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Diamond Rio

Well, you've got to give them credit for diversity, as well as for impressive vocal and instrumental chops. On the follow-up to their gold-selling One More Day, Diamond Rio run the gamut from old-style country shuffle ("If You'd Like Some Lovin'") to jazzy Western swing ("Something Cool") to middle-of-the-road pop ("Completely"). And there's an ambitious instrumental that sounds like Aaron Copland on snuff ("Rural Philharmonic"). But with Lonestar eating their lunch these days, you can tell they're dancing as fast as they can. They describe "The Box" as "Steely Dan meets Flatt & Scruggs" but forgot the cool factor. Their declaration of eternal love ("I Believe"), marred by an overblown orchestral opening, is more syrupy than Touched by an Angel. And the title tune is Diane Warren's least interesting ballad, which is saying something. Where they shine is where they started, in bluegrass-flavored country: "Beautiful Mess" manages to be both sexy and melancholy, and the Bill Anderson-Steve Wariner collaboration, "Make Sure You've Got It All," captures the gut-dropping devastation of romantic D-day. A smorgasbord? Pick and choose on this one, friends. --Alanna Nash

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