A New Voice In Country Music

I’m sure the first time I heard this song I was running errands and singing along with the radio—it’s what I do when I’m alone in the car.
 The first thing that caught my attention was the haunting melody and the melancholy in the singer’s voice.  By the song’s end I knew I had to have it my collection.  The melody stayed with me most of that day.  I bought the CD within a few days and played this song five times in a row before listening to the rest of the songs.  What a wonderful surprise to find the rest of the album equally well done.
 The lyrics are the plaintive realization that we’ve all experienced at one time or another of a love that’s not working out despite our best efforts.  It’s heart wrenching acceptance of the facts “I know I must be going ‘cause love’s already gone” and the emotions that follow “all I’m taking with me are the pieces of my heart and all I’ll leave are smoke rings in the dark.”
 It was the first time Gary Allan spoke to my heart and mind with a song.  It wasn’t the last.  Man to Man and Nothing On, But the Radio come to mind immediately.  For real R&R I’ll pick G&G every time—that’s George Strait and Gary Allan