Reckless & Me

Two albums into his career, Kiefer Sutherland is already finding a bit of a groove. Reckless & Me doesn't differ dramatically from its 2016 predecessor, Down in a Hole. Sutherland still favors old-fashioned heartland ballads and rocking country, playing straight-down-the-middle Americana designed for open roads and corner bars. Far from running away from cliches, Sutherland embraces them. He sings about broken hearts and dead-end jobs, tequila and reckless hearts; he loves shopworn chord changes and classic boogie. While he doesn't reinvent any of these old tricks, he does perform them with gusto. Sometimes, Sutherland is a little too enthusiastic -- he has a tendency to exaggerate his vocal phrasing, particularly on ballads -- but that passion also gives his rockers a bit of kick ("Blame It on Your Heart," "This Is How It's Done") and helps his slow-burning soul tunes ("Faded Pair of Blue Jeans," "Run to Him") actually catch fire. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine