Alan Jackson
had been a star for a long time before he released
Drive
in 2002, but that album turned him into a superstar, largely because it had the post-9/11 anthem
"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),"
a crossover smash that made
Jackson
a household name. Unlike some of his peers, he didn't embrace this opportunity to become an omnipresent celebrity, he turned out a second greatest-hits album in 2003 -- complete with another crossover hit in the
Jimmy Buffett
duet
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
-- before returning with the full-length
What I Do
in September of 2004. Filled with straightforward, unadorned
honky tonk
and gentle, rolling
ballads
,
makes it clear that
doesn't have the slightest interest in becoming a full-fledged, crossover
country-pop
star. This is the purest
country
album he's cut in a long time, but what makes it one of his very best albums isn't its purity, it's how it's delivered with a quiet confidence, a big heart, and a sly sense of humor.
has backed away from any big social statements -- there is a song called
"USA Today,"
but far from being a comment on either the state of the world or his celebrity, it merely tells the tale of "the loneliest man in the U.S.A. today" -- and sings about love, heartache, churches, fixing cars, and wishing
"If French Fries Were Fat Free."
As that last song suggests, he's learned from his idol
George Jones
that even songs about heartbreak can be just as effective if delivered with a sense of humor, but the best joke here is
"The Talkin' Song Repair Blues,"
where
haggles with a mechanic who fancies himself a songwriter. Despite these moments of levity, much of
is heavy on
. While it's true that the loping drinking song
"Strong Enough"
and rip-roaring
"Burnin' the Honky Tonks Down"
are so good it's hard not to wish
threw a few more ravers into the mix, each of these
works splendidly, whether it's the sweet
"Too Much of a Good Thing,"
the gently supportive
"There Ya Go,"
or the aching
"Rainy Day in June."
Given the preponderance of
and the laid-back delivery,
has an intimate, relaxed feel, the polar opposite of a sequel to a blockbuster like
usually is. But instead of feeling like a retreat,
feels like one of
's most assured and best albums, proof positive that he's the best mainstream
singer of this decade. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine