For many country artists, steady success translates into stale material and terminal slickness. Vince Gill rewrote this stereotype on 1998's The Key, a masterful return to his bluegrass and country-rock roots that radiates an effortless integrity. Gill sings with an understated confidence and gentlemanly grace, displaying the same winning high-tenor charm that first won him fame in the mid-'80s. His material has rarely been stronger. From the Appalachian echoes of "The Hills of Caroline" to the honky-tonk edge of "Kindly Keep It Country," the songs offer evocative lyrics to match his stellar vocals. His pairing with Patty Loveless, "My Kind of Woman/My Kind of Man," is a country duet for the ages. "Let Her In," a tender sketch of family love in the aftermath of divorce, ranks among the most moving tunes Gill ever recorded. The Key is sure to open any country fan's heart.