Another quintessential album to show the downright psychosis of "country" radio. This album is considered "alt/country," and probably stands no chance in hell of widespread exposure by the Country community - except maybe for the killer, hook-laden rocker "The Lonely One," which would make a dandy single. But, there is stuff on this album that just IS country, and mines the very essence of what that word is supposed to mean. For God's sake, the obviously mega-talented Chip Robinson, who penned or co-penned most of this album, lives in a double-wide trailer! Next to a race track! In North Carolina!!

There's so much country on this album, I'm confused about why this isn't "country." No, I'm really not. As much as I still worship country, I know that 80% of today's country via the radio is poppy pabulum sung by pretty people who don't know a strip of tobacco from a strip club. The song "Cross You Heart," with its western-swing intro, sounds like a love-breeding of Tom Petty and the Sons of The Pioneers. The nifty "Burning Bed" even has the words "rank stranger" in it. Anyone wanna take a survey of hat acts and ask them if they have even HEARD that term?

Most of this album is glorious. All the songs have inventive and heartfelt lyrics, and as country-as-can-be instrumentation, even featuring Buck Owens' former Steel player! There are, of course, hints of country-rock all over the place, but unless I miss my guess, I think Mr. Robinson is older than ALL of these people, so who may be influencing who?

"Don't ask Me Why" is a great song, with washes of Tom Petty (think "The Waiting"), the haunting "Two Candles" isn't all that far from Bruce Springsteen, (think "The River"), we definitely can swing back to country with the Willie Nelson -ish "It Rained On Monday," and the Merle Haggard/Buck Owens-channeling "Forever Came Today."

Granted, Mr. Robinson's almost Tom Waits-ish at times voice is probably a little gravelly for #1 songs, and yes, sometimes we hear the country side of rock in some of these songs, but the powers that be are NOT gonna tell me, or anyone who goes out and buys this disc, which should be as many folks as possible, that an album isn't country with one song that rhymes water with oughter (ought to??). Please.