As his comeback, John Anderson didn't just stumble upon a couple of hit singles, he produced a solid album, full of twangy rubble raisers and moving, yearning ballads. Including the number one hit "Straight Tequila Night," the environment-inspired title cut, and the tender, pleading "Let Go of the Stone," this album catapulted Anderson back to the forefront of country music. Of course, he wasn't just riding the crest of new country; he was harking back to its more traditional roots. But while able to bridge the gap between old and new, he also demonstrates his ability to meld the two as he mourns the poppification of country in "Look Away" and then turns around and puts a honky tonk spin on the Tina Turner cut "Steamy Windows." Being able to be faithful to both while fluidly combining them is true artistry and testament to his voice, his material, and his arrangements. This is contemporary country at top form.
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