Toby Keith Honkytonk University CD

After Toby Keith achieved household-name status with two chart-topping albums full of defiant songs and right-wing politics, listeners may have expected more of the same. With 2005's HONKYTONK UNIVERSITY, however, Keith matches his outlaw aspirations to a set of tunes that remind his audience that he is a country singer first and a media icon second.

The opening "Honkytonk U" is an autobiographical tune that sounds like an outtake from Waylon Jennings's HONKY TONK HEROES, complete with phase-shifted guitar and a four-in-the-morning vocal delivery. Many of the other tunes here have a 1970s vibe as well, but with a poppier slant; the smooth melody of "Knock Yourself Out" recalls Ronnie Milsap, while the breezy feel of "Big Blue Note" wouldn't sound out of place on a Jimmy Buffett record. "You Caught Me at a Bad Time" is so sensitive, fans might be hard-pressed to believe this is the same guy who sang "The Taliban Song." Of course, none of these stylistic variations would work if Keith wasn't a top-notch writer with a resonant baritone. Lurking behind the super-stud image is a master craftsman capable of delivering rowdy barroom anthems and laid-back love ballads with equal panache.

Recording information: Loud Recording, Nashville, TN; Oceanway Nashville, Nashville, TN; Shrimp Boat Sound, Key West, FL; Starstruck, Nashville, TN; Upstairs Productions, Oklahoma City, OK.

Photographer: Richard McLaren.

Personnel: Toby Keith (vocals); Merle Haggard (vocals); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Steve Nathan (piano, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); Clayton Ivey, Tony Harrell, Gordon Mote (piano, keyboards); David Hungate, Glenn Worf (bass instrument); Shannon Forest, Shannon Forrest (drums); John Wesley Tyles, Julian King (background vocals); Mark Casstevens, Scotty Emerick, B. James Lowry, Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Jerry McPherson, Johnny Hiland, Brent Mason , Brent Rowan (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Eddie Bayers (drums); Wes Hightower (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Julian King.