Tim Mcgraw & The Dancehall Doctors CD

"She's My Kind Of Rain" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

Tim McGraw has sold millions of records by shuttling between pleasantly cornpone neo-honky tonk and Mark Wills/John Michael Montgomery-style lite-pop balladry. With TIM MCGRAW AND THE DANCEHALL DOCTORS, however, the singer pulls off the wholly unexpected feat of creating an album so richly textured and boldly mature, it makes much of his earlier work seem silly by comparison. Completely absent are the usual drippy sentiments and good 'ol boy bluster; in their place are thoroughly adult themes and effortlessly soulful vocal performances.

Like Waylon Jennings two decades earlier, McGraw makes his artistic breakthrough by recording with his touring band. Tracked in an old mansion a la LED ZEPPELIN IV, the disc has an energetic earthiness rarely achieved in contemporary country. The songs are, if not as instantly memorable as "Indian Outlaw," much more substantial, and the playing is exuberant throughout. Perhaps the most striking thing about the record, though, is its distinctly country-influenced (rather than country) feel. In fact, the album sounds like it would fit very nicely in the Eagles' catalog, right between ON THE BORDER and ONE OF THESE NIGHTS. Obviously, it'll take a few more records of similar quality for history to judge Tim McGraw in as favorable a light as Don Henley and crew. In the meantime, though, TIM MCGRAW AND THE DANCEHALL DOCTORS deserves to be hailed as one of the first albums by a Nashville country artist to actually get rock right.

Full Title - Tim McGraw & The Dancehall Doctors. The country star's 2002 album combines a 70's vibe with rock & pop as well as country. Featuring the first single 'Red Ragtop'. Curb Records.

Personnel: Tim McGraw (vocals); Denny Hemingson (guitar, steel guitar, baritone guitar); Bob Minner (guitar, dobro); B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar); John Prestia (electric guitar, harmonica); Darran Smith, Byron Gallimore (electric guitar); Dean Brown (mandolin, fiddle); Jelly Roll Johnson (harmonica); Steve Nathan (organ, Wurlitzer organ); Billy Mason (drums); Dave Dunkley (percussion); Frank Macek (loops); Chris Rodriguez, Don Henley, Gene Miller, Greg Barnhill, Kim Carnes, Timothy B. Schmit (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Mike Shipley.

Recording information: Allaire Studios, Shokan, NY; Emerald Entertainment; Essential Sound; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; O Henry Sound Studios, Burbank, CA; Profound Sound; SoundStage.

Photographers: Dean Brown ; Kelly Clague Wright; Tim McGraw.

Personnel: Tim McGraw (vocals); James Lowry (acoustic guitar); Darran Smith, Jonn Prestia, Byron Gallimore (electric guitar); Denny Hemingson (guitar, steel & baritone guitars, mellobar); Bob Minner (guitar, dobro); Dean Brown (mandolin, fiddle); Jelly Roll Johnson (harmonica); Steve Nathan (Wurlitzer piano); Jeff McMahon (keyboards); John Marcus (bass); Billy Mason (drums); David Dunkley (percussion); Chris Rodriguez, Kim Carnes, Don Henley, Greg Barnhill, Gene Miller, Timothy B. Schmit (background vocals).

Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw, Darran Smith.

Entertainment Weekly (11/29/02, p.107) - "...He's got good taste..." - Rating: B