June 11, 2013
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit -
Southeastern
(Southeastern/Thirty Tigers)
Jason Isbell, former member of Drive-By Truckers, releases his fifth solo disc. His last one, "Here We Rest" from 2011, included Alabama Pines, Song of the Year at the 2012 Americana Music Awards. The new disc includes 12 new Isbell compositions.
June 4, 2013
Lonestar -
Life As We Know It
(4 Star)
This is a comeback album of sorts for Lonestar, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The disc marks the return of original lead singer Richie McDonald. The other members remain the same: Michael Britt lead guitar, backing vocals; Keech Rainwater drums; Dean Sams keyboards, acoustic guitar, backing vocals.
LeAnn Rimes -
Spitfire
(Curb)
May 28, 2013
Della Mae -
This World Oft Can Be
(Rounder)
The Boston-based all-female quintet veers towards country and bluegrass on their label debut. The new disc boasts a dozen songs.
Gretchen Wilson -
Under the Covers
(Redneck)
2013 is a busy year for Gretchen Wilson with 3 albums slated. In April, she released "Right on Time." "Under the Covers" is a collection of 12 classic rock songs from the '70s. A holiday disc is due this fall.
John Fogerty -
Wrote a Song for Everyone
(Vanguard)
John Fogerty recorded mainly a covers disc of his own songs with two new songs. He gets help from a slew of friends including Bob Seger.
May 21, 2013
Don Rigsby -
Doctor's Orders: A Tribute to Ralph Stanley
(Rebel)
Don Rigsby honors Dr. Ralph Stanley on this 14-song tribute. Ricky Skaggs, Larry Sparks, Charlie Sizemore, James Alan Shelton of Stanley's band, and Dr. Ralph himself all participate.
May 14, 2013
Ashleigh Flynn -
A Million Stars
(Home Perm)
Portland, Ore.-based Ashleigh Flynn celebrates her fourth studio effort on her own label. The disc was produced by Chris Funk, her longtime friend and musical collaborator, best-known as The Decemberists' multi-instrumentalist. The record features Todd Snider and many of Portland's Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee-Drizos, Nate Query, John Moen, Annalisa Tornfelt, and the Stolen Sweets singers. Funk, Conlee-Drizos and Query are members of The Decemberists.
Jason Boland & The Stragglers -
Dark Dirty Mile
(Thirty Tigers/Proud Souls Entertainment)
Jason Boland & the Stragglers are an American Red Dirt group featuring Oklahoma native Boland (lead vocalist and guitar), Roger Ray (pedal steel, lead/rhythm guitar), Brad Rice (drums and backing vocals) and Grant Tracy (bass). This is the band's seventh studio disc.
George Strait -
Love Is Everything
(MCA Nashville)
George Strait's latest contains an attempt to have 60 number 1 songs as the maser singer turns 60 with Give It All We Got Tonight. The disc includes four songs written or co-written by Strait, who penned many alongside his son Bubba Strait and songwriter Dean Dillon.
Trace Adkins -
Love Will...
(Show Dog – Universal)
Trace Adkins explores the ramifications of love on his 11th album. Colbie Caillat, Harlem Gospel Choir and Exile all participate. Producers include Tony Brown, Mark Wright, Frank Rogers, Kenny Beard and Mickey Cones.
Darius Rucker -
True Believers
(EMI Nashville)
Darius Rucker is out with his third country disc, which features his hit Wagon Wheel. He wrote 10 of the 12 tracks on the disc produced by Frank Rogers. The single was penned by Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, based on a sketch by Bob Dylan.
The Handsome Family -
Wilderness
(Carrot Top)
Rennie and Brett Sparks pay homage to animals on their latest. Each of the 12 songs is a one-word title, including Flies, Frogs, Eels and Wildebeest.
May 7, 2013
Pistol Annies -
Annie Up
(Sony)
Pistol Annies - Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, release their second disc after a successful debut. Lambert, (Lonestar Annie), Monroe (Hippie Annie) and Presley (Holler Annie) return with the 12 song follow-up to their 2011 disc. Hush Hush is the first single.
