Paul Brandt's second album,
Outside the Frame, is a successful continuance of the neo-traditionalist formula that made his debut,
Calm Before the Storm, such a success. Again working with producer
Josh Leo,
Brandt finds the middle ground between traditional honky tonk and contemporary country pop and while the songwriting is occasionally uneven, the conviction and passion of the performances make the weaker moments glide by. All in all, the album -- from the ballad "What's Come Over You" and the rocker "Yeah!" to "A Little in Love" -- proves that
Brandt is one of the better mainstream contempoary country vocalists of the late '90s. ~ Thom Owens