There's plenty of talent to back up that swagger
I have seen Gary Allan in concert, and it is definitely a wild ride. He lives up to the promises he makes on his albums of a good-time country-rocker. I own all of his CD's, and this one is a close second to "Smoke Rings in the Dark" for his best effort. He has never liked to be pigeon-holed, but his music always lines up behind the now-trendy label of "Traditionalist Country". He has managed, after almost a decade, to maintain the sound that separates him from the pack, a guitar strong country-rock, without getting stuck in a rut. He plays to the young video-hungry crowd with fun, sexy videos, while still making music that doesn't sacrifice his largely adult audience. Though he writes very little, he selects songs with topics he knows about personally: heartache and moving on. "Alright Guy" is an album that lives up to all expectations. It has the right mix of old-style country, southern rockers and twang. I am not a girl who likes traditional country by the truckload, but I buy Gary Allan's CD's before I've heard even one song on them. I know it's a sure bet.
This disc has some beauties: "All Right Guy" is hilarious and you can just see Gary cracking up while he's singing it. "The Devil's Candy" has some outstanding guitar. "The One" is just about as sexy as it gets, in the same mood as "Lovin' You Against My Will" from his previous album. But "I'm Doin' My Best" has got to be my favorite. That song is just vintage Gary. This album is going on my top twenty, can't-live-without, take-to-a-desert-island list.
Another Winner
Gary Allan returned in October 2001 with ALRIGHT GUY, the follow up to his hugely successful SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK album. ALRIGHT GUY is country at its finest, its loud its twangy, its real man country in terms of the material. It's not trying to be anything it's just what it is, not trying to tone the content down at all. The album opens with "Man To Man" where a man confronts his lover's ex boyfriend. "The Devil's Candy" is pretty darn catchy and would serve well as a single. "Man of Me" was the album's first single, straight country pure and simple. "Adobe Walls" is classic country with a ballroom type feel to it. "The One" is a beautiful song which has been a huge hit for Gary. Other highlights include "I Don't Look Back", "I'm Doin My Best", "Alright Guy" and "What's On My mind", oh and check out "What Would Willie Do". Overall another great album from a talented guy.
Best of Gary Allen
"All Right Guy" contains some of Gary Allen's best work to date. This album shows how incredibly versatile his voice is, and showcases some of his greatest talents. Gary Allen is one of todays best county artist. Very traditional sound with a modern twist.
More Than Alright
This is a great album from Gary Allan. His fourth album shows the honky tonker showcasing more bawdy tunes than he has on his previous albums. The big hit from the album was the #1 hit "Man To Man", which was the third single from the album. Other released singles include the honky tonk driven "Man Of Me" and the ballad "The One". The title track was meant to be the fourth single, which would have been a controversial release, but instead they pushed for a the first single from his SEE IF I CARE album."The Devil's Candy" is one of my favorites, a great uptempo tune with a great chorus. His version of "What I'd Say" is well done, very haunting. "I'm Doing My Best", "I Don't Look Back" and "What's On My Mind" are other good uptempo country tunes. He does country as traditional as it can get, and his voice works well with the material. All this and more makes for a great release from Mr. Allan. Check this one out for sure!
Gary Allan is alright indeed
Gary Allan's first album of the new millenium, Alright Guy, adds several more hits to his growing resume. Gary shows the full spectrum of his amazing voice, throwing accusations in "Man to Man", making propositions to a spanish waitress in "Adobe Walls", and proving he's a good man in "Alright Guy". While not as searingly hot as his previous release (Smoke Rings In The Dark), this album still deserves recognition and praise.
It's rare for a staunch traditionalist to project an image as a serious musician and a sex symbol, but that's what Gary Allan has been aiming for--and achieving--of late. His 1999 star-making album, Smoke Rings in the Dark, played that sensual card with the title single and its smoldering video, as well as with the randy "Right Where I Need to Be." Now he reprises the formula with "Man of Me," this album's first single, a hard-driving, libido-strutting rocker with such sexual heat it threatens to burst into flames. If that, and its hubba, hubba video are what draw buyers, so be it, but there's plenty else to like here, even if Alright Guy, with too many novelty songs and edgy fillers, falls short of its predecessor. While this album takes Allan farther from the honky-tonk than his previous efforts, there's no resisting a guy who can imbue the heartbreak ballad "What I'd Say" with such restrained anguish, or handle the Western swing of "Adobe Walls" with such aplomb. Of all the stylish guys in Nashville in 2001, he's the one to keep your eye on. --Alanna Nash
