This I Gotta See
Like many young male vocalists, Griggs, who had the blessing of longtime heroWaylon Jennings, faces a time-tested conundrum. His marketable hunk image and radio-friendly voice seems in many ways at odds with his obvious preference for the grittier musical approach that Music Row generally spurns. That dichotomy is writ large here. His vocal power surges on austere, direct material, like two numbers he co-wrote: the rocking novelty "Hillbilly Band" and sensual "My Kind of Beautiful." He journeys through male vulnerability with "She Thinks She Needs Me," a contrast with "Be Careful Where You Kiss Me," the sort of clichéd onstage crowd-pleaser that falters on record. Producer Gary Scruggs often favors spare accompaniments. While he shows admirable restraint on "Why Do I Still Love You" andGretchen Peters's "If Heaven," sludgy overproduction hobbles "No Mississippi" and the throwaway title song. In the end, this mixed bag poses a question: what would Griggs do if he were allowed to record what he wanted, the way he wanted--the way Waylon did?--Rich Kienzle