TRACE ADKINS > X

From its opening song, which finds Trace Adkins taking a girl home to his mother, X plays like the satisfied, venal musings of a strictly material kind of guy. “She’s sweet like a Cadillac/Sweet like a stack of cold, hard cash,” Trace sings, and doesn’t stint on the sweet details: “Tattoos in secret places.”Label: CAPITOL NASHVILLE
[Rating: 2.5 STARS]

From its opening song, which finds Trace Adkins taking a girl home to his mother, X plays like the satisfied, venal musings of a strictly material kind of guy. “She’s sweet like a Cadillac/Sweet like a stack of cold, hard cash,” Trace sings, and doesn’t stint on the sweet details: “Tattoos in secret places.” His mother should be proud. The sincere moments are all right, but Frank Rogers’ generic-plus production honors commonplace usages in a way that obscures Adkins’ essential talent, which is for comedy. The soulful “Let’s Do That Again” is listenable; the blues guitar and and dumb wit of “Marry for Money” make for great fun. Let’s hope Trace gets the trust fund and hot tub-love can come later.