Craig Morgan, ‘This Ole Boy’ – EP Review

Craig Morgan is giving fans a sneak peek of what to expect on his first album from Black River Entertainment. 'This Ole Boy' is scheduled for an early 2012 release, but the 'This Ole Boy' EP was made available on Nov. 1.

There are no tricks or gimmicks to be found on any of the songs on the EP. All five are mid to uptempo hayseed country songs, although 'Whole World Needs a Kitchen' finds Morgan pining for a slower, simple pace of life. It's the weightiest of the bunch, but definitely not one that will leave fans dabbing tears or rethinking life's greater meaning.

The title track is turning into quite an ear orm on country radio. It's the sort of song everyone wants to sing along to -- even Joe Nichols, who recorded it for his new album due out on Nov. 8.

The best Craig Morgan songs are just smart enough to surprise the listener, and he does just that on the sneaky 'Fish Weren't Bitin'.' It's the sort of song Brad Paisley would sing if he didn't already have a good fishing song.

'Fish Weren't Bitin'' is immediately followed by the somewhat juvenile 'Show Me Your Tattoo,' a song about a woman who sneaks to Las Vegas for a wild night out at the expense of her man's nerves. Along with 'Better Stories,' it sets the floor for the shortie, but there is more than enough here to get one excited about where Morgan is headed.

In an interview with Taste of Country, he mentioned two songs as favorites that didn't make the EP. One is his first crack at a slow and sexy love song -- a style that is long overdue from a hitmaker celebrating a decade in the business.