The sassy, southern trio wrote every song on the album but they each bring different musical influences to the table: Lambert, who cut her teeth playing bars and festivals as a teenager, has a hard-edged, outlaw honky-tonk bent while Monroe brings a classic Tennessee country mentality. Presley, the daughter of a third-generation Kentucky coal miner, brings the bluegrass. The first single is Hush Hush.
Dailey & Vincent -
Brothers of the Highway
(Rounder)
Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent hope to continue the success with this dozen song disc. Dailey wrote two of the songs, and they cover others from Vince Gill, Wilma Lee Cooper, Bill Monroe, the Louvins and others.
Lady Antebellum -
Golden
(Capitol Nashville)
Lady Antebellum releases its fourth album, which includes the hit single Downtown. The new release contains a dozen songs with Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley taking lead vocals.
Craig Campbell -
Never Regret
(Bigger Picture)
Craig Campbell releases his second full-length CD after releasing an EP last year. The new disc contains a dozen songs.
Various Artists -
The Music of Nashville: Season 1, Volume 2
(Big Machine)
The TV show "Nashville" gets a second installment of songs. Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio will perform the songs.
Ruth Moody -
These Wilder Things
(Red House)
Ruth Moody, one third of the on hiatus The Wailing Jennys, releases a solo disc. Moody wrote all of the songs except her cover of Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark. Mark Knopfler, Jerry Douglas and Aoife O'Donovan guest on the disc. Moody released her first solo disc, "The Garden," in 2010. Both were produced by David Travers-Smith.
April 30, 2013
Kenny Chesney -
Life on a Rock
(Blue Chair)
Kenny Chesney's new disc will include the single Pirate Flag. He takes a low-key approach to most of the songs and gets help from The Wailers and Willie Nelson.
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen -
On The Edge
(Compass)
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen make their debut for Compass. Solivan's tenor vocals is combined with the picking provided by banjoist Mike Munford, guitarist Chris Luquette and bassist Danny Booth.
Peter Rowan -
The Old School
(Compass)
Veteran bluegrasser Peter Rowan delves into this set of Monroe-inspired originals featuring Del McCoury, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, the Travelling McCourys, JD Crowe and Bryan Sutton.
Randy Rogers Band -
Trouble
(MCA Nashville)
Randy Rogers Band releases its first CD since 2010's "Burning the Day."
April 23, 2013
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell -
Love Has Come For You
(Rounder)
Not only is Steve Martin continuing his musical forays, but now he has enlisted Mrs. Paul Simon, better known as Edie Brickell, once upon a time known for being the lead singer for the New Bohemians. Peter Asher, known for his work with Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor, produced the 13 songs. Martin and Brickell wrote all the music, while Brickell handled all lyrics.
Lori McKenna -
Massachusetts
(1-2-3-4-GO!)
Lori McKenna makes it clear where she's from in the title. McKenna has enjoyed more success as a songwriter than on her own. She continues singing heartfelt songs about love and loss. Her guitarist, Mark Erelli, produced the 10 songs.
Jerry Miller -
New Road Under My Wheels
(Signature Sounds)
Jerry Miller is an ace guitarist, who plays for country singer Eilen Jewell. This is his first disc for the western Massachusetts label. Jewell helps out on vocals. he also has played for a Boston-area band, the well regarded group The Spurs.
Tate Stevens -
Tate Stevens
(RCA)
Tate Stevens, who won The X Factor in December, released his first album. The CD includes his current single, Power of a Love Song. He wrote three of the songs.
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper -
The Comeback Album
(Red Beet)
Peter Cooper is better known as a music writer for The Tennessean and Eric Brace has written on music for The Washington Post. Once again, they combine their musical forces on these dozen songs.
Luke Winslow-King -
The Coming Tide
(Bloodshot)
Luke Winslow-King is a Michigan native, who has lived in New Orleans since 2011, and it shows. He throws country into the gumbo along with blues,jazz, gospel, rock and ragtime. The disc features Esther Rose on vocals along with Winslow-King. She also plays washboard.
