Gary Allan - Smoke Rings In The Dark (Deluxe Edition) (2019)

After two close-but-no-cigar efforts for the now-defunct Decca label, Smoke Rings in the Dark marks Gary Allan's emergence as a major talent. The album was coproduced by MCA Nashville honchos Tony Brown and Mark Wright, who between them have been responsible for dozens of No. 1 country hits in the '90s. Thanks to shrewd song selections, Allan's sound bridges the gap between the contemporary Nashville mainstream and West Coast alt-country with style and integrity. With its haunting Roy Orbison-style refrain, the title track is among the most immediately memorable singles to penetrate country playlists in 1999. The ballads "Bourbon Borderline" and "Greenfields" recall labelmate Mark Chesnutt, whose traditionalist leanings Allan clearly shares. At the same time, he's not averse to slinking and strutting through the zoot-suit swinger "Sorry" and howling a faithful cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway." Smoke Rings should make Allan a bona fide star; it's already established him as a bona fide artist. --Rick Mitchell