It's easy to glance at
Brad Paisley and assume that he's another in a long line of contemporary country artists that get by on their good looks instead of their talent, but his debut album
Who Needs Pictures suggests otherwise.
Paisley follows the pattern set by such neo-traditionalists as
George Strait,
Randy Travis, and
Alan Jackson, yet he adds a bit of a pop sheen -- never as much as
John Michael Montgomery, but similar to
Tim McGraw. Although it boasts a shiny, clean production,
Who Needs Pictures keeps itself firmly within country territory, even if it doesn't feel like its roots dig that deep. Similarly,
Paisley's voice is a little thin, lacking the resonance of a Travis, but it is appealing, as are his songs, all of which he co-wrote with a host of collaborators (most notably Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace). His material may be a little cutesy, but it's catchy, particularly on the faster numbers. Those tunes are surprisingly diverse, ranging from the Western swing-styled "It Never Woulda Worked Out Anyway" and the breezy "I've Been Better" to the skittering Bakersfield instrumental "The Nervous Breakdown," the rocking contemporary country opener "Long Sermon," and the winning honky tonk of "Sleepin' on the Foldout." And even if his ballads tend to drag, "He Didn't Have to Be" is strikingly autobiographical and heartfelt, showcasing his potential in that area, as well. So, even if
Who Needs Pictures is a little uneven, it hits considerably more than it misses, and those hits suggest
Brad Paisley is an artist worth following. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine