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Not known as a songwriter, Adkins has an innate ability to make a song his own, as is the case with the seemingly autobiographical 'Happy to Be Here' and the family-first 'All I Ask for Anymore.'
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On the rest of the album the strength of his singing is less evident; it never makes your jaw drop while you’re listening. But it’s a key reason this album is so enjoyable.
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Trace Adkins's 10th album has the typical components of the rock-bottom-baritone singer's records. There's the usual sonic mix of country, rock, and blues and the usual lyrical viewpoints.
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If one wants to really hear the gifts that Adkins is endowed with as a vocalist, one that can reach people in the marrow of where they live, toss away the hits and listen to the rest.
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His serious side is more compelling.
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If the fundamental conflict between his need to meet certain expectations and his apparent desire to record better material keeps the album from being a truly great artistic statement, X nonetheless finds Adkins proving that 12 years and 10 albums into a career is not too late to start taking meaningful, productive risks.