The Truth About Men

The Truth About Men by Tracy Byrd

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Like most every other talented contemporary singer, Byrd constantly maneuvers through a treacherous minefield: Music Row's insistence on compromises to assure "a wider audience" (read: radio airplay). He's faced that dilemma on nearly all of his albums, which include a couple of gems amid a bed of marginal, trite, or even unlistenable material. A bit of the latter leaks into the mix this time as well--the banality of "How'd I Wind Up in Jamaica" and a live version of "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo" reflect Nashville's obsessions with Jimmy Buffett-flavored fare. However, it's uphill from there. The title track (with Andy Griggs, Montgomery Gentry, and Blake Shelton) both celebrates and spoofs macho stereotypes. Portraits of small-town life in "Tiny Town" and "That's What Keeps Her Getting By" do far more to reflect Byrd's heart and substance. Even the barroom singalong "Drinkin' Bone" succeeds by fusing an animated vocal with a crackling arrangement (think the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women"). Beyond the throwaways, it's reassuring that, overall, Byrd's understated poignancy, sensitivity, and swagger-with-a-wink prove triumphant. --Rich Kienzle