Kevin Denney

Kevin Denney comes across as a clean-cut singer on the cover of his eponymous debut album, and it is true that the album is crisply produced and clean. But that only applies to his image, not the whole of his music. Yes, some of his ballads may be so sweeping that they could fit on adult contemporary radio, but on the whole, he has enough country in him to keep this record not just interesting, but enjoyable. He shouldn't be seen as a gritty singer, but there's a twang in his voice and a punch to his delivery that gives mid-tempo numbers and rockers — even sincere ballads like "Daddy Was a Navy Man" — resonance. The thing is, while there are mild moments along the way, there is a lot of spark here, particularly when Denney keeps to clean, straightforward country that's tuneful and twangy — and he does it enough to make this a satisfying debut.