New Release Round-Up: August 21st

TENILLE TOWNES – ‘JERSEY ON THE WALL (I’M JUST ASKING)‘

Country music songs often delve into difficult areas. The Jersey on the wall is the jersey of someone who was killed in a car accident. It was pinned on the wall of a high school gym that Tenille went to visit. The song deals with the permission to ask God challenging questions following tragic events.

Tenille Townes had a break through top 40 hit in the US charts with ‘Somebody’s Daughter’, and the early buzz for the new song is promising.

JON PARDI – ‘TEQUILA LITTLE TIME’

‘Heartache Medication’ will be with us on 27^th September, and this is another track that is being previewed. You may not agree with the style of releasing albums in this staggered way but this one is shaping up rather nicely. By my reckoning, this is the fourth track to be released including the title track, and they have all been crackers.

MIDLAND – ‘FAST HEARTS AND SLOW TOWNS‘

Ditto the above. Mr Lonely was the only track officially released as a single, but we have now had 5 tracks from the new ‘Let It Roll’ album that is due out this Friday. Do we really need to hear half the album before release? It’s a topic for another day, but again the quality cannot be questioned. Midland are certainly here to stay.

HUDSON MOORE – ‘COMING HOME‘

This guy was included in Rolling Stone’s emerging artists lists recently and if he continues to release music of this quality, he will emerge into the mainstream. Very reminiscent of Thomas Rhett at his best.

He’s not new to the scene, having already released two studio albums, but this is certainly one to check out from this talented Texan.

ADAM BRAND – ‘LIFE’S BEEN GOOD TO ME’

We don’t restrict our country music tentacles to North America! If it’s good, we include it, and Australian Adam Brand is one who deserves a mention.  This is a catchy feel-good summer song that will continue to cement his place as one of Australia’s foremost country artists.

CANAAN SMITH – ‘BEER DRINKIN’ WEATHER’

Canaan’s been across the pond a couple of times and had a #1 country airplay hit in 2014 with ‘Love You Like That’. Lovely guy and impressive live, especially with the sing-a-longs. This is another future live anthem written with the Florida Georgia Line guys, which probably tells you all you need to know. It’s FGL’s ‘Round Here’ part two, but Canaan’s back with a potential radio smash!

KELLEIGH BANNEN – ‘BOYS DON’T CRY’

She’s due to release her album ‘Favorite Colors’ on 11^th October and this is her third release from it. Jaren Johnston from The Cadillac Three is the producer, and this one would sound great on country radio. 

BRANDON RATCLIFF – ‘SLOW DOWN HOMETOWN’

It’s awesome to discover new talent. It’s the reason we do this. Ok, we know that the name Brandon Ratcliff will almost certainly mean nothing to you yet, but he’s already been out on the road with Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young and this track is pretty damn good. He’s from Louisiana and is the son of The Cox Family’s Suzanne Cox, who is a major bluegrass artist

He is signed to Monument Records which has a certain Shane McAnally as its co-president. This one could be big….very big.

BLAKE SHELTON – ‘HELL RIGHT’ FEAT. TRACE ATKINS

Blake’s follow up to ‘Gods Country’ is likely to be marmite to many country fans. He predicted as much before he decided to release it. It’s either a future live classic for the party crowd or a bro-country style abomination to the traditionalists .

It’s not easy to sit on the fence with this one!

 JAMES DUPRÉ – ‘ANOTHER LOVE SONG’  

He turned 4 chairs on The Voice and chose Adam Levine. He has been on the Ellen Show and his album ‘Stoned to Death’ was released last year. ‘Another Love Song’ is gaining airplay on US country radio. It’s the most-added new release to their playlists and may be charting soon.

MIRANDA LAMBERT – ‘BLUEBIRD’

Completing this week’s new release round-up is the new release from country queen Miranda Lambert. ‘Bluebird’ is the latest song to drop from her newly-announced album ‘Wildcard’, coming November 1st.

It’ll no doubt be one of the biggest album releases of the year, and it’s sounding great so far!

Graham Wharton