Dallas Wayne,
I'm Your Biggest Fan

Label: KOCH Records
Year: 2005

(3 out of 5)

A former protégé of Robbie Fulks, Dallas Wayne blends humor with honky-tonk and serves the concoction through one of the smoothest baritones in country music. While the voice may be smooth, the results are somewhat uneven. I'm Your Biggest Fan, his first album on KOCH Records, is a frustratingly inconsistent effort.

The album opens strong. "3:30 in the Afternoon" is a rollicking honky-tonk number. "I'm Your Biggest Fan," a tale of obsession and pursuit, is flat-out creepy. "Junior Samples" is a Shel Silverstein-esque portrait of a child who eats everything in sight.

But then "Under the Overpass" marks a drastic departure. Suddenly, with a song about homelessness, we've gone from humor to pathos. And then we return to silly with the raging hormones of "Tex-Tosterone."

A steadier pattern ensues. "It's All Over, All Over Town" is a solid honky-tonk weeper. "She's Good to Go" mines similar territory at a slightly slower swing beat. "You Can Count on Me" picks up the tempo and perhaps explains the previous two songs: If you need someone to make you cry / You can count on me / If you need someone to cheat and lie / You can count on me.

"Tell It to the Jukebox" marks another detour. Here Wayne adopts a bartender's persona in a half-talking, half-singing story song. He recovers from the needless digression and finishes strong with three more depictions of the down-and-out lover: "Crank the Hank," "Still Know How to Cry," and "Downhill Slide."

Basically, I'm Your Biggest Fan is a solid honky-tonk record, with three notable exceptions. The title track marks a significant change of pace, but it's so original and sinister that it manages to work. The same cannot be said for "Under the Overpass" and "Tell It to the Jukebox." Those two songs rattle the listener from a comfortable honky-tonk groove. And unfortunately they leave a lasting impression, marring an otherwise enjoyable set.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

February 21, 2005