Country Sweep: January 12, 2013...

Hey gang, I'm back for part four of this week's "Chart Sweeps", where I sample the latest songs to debut on the music singles charts in Billboard magazine. This time out it's the latest country chart.

On the Country Airplay list, the "beariffic" Zac Brown Band take over the #1 spot with "Goodbye In Her Eyes". It's their ninth airplay chart-topper so far..

You may get a post-holiday shock, since all of the debuts this week are holiday titles, due to the one-week rush of country stations rolling out holiday fare from last week's Christmas tracking week. Three of them are by Blake Shelton, who joins two other titles on the chart (the biggest, "Jingle Bell Rock" with wife Miranda Lambert, is at #34). The first at #44 is his rendition of "There's A New Kid In Town" with American Idol superstar Kelly Clarkson. The song, co-written by the late Keith Whitley, is a highlight from an admittedly hokey record, and treated to the reverence it deserves. Still doesn't outshine the original, but it's respectable, and Kelly's voice ups the grade a notch. Grade: B

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At #52 is Blake's take on "The Christmas Song", and it's pretty sleepy and nasal, but not a disaster. Grade: C-

Speaking of American Idols, winner Scotty McCreery puts a pair of songs on the chart as well this week. First, "Jingle Bells" is in at #53, and while the song is one of the more annoying in its pristine form, Alfred E. Neumann here tries to take it down a rockabilly swing slope, and sounds as forced as his seizure-like movements here on stage. Grade: D

Now back to Shelton, with the original song "The Very Best Time Of Year" written and featuring his backing tour band renamed as Trypta-Phunk. It's certainly got the "throw every Christmas cliche' into the hat and start picking out verses", but it's musically nice for background music, I suppose. Grade: D+

...and now back to Scotty McCreery for another one off his holiday album (mind you, I own both of them), "Let It Snow", which as a song I felt always got a bad deal in being relegated to a Christmas song, even though it's really an all-winter song. As for lil' Josh Turnerette, it's karaoke to a better degree than "Jingle Bells", but totally doesn't bring anything new to the game. For fans, really. Grade: D+

The final debut on the country chart is by jack-of-all-trades newcomer Hunter Hayes, whose songwriting skills and instrumental savvy scored him a New Artist Grammy nomination this year. But gosh darn it I have no idea where this version of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" comes from, I can't to find it for sale anywhere, let alone a video worthy, but here's a phonevid of him singing it at a Toy Drive in Philly. Docked for not being available - booo! Grade: D-

That's a wrap on the country part of the charts...I'll return at 6:30 EST with the latest on the dance charts (promise - no Christmas!). Twang on!