Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury

iTunes Review

Jerrod Niemann has written for Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Jamey Johnson, Neal McCoy, Julie Roberts and many other country music stars. With his third solo album (and his first for a major label), Niemann reveals that he could also be writing professionally for comedians. Musing on an addictive relationship, “They Should Have Named You Cocaine” is a ballad that’s as funny as it is catchy. He makes well worn subject matter fun and laughable with songs like the honky-tonkin’ “How Can I Be So Thirsty” and “One More Drinkin’ Song” which takes the beach-twang approach made popular by Kenny Chesney’s love for Jimmy Buffett. But Niemann can also crank out a straight hit — the infectious “Lover, Lover” is an acoustic based with diamond-barbed song-hooks, harmonies and handclaps. Throughout Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury, Niemann sings in an instantly likeable tenor and dots his album with corny skits redeemed by his versatility to effortlessly traverse around a myriad of Nashville micro-genres while retaining his own style.