Finally, a new artist WORTHY of his cowboy hat....

Wow. Y'know, it's too often these days that a new act enters Nashville looking to produce "country music," pop-laced tunes posing as country songs (and these people wonder why the Grand Ole Opry won't let them in). Well, on February 17th, the Opry will let in one of 1999's best new artists, and that artist's name is Brad Paisley. Originally from West Virginia (hometown boy!), Brad knows and loves country music; you know, the REAL kind. The kind that makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you want more. And his debut CD, Who Needs Pictures, shows that love and understanding. Not only can Brad sing a good country song, he can write 'em too, not to mention pick the meanest guitar this side of Buck Owens (sorry, Vince; you're good, but Brad's better). George Jones was the king of honky tonk heartache, Roger Miller added a bit of humor to country music, and Alan Jackson proves to be somewhat of a balladeer (among other things), and Brad encompasses all of those qualities in this CD. Traditional country music only sounded this good back in the days of Jones, Williams, Pride, Haggard, and Jackson, but Paisley is among the best, and he's only been around for a little over a year now.

To see just how good Brad is, you only need to listen to the songs. Showing off his songwriting skills, Brad wrote or co-wrote 12 of the CD's 13 tracks, and he proves himself as a masterful pensman with a knack for evoking emotions many other country acts can only dream of. The tracks are:

"Long Sermon": An upbeat song about a man who wants to be out with his woman on a beautiful Sunday, rather than listen to a sermon. A nice toe-tapper and a greatw ay to get things started.

"Me Neither": Brad's signature song to this point, "Me Neither" is a tongue-in-cheek account of the very thing every man dreads: rejection. A laugh-out-loud tune, the lyrics ring loud: "If I don't ask, I'll never know?This may sound dumb, but here we go/Do you believe in love at first sight?/Me neither." The only thing louder is Paisley's guitar work, which is smoking.

"Who Needs Pictures": Brad's first single, the title cut off this album rings true to anyone recovering from a failed relationships. I know every time I hear the lines "I can still see everything just fine/And who needs pictures with a memory like mine," I get goosebumps.

"Don't Breathe": Another tongue-in-cheek song, Brad basically tells a girl leaving him that telling him to stop loving her is like saying "don't breathe." Faith Hill, eat your heart out.

"He Didn't Have To Be": This touching ballad about a stepfather gave Brad his first #1 hit, and deservedly so; if you don't have tears in your eyes by the time this song's over, you better check your pulse.

"It Never Woulda Worked Out Anyway": Sounding more like a song Roger Miller would've cut, this is without a doubt the funniest song on the album. The lines "Like the time I told that cowboy that you used to be a man/And the doctor you were datin' that you hide your wedding band," you'll be on the floor howling with laughter.

"Holding On To You": We've all been here before: "Holding on to you/And I close my eyes/You're still in my arms/And we never said goodbye." One of the more somber songs of the album, the climax hits during the chorus with the words "Every now and then I nod/And I pretend to pay attention/And I say things like uh-huh and yeah, yer right, and are you kidding?"

"I've Been Better": A heartbreak song with sort of a Mexican flavor, this song may be trite, but it's effective. Another Paisley masterpiece.

"We Danced": Brad's latest single established him as a balladeer as well, and for good reason.

"Sleeping on the Foldout": This fast-paced fiddlin' tune is fun to listen to, and sing along to. "Sleeping on the foldout/Thanks to me and my big mouth/Why did I do what I did?" pretty much says it all there.

"Cloud of Dust": A sad song about a poor farmer, this song reminds me of Garth Brooks in his early days.

"The Nervous Breakdown": A brilliant instrumental, this song really shows off Brad's guitar-picking skills. There are no lyrics, but there doesn't need to be; the arrangement says it all.

"In The Garden": A popular gospel song, Brad gives it classic treatment.

All in all, this is a very nice album, one of Nashville's finest over the past couple years. Brad has established himself very well for a new traditional artist, and I can't wait for his sophomore effort. Hopefully, the album will include "Hard To Be A Husband/Hard To Be A Wife," Brad's Opry duet with Chely Wright. The Opry deserves Brad Piasley, and Brad Paisley deserves the Opry.