Phil Vassar enjoys record week, but Strait remains first

Traveling Circus

Back in 1999, Phil Vassar was a welcome breath of fresh air for country music. He was a solid songwriter who penned hits for Jo Dee Messina and Tim McGraw, and as an artist, his energetic, piano-laden songs like Carlene, Last Day of My Life, and Just Another Day in Paradise, cut through the din of guitar-wielding male singers. Now, after a few albums that mostly failed to produce more than one hit single each, Vassar is trying to resurrect his heyday. Circus does have some solid tracks on it, ...

Prayer of a Common Man

This is an ambitious title for country music's fun-loving, upbeat "Piano Man." Conjuring images of a hard-working fellow relying on faith to make it through the hard times, Phil Vassar's fourth album (and label debut) does indeed live up to its name, exploring the themes of the modern-day American - work, love, faith, family, heartbreak in Vassar's most introspective effort yet. Vassar's voice still balances that fine line between smooth, soulful, and rugged, but ...

Greatest Hits Volume 1

Some may consider Phil Vassar mainly a songwriter, but truth be told he brought his show to Nashville's road in search of success as a singer. Somewhere along the way, lavish lyrics and piano man talents were found and fine-tuned. But this collection is the first to contain his versions of hits made famous by others. Although armed with powerful vocals, the music is somewhat of a disappointment, comparatively speaking. Some instrumentation on these "new" tracks seems strangely subdued in spots. ...