Mercury Lane runs directly through territory created by
Sam Hunt and paved by
Thomas Rhett.
Jimmie Allen isn't apologetic about his debt to such smooth country-R&B crooners, happily crafting his debut so it can slip into the cracks separating country and pop music. Such cheerfully ambiguous stylings are ideal for the streaming age, as it can slide onto all manner of playlists without being noticed, and
Jimmie Allen is similarly amorphous. Possessed with a friendly, unassuming voice,
Allen is pleasing to hear, but he fades into the background a bit too easily. This means
Mercury Lane winds up more of a showcase for its songwriters and producers than its leading man, which isn't necessarily a bad thing for listeners -- it's pleasurable enough, especially as background music -- even if it doesn't amount to a forceful debut for
Jimmie Allen.