Much of
Scotty McCreery
's appeal on American Idol relied on his old-fashioned charm, how he seemed like a nice, everyday guy who just happened to be a deep-voiced crooner of classic country. Of course, in the early days of the 21st century, old-fashioned country doesn't sell the way it used to.
McCreery
's 2011 debut
Clear as Day
performed well right out of the gate -- it debuted at the top of the
Billboard
200 and the country charts, and his post-coronation single "I Love You This Big" wound up charting higher on the Hot 100 than it did on the country charts, all on its way to a platinum certification -- but if his 2013 sequel
See You Tonight
is any indication, there clearly was some worry in
Scotty
's camp that he couldn't perform the same trick twice. Producer
Mark Bright
-- a hitmaker who leans toward the middle of the road, as indicated by his productions for
Rascal Flatts
and
Sara Evans
-- has been swapped for
Frank Rogers
, who racked up hits with
Brad Paisley
,
Darius Rucker
, and
Josh Turner
.
Rogers
' resume relies on a modern collection of country stars but suggests a lingering traditionalism that can't be found anywhere on
. This modern country is so glossy and effervescent it appears that
's voice has jumped a couple of octaves; he's shaken off the studied affectations of his debut and seems fresh-faced and boyish as he sings songs that have almost nothing to do with a dusty honky tonk.
is unapologetically following the
Luke Bryan
/
Jake Owen
blueprint so closely that some of its song titles recall older hits by those country hunks --
sings of a "Blue Jean Baby" and
Jake
of a "Barefoot Blue Jean Night";
Bryan
had a "Buzzkill" while
is "Buzzin'" -- and if he somehow forgot to sing a song about a truck, he's at least leaning against a rusted old beater on the album cover.
's redefinition of himself as a sports bar-hopping bro is plainly shameless but, strangely enough,
works, partially due to the
-shepherded collection of cheerful country-pop but also due to the malleability of
's dude-next-door persona. That his surroundings are lighter and brighter than before only accentuates how
's happy to be here, so he's happy to sing songs that will keep him here. [A Deluxe Edition was also released.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine