You Do Your Thing

Montgomery Gentry has managed to break through and hang around a while because it knows its strengths: hard-edged country rock with plenty of attitude and no small dose of soul. The duo also has a knack for picking the right material: Eddie Montgomery brings energy, passion and personality to hard-charging stuff like "Something to be Proud Of," and the pair impressively team up with Hank Williams Jr. on "I Ain't Got It All That Bad." Likewise, Troy Gentry is totally believable on plucky fare like leadoff single "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" and the leavin' rave-up "Gone." The title cut seethes and roils with power, and Montgomery showcases a rough-hewn way with a ballad on "She Loved Me." Elsewhere, "I Got Drunk" is an unapologetic, bluesy barroom classic, and Gentry shows surprising vulnerability on "Talking to My Angel." The twosome ends with typical toughness on a searing "I Never Thought I'd Live This Long." The Montgomery Gentry muscle car just found another gear.—RW