Tracy Lawrence - The Rock (2009)

On his first country-gospel album Tracy Lawrence pulls out all the stops. A traditional singer with a whole lot of twang in his voice, Lawrence sounds as comfortable singing songs about the Lord as he does singing straight country. The opening track, the fiddle- and steel-fuelled "Dear Lord," sets the tone for the entire album. Lawrence wisely recorded a batch of songs that don't beat people over the head with self-righteous religious rhetoric. Whether he's singing in the voice of the Bible on the poignant "The Book You Never Read," or offering a piece of simple advice to the hurting on the sweeping ballad "Say a Prayer," the singer openly shares his faith. "Somebody Who Would Die for You" is the album highlight. Lawrence digs down deep and delivers one of the album's most soulful vocal performances. The singer sees Jesus in the face of the ones we turn away when they need us most. A line inspired by the Columbine shootings will hit a lot of listeners in the heart. The Rock is a positive collection that will appeal to people of all faiths.