Since Chris Young appeared on the "Nashville Star" television program in 2006, he's been on a roll. After signing with RCA he had a hit with "Drinkin' Me Lonely," his first single from his self-titled debut recording. Likewise, the two singles that have preceded the release of THE MAN I WANT TO BE in 2009 haven't done too badly either, getting plenty of play on radio. While Chris Young's sound is firmly in the contemporary country camp, it's also a lot more hardcore honkytonk than it is the refried '70s rock clich‚s that plague the genre. Part of that is due to his big booming baritone voice that rings as clear as a bell in this mix. (Think George Strait-meets-Josh Turner.) The other part of his appeal is the use of a relatively small group of musicians, giving the disc a more organic sound than a lot of what's out there. Young also has a lot of respect for tradition: "Rose in Paradise" is drenched in fiddles, mandolins, and acoustic guitars. It's a country-styled blues and features no less than Willie Nelson as a duet partner. The final track on the set is a moving cover of Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia." Its beauty lies in its arrangement; his reading of this classic ballad is utterly tender and believable, accentuanted by a sparse, stripped-down production. And rather than stick with his trademark baritone, he stretches his vocal range--including a mean falsetto--to the brink and still pulls it all off.
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