The secrets I have kept, the nights I haven't slept, I've laughed until I've wept...

I loves me some Trisha Yearwood. She's got to be one of the most consistently good female singers in country music. Though not having the superstar career of a Faith or a Shania, she didn't fizzle out quickly (I'm looking at you, Gretchen) but has built up a classy body of work through the last fifteen years. From "Down On My Knees" to "On A Bus To St. Cloud" to "I'd Still Love You More", Trisha has songs that may not have been chart champs, but have a timeless quality about them that defies dating.

On her tenth studio album (including a Christmas disc), Jasper County, Yearwood eschews the sheen from her last couple albums for a more down-home country feel. Starting out with both barrels on with the best track on the album, "Who Invented The Wheel", a bluesy scorned-woman powerhouse of a song (actually outdoing it's writer Anthony T. Smith's version). She mixes up the requisite swingers ("Pistol", "It's Alright"), twosteps ("River Of You", "Baby Don't You Let Go"), and ballads (the first single, the understated "Georgia Rain", and the ugly-duckling anthem "Standing Out In A Crowd"). Everything here is really low-key and subtle, though there are highlights in the aforementionned "Who Invented The Wheel", the melancholy "Trying To Love You", the funky Bonnie Raitt-like "Sweet Love", and the soaring waltz "Try Me". It's reassuring that her romance and marriage to Garth Brooks hasn't redirected her muse of portraying a woman at time of crisis or hurt. Even an early-90's style fast step of "Gimme The Good Stuff" makes its way on here.

Jasper County may not be the strongest album in Yearwood's career (I'd give Hearts In Armor that distinction), but in a time where country albums are often 4 singles surrounded by hack, it's a refreshing add to a great career.

(The album was rereleased with the track "Love Will Always Win" with Garth Brooks, which pales besides previous efforts with him. Whether you get the album with or without is your call.)

Grade: B-
Best Cuts: "Who Invented The Wheel", "Trying To Love You", "Try Me"

Jasper County hit #4 pop albums and #1 country albums.
"Georgia Rain" hit #15 country and #78 pop.
"Trying To Love You" made #52 country and #28 adult contemporary.
"Love Will Always Win" made #23 country.

You can pick up Jasper County at sites like here and here.

You can listen to the track "Who Invented The Wheel" by going here (right click to bring up in a new window).

And here you can watch the video for "Georgia Rain" below.