Back in the mid-‘90s, Daryle Singletary seemed destined to duke it out with Tim McGraw for the top spot among male country singers. After his initial run of hits, though, the smooth-voiced Georgian seemed to lose his stride. If Rockin’ In the Country isn’t a full-fledged comeback, it does reaffirm this affable artist’s virtues. His warm and resonant style works best with themes of everyday love and heartache. Singletary musters up a George Jones-like sense of domestic tragedy in “How Can I Believe in You” and “Real Estate Hands,” underscoring the tormented lines with well-placed baritone moves. He’s also good at lighter, sweeter fare like “That’s Why God Made Me” and “Background Noise,” and the rollicking “They Know How They Grow ‘Em” and the title song (featuring Charlie Daniels on fiddle) are credible stabs at radio-friendly upbeat tunes. Rock on, Daryle, but please keep the ballads coming.
- Mark Chesnutt
- Sammy Kershaw
- Ken Mellons
- Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw & Aaron Tippin