It’s a light week of new releases so well revisit some of our recent favorites along with mentions of the albums that have hit stores this week, including Dave Cobb’s protege Anderson East’s debut album.
Monty Byrom - 100 Miles South of Eden (WTF Records)
This album (which hit his shows in early 2015) finally hit iTunes and other retailers in June. Byrom is the lead singer of the late 90s band Big House and has fronted other southern rock and Bakersfield Country bands for decades. Finally releasing an album under his own name, Byrom showcases why audiences have been transfixed with the powerful singer/songwriter all these years. The album features the equally talented Bekka Bramlett and closes with a great cover of “Big In Vegas” which was recorded live with Buck Owens in 1998 when Big House was popular. Standouts include “What A Blind Man Can See,” “The Keeper,” the rootsy title track and “Meet Me At Midnight.”
Collin Raye - Everlasting (Goldenlane/Cleopatra Records)
Featuring 13 newly-recorded songs, Everything is the kind of album longtime Collin Raye fans have longed for for years. As talented a vocalist as any artist in country music, Collin also has a sweet spot for soft rock hits and that’s where all but 2 of these songs come from, most of them love songs. The two new songs, “Divine Everlasting Love” and “Say Hello To Heaven” showcase that Raye is still has the ears for great, radio-ready material. The 11 covers include Bread’s “If,” Billy Joel’s “She’s Got A Way” and “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” but it’s the covers of Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds,” Boz Skaggs’ “We’re All Alone,” Dan Fogelberg’s “Same Old Lang Syne” and Annie Lennox’s haunting “Love Song For A Vampire” that really stand out the most. This record may be more for fans Raye has already than new fans but it’s a consistent and pleasing collection of songs.
Whitey Morgan & the 78s Sonic Ranch (Independent)
The fourth album of Whitey Morgan’s career as an artist, the Flint, Michigan native once again proves that one doesn’t have to be from the south to make great country music. The music he makes is not what you’ll hear on mainstream stations but if you like Waylon, Willie, Merle and the other Outlaw era of music, chances are you’ll really enjoy Sonic Ranch, a record which features 5 new tracks and 5 choice covers, making Sonic Ranch the kind of record that is a great gateway into Morgan’s brand of country music. Standouts include “Me And The Whiskey,” the cover of Townes Van Zant’s “Waitin’ ‘Round To Die,” Scott Biram’s “Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue,” Morgan’s own “Good Timin’ Man,” and the closer, a cover of Tom T. Hall’s “That’s How I Got To Memphis.”
Anderson East - Delilah (Low Country Sound/Elektra)
Signed to his producer Dave Cobb’s new record label, Anderson East is a throwback sort of artist with a country/blues brand of soul that will recall Amos Lee and, at times, Ryan Adams. On Delilah, his debut, he channels both Sam Cooke and fellow Nashville based artists like Chris Stapleton. East is a talented singer/songwriter and will enchant people looking for stellar songs including “Satisfy Me,” “Quit You,” “Fire Burning,” “Lying In Her Arms” and the passionate cover of “Find ‘Em, Fool ‘Em and Forget ‘Em.”
Now That’s What I Call Country Volume 8 (UMG)
This 18 track compilation showcases what country music’s mainstream sounded like over the past six months or so (There are about 2 releases like this per calendar year). Most of these artists are from UMG or Sony Music Nashville-affiliated labels but indie label artists Jason Aldean and Lee Brice make appearances here with their hits “Just Gettin’ Started” and “Drinking Class. Other hits on the collection appear from stars like Darius Rucker ("Homegrown Honey"), Miranda Lambert ("Automatic"), Brad Paisley ("Perfect Storm"), Jake Owen ("Beachin'") and Luke Bryan ("Roller Coaster") among others.
Wade Hayes - Go Live Your Life (conabar records)
Just a few years removed from surviving Stage 4 colon cancer, Wade Hayes returns with Go Live Your Life a tight collection of 10 tracks that showcase Wade Hayes in fine form on a blend of honky tonk numbers like “Love Knew Better,” “Wrecking Ball” and “Remember The Alimony.” Mixed in with these traditional numbers are strong ballads like the inspirational title track and “If The Sun Comes Up,” a song he recorded while in the throes of his cancer. It’s one of two tracks not written by Wade on the record (Ray Scott and George Teren did). Other oc-writers include Kenny Beard, Ward Davis, Bobby Pinson, Jeff Bates and Roger Springer.
Aaron Tippin - 25 (Nippit Records)
The first disc of this two disc, 25 track collection features the 10 biggest hits of Aaron Tippin’s career, hits like “You Got To Stand For Something,” “Working Man’s Ph.D.,” “Kiss This” and “Where The Stars And Stripses And The Eagle Fly.” They’re all re-recordings and as strong as we remember them while Tippin’s 15 other tracks on disc two include interesting takes on “Keep Your Hands To Yourself,” “Lets Stay Together” and “The Way You Look Tonight.” these songs are part of five interesting songs that close out the record with 10 new tracks like the rockin’ workin’ man anthem “Real People getting the second disc of 25 off the ground. Tippin has always been a better vocalist than anyone gives him credit for and it’s really showcased on those five covers and the new tunes like “Real People,” “Without A Kiss,” “On This Side Of Life” and “Free To Be Me.” His duet with wife Thea, “Easier Said Than Done” certainly joins the pantheon of great songs in Aaron Tippin’s catalog of hits. 25 is Well worth ordering from his website if you’re a fan of real honest country music.
Andrew Combs - All These Dreams (Coin Records/Thirty Tigers)
A strong vocalist and songwriter in the grand tradition of Elton John, Marcus Hummon and Townes Van Zandt, Nashville-based Andrew Combs makes smart adult music which certainly invokes a sense of classic storytelling often lost in the modern world. His vocals at times recall James Taylor while the production of All These Dreams is nothing but stellar. Fans of the storytelling style of songwriting will want to get their hands on Combs' stunning often unclassifiable music. There simply isn't a bad track on the record though "Foolin'," "Rainy Day Song" "Pearl" and "In The Name Of You" all are amongst the album's highlights.
Civil Twilight - Story Of An Immigrant (Wind-Up Records)
Perhaps the best rock-based band most fans of any genres have never heard of, Civil Twilight is back with Story OF An Immigrant, a record which showcases the band melding sing-a-long worthy songs and passionately written tunes which tell great stories. They're not remotely country but they're also not far out of the left field of what's been been coined Americana or even what is made in the mainstream of the country charts these days. Fans who are looking for great songs from great introspective bands should take a liking to "Story of an Immigrant," "Love Was All That Mattered," "River Child" and "Oh Daniel," among others.
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