Phil Vassar
Songwriters who make the jump to recording artist often have a tough time--either their personalities are too introverted or their voices better suited for demos than major-label debuts. But the piano-playing Vassar, who's penned hits forJo Dee Messina,Tim McGraw, andAlan Jackson, should be able to take the leap in stride. Stylistically, he's gleefully reminiscent of other favorites: "Joe and Rosalita" is dead-onBilly Joel, "Like I Never Loved Before" seems straight out ofMichael Peterson, and doesn't that piano line on "Lucky as Me" remind you ofBruce Hornsby? But whether he's a talented imitator or a marketer with an eye for the Billboard charts, Vassar's regular-guy vocals and upbeat persona--undeniably infectious and feel-good, despite several forays into mawkish ballads--seems just the ticket as country meanders through its current identity crisis.--Alanna Nash