Great Modern Countrypolitan
C. Bradley | Washington, DC United States | 08/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great album. Mike is a great interpreter of classic country music. His voice is strong and smooth, and his lyrics are crafted with poetic imagination. I agree that Mike deserves to be grouped with Yoakum and the Mavericks, as other reviewers have, in that he hews to what's best in the country tradition while maintaining his individuality. He differs stylistically, however, from Yoakum and the Mavericks. Mike follows the "countrypolitan" tradition of Charlie Rich and Billy Sherill. He does use strings more sparingly than traditional countrypolitan does, so the music never sounds overproduced."