The Fighters (Reviver Music, 2016)

Locash is no stranger to the country charts, albeit in a behind the scenes role. Chris Lucas and Preston Burst co-wrote Keith Urban's number one 1 "You Gonna Fly" and Tim McGraw's Top 10 "Truck Yeah."

Many hit singles feel like they were written inorganically in a cubicle and presented to a focus group. The duo's own Top 5 hit, "I Love This Life" is no exception. Its bouncy intro and standard issue country clichés like trucks, camo hats and broken-in boots make it a safe bet for chart position (It peaked at number 5 in June). The 11 tracks are a mostly homogenous collection split evenly between feel good party anthems and love ballads.

"We're very proud of this record," Lucas said at a recent album listening event in Nashville. "We've been through a lot. We've been down more than we've been up. We never did give up." You would never know that they hit a low point. The ballads, which are more danceable and upbeat than syrupy and depressing. Thomas Rhett shares a co-write credit on the funky "Ring On Every Finger."

The vapid "Drunk, Drunk" is a true throw away in the style of Florida Georgia Line. Redemption is found in the closing title track, a gritty ode to blue collar values like the 80-hour weekers and mothers caring for sick infants. Save for the banjo driven lead single, there is no sign of traditional instrumentation. The album breaks no new ground and is more radio friendly than ambitious.