New Single Report: July 1, 2016

It's time to dig into 10 new singles and see what country radio sounds like these days including new singles from Darius Rucker and the pictured Old Dominion.

We talk about a handful of new singles including a look at a patriotic tune and some newcomers but the list of songs is top lined by Tim McGraw’s follow-up to “Humble And Kind.”

Smithfield - “Nothing But The Night” (Independent)
Currently spinning on SiriusXM, “Nothing But The Night” is a great showcase into Smithfield. It feels like a summertime radio single and it should help the duo break out national thanks to dynamic vocals a la Thompson Square and Lady Antebellum.

Darius Rucker - “If I Told You” (Capitol Records)
With a new management team, a new producer (Ross Copperman) and a new outlook as he heads into the 5th country album release of his career, everything feels fresh for Darius Rucker. So does “If I Told You.” It’s a smash hit to my ears and the staccato vocal style suits the whiskey-soaked vocal from Darius.

Chase Bryant - “Room To Breathe” (RedBow Records)
There’s a pulsating groove to this country/soul song. The production sits nicely behind Bryant’s solid vocal and the guitar slingin’ singer should have no problems finding himself his third radio hit in a row.

Tim McGraw - “How I’ll Always Be” (McGraw/Big Machine Records)
It’s hard to follow-up a smash hit like “Humble And Kind” but that’s the kind of thing Tim McGraw’s done for two decades now. “That’s How I’ll Always Be” is timeless and perfect antidote to those uptempo rockers favored by country radio in the summer (though it’s by no means a tear-stained ballad).

Stephanie Quayle - “Drinking With Dolly” (Rebel Engine/Star Farm)
Quayle was born to sing songs like this one. Stellar lyrics and a ageless melody are only made the more better by the home run of a vocal performance from Stephanie Quayle.

Old Dominion - “Song For Another Time” (RCA Nashville)
I’ve always marveled at a songwriter who is able to use lines and titles from other songs to create their own songs and this one may be one of the best ever to do so. It’s virtually all that yet it’s vibrant in its own right. The band has yet to release a dud and is primed to become the next superstar band in country music.

Leslie Cours Mather - “We Are America” (Independent)
This song showcases her powerful vocals better than anything else she’s released to date. Timed perfectly for Independence Day weekend. Timeless.

Eli Young Band - “Saltwater Gospel” (The Valory Music Co.)
Mike Eli remains one of the most identifiable vocalists in all of country music and on this new track he showcases why. The tune is a vibrant slice of freedom and marveling at the vastness of the world and life via a vacation at the ocean.

Dustin Lynch - “Seein’ Red” (Broken Bow Records)
With a string of #1 hits now three deep (all songs from the Where It’s At project), Dustin Lynch (and Broken Bow) sure know what songs should do well with radio audiences. This rockin’ song blends a little bit of Alt-Country attitude in the guitars with a soulful jangle in the percussive melody and while it may be “overproduced” to some, it works just right here.

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