Hank Flamingo
Artist: Hank Flamingo
Community Score: 9.00
Mark Wills
Artist: Mark Wills
Community Score: 7.00
Blue
Artist: LeAnn Rimes
Community Score: 6.84

With this fabulous record that brought joy and fun to all avid listeners of country music, LeAnn Rimes arrived just in the nick of time, when country needed it most, amidst all the regulars of the scene such as Garth Brooks, Holly Dunn, etc. The record is a delightful free-for-all of sassy pick-me-up country that spells GOLD in many sorts of... Read More

Calm Before the Storm
Artist: Paul Brandt
Community Score: 7.00

Paul Brandt's debut Calm Before the Storm introduces a neo-traditionalist singer/songwriter of considerable potential, with an ability to skillfully bridge vintage honky-tonk with a contemporary country sound; along with the chart-topping "I Do," the album also includes the much-acclaimed "My Heart Has a History," Brandt's first Top Five hit. ~... Read More

The Essential Foster and Lloyd
Artist: Foster & Lloyd

The Essential Foster & Lloyd groups together 19 tracks by this influential duo who scored several hits in the 1980s. The two merged Lloyd's melodic pop smarts with Foster's Texas literary soul, giving them catchiness and substance in the same package. They also could rock out, leaning toward a rockabilly energy that didn't carry a trace of the... Read More

Between Now and Forever
Artist: Bryan White
Community Score: 4.75

Sounding like a cross between a young Bobby Vinton and early Johnny Tillotson, Bryan White could also be called a '90s Glen Campbell, someone he often refers to in his stage act. While not everything on Between Now and Forever is top notch, most songs are high-quality Nashville fare. Throughout the album, White brings us songs of experience with... Read More

What I Live to Do
Artist: James Bonamy
Community Score: 10.00
Some Things Are Meant to Be
Artist: Linda Davis

Linda Davis is another singer who suffered through struggles to get heard. In her case, however, she tended to release formula-heavy albums empty of much character or individuality. Always an obvious talent, she bounced between record companies, all of which tried to force her into one ill-fitting trend or another. Davis finally enjoyed some... Read More

All I Need to Know
Artist: Kenny Chesney
Community Score: 9.80

Kenny Chesney was working parking cars when he got his first songwriting contract. In less than two years he had another contract, this one as a singer. His debut album hit the shelves in 1993. After a couple more years he was signed under a new label and had completed a noteworthy sophomore offering. This is that album, All I Need to Know. The... Read More

Wings
Artist: Mark Chesnutt

Mark Chesnutt's Wings is one of his most impressive efforts, showing the singer expanding his sonic template by stepping away from the commercial leanings of his recent material, yet leaving a slight pop and rock influence to his straightforward traditional country. What really makes the album rank among his best is the consistent quality of... Read More

The Hits: Chapter 1
Artist: Sammy Kershaw

Sammy Kershaw had only been recording for four years when he released The Hits, Chapter 1, but its appearance didn't seem premature. During that time, he had racked up a considerable number of Top Ten country hits, including the number ones "National Working Woman's Holiday" and "She Don't Know She's Beautiful." Both of those songs are included,... Read More

I Think About You
Artist: Collin Raye

After attempting a somewhat rougher approach with Extremes, Collin Raye returned to his smooth ballad stylings on I Think About You. Though he still sings the occasional honky tonk raver, the high points on his fourth album come when he slows the pace down. I Think About You does suffer from a few bland tracks, but the album does demonstrate why... Read More

John Michael Montgomery
Artist: John Michael Montgomery

It doesn't really matter that John Michael Montgomery replicates the formula of its hit predecessor, Kickin' it Up. Even though it has the same country-pop ballads, slick country-rock and honky tonk numbers that made Kickin' It Up a monster commercial success, the record doesn't sound dull or repetitive. Most of the album's success is due to the... Read More

All Because of You
Artist: Daryle Singletary
Community Score: 10.00

Daryle Singletary's debut album was a fine slice of neo-traditional country, but his followup, All Because of You is even better, boasting a stronger set of songs -- such as the single "Amen Kinda Love" -- and a more confident performance by Singletary. There are still a couple of weak tracks, which suffer from underdeveloped songs or slick... Read More