Brad Paisley lets guitar be the star

Brad Paisley's inventive, note-bending guitar work is as much a part of his signature sound as his voice and songwriting. Usually, he hides this skill within songs that focus attention on his other talents. Except on the occasional instrumental, a listener has to pay close attention to hear Paisley's dazzling string work.

On Play, however, his guitar is the star. For the most part, he shuts up and plays, tilting the album toward instrumentals in a variety of styles that show off his speed, technique and range. He plays surf, rockabilly, blues and swing. There's Charlie Daniels-style back-country jams and Chet Atkins-style country melodies, and he enlisted his old friend, Buck Owens, for a Bakersfield-style country rocker recorded shortly before Owens' death in 2007.

Owens isn't the only guest. On the humorous Start A Band, one of the few tunes with lyrics, Paisley and Keith Urban trade guitar licks while celebrating the rites of passage found when a young musician forms his first group. Actor Andy Griffith shows up in a re-recording of Paisley's hit, Waitin' On A Woman, reprising a role he played in the song's video. And on Cluster Pluck, Paisley gathers seven ace guitarists, including Vince Gill and Steve Wariner, for a course in country guitar styles. B.B. King also makes an appearance.

As usual, Paisley emphasizes good-time humor and tender romanticism, showing his personality even when he lets his fingers do the talking.

CHECK THIS OUT: Paisley usually shows his skills while plugged in, but he shows a tender side on the acoustic Kim, named for his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

Alabama's Randy Owen has new solo CD

Randy Owen apparently wants to establish pretty quickly that his solo career will differ from his four decades as the leader of Alabama, the most successful band in country music history.

His solo debut, One On One, opens with a seductive country rocker, I Confess, positioning him as a romantic older man whose age gives him an experience and focus he lacked in his youth.

Owen's lustful persona rises repeatedly on One On One, which was produced with subtle flair by John Rich. On Let's Pretend We're Strangers For The Night, he sets up a scenario for renewing passion in a marriage. On Slow And Steady, he's an all-night loving man whose attentiveness never wanes. On the power ballad Holding Everything, he pours his ever-loving heart out to his duet partner, young up-and-comer Megan Mullins.

Elsewhere, Braid My Hair is the kind of sentimental song Alabama often did late in their career, while Barbados is a misdirected attempt to tap into the island rhythms that Kenny Chesney uses with success.

Despite a couple of weaker moments, Owen proves he can be just as compelling and likeable standing on his own as when running with the guys in the band.

CHECK THIS OUT: The tender Like I Never Broke Her Heart uses a moody, atmospheric arrangement to bring out the smoky quality of Owen's baritone, which is perfect for expressing the emotion that runs through this ballad about cheating and regret.

-- Associated Press