This sophomore effort from Josh Turner recently debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s country albums chart, and for good reason. A young country singer with an old-school baritone, Turner is heads above the competition in making contemporary country that’s rooted organically in the past. His best numbers are soaked in pedal steel and fiddle. Vocally and emotionally, Turner’s influences include some of country’s premiere heart singers: The countrypolitan “No Rush”–with its throwback recitation–recalls the lush romanticism of Conway Twitty, while the funky “Baby’s Gone Home to Mama” conjures the earthy directness of Mel Street. The artist cameos here also reveal Turner’s various touchstones: John Anderson turns up for a duet on the country-rockish “White Noise,” while bluegrass icon Ralph Stanley joins Turner for the simply told and deeply felt “Me and God.”
