Play: The Guitar Album (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Brad Paisley (electric guitar, baritone guitar, mandolin, bass guitar); Manny Rogers, Snoop Dogg (vocals); Robert Arthur (acoustic guitar); Gary Hooker (electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar); James Burton, John Jorgenson, Keith Urban, Albert Lee , Steve Wariner, Vince Gill (electric guitar); Randel Currie (steel guitar); Kendall Marcy (banjo, keyboards); Aubrey Haynie, Justin Williamson (fiddle); Frank Rogers, Bernie Herms, Gordon Mote (piano); Jim "Moose" Brown (Farfisa, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ); Kevin Grantt (upright bass, bass guitar); Ben Sesar, Brian David Willis (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Kenny Lewis, Wes Hightower (background vocals); Chris O'Donnell, Nick Michaud, Drew Bollmann, John Harvey, Justin Niebank, Steve Short, Greg Lawrence.

In an unusual move for an established country singer, Brad Paisley's PLAY is a primarily instrumental album that puts its focus entirely on Paisley's underrated guitar work. Far from being a traditional country album, or even a contemporary country-pop album, PLAY works in a wide variety of genres, including Les Paul-style jazz, ripping surf rock, old-fashioned electric Chicago blues, and metal-tinged rock & roll.

Paisley also assembles quite a list of guest stars: a re-recording of an early hit features a guest appearance by the actor Andy Griffith, while the Bakersfield country rocker "Come On In" features the late Buck Owens and a bluesy take on "Let the Good Times Roll" welcomes B.B. King. Two vocal tracks, "Start A Band" and "More Than Just This Song," feature Keith Urban and Steve Warriner, respectively, while the epic "Cluster Pluck" is a tongue-in-cheek high-speed dash through the history of country guitar showcasing James Burton, Vince Gill, Albert Lee, and four other guitarists besides. PLAY is a detour, but a worthwhile one. minimize