Little Bit of Life

iTunes Review

Craig Morgan is cut from the same rough-spun country cloth as Merle Haggard, John Conlee, and Aaron Tippin — he hails from the working class and is proud of it — and he continues to give voice to the American heartland on Little Bit of Life. This release adheres to Morgan’s formula of sturdy singing and unpretentious songwriting with integrity, and a pinch of down-home humor. In tracks like “I Guess You Had to Be There,” “I Am,” and the title tune, Morgan hints at wild times while reaffirming traditional values. He celebrates the family farmer in “International Harvester” and paints a sunny picture of rural ways in “Sweet Old Fashioned Goodness.” His portraits of women — particularly the inspirational “Tough” — are offered with respect and affection. There are moments of genuine poetry here, such as the invocation of nature heard in “Look at ‘Em Fly.” Keith Stegall’s production adds enough acoustic elements to give the tracks some tang. Honest without flaunting his authenticity, Morgan fills Little Bit of Life with a love for country living.