Comin' on Strong (CD - 2003)

Personnel: Trace Adkins (vocals); Michael Spriggs (acoustic guitar, dobro); Pat Buchanan (electric guitar, harmonica); J.T. Corenflos (electric guitar); Steve Hinson (steel guitar); Gordon Mote (piano, Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer); Mike Brignardello (bass); Greg Morrow (drums, percussion); Trey Bruce (percussion, programming); Wes Hightower, Vicki Hampton, Lisa Cochran (background vocals).

Personnel: Trace Adkins (vocals); Michael Spriggs (acoustic guitar, dobro); Pat Buchanan (electric guitar, harmonica); J.T. Corenflos (electric guitar); Steve Hinson (steel guitar, lap steel guitar); Jonathan Yudkin (banjo, mandolin, fiddle, cello); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); Gordon Mote (strings, piano, Wurlitzer organ, synthesizer); Greg Morrow (drums, shaker); Trey Bruce (percussion, programming); Lisa Cochran, Vicki Hampton, Wes Hightower, Liana Manis (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Justin Niebank; Ben Fowler.

Recording information: Arrowhead Recording; Sound Kitchen Big Boy Room; SoundStage Studios; Spurtz Works Studio; The Ice Box.

Photographer: Kristin Barlowe.

On his fifth album, country star Trace Adkins makes a slight retreat from the ultra-modernism of his preceding release, CHROME. Shying away from that album's rock trappings and modern studio techniques, Adkins goes for a much twangier, straight-country sound with COMIN' ON STRONG. That's not to say that he's belting out Hank Williams tunes, or that anybody will mistake him for a New Traditionalist, but Adkins certainly sounds a lot closer to his roots here. As always, his deep baritone is the center of the arrangements, and his friendly, guy-next-door style is almost impossible to dislike. Whether he's extolling the virtues of a "Hot Mama," describing a dark night of the soul on "One Nightstand," or letting it all hang out on the rowdy, rambunctious "Rough & Ready," Adkins has the kind of voice and style that people can instantly relate to, and that's what being a country singer is all about. minimize