Sammy Kershaw
Labor of Love (Mercury) (star) (star) (star)
Trace Adkins
Big Time (Capitol) (star) (star)
A couple of good ol’ boys from Louisiana give their rich baritone voices a full workout on these meticulously produced follow-ups to previous platinum efforts. Of the two, Kershaw gives the more spirited performance. Kicking things off with a rowdy “Honky Tonk America” and a nostalgic “Shootin’ the Bull (In an Old Cowtown),” he keeps up a hot pace throughout with songs that are both humorous and introspective. The blue-collar ambience benefits from producer Keith Stegall’s wholly contemporary take on the material and Kershaw’s Cajun seasoning. The tall and lanky Adkins enjoyed immense success with his debut album — “Dreamin’ Out Loud” (1996) — and was named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Male Vocalist. Unfortunately, “Big Time” is a surprisingly lackluster affair, with Adkins’ wonderful voice doing most of the work when the words fail. His own “Snowball in El Paso” (written with Trey Bruce) suggests the artist’s potential, as does his gentle take on the traditional “Wayfaring Stranger” and the clever “See Jane Run.” But too often the voice gets weighed down by radio-ready melodrama.