Shaken Not Stirred

Phil Vassar is a rare commodity in Nashville these days. A skilled pianist and world-class songwriter, Vassar first made his mark in country music penning hits for Alan Jackson and Jo Dee Messina. Shortly after his songwriting career took off, the Virginia native landed a deal with Arista Records. Shaken Not Stirred follows Vassar's over-looked American Child album, a disc that should have taken the singer's career to the next level, but somehow slipped through the cracks.

Vassar is in the best musical shape of his life on Shaken Not Stirred. The songs, especially the Ray Charles-esque "Nobody Knows Me Like You," show serious growth in both Vassar's singing and songwriting abilities. A gently fingered piano, weeping string section and brush-stroked percussion make the aforementioned track one of the album's many bright spots. "Dancin' With Dreams," another highlight, finds Vassar channeling Billy Joel. The track, along with the heartachin' "Erase" and the soulful "Black And Whites," reveal a more mature Phil Vassar.

"Gone By Dawn" gives a musical tip of the hat to Jackson Browne's classic cut "Running On Empty." Vassar and his studio band sound as if they're having a big time as they let loose on the vibrant cut. Session ace Russ Pahl plays a mean slide guitar, evocative of Rolling Stone Ron Wood's serpentine style. For "Amazing Grace," Vassar steals one of inspirational music's most sacred song titles and turns it into a coming-of-age tale. Shades of Don Henley and Bruce Hornsby reveal themselves throughout the inspired number. "Good Ole Days" is a pumping, live-for-the-moment cut that finds Vassar rocking out. The singer reminds us that sometimes the best days of our lives are happening right now.

"What Happens In Vegas" tells the story of a trip to sin city that turns a repressed girl into a fun-loving free spirit. The song's main character, who decides to quit living under the thumb of her overpowering boyfriend, just might inspire other women to escape unhealthy relationships. "I'll Take That As A Yes (The Hot Tub Song)" is pure pop fun. Vassar gets frisky with his lady, hoping his advances will land them both in the hot tub and onto the bear rug afterward for a rub-and-tickle session. "I Miss The Innocence" just might be one of the most heartfelt songs Vassar has ever written. The track is another artistic piece that shows Phil is more than just a paint-by-numbers songwriter.

Vassar may play the happy-go-lucky party guy role to a tee, but inside the man lives a giant of a songwriter, a sensitive poet with a serious grasp of human emotions. Shaken Not Stirred unearths the artist that lies beneath the glossy country-pop exterior.

By Todd Sterling