Three years after his first number one single,
Alan Jackson took his brand of new
honky tonk country and pushed it all the way into the mainstream, making it possible for another batch of acts to follow him. Sticking with producer
Keith Stegall,
Jackson wrote over half the tracks on the set, including a pair of singles, "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)" and "Tonight I Climbed the Wall," as well as "Chattahoochee." The uptempo numbers with the jukebox kick are what works best with
Jackson's restless country-soul voice -- check "I Don't Need the Booze (To Get a Buzz On)." The smoking
western swing of "Up to My Ears in Tears" walks a line between
Bob Wills and
Buck Owens, and could have been covered by
Dwight Yoakam. But the set's winner is its closer, the
Geddins/
Douglas classic "Mercury Blues." Taking the tune back to its
country roots and claiming it for the Fender Telecaster's particular brand of pinch and tang,
Jackson sings the hell out of it. At this point in his career,
Jackson established himself as one of the most consistent talents
country had to offer. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Kathleen L. (