Part II

A fuller-sounding, slightly more commercial affair than Brad Paisley’s debut, Part II establishes its author as a leading man in the landscape of modern country. The big singles are “I’m Gonna Miss Her” and “Wrapped Around,” two catchy and unassuming tunes that embrace the vintage sheen of Bakersfield country. Not only does Paisley manage to avoid the trendy affectations of present-day Nashville, he embraces his West Virginia roots on “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” and the bluegrass-inflected “Two Feet of Topsoil.” Paisley is boyish and charming but he can still stand alongside the titans — George Jones, Buck Owens and Bill Anderson — for the lamentation of “Too Country.” Not only has Paisley inherited George Strait’s old-fashioned values and musical integrity, but he's also adopted Strait’s admiration for Sinatra, effectively shown by the jazzy slow dance “You Have That Effect On Me.” And Paisley even has one up on Strait — while King George works mainly with the material of other songwriters, Paisley had a hand in writing every song on Part II, a rare accomplishment among Nashville stars.