Country music is something of a muddle these days, with reviewers and critics drawing lines between contemporary popular country, alternative triple-A country, and traditional country. Of all the categories, the third is the most confusing because it refers to popular country made anytime between the '20s and the '70s or '80s.
Ronnie Baker sings traditional country on this 2006 self-titled disc, though songs like "One Bar Town" wouldn't be too out of place of contemporary country radio. The thing is,
Baker, while supplementing steel with electric guitar, is never quite as over-the-top as the radio's current heartthrobs. A song like "All I Can Do Is Love You" is a tasteful, easy-flowing love song with fiddles and a gentle backbeat; "Urban Cowboy Wanna Be" moves to a medium-tempo boogie, updating
Jimmy Buffett's "Brand New Country Star." "Urban Cowboy Wanna Be" also qualifies as
Baker's comment on the less-than-genuine propagators of country. The acoustic-electric band arrangements are well done, and carefully chosen to fit each song.
Baker's also a soulful singer, quite at home with the chosen material. For those disillusioned with contemporary quality but not quite ready to jump on the alternative bandwagon,
Ronnie Baker has put together an enjoyable, well-made country album. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.