Trace Adkins had reached his midthirties by the time his debut album,
Dreamin' Out Loud, was released in 1996. By the time his fifth disc,
Comin' on Strong, appeared in 2003, he was over 40. So, it is perhaps appropriate that the overall tone of the lyrics in the 11 songs written for him is one of romantic maturity. That starts with the leadoff track and first single, the up-tempo "Hot Mama," in which a husband reassures his wife that she remains attractive to him, even though she can no longer fit into the jeans she wore at 17. "Hot Mama" has a frisky appeal and, with its erotically charged tag line, "You wanna?" a novelty quality, as does the album's closer, "Rough & Ready," a tongue twister with a Western Swing flavor that details a particular type of country male's taste: "Cold beer/Hot wings/Wranglers/Skoal ring," and so on. The nine songs in between are the usual Nashville product, songs about love lost and found.
Adkins' distinctive yet traditional baritone brings out the best in this material, whether leaning on the metaphor of the ballad "I'd Sure Hate to Break Down Here" or reflecting on the physical pleasure of "One of Those Nights."
Comin' on Strong is at its best right at the beginning, and there isn't another song as impressive as "Hot Mama." But it's a sturdy collection of reasonably good country songs given effective interpretations by a veteran talent. ~ William Ruhlmann