Kevin Sharp Measure Of A Man CD

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

Among the current crop of honky-tonk singers, Kevin Sharp is the only one with a shaved head and chin whiskers. His debut album combines New Country with pop and rock, and quickly earned him a country hit with the title cut. Musically, Sharp attempts to set himself apart from the Nashville pack just as sharply as he does with his visage. On "Measure Of A Man," "Population 4000 Minus 1" and the rocking "Love Bomb," his emotive vocal style rings with the echoes of the heartland. A key player on MEASURE OF A MAN is producer Chris Farren, who also contributes his talents as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter on several tunes, playing a large part in the feel and content of the album.

Kevin Sharp's eponymous debut album is essentially a countrified take on middle-of-the-road adult contemporary pop. Under the direction of producer David Foster, Sharp runs through a number of power ballads -- including a cover of the Tony Rich Project's "Nobody Knows" -- and tame dance-oriented, up-tempo numbers. Sharp is a fine, if rather faceless, singer -- he sounds good, but he brings no spark to these expertly crafted backing tracks. In other words, it's pleasant background music, but it never grabs your attention. ~ Thom Owens

Recorded at the Tracking Room and Emerald Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.

Personnel: Kevin Sharp (vocals, alto clarinet, background vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Dann Huff (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Greg Leisz (lap steel guitar, dobro); Larry Franklin (fiddle); John Hobbs (piano, keyboards); Greg Mathieson (organ); Paul Leim, David Foster (drums); Chris Farren, Scott Wojahn, Jeffrey Steele, John Batdorf (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Steve Marcantonio; Bill Schnee.

Liner Note Author: Kevin Sharp.

Recording information: Chartmaker Studios, Malibu, CA; Emerald Studios, Nashville, TN; Tracking Room, Nashville, TN; Ultrasound Studios, Woodland Hills, CA.

Unknown Contributor Role: Talley Sherwood.

Personnel includes: Kevin Sharp (vocals, handclaps); Chris Farren (acoustic & nylon-string guitars, mandolin, keyboards, background vocals); Greg Mathieson (organ); David Foster (keyboards); Jeffrey Steele (background vocals).