April 16, 2013
Amy Speace -
How to Sleep in a Stormy Boat
(Wind Bone)
Amy Speace occupies a musical space between folk and sing/songwriter. Neilson Hubbard, who works with Kim Richey, produced the 11 songs.
Willie Nelson -
Let's Face the Music and Dance
(Sony Legacy)
Willie Nelson's latest contains 14 songs. The disc contains one new Nelson song and a bunch of covers.
The Steel Wheels -
No More Rain
(The Steel Wheels)
The Steel Wheels - Trent Wagler on vocals, Jay Lapp on mandolin and guitars, Eric Brubaker on fiddle and Brian Dickel on bass - release their fourth disc since 2010. The band produced the doze songs of bluegrass and country. The group, which tours heavily, is based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Steve Earle -
The Low Highway
(New West)
Steve Earle returns with a dozen songs. "The Low Highway" features his live band consisting of Chris Masterson, Eleanor Whitmore, Kelley Looney, Will Rigby and wife Allison Moorer and was co-produced by Earle and Ray Kennedy.
Marcy Marxer -
Things Are Coming My Way
(Community Music)
Marcy Marxer is best known for the albums she recorded with Cathy Fink, but she steps out on her own here on a combination of blues, gospel and old time country.
Kim Richey -
Thorn In My Heart
(Yep Roc)
Kim Richey is with a new label for her seventh studio disc. Once again, Neilson Hubbard handles production on the dozen songs. Recorded at Mr. Lemon's Studio in Nashville, "Thorn In My Heart" was produced by Neilson Hubbard (Garrison Starr, Glen Phillips, Matthew Ryan) and features 12 original compositions. The follow-up to 2010's "Wreck Your Wheels," the album features guest appearances from Jason Isbell, Trisha Yearwood, Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket and Pat Sansone of Wilco
April 9, 2013
Deadstring Brothers -
Cannery Row
(Bloodshot)
deadstring brothers are out with their fifth disc. In spring 2012, vocalist Kurt Marschke and old friend and fellow Detroiter, bassist JD Mack (formerly of Whitey Morgan & the 78s) started planning new tours, seeking out other members and making a plan for the new record. Marschke also moved down to Nashville. The cast they recruited includes Brad Pemberton (Ryan Adams & the Cardinals) on drums, Mike Webb (Poco) on organ, piano and mandolin, Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Hank Jr.) on steel and Dobro, Kim Collins (Smoking Flowers) on backing vocals and Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson'slongtime harp player). The band has a Stonesy feel.
Eric Church -
Caught in the Act: Live
(EMI Nashville)
Eric Church goes the live route on "Caught in the Act: Live." The disc contains 17 songs on CD and 21 tracks on vinyl on April 20 as part of National Record Store Day. Recorded in October at the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga, Tenn., the release features Springsteen, Smoke a Little Smoke, How 'Bout You and Creepin'.
Brad Paisley -
Wheelhouse
(Arista)
Brad Paisley's latest will contain 17 songs plus 4 more on a deluxe version. The hit single, Southern Comfort Zone, is on the release. Paisley produced the music, which mainly features his touring band.
April 2, 2013
Hem -
Departure & Farewell
(Redeye)
Hem returns for its first disc since "Twelfth Night" in 2009.
The Band Perry -
Pioneer
(Universal Republic)
The Band Perry goes for their sophomore effort after big success with the debut. Better Dig Two, is on the disc produced by Dann Huff.
Gretchen Wilson -
Right On Time
(Redneck)
Gretchen Wilson returns with an album on her own label with a dozen songs. The first single is Still Rollin'. Wilson veers away from the uptempo to a more bluesy approach with touches of Bonnie Raitt thrown in. Wilson produced 11 of the 12 songs.
