Aimee: Brothers Osborne set a high bar when they released their debut album Pawn Shop at the beginning of 2016. Kicking off with the every-man’s anthem of “Dirt Rich,” every song is meticulously crafted to show the diverse and eclectic sound of the brothers – the collaboration with LeeAnn Womack on “Lovin’ Me Back” pulls at the heartstrings, while the 420-friendly “Greener Pastures” displays the wit encompassed in the duo. Pawn Shop is a stellar collection, every song displaying the true artistry of the Maryland natives.
Current song on repeat: “Ain’t My Fault”
Christina: Dierks Bentley’s Black album. Dierks kicked off “Black” with the summer anthem “Somewhere on a Beach”. When he shared “I’ll Be The Moon”, his duo with Maren Morris, it was love at first listen their harmonies are perfection. Black incorporates such a wide arrange of songs that there is something for everyone. The title track “Black” is so seductive, while “What The Hell Did I Say” is a fun party song, and “Cant Be Replaced” tugs at your heartstrings. Dierks hit a homerun with “Different for Girls,” Elle King a superb addition and the lyrics just take us to a place that we have all been in. I love that there is a song for every emotion on this album.
Current song on repeat: “What The Hell Did I Say”
Janeen: The decision to release an EP instead of a full-length album as your introduction can sometimes be a gamble, as you have to rely on a small number of tracks to make the right impression and represent your abilities as an artist. For Steve Moakler, that gamble paid off as his self-titled, five-track EP perfectly covers the various aspects and avenues of what he is capable of: his knack of writing songs that get stuck in your head (“Suitcase” and “Love Drunk”), getting in touch with his melancholy side (“Summer Without Her”), an ode to his pop side (“Jealous Girl”), and, as if there was any doubt given his co-write on Dierks Bentley’s “Riser,” he clearly establishes his lyrical talent as a song writer (“Steel Town”). The EP leaves the listener wanting more, which is why Steve Moakler is my Best Pick for 2016.
Current song on repeat: “Steel Town”
Michelle: Dan + Shay’s album Obsession IS my “Obsession” right now! They have the country guy good looks and the voices of a five-member boy band, all wrapped up into two guys! Each song, starting with their newest Single “From The Ground Up,” a perfectly written love song which I’m a total sucker for, and their well harmonizing vocals lend to the power of this song! It’s the perfect wedding song, in my opinion! But besides the single, take a listen to the title track “Obsessed,” where the use of horns makes it reminiscent of a 70’s style Chicago tune, and “Road Trippin” has a bit more fun summer, windows rolled down feel to it All the songs are awesome & are worth a listen!
Current song on repeat: “From The Ground Up”
Molly: My favorite album of the year, so far, would probably have to be Hero by Maren Morris. I instantly fell in love with her EP late last year and had been anxiously waiting for her debut album since then. I was thrilled when I started to hear “My Church” and “80s Mercedes” on the radio and couldn’t wait to see what Morris was going to come up with next. Hero really blew my mind, both musically and lyrically. Every song felt like it cut straight to the truth, and leaves me hanging on every word she sings. The away she combines soulful blues with contemporary country is unlike any other artist I’ve heard. In my opinion, Morris is the new artist to watch and is going to be a driving force on putting the women of country music back on the map.