Here and Now (903 Music, 2006)

It's been three and a half years since Darryl Worley gained fame for "Have You Forgotten?" Worley has changed with the political landscape, choosing to record a different type of patriotic song on his new 13-track album. "I Just Came Back from a War" is written from the perspective of an Iraqi war veteran returning home and how he deals with everyone around him saying he's a changed person. It's a powerful message, and it's pro-war sentiment is much more subtle - "I hope you cherish this sweet way of life and know that it comes with a price," Worley sings.

He steps into other perspectives on a pair of songs that separate the disc from today's standard country fare. The most chilling, "Things I'll Never Do Again," deals with a death row inmate getting sentimental about his life before prison. It's the type of country song with a subject matter from a bygone era. "Nothin' to Lose," written from the viewpoint of a homeless person, starts off talking about high gas prices and how the individual has little worries about today's economy.

Worley also shines on the classic hurting song "Slow Dancing With a Memory," the tongue-in-cheek "Whiskey Makes the World Go Round" and the Hank Jr.-esque "Lowdown Women."

The single "Nothin' But a Love Thang" is a pleasant mid-tempo country rocker mixed with a touch of blues.

The album also has several forgettable tracks, including "Jumpin' Off the Wagon," Worley's take on splitting from DreamWorks Records, and "Free," a poor attempt at recording a southern rock song.