Tenille Townes looks for a clean start in I Kept the Roses, Chance McCoy takes a spacey turn in No One Loves You (The Way That I Do), Honey County pay tribute to victims of the Route 91 Festival massacre in Country Strong and more must-hear songs this week.
Honey County, Country Strong
An anthemic tribute to those affected by the mass shooting at 2017s Route 91 Harvest Festival and last years deadly attack at the Borderline bar in Southern California, Country Strong made its live premiere this past weekend when Honey County performed the song with help from dozens of choreographed line dancers at the Stagecoach Festival. Get back up! goes the first line of the chorus, which preaches the values of resilience and country pride.
Willie Jones, Down for It
Willie Jones deep-seated baritone nods to old-school country icons like Johnny Cash, while his new video for Down for It nods to the old-school TV program Reading Rainbow. Dont mistake this song for a nostalgia fest, though. Down for It is a modern-sounding single thats in the running for song of the summer status, with a sing-along chorus rooted in banjo arpeggios and percussive bounce.
Casey Kristofferson, Blessed and Cursed
The daughter of Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson tackles her own version of Blessed and Cursed, a clever sendup of loves two-faced nature. Previously recorded by Kristoffersons co-writer (and fellow daughter of famous parents), Amy Nelson, Blessed and Cursed takes its cues from country musics senior class, mixing rustic twang with tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
LoCash, One Big Country Song
LoCashs Chris Lucas and Preston Brust celebrate the universal moments that bind us all together, from the thrill of turning 16 years old to the widespread relief that comes with the end of another work day. Weve all had a broken heart, weve all closed down a few good bars, goes the radio-ready chorus, which pulls those commonalities together beneath country musics wide umbrella. Take a look around, yall, tell me Im wrong aint the whole wide world just one big country song?
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Tenille Townes, I Kept the Roses
Tenille Townes cleans house after a breakup, ridding her life of the reminders of her crumbled relationship. She cant bring herself to throw out a bouquet of flowers, though. They should make me lonely, but Im smiling instead cause you werent the one, babe, she sings during this classic-minded country ballad, turning the roses into a sign of brighter things to come.
Willie Nelson, Ride Me Back Home
The title track from Willie Nelsons new album is a gently-rolling ballad about older horses whose better days are behind them. For Nelson, who turns 86 years old today, the song also feels like a metaphor, delivered in a voice thats pockmarked with age yet still elegant and sweetly familiar. The song also features one of his best guitar solos in years, proof that theres still plenty of gallop left in this cowboys step.
Rachel Reinert, All We Have
Rachel Reinert gives away her material possessions and takes stock of the things that really matter. Inspired by her departure from the country band Gloriana and the eye-opening journey of re-launching her career as a solo artist, All We Have soars high, buoyed by clouds of reverb and the uplift of Reinerts unforced voice.
Chance McCoy, No One Loves You (The Way That I Do)
Old Crow Medicine Shows Chance McCoy introduces an upcoming solo album with this spacey, banjo-fueled stomp into Americanas outer orbit. Self-produced by the multi-instrumentalist himself and inspired by his time as whitewater river guide, No One Loves You (The Way That I Do) arrives as McCoy takes a break from Old Crow to focus on his own material.
Doug Seegers, Demon Seed
Doug Seegers voice is built for the best kind of classic-country melodrama, and he lets those pipes ring with this supersized Western epic. Produced by Joe Henry, Demon Seed packs an albums worth of highlights into four minutes, hitting a high-water mark during a broken-down verse thats played at half-speed for cinematic effect.
Erin Enderlin, Tonight I Dont Give a Damn
The title track of Erin Enderlins new EP is a nocturnal, slow-moving salute to the time-honored practice of drowning ones heartache with whiskey. I guess Im just another heart you broke, she sings, while a pedal steel weeps in the background. This is the stuff of country classics concise, tear-stained and all-too-relatable.