Hotels & Highways (MV2, 2017)

Though he's not exactly synonymous with '90s country, Terry McBride experienced his share of success as the front man of McBride & The Ride. The trio landed 8 Top 40 singles from 1990-1994. After a long hiatus from the mic where he honed his songwriting skills for the likes of Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire, and with encouragement from friend Delbert McClinton, he resurfaced with a 6-song EP.

When reflecting on the changes in the industry since his band's heyday over 20 years ago, McBride acknowledged the importance of social media, but said, "A lot of it is still the same. Writing and touring is still at the core. Production and the delivery system may be a little different, but the basics will never change." This effort is a reflection of that philosophy. It is a no frills, very brief 18-minute capsule with themes ranging from the title track's tale of the loneliness of the road to losing a woman to the seductive temptations of the state of California.

For the obligatory drinking song, "Worth A Shot," McBride forgoes a party anthem and opts for a simple honky tonk tale of approaching a woman seated alone at a bar as being worth the price of a cold beer to see what the outcome may be. Sonically, the album is sparse, the production having simple effects lending to a one-take feel.