Familiar Stranger

Today’s country music industry is notorious for discarding its stars after a hit or two. Case in point: Mark Wills, the affable Southern gentleman responsible for singles like “Jacob’s Ladder” and “Don’t Laugh At Me” in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. After five years’ absence from the studio, he returns with Familiar Stranger, a spirited comeback that emphasizes the singer’s rock as well as country influences. Wills scuffs up his well-mannered image a bit by celebrating the pleasures of liquor-drenched beachside days in “Panama City” and flaunting his rebel roots in “Rednecks Anonymous.” Several songs — including “Closer” and “All the Crap I Do” (yep, that’s the title!) — find him taking a personal inventory of his flaws and failures. The wistful “The Things We Forget” and the boisterous “Days of Thunder” head deep into nostalgia, while “What Are You Doing” and “The Likes of You” renew his balladeer credentials. Wills’ vocals have gained authority over the years, evident in slow-burning material like “Take It All Out On Me.” At its best, this album invites comparisons with Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks. A welcome return.