Trace Adkins Chrome Lyrics

Graced with one of 2001's most distinct voices, Adkins begins by sinking his leathery growl into the title number--a rap track, but one possessing enough wit to avoid falling into gimmickry. From there, the curve is upward. The hit "I'm Tryin'," a simple inspirational message wrapped in a complex arrangement, possesses strength and integrity too rarely seen in hit singles. Adkins's real-life blue-collar past imbues "Thankful Man" with a believability missing when such songs wind up in the hands of singers from middle-class college backgrounds. While keeping the otherwise mundane "Scream" and "Once a Fool Ago" above water, he rises above the norm with "I'm Goin' Back." This take on the timeless country-boy-hates-the-big-city scenario succeeds on every level, even if the word "discern" seems a bit out of place. The excruciating anguish of "Help Me Understand" and the self-explanatory "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" exemplify power ballads done right. The message? One can make a record that reconciles the normally disparate virtues of commerciality and honesty. --Rich Kienzle