After a brief hiatus of a couple weeks, we’re back with our Weekly Single Recap: July 28, 2015. The recap showcases a blend of newcomers and star artists. All of the artists featured this week offer up strong material and showcase how strong country music is when you take a chance to look and listen to stuff that’s not just released by the major label and major indie labels.
Denny Strickland - “How Far Do You Want To Go” (Red Star Productions)
The rising newcomer makes country music that simply rocks. His last single “Swerve On” certainly made an impression with its Aldean-like sound and now he’s got an even better single in “How Far Do You Want To Go,” a song which blends country/rock swagger with a strong vocal delivering lyrics about getting out on a road trip with a beautiful woman, anywhere she wants to go.
Jennifer Nettles - Sugar (Mercury Nashville)
The voice of Sugarland returns to her mainstream country roots with this infectious confection. “Sugar” is as infectious as anything she recorded with her band and it’s easy to see why she’d wanna release the catchy, hook filled song as the lead single from her sophomore album. It still remains to be seen if radio will play her as a solo artist but it’s not for a lack of fun, radio-ready tunes this time around.
Tyler Farr - Better In Boots (Columbia Records)
For some reason, radio didn’t like the emotional “Withdrawals” so Tyler has moved on from that single to release “Better In Boots” to country radio. It’s a charming song that finds Tyler adoring his wife/girlfriend, especially how she looks in boots. The song still showcases Tyler’s unique voice in places as well.
Kayla Adams - Burn A Little Colder (SSM Nashville)
This song is light years better than “Sober & Sorry” was. The production is current, fresh and her vocals fit this song much, much better. This is something that's easy to like with a lyrical message about taking time in a relationship. Also, Kayla sings the daylight out of this one. Radio should really like "Burn A Little Colder."
Mary Sarah - “Dress Up This Town” (144 Entertainment)
After releasing a record of classic duets, Mary Sarah is working with Kent Wells to release an album of original songs with the release of this single, the first from that project. She balances the traditional and contemporary quite well with this fiddle-laced tune. Major labels would do well to pay attention to this album. Also, I can easily picture The Highway playing this one.
Bobby Wills “Crazy Enough” (Willing Nashville)
The Canadian country star is ready to break out with their debut single in the USA. “Crazy Enough” has a rockin’ yet country melody and lyrics which talk about a man who is crazy enough to do anything at least one time, like jumping off a rock into a water or other things where one may just be crazy enough to do stuff. Very strong.
Bucky Covington - “I Feel Ya” (Barefootin’ Records)
The first single from his newly-released EP, “I Feel Ya” contains a strong percussive loop and production backing up a lyric about a guy falling for a girl at a club. The song can and should find an audience and it’s one of the better singles Bucky has released in the past couple of years.
Ronnie Dunn - “Ain’t No Trucks In Texas” (NASH Icon Records)
The voice of Brooks & Dunn has his best single as a solo artist since “Cost Of Livin’” was a hit four years ago (disclaimer: “Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes” is a brilliant song but never had a real shot at radio). It’s also perhaps the most “B&D” of any song he’s released. It showcases his trademark Oklahoma drawl over some strong guitars and tells a relatable story about a lost relationship.
Ricky Gunn - “Living Like Me” (New Canvas Entertainment)
Like all of the indie artists on the Weekly Single Recap for this week, Ricky Gunn has the talent, the songs and the production of an artist releasing a single via major labels. He should be on a major label’s radar as well as “Living Like Me” is exactly the kind of song that talented country singers look for.
William Clark Green - “Sticks and Stones” (Bill Grease Records)
WCG is a star in Texas and his music is absolutely brilliant. “Sticks and Stones” is a perfect example of the kind of music WCG offers with his blend of witty writing and strong production from Rachel Loy. In a just world country radio (outside of Texas and Oklahoma) would be all over this one and WCG.
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