Into The Neon (Mod) [CD], Randall King, CD

Warner Music Nashville's Randall King has never wavered in his honky-tonk allegiance, and with his sophomore major-label album, Into the Neon, he's taking honky tonk somewhere new-a place where "steel guitar and smoke" meet a modern buzz. Schooled on icons like Keith Whitley, George Strait, Alan Jackson and John Anderson, yet inspired by modern masters like Dierks Bentley and Gary Allan, King's Into the Neon draws on his influences, allowing punchy sounds to exist side-by-side with timeless swagger, further blurring the line between yesteryear and today. Co-produced by King alongside Jared Conrad, and featuring 18 tracks including "When My Baby's In Boots," "Hang Of Hangin' On" and "I Could Be That Rain," doubled electric guitars and heavy steel drive irresistible melodies forward, while an all-organic cast of add-ons like banjo, bouzouki and cello add depth to tender two-steppers and steel-toed boot stompers alike. "It's that smoky, edgy side of me that hasn't gotten to be shown off yet," he says. "That's what I've been looking for, and I'm incredibly proud of the whole thing.