The Man I Want to Be

Album Review

Since Chris Young appeared on the Nashville Star television program in 2006, he's been on a roll. After signing with RCA he had a hit with "Drinkin' Me Lonely," his first single from his self-titled debut recording. Likewise, the two singles that have preceded the release of The Man I Want to Be in 2009 haven't done too badly, either, getting plenty of play on radio. Young co-wrote "Voices," and "Gettin' You Home," creating a buzz surrounding the album's release — and rightfully so. While Young's sound is firmly in the contemporary country camp, it's also a lot more hardcore honky tonk than it is refried '70s rock clichés that plague the genre. Part of that is due to his big booming baritone voice that rings as clear as a bell in this mix. (Think George Strait-meets-Josh Turner.) The other part of his appeal is the use of a relatively small group of musicians in the recording process, giving the disc a more organic sound that a lot of what's out there. Young's writing talents aren't confined to the singles either; he co-wrote another of the best tracks here — the stellar hillbilly anthem and album opener "That Makes Me." Young also has a lot of respect for tradition: "Rose in Paradise" is drenched in fiddles, mandolins, and acoustic guitars. It's a country-styled blues and features no less than Willie Nelson as a duet partner. The final track on the set is a moving cover of Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia." Its beauty lies in its arrangement. Young understands the soulful nuances in the tune, but still does it his own way. His reading of this classic ballad is utterly tender and believable with sparse, stripped down arrangements; and rather than stick with his trademark baritone, his stretches his vocal range — including a mean falsetto — to the brink and still pulls it all off. The Man I Want to Be is definitely a cut above what's currently out there; it's sophisticated, disciplined, passionate, sincere, and clever.