Emerson Drive - Countrified

Led by the rich-toned lead vocals of Brad Mates, the Canadian-bred Emerson Drive enjoyed many high-powered accolades from the country music community following their debut breakthrough album. However, Richard Marx's production was a mixed blessing, with Emerson Drive being labelled a pop outfit.

Producers Keith Follese and Brad Allen have conspired on the 2006 release Countrified to ensure ther is still a rock/pop edge to proceedings, as in their family values-driven single A Good Man, but the richer country elements shine through on the raucous, honky tonkin' of Testify" and Sweet Natural Girl.

Heartfelt ballads balance the uptempo cuts, but David Pichette's fiddle skills together with a few bars of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir thrown in to the classic The Devil Went Down To Georgia provides a fitting finale.

• A Good Man
• Testify
• Moments
• Sweet Natural Girl
• You Still Own Me
• Lucky Man
• Everyday Woman
• Countrified Soul
• Painted Too Much of This Town
• Boy Becomes A Man
• Devil Went Down To Georgia w/ Charlie Daniels