Ashton Shepherd

Ashton Shepherd has such a gift for storytelling that listening to this Alabama-bred firecracker's debut is a bit like peeking into a diary. "Not Right Now" deals with not being ready to settle down; "Ain't Dead Yet" laments the obligations that come with getting older (and still wanting to have a bit of fun); and "Whiskey Won the Battle" outlines the heartache of divorce. Not every song is so dramatic, though: "The Pickin' Shed" describes the shed out back where Shepherd escapes at the end of the day to play music -- and offers a charming glimpse into the singer's life.