It's All About Me

Albumrecensie

The third album by country singer Chris Gray starts with "I Only Have Good Days," a Toby Keith-like rocker with personal-empowerment lyrics. It sounds like a shameless bid to get onto country radio circa 2007, but following that, It's All About Me settles into a more traditionalist style. The Louisiana-raised Gray has a slightly rough edge to his voice that often recalls John Anderson's playful growl, and the album's assertive, electric production includes just enough fiddle and pedal steel to keep from falling into post-Garth Brooks country-pop pap. Highlights include the Alan Jackson-like family ballad "The Horse" and the wry two-step "Stop and Drink It Over," but overall, the cookie-cutter Music Row songwriting means It's All About Me lacks the outsize personality that would make Chris Gray come across as more than a talented but somewhat anonymous neo-traditionalist country crooner.