Justin Trevino, who released his debut LP in 1998, is a fan of the kind of country music that ruled Nashville from the late '50s through the early '70s -- and it shows. He's a darn fine practitioner of that classic brand of music, from the opening shuffle of
Mel Tillis' "All Right I'll Sign the Papers" to the sophisticated production of the title track, which was written by the late
Justin Tubb (who happens to be
Trevino's namesake). The version calls to mind the unabashed cornball beauty of countrypolitan at its best, like George Jones' "Good Year for the Roses" and
Roy Clark's "Yesterday, When I Was Young."
Trevino's neo-traditionalism stems from country artists who can really sing, and it's clear that folks like Ray Price have inspired him. This Texan is a country singer in the loveliest sense...the way it used to be. ~ Erik Hage