She Won't Be Lonely Long

Personnel: Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro); Andy Leftwich (mandolin, fiddle); Gordon Mote (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Eddie Bayers (drums); John Wesley Ryles, Lisa Cochran (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: John Kelton.
Recording information: Castle Recording Studios, Franklin, TN; The Sound Station, Nashville, TN.
Photographers: Tia Reagan; Tanja Lippert.
Clay Walker's sophomore effort on Curb sticks close to the formula he and producer Keith Steagall pursued on 2007's Fall -- at least for nine of the album's 12 cuts. This is straight-up, mainstream contemporary country -- with an accent on what is recognizable as country music, rather than the warmed-over '70s rock that passes for much of the genre's music today. The catchy midtempo single (and title track) cracked the Billboard Top Ten, and then follow-ups were planned as of the release date. Other standouts are "Where Do I Go from You," with its dobro, mandolin, and electric guitars (and a mention of his truck in the first line) has an irresistible hook and refrain. Other tunes use cultural cliches to maximum effect, such as the rocker "Jesse James," with its over the top chanted chorus: "Sometimes I wanna be Jesus/And sometimes I wanna be like Jesse James." This cut is immediately followed by "Double Shot of John Wayne," which is a waltz (ironically enough) with a driving pedal steel, and a singalong chorus that echoes honky tonk music of the past, though its production is thoroughly 21st century. The strangest track here is "People in Planes," one of three tracks produced by Doug Johnson. Though it uses a Hammond B-3 to introduce itself, it sounds more like a calliope crossed with an early-'80s synth on an Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark track -- no lie. The tune falls into the contemporary country vein quick enough, though, and is smooth as silk. While She Won't Be Lonely Long doesn't up the bar any more than Fall did musically, it does offer exactly what radio programmers and contemporary country fans are looking for. ~ Thom Jurek