For his second album for
Black Top
/
Thirty Tigers
,
Clint Black
sticks to the tried-and-true, adhering to the twang and ballads that made him one of the biggest stars in country music in 1990. Times have changed, though, and this once-fresh blend now sounds fairly old-fashioned.
Black
doesn't seem concerned in the slightest about being out of step with the rest of Nashville or Texas. He's barreling ahead with a blend of amiable country-rockers and soft-focus ballads, many co-written with his longtime partner
Hayden Nichols
. Fellow country vet
Steve Wariner
collaborated with
for "America (Still in Love with You)," an ode to the red, white, and blue that's shamelessly corny. The same sentiment applies to much of the rest of
Out of Sane
. Whether it's the breezy "My Best Thinkin'" or low-key rocker "Can't Quit Thinkin'" or a ham-fisted cover of
Fred Neil
's "Everybody's Talkin'," the music sounds cheerfully square, a vibe that may not bring new listeners into
's fold but will certainly please the faithful. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine