After the Storm
On "Some Things Never Change," the opening track of Chris LeDoux's first  album since battling back from serious illness and a liver transplant, even his  buddy and duet partnerGarth  Brookssounds looser and less forced than on any of his own records. Still  the rodeo veteran, LeDoux relaxes listeners while retaining all of the power and  integrity that's marked his music from the jump (more than 23 years ago!).  "Millionaire," a celebration of lasting love, the joyous "Don't It Make You Want  to Dance," and the rodeo humor of "Cowboy Up" emphasize straightforwardness over  predictability. "Scatter the Ashes" transcends its rodeo theme with a message  for any world-weary soul ready to move on. And how many major-label artists  today sing of the pure joy of farm life as he does on "Simple as Dirt"? Never  once do he or his producers lower themselves to worry about pleasing radio's  demographic-obsessed, tin-eared demons. In a perfect world, LeDoux would be one  of those who set country's gold standard.--Rich Kienzle