C'mon!

iTunes Review

Nashville country hunks these days are as unavoidable as cow chips at a livestock show. Keith Anderson distinguishes himself from the pack by virtue of his unaffected persona and well-honed songwriting. While there’s nothing on his second album C’mon! that’s radically new, he invests enough craft and individuality in its tracks to set them apart from typical commercial country fare. He brings real gusto and wit to the album’s title track, a hard-pumping party anthem overflowing with long necks and leggy ladies. The rambunctious kiss-off tune “Break My Heart” makes it clear that Keith is no love-struck fool. For the most part, though, C’mon! is devoted to expressions of wistful regret and smoldering passion. Anderson’s light tenor vocals (accented with falsetto at key moments) lend sincerity to romantic numbers like “She Could’ve Been Mine,” “I Still Miss You,” and the R&B-tinged “Lost In This Moment With You.” Narratives like “Adaliene” and “Closest I’ve Ever Been” show Anderson to be an adept writer with a keen eye for detail. True, there isn’t much grit in his depiction of life and love, but Anderson’s solid virtues make his C’mon! an appealing invitation all the same.