Kevin Sharp "Make a Wish" (Cupit)

Kevin Sharp "Make a Wish" (Cupit)

Sharp broke on the country charts with his 1996 debut "Measure of a Man," driving towards the middle-of-the-road with power ballads and dance-inflected numbers. His follow-up, 1998's "Love Is," moved ever so slightly away from the debut's slick production, but basically stuck to the centerline. Six years and a couple of dropped record deals later, Sharp returns with his third LP for the indie Cupit label.

As with his first two releases, this is pop music with passing fiddle lines and twangy harmonies that could position it for today's country charts. As a cancer survivor, Sharp's spent much of the last six years working as an inspirational speaker, and those lessons aren't lost on his music. The album's title track and songs like "Listen to the Music" speak to living a good life, transcending one's problems, reaching for one's goals and always maintaining faith. It's not a bad formula in a time when worldwide hope is stretched thin. Unusually, Sharp covers his own cover (of the Tony Rich Project) of "Nobody Knows" as a bonus track. Even more unusually, the album contains the instrumental backing tracks as bonuses.

Those who enjoyed Sharp's first two albums will find him in strong voice here, singing both ballads and upbeat tunes against finely crafted pop arrangements. While this third album doesn't break any new ground, fans will find it gratifyingly continuous with his work of six years past. [Review by redtunictroll@hotmail.com]

Buy The Album: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0009MFJZA/ecnadmedia-20