Goodnight Sweetheart (Curb, 1996)

Just like you can't judge a book by its cover, you can't judge an album by its title song. With the single"Godnight Sweetheart," Texan David Kersh debuted with a ballad that's a definite cut above what's heard on radio these days.

Unfortunately, it's also a definite cut above anything else on the album. Thus this CD sinks beneath the weight of generic sounding material that's indistinguishable from any of the other "12 hits in a row" one hears on country stations.

Part of the problems is Kersh doesn't take advantage of his artistic strengths. Obviously his long suit is country ballads, yet he's loaded this album down with the at least half a dozen country rock tunes, which aren't very good country or rock. He does throw in a few more romantic tunes - including "Until Now" and the "Love of a Man" - pleasant enough, but nothing special. It's not that Kersh doesn't know better. He's played enough Texas dance halls (where HNC and line dancing are about as popular as gangsta rap), and if the title song is any indication, he can sing country music with feeling.

With more consistent material, Kersh has the talent to break away from the pack. With albums like this one, he's just another new hat act.