Wade Bowen's major label debut is a story half told. While 'Saturday Night' is a different type of tear-in-my-beer country song -- the singer loses appreciation for Saturday nights because a girl dumped him (we assume) on a Saturday night -- it fails to go into enough detail to make an impression. It's like a McDonald's Big Mac without the special sauce. You gotta have the special sauce!

"'Why does everybody love Saturday night / Stale smell of beer and the smoke in your eyes / I keep sittin' and drinken' and thinkin' about a sad good-bye / So tell me why is everybody so in love with Saturday night," Bowen sings in the chorus. It's a catchy, imaginative lyric that draws a listener in, but neither verse paints enough detail to keep one interested.

"Well hey bartender could you throw those drunk girls out / And don't you think that bands just a little too loud / Tell that couple in the corner to please go get a room / It's a damn good party but what am I supposed to do," he sings in the song's second verse.

We're left wondering about this girl and their relationship. What went wrong? Was it his fault? Did that good-for-nothing bartender slip her his phone number? Guys may also wonder what color hair she had and if she looked good in a sundress?

We can't feel Bowen's pain or relate to his longing for a love that slipped away. It's not really clear if she dumped him or died until the bridge rolls around. Vocally, the Waco, Texas-born singer shows promise; he's like a smokier version of Bucky Covington. 'Saturday Night' doesn't make you want to reach for the radio presets, but it won't leave tire tracks on the iTunes, charts either.

2.5 Stars
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Listen to Wade Bowen's 'Saturday Night'

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