Things I’ve Come To Know” is the kind of song that can only be written with the advantage of age and really getting to know someone inside and out. Complicated Game is James McMurtry doing what he does best and it’s a delightful treat to behold and one of 2015’s best.

Darius Rucker - Southern Style (Capitol Nashville)
For his forth studio album for Capitol Nashville (he’s also released a holiday album), Darius Rucker has doubled down on the neb-traditionalist sound he played up with his multi-platinum smash “Wagon Wheel” from his previous album True Believers. Working with Frank Rogers and Keith Stegall as producers for the baker’s dozen tracks (Rogers produced seven of the 13), the album sparkles and enhances Rucker’s naturally charming and emotive voice. Mallary Hope returns on “Baby I’m Right” and it’s a joyful and retro-sounding ballad while the title track tells of the reasons why Darius Rucker loves southern girls like his wife. Each track hums but there are some strong moments along with lead single “Homegrown Honey,” and the previously mentioned tracks. “Perfect” feels ready for the radio while “Lighter Up” will be the perfect concert opener to go along with “Half Full Dixie Cup.” But for as great as these songs are, the closing songs “You Can Have Charleston” and “So I Sang” are the clear standouts on Southern Style. “Charleston” for the percussive story song nature that feels like it was written by Lionel Richie for Kenny Rogers while “So I Sang” is Darius’ way of speaking in important moments in his life, through songs when nothing else can do the trick.

Cam - Welcome To Cam Country (Arista)
The talented Cam (Cameron Ochs) showcases why she’s gaining quite a bit of buzz with her debut single “My Mistake.” It’s both contemporary and classic sounding all at once. Her vocal delivery is strong and the EP (which was on Spotify for most of March before hitting iTunes, Amazon and GooglePlay this week) showcases an even better artist. “Burning House” has a great story song vibe to it and moments that recall Carrie Underwood mixed with Lorrie Morgan vocally while “Half Broke Heart” is youthful and playful with quite a lot of Twang a-la Miranda Lambert. Finally, “Runaway Train” has a musicality not often heard on mainstream country. There’s a vibe that recalls Meghan Trainor here that could help Cam be both a country and a crossover star.

Benn Hill - Spirit Rider (Defenders Recording Company)
The Cowboy singer brings his first Gospel recording to the forefront with a mixture of new songs and covers of songs like “Spirit Rider,” “Daddies and Daughters” and “Ghost Rider In The Sky” along with hymns like “Nearer My God To Thee,” “The Rugged Old Cross,” and ”How Great Thou Art.” It may not be a huge hit nationwide but for fans who give him a chance, they’ll find something to like on Spirit Rider.

Various Artists - Where I Come From (Average Joes Entertainment)
This compilation features patriotic themed songs like “Standard American” from Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys, “Ride Through The Country” from Colt Ford, “My Small Town” from Danny Boone, “You’re No Good” from Sarah Ross, “Stomping’ Grounds” from JJ Lawhorn and the title track, “Where I Come From,” the last single to hit the Top 10 from Montgomery Gentry.

Various Artists - Now That’s Why I Call ACM Awards 50 Years (UMG/Sony)
The compilation honoring the ACM Award’s 50th anniversary features 34 songs on two disc albums. Starting with songs from the recent eras all the way back to hits form Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, Conway & Loretta, George Jones and The Highwaymen. In essence, it’s a record that showcases how country music has grown and changed over the past 50 years. What an interesting time capsule of country music history and particularly the ACM Awards (where each of these songs was honored in some way).

New Pre-orders include Suffer In Peace from Tyler Farr, 717 from Jason Cassidy and Ringling Road from William Clark Green.

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