A moment of reflection will reveal that is a natural idol for . A trailblazing traditionalist of the '60s and '70s, broke the color barrier for popular country music -- there had been African-American country singers long before him; blurred the boundaries between country and soul a few years before him, and had peers like , but was the first black country superstar -- due in part to his easy, friendly way with a song. has a similar amiable way with a tune and, as a singer of Filipino descent, he bucked country tradition even as he adhered to it. puts all this into relief while also being quite a good listen in its own right. As a traditionalist paying respect to a traditionalist, doesn't play around with the arrangements in the slightest -- he even seems indebted to the sound of 's recordings, not the early ones of the '60s but the gleaming overproductions of the late '70s and early '80s -- but these are terrific songs performed well, by both and his guests (who is on "I'm Just Me"), ("Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'"), and ("Roll On Mississippi"). There's almost a funhouse mirror quality here, with looking back on who was looking back on (the presence of "Kaw-Liga" underscores this), but that's part of the appeal of : each bygone era it salutes is worth celebrating. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine