Pearl Snaps

Album Review

Continuing with the success of his honky tonk-fueled second album, Nashville recording artist Deryl Dodd plays up his Texas roots on Pearl Snaps. The opening title track is a barroom romp about how his girl loves the pearl snaps on his country-western-style shirts, and the follow-up, "She'll Have You Back," is complete with Bob Wills-style "aww-hawws." Well-placed covers by Tom T. Hall ("That's How I Got to Memphis") and Gordon Lightfoot ("Sundown") offer familiar reference points among these originals, most of which were co-written by the performer himself (a fact which is an increasing rarity on music row). Unfortunately, many of the songs begin to sound like a lot of the product in heavy rotation on CMT, despite Dodd's willingness to mix up styles somewhat, and the words "honky" and "tonk" show up in two song titles and at least three songs, demonstrating almost an overeagerness to repeat what has worked in the past. Still, Dodd's winning personality and his likable voice make for an enjoyable listen, and those who have picked up his previous releases will be more than pleased with Pearl Snaps.