You and You Alone was a pivotal album for
Randy Travis and his new label, DreamWorks. For
Travis, it was designed to solidify his status as one of Nashville's new elders; for DreamWorks, it would have gotten their foot in the door of the notoriously insular Nashville music establishment. While
You and You Alone doesn't quite fulfill either goal, it still is a sturdy record that makes
Travis' many talents abundantly clear. It lacks the focus and consistent songwriting of its predecessor,
Full Circle, which was his finest record in years, but individual moments shine just as brightly as the best from that album. Furthermore, producers
James Stroud and
Byron Gallimore (
Travis also had a hand in producing) have given the record a clean, appealing sound that accentuates
Travis' strengths. There are enough fine songs and good moments -- including cameos from
Alison Krauss,
Melba Montgomery, and
Vince Gill -- to make this a solid entry in
Travis' catalog, but it doesn't have enough flair to make it the big splash DreamWorks desired. Still, the small pleasures are as important as the big ones in
Travis' music, and that's what makes
You and You Alone a modest success. ~ Thom Owens