I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
Artist: 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... Read More

More
Artist: 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... Read More

Under the Influence
Artist: Alan Jackson
Community Score: 9.65

Anyone who doubts Alan Jackson's roots as a honky tonk singer should turn to Under the Influences, his heartfelt salute to his favorite country singers. According to his self-penned liner notes, Jackson has "always wanted to do this album," and that's evident from the songs he chose to cover. There are several hits here, but they're the kind... Read More

Risin' Outlaw
Artist: Hank Williams III
Community Score: 9.64

Hank Williams III's debut album Risin' Outlaw presents 13 tracks that show Williams' affection for authentic, rough around the edges country. From the catchy, driving album opener "I Don't Know" to his honky tonk vocals on "You're the Reason," Hank III blends his famous heritage with his own musical outlook. Ballads like "Lonesome for You" and... Read More

Fly
Artist: Dixie Chicks
Community Score: 7.71

With more than six million copies sold of the Dixie Chicks' first album, Wide Open Spaces, the highest ever by a country group, it's reasonable to have pretty imposing expectations of their sophomore album. But Fly delivers. When you watch Natalie Maines, Martie Seidel, and Emily Erwin being interviewed on TV or performing in front of an... Read More

Hits and Highways Ahead
Artist: 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... Read More

The Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection
Artist: Reba McEntire
Community Score: 9.00

Reba McEntire's second Christmas album is a departure from 1988's Merry Christmas to You. Secret of Giving features more down-to-earth, pop-country tracks that reflect her decidedly contemporary country style of the '90s. Cheerful and sincere, McEntire shows her usual eloquence on songs like "This Christmas," "Up on the Housetop," "This Is My... Read More

A Paul Brandt Christmas: Shall I Play For You
Artist: 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."... Read More

Classics
Artist: Patty Loveless

As expected, Patty Loveless's second hits compilation, covering her first five years on Epic Records, was even better than her earlier Greatest Hits on MCA, showing off a more confident singer who rocked out convincingly and was comfortable on weepy ballads, even if the latter tended not to be the best compositions she got to sing. Typical of... Read More

Keepers: Greatest Hits
Artist: 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... Read More

Permanently
Artist: 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... Read More