I Don't Want to Miss a ThingArtist: Mark Chesnutt
What do we make of Mark Chesnutt's foray into crossover territory? The bulk of I Don't Want to Miss a Thing is smooth new country, retaining the elements of neo-traditionalism that characterize the best of Chesnutt's earlier albums. There's a nice mix of material, ranging from the tender "Tonight I'll Let My Memories Take Me Home" to the honky...
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I've Got a Right to CryArtist: Mandy Barnett
If ever there was a singer who was born to sing the torch and twang style that Patsy Cline created, it is Mandy Barnett. A soft-spoken performer who belts 'em out with all the guts and grit of the founding mothers of traditional country music, Barnett is amazing. Producer Owen Bradley, a legend himself, is known for his classic production style...
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Keepers: Greatest HitsArtist: Tracy Byrd
Community Score: 6.00
Keepers: Greatest Hits is an excellent summary of Tracy Byrd's first five albums, collecting the very best of his hits. Included are the radio version of "The Keeper of the Stars" (rather than the earlier recording that appeared on No Ordinary Man) and a new song, "When Mama Ain't Happy," neither of which appear on other Byrd albums. The...
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A Paul Brandt Christmas: Shall I Play For YouArtist: Paul Brandt
Paul Brandt's A Paul Brandt Christmas: Shall I Play For You? features a mix of traditional and contemporary holiday tunes as well as guest artists like Union Station, who appear on "The Way In A Manger" and "What Child Is This." Terri Clark collaborates with Brandt on "Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy," and Kim Richey appears on "Run Run Rudolph."...
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Hits and Highways AheadArtist: Lee Roy Parnell
Hits and Highways Ahead compiles the majority of Lee Roy Parnell's hits from his first five albums, adding two new songs ("She Won't Be Lonely Long," "Long Way to Fall") plus "John the Revelator," taken fro, the various-artists album Peace in the Valley: A Country Music Journey Through Gospel. It isn't quite definitive -- not only are there a...
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MoreArtist: Trace Adkins
Community Score: 10.00
More... is a very apt title for Trace Adkins' third album, since it essentially offers more of the same. For some artists, this would be a harsh criticism, but not in the case of Adkins, since he's proving himself to be one of the more reliable neo-traditionalists of the late '90s. Unlike some of his peers, Adkins doesn't pattern his singing...
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PermanentlyArtist: Mark Wills
Community Score: 10.00
With a reputation for music and songs that speak to people's hearts, Mark Wills' Permanently doesn't disappoint. With songs like "In My Arms" about being a dad to a brand-new baby daughter (a tribute to his little girl) and "Rich Man" about being rich in love, Wills' has a penchant for appealing to fans' sensitive sides. But whether he's singing...
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New Day DawningArtist: Wynonna Judd
Community Score: 7.00
Southern gospel and soul, rockers, and ballads all grace Wynonna Judd's fifth release as a solo artist and her first as co-producer. One of the most recognizable voices in country music, the depth and range of her voice can be heard from the first track, the rhythmic "Going Nowhere," to the last, the soulful "I Can't Wait to Meet You." Fans will...
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To Get to You: Greatest Hits CollectionArtist: Lorrie Morgan
Community Score: 10.00
To Get to You: The Greatest Hits Collection weighs in at a generous 17 tracks, but it falls short of being definitive. In fact, it's not necessarily even a hits collection, although it contains a fair share of big singles, including "We Both Walk," "Half Enough," "Good as I Was to You," "Go Away," and "He Talks to Me." Instead, it's a bit...
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