Various Artists -
The Music Is You: A Tribute To John Denver
(ATO)
Fifteen years after his death and 40 years after the release of Rocky Mountain High, John Denver's life and music is celebrated with covers of Denver's songs by Dave Matthews, My Morning Jacket, Train, Amos Lee, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Brandi Carlile & Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Josh Ritter and Barnstar!, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kathleen Edwards (produced by Jim James), Brett Dennen and Milow, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Allen Stone, Blind Pilot, J Mascis and Sharon Van Etten and Evan Dando. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Wilderness Society in Denver's name. This 16-song tribute includes My Morning Jacket's take of Leaving on a Jet Plane to J Mascis and Sharon Van Etten's Prisoners to This Old Guitar by Lucinda Williams.
March 26, 2013
Steve Forbert -
Alive on Arrival/Jackrabbit Slim
(Blue Corn)
Steve Forbert released "Alive on Arrival" 35 years ago and put out "Jackrabbit Slim" the following year. This two-cd release conbines the two with bonus tracks.
Blake Shelton -
Based on a True Story
(Warner)
Blake Shelton releases a disc containing the hit single Sure Be Cool If You Did.
Thompson Square -
Just Feels Good
(Stoney Creek)
Kiefer and Shawna Thompson release their second disc. The first single, If I Didn't Have You, is a hit for the married couple.
Alan Jackson -
Precious Memories Vol. II
(EMI Nashville)
Alan Jackson goes to the gospel well a second time with this collection of 11 songs. His first one came out in 2006 and topped the country charts. That disc was a present Jackson made for his mother. Friends encouraged him to release it commercially, and the disc sold 2 million units.
The Gibson Brothers -
They Called It Music
(Compass)
On their latest effort, the brothers Eric and Leigh Gibson join with longtime bandmates Mike Barber (bass), Clayton Campbell (fiddle) and Joe Walsh (mandolin) on this dozen-song set of originals coupled with covers of songs by Loretta Lynn, the Delmore Brothers, Joe Newberry and Shawn Camp.
March 25, 2013
Various Artists -
Unsung Herod A Tribute to the Music of Ron Davies
(Little Chickadee)
Ron Davies was known for his songwriting skills. David Bowie recorded his It Ain't Easy on his RCA album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars." Long John Baldry, Dave Edmunds, Joe Cocker, Anne Murray, Dobie Gray, Bettye LaVette, Chris Smithers, Glenn Yarbrough, Merry Clayton, Mitch Ryder and Steppenwolf's John Kay all recorded his song. Australian born pop singer Helen Reddy recorded what would later become one of Davie's signature songs, Long Hard Climb and made it the title of her 1973 platinum selling album. Davies songs have also been recorded by Randy Travis, Nancy Griffith, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and Gail Davies, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Chris Scruggs and Jack White and The Raconteurs. Davies, sister of Gail Davies, died of a heart attack on Oct. 30, 2003, leaving behind more than 600 songs.
March 19, 2013
Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver -
Roads Well Traveled
(Mountain Home)
Fifth years into his bluegrass and gospel career, Doyle Lawson is going strong. His latest contains 11 songs.
Kacey Musgraves -
Same Trailer Different Park
(Mercury)
Kacey Musgraves, a 24-year-old Texas native, releases her debut. Among the the songs is the hit Merry Go 'Round. Musgraves not only helped produce the disc with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird, but also wrote every song.
March 12, 2013
Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson -
Mandolin Chronicles
(Pinecastle)
Mandolinists Alan Bibey and Wayne Benson team up on this 11 song disc.
Shooter Jennings -
The Other Life
(Entertainment One)
Shooter Jennings returns on a new label and gets help from Patty Griffin, Scott H. Biram and Black Oak Arkansas front man Jim "Dandy" Mangrum.
Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice -
The Story of the Day That I Died
(Rebel)
Junior Sisk and his backing band are back with their fourth disc for Rebel. is the band's fourth Rebel recording. The title track is a tongue-in-cheek number about a man who faked his own death to keep his unfaithful wife from taking half of his possessions upon an impending divorce. Sisk and band cover the Stanley Brothers and Larry Sparks.
March 5, 2013
Old Man Markley -
Down Side Up
(Far Wreck Chords)
Old Man Markley is a revved-up bluegrass band from LA with politics often on its mind. John Carey sings most of the lead vocals although Annie DeTemple takes a few as well. The band's debut album, "Guts n' Teeth," came out in 2011.
