Aldean, Jinks, Xmas fare dominate releases

Jason Aldean drops the first part of his 10th studio album "Macon" today. Featuring the recent multi-week number one "If I Didn't Love You" with Carrie Underwood, the collection includes nine new songs and five live tracks. Over the course of the following months, Aldean will continue to deliver new songs leading into the full release of all 30 tracks - 20 new and at least one live hit off each of his previous albums - on April 22, 2022.

Cody Jinks released two new albums today via his own independent label, Late August Records: "Mercy," a solo country record, and "None The Wiser," a metal record created with his band Caned By Nod. Both produced and engineered by Edward Spear (with co-production on Mercy by Jinks' longtime bandmate Joshua Thompson) and recorded simultaneously at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, "Mercy" has a more traditional sound. The disc features collaborations with artists such as Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters, Kendell Marvel, Adam Hood, Josh Morningstar, Greg C. Jones and Ward Davis, as well as Jinks' wife, Rebecca.

Craft Recordings reissued "Christmas with Ronnie Milsap," the sole holiday album from the singer. The disc includes yuletide classics like "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Silver Bells" and "O Holy Night," plus a selection of festive originals. Originally released in 1986, Millsap is backed by orchestral arrangements, while giving a soulful country take on originals like "Only One Night of the Year" and the bluesy "It's Just Not Christmas (If I Can't Spend It With You)."

Amanda Shires releases her first-ever holiday album, "For Christmas," on Silver Knife/Thirty Tigers. The release is an alternative to the season's more predictable fare with many original songs among the 11 songs. Produced by Lawrence Rothman and recorded live at Sound Emporium Studios in her home base of Nashville, Shires worked with bassist Jimbo Hart (her bandmate in Jason Isbell's 400 Unit), pianist Peter Levin (a jazz musician she met while touring with The Gregg Allman Band), guitarist Pat Buchanan (Dolly Parton, The Chicks), and drummer Fred Eltringham (Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams). Gospel quartet The McCrary Sisters are featured on several songs.

Veteran songwriter and musician Skip Ewing is out with a seven-song release, "For Christmas," featuring classics and new material. The release was produced by Kyle Lehning and Skip Ewing, the same creative engine behind Ewing's solo effort "Wyoming."