Walker trophy hunts for TV

Fall

Close to four years passed since Clay Walker released a new disc, and not a lot has changed for Walker, whose very first single, 'Live Until I Die," hit number 1 in 1994. Walker continues displaying a very pleasant country voice with a good sense of emotion among the 12 songs (the second single, "Fall") on this Keith Stegall-produced disc. Walker turns in an excellent reading of "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," which boasts the late singer Freddy Fender lending backing vocals. ...

A Few Questions

Clay Walker isn't in the kind of questioning mood this album's title implies; instead, "A Few Questions" offers simple and straight-forward answers to life's bigger questions. But since Walker is not what you might consider a deep thinker, his latest release adds up to a simplistic and unfulfilling offering. A good example of this recording's shallowness is the clich+-ridden "Everybody Needs Love," which endlessly repeats stereotypes about Nashvillians and Texans, without ever telling us anything ...

Christmas

Clay Walker fans expecting fiddle-and-steel arrangements of traditional Christmas songs may be disappointed. Walker fans willing to keep an open mind (and ear), on the other hand, may be pleasantly surprised. Sure, we get a fiddle solo on "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," but it's followed by a saxophone solo. The best song, surprisingly, is "Go Tell It on the Mountain," replete with organ and hallelujah choir. Walker really digs into the vocal and turns in a standout performance. ...