Lifelong love and commitment take the fore on “Take It from Me” and “I Do.” With pedal-steel regrets, “I Meant to Do That” enumerates acts of kindness that, left undone, can lead to relational failure. Inner beauty outweighs cosmetic attraction when the artist looks “On the Inside” of a woman. An impressive departure from typical honky tonk fare, “12 Step Recovery” doesn’t include getting drunk among its recommendations for rebounding from a broken heart. A man refuses to serve as a romantic stepping stone for a wandering woman on “Pass Me By (If You’re Only Passing Through)”-a remake of Ronnie Milsap’s remake of the old Johnny Rodriguez classic.
Minor. Several cuts take place in a bar, but with just one passing reference to alcohol.
Rich vocals and wholesome lyrics elevate this Canadian baritone above the Nashville norm. Calm Before the Storm‘s blend of uptempo tunes and thoughtful ballads gives discerning country music fans reason to kick up their heels.
