Dangerous Man (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Trace Adkins; Pat Buchanan (guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, mandolin); J.T. Corenflos (guitar, electric guitar, 6-string bass); Dann Huff, Tom Bukovac (guitar); B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, resonator guitar); Rex Schnelle, Troy Lancaster (electric guitar); Russ Pahl (slide guitar, steel guitar); Mike Johnson , Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, fiddle); Aubrey Haynie (fiddle); Jim Horn (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Randy Leago (tenor saxophone); Quentin Ware (trumpet); Chris Dunn (trombone); Tony Harrell (piano, organ); Gordon Mote (piano); Tim Akers (keyboards); Chris McHugh (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Chris Stapleton, Mickey Jack Cones, Kenny Beard, Wes Hightower, Bekka Bramlett, Perry Coleman, Casey Beathard (background vocals); Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, gut-string guitar, banjo, mandolin); Greg Morrow (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixer: Justin Niebank.

Audio Remixers: Jason Deere; Silvio Richetto.

Recording information: Blackbird; Capitol Recording Studios; East Iris STudios; Hillside & Son; Masterfonics, Nashville, TN; ocean way; The Castle; The Sound Kitchen, Nashville, TN; Tree Studio B; Westwood Studios.

Photographer: Kristin Barlowe.

Over the course of seven albums, Trace Adkins mined a musical territory between new traditionalism and contemporary commercial country. 2006's DANGEROUS MAN finds him leaning toward the latter part of that equation, with no loss of his down-home, 10-gallon bite. The album's lead-off single, "Swing," is a case in point. Fueled by boogie-rock electric guitar, a thumping backbeat, and sing-along choruses, the tune is glossy and anthemic, owing more to Lynyrd Skynyrd than to Hank Williams.

When not flexing his rock muscles, Adkins shows his skill with emotive, mid-tempo balladry ("Words Get in the Way") designed to fit seamlessly on MTV playlists. But where Adkins's music leaves tradition behind for the mainstream, its country heart beats in the right place: baseball, patriotism, and good-ol'-boy pastimes like drinking, driving, and loving are the themes on hand. Adkins also has a way with an infectious hook, and he carries these beautifully with his resonant baritone. Fans of Adkins, and of contemporary country in general, won't be disappointed with DANGEROUS MAN. minimize