Gurf Morlix -
Gurf Morlix Finds the Present Tense
(Rootball)
Texas singer/songwriter Gurf Morlix is out with a 10-song set. Ian McLagan, Rick Richards, Gene Elders, Ray Bonneville and Eliza Gilkyson help out.
Son Volt -
Honky Tonk
(Rounder)
Son Volt return with its first disc since 2009. Jay Farrar and company take a laid-back appproach that is not entirely honky tonk, but squarely in the country field.
The Howlin' Brothers -
Howl
(Readymade)
The Howlin' Brothers, graduates of Ithaca College, are Ian Craft, Jared Green and Ben Plasse. The dozen-song CD was put out on Brendan Benson's label, mixing bluegrass, old time and other Americana elements. Slide banjo, harmonica and old-time fiddle figure prominently in the sounds.
Ashley Monroe -
Like A Rose
(Warner Nashville)
Ashley Monroe previously was with Sony, but her career stymied there. She has gained more notoriety in the past year as one third of Pistol Annies. Now, her solo career is back on track with this new disc. The album was produced by Vince Gill and Justin Niebank. All songs were co-written by Monroe.
Luke Bryan -
Spring Break ... Here to Party
(Capitol Nashville)
Luke Bryan continues his annual tribute to the good times with his latest. This one includes 14 songs, although most were previously released. The disc includes two new songs.
Madeleine Peyroux -
The Blue room
(Concord)
Madeleine Peyroux is better known as a chanteuse, but here she does her take on Ray Charles' country songs, "Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music." The album also has tracks, including Buddy Holly's Changing all Those Changes, Randy Newman's Guilty and Warren Zevon's Desperadoes Under The Eaves.
Nate Gibson & Friends -
The Starday Sessins
(Goofin')
Nate Gibson released an album on the Massachusetts-based country label Cow Island, but here he goes across the ocean to record with a Finnish label. Deke Dickerson, Jerry Miller and The Barnshakers help out on this collection of songs that were popular for the Starday label, one of the key country labels in the '50s and '60s.Starday rockabilly legend Rudy "Tutti" Grayzell wrote the liner notes.
February 26, 2013
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors -
Good Light Good Time
(1-2-3-4-GO!)
Drew Holcomb has been releasing discs since 2005.
Jaida Dreyer -
I am Jaida Dreyer
(Streamsound)
Jaida Dreyer is an American-Canadian country singer, who makes her debut with a 10-song set. Byron Gallimore, best known as Tim McGraw's producer, founded the label and produced Dreyer. She had a hand in writing all of the songs,including Boy Who Cried Love with Sugarland's Kristian Bush.
The Mavericks -
In Time
(Valory)
The Mavericks are back with their first disc in seven years. Lead singer Raul Malo produced the 14 songs with Niko Bolas. Paul Deakin on drummers, Robert Reynolds on bass, keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden and guitarist Eddie Perez are on the disc.
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell -
Old Yellow Moon
(Nonesuch)
Long-time friends Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell team up for a duets album of a dozen songs. Produced by Brian Ahern (Johnny Cash, George Jones, Roy Orbison), "Old Yellow Moon" is the first official collaboration from the duo since Crowell joined Harris' Hot Band as guitarist and harmony singer in 1975. The album features Stuart Duncan, Vince Gill and Bill Payne, as well as members of the original Hot Band.
Wayne Hancock -
Ride
(Bloodshot)
Retro country artist Wayne Hancock, who recalls Hank Williams, returns to action. His last disc was "Viper of Melody" in 2009.
Phil Lee -
The Fall & Further Decline of the Mighty King of Love
(Palookaville)
Phil Lee got a late start on his music life, not recording his first disc until 1999. He's only had 3 more in the past stretch of time. Guitarist Richard Bennett produced these songs with help from folks like Dave Roe on bass, Ken Cooper on drums and Jen Gunderman of The Jayhawks fame.
