While compelled to write a review of this album, I was further compelled to write a review after reading the review by Mrs. A. Browning, a supposed wife of a soldier, who denounced the album as exploitation and suggested that others not buy the album.

Country singers such as Trace and Toby are not exploiting our soldiers in an effort to "cash in," as Mrs. Browning suggests. Rather they are among the rare and the few who have the glandular fortitude to honor our men in uniform in this age of political incorrectness and anti-war fervor.

A true wife of a soldier would honor the sacrifice that her husband is making for his country. She wouldn't denounce it. No, it's not romantic, but it's something to be honored. This is specifically what Trace does in his song, "Arlington." He honors the sacrifice that our soldiers have made. He honors their lives and their deaths. He not only honors it, he memorializes it, capturing it in a song that will bring anyone to tears. It's a tearful subject, and it's not one that should go unappreciated.

We need to remember. We need to remember the men, their sacrifices, and their lives. Most of all, we need to remember that we wouldn't be celebrating our lives as free Americans were it not for those buried at the Arlington National Cemetary.

Trace ... thank you for honoring the dead by capturing their essence in song. I appreciate your willingness to honor the dead by singing of them in song. The hearts of those men were beautiful, and they willingly gave all for many who will never give any.

Purchase the album for the quality of the music, which is excellent. If you're anti-war and anti-Bush, perhaps, you should go visit Michael Moore's site. He has more than enough hatred to drown you in.

Prime Cuts: Arlington, Honky Tonk Badonkadent, I Learned How to Love You

Despite the stiff and often aggressive competition, country music has remained sacrosanct. On the title track, "Songs about Me," Adkins uncovers the genre's tenacity: "(they are) songs about loving and living/and good hearted women and family and God/yeah they're all just songs about me." Not since Clinton Gregory's "(If It Weren't For Country Music) I'd Go Crazy," has there been a better apologetic paean. With a finesse that is moving, this bluesy guitar driven midtempo title track is only proleptic of the arête material to follow. On the whole, "Songs about Me" is perhaps this lanky Texan's most balanced and amicable CD. Attributive to the album's affectation is that most of these songs come from Music Row's finest scribes including River Rutherford, Tim Mensy, Tom Shapiro, George Teren, Shane Minor, Tony Martin and Ed Hill amongst other maestros.

Charming as the title track is, "Arlington" is even more beguiling. A sensitive ballad told from the perspective of a fallen soldier being laid to rest a "thousand stones away" from his granddad in the same field of honor, this is heart wrenching stuff. Adkins' muscular yet mesmeric baritone has never been utilized to greater effect than on the sensitive power ballad "I Learned How to Love You." Co-written by Tim Mensy and Steve Nathan, this piano and string laden number is postcard perfect for being a radio darling. Possessing the same romantic vibe is the more upbeat Shane Minor and Wendell Mobley's "Find Me a Preacher;" this time finding a lovesick Adkins ready to pounce on the thought of tying the knot.

In the wake of the successes enjoyed by more maverick acts such as Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson, it's assuring to find major acts starting to color outside the lines. Suspending all rules of political correctness (that have given so many of Nashville's products such an artificial sheen) "Honky Tonk Badonkadent" is a salacious and rowdy barnburner that ought to make every red-blooded male proud. Packed with punch over some macho pounding drums, the feminine vile has not much celebrated with such honesty since Confederate Railroad's "Trashy Woman." On the other extreme, you will find a more sensitive Adkins on the limpid "My Heaven." Coming from the pens of Jim Collins and Chris Wallin. "My Heaven" finds a homely dad likening the celestial city with the comforts of home.

However, not all works. Veering too close to Toby Keith's in-your-face bawdy terrain is the "Baby I'm Home." Unlike Keith who is often interesting, Adkins' bluesy-rock "Baby I'm Home" with its uncalled for sensuous storyline is on the patronizing side. Equally forgettable is River Rutherford and George Teren's "Bring It On"--an average 70s rock number with that occasional fiddling just to remind you that it is country.

Nevertheless, despite a few tarnishes, there's much to savor on Adkins' sixth CD bearing the Capitol Nashville logo. This is perhaps Adkins most lyrically diverse album with all the major themes of country music covered ranging from romance to family to the honky tonks to the military. Also, there's a deeper sense of maturity evident in Adkins' nuances. This has added an emotional heft to his delivery making listening to his ballads such as "Arlington" and "I Learned How to Love You" a real treat.

This album is the death knell of country music. This album has Hank Williams and Johnny Cash not only rolling over in their graves, but spinning like tops. Honky Tonk Badonkadonk? Are you kidding me? Are you serious? Is this some kind of joke or novelty album? No, I am not hallucinating, this is supposed to be taken as a serious album. This album will be scooped up by all the millions of mouth breathers out there who have no idea what country music sounds like. The word Badonkadonk has no place in a country song, EVER. I know they are trying to make country music all hip and cool and appealing to all the clods out there. By tying in country music with a word from hip-hop culture they may win over the hearts and ears of the sub-mental humanoids out there, but any true country fan has got to cringe at this song, album and artist. Seriously folks, draw a line somewhere.

I almost bought this CD. I am a big country fan and I especially like the song 'Songs about me.' What made me put it back was the song 'Arlington.' I am SO sick on country artists trying to cash in on the war and our soliders. As the wife of a solider, it seems anti-American. I hate the song itself. It glorifies dying and makes it seem romantic. For those of us who have to live with the thought everyday trust me it's not romantic. Don't support this!!!

In her previous review of this album, A Browning criticizes Trace and other singers for capitalizing on our present war. I'm sure your husband is so proud to know his wife thinks so little of our soldiers, present and past, that she needs to trash music that is meant to be such an honor and remembrace of them. My son is in the Air Force and I can guarantee that he and his buddies don't feel "capitalized" by any of the support they are receiving from our musicians. Buy this album - it's wonderfully written and will become a favorite as soon as you hear it.