XII

Neal McCoy's first album in seven years finds him reconnecting with the Nashville mainstream, thanks in part to coproducers Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. The rollicking upbeat tracks and thoughtful slower tunes here are less a creative departure than a reaffirmation of what made McCoy so successful in the ‘90s. Drawing on such A-list songwriters as Jamey Johnson, Rivers Rutherford, and Allen Shamblin, the album mixes celebratory country rockers (“A-OK,” “Real Good Feel Good”) with barroom character sketches (“Crazy Women”) and classy romantic ballads (“Judge a Man by the Woman”). McCoy especially connects with comedic numbers like the Texas swing-styled “Mouth” and the twang-driven “That’s Just How She Gets.” He also takes chances with subtler pieces like “Van Gogh,” which probes the nature of artistic expression. Throughout, McCoy sings with his trademark blend of breezy confidence and honky-tonk soulfulness. He's been poised for a full-fledged comeback for some time, and the high-spirited XII just might do the trick.