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Sunny Sweeney's debut, Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame, had an old-school approach that was virtually ignored by country radio. Concrete rectifies that, without tempering Sweeney's irrepressible charm -- or her Texas-sized twang. The upbeat "Helluva Heart" and "Mean as You" are natural radio singles, both featuring strong hooks, twangin' instruments and engaging storylines. The centerpiece of Concrete is "Amy," a song written from the perspective of the other woman. Aside from the pristine and modern-sounding production, the song could be mistaken for a classic from a bygone era.

Sunny Sweeney's debut, Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame, had an old-school approach that was virtually ignored by country radio. Concrete rectifies that, without tempering Sweeney's irrepressible charm -- or her Texas-sized twang. The upbeat "Helluva Heart" and "Mean as You" are natural radio singles, both featuring strong hooks, twangin' instruments and engaging storylines. The centerpiece of Concrete is "Amy," a song written from the perspective of the other woman. Aside from the pristine and modern-sounding production, the song could be mistaken for a classic from a bygone era.

Released in 1968, Mama Tried is steeped in the Bakerfield sound that Haggard help put in the map. Haggard sounds most authentic when singing from experience, so naturally, songs about disappointing people, messing up and doing time are found here in abundance. Simplistic in its production, highlights such as the title cut, "Lil' Ol' Wine Drinker Me" and "Teach Me To Forget" have little more than shuffling drums, a twanging guitar and the occasional honky-tonk piano to accompany Haggard's vocals, and yet, because those vocals are so honest, that's all that's needed. A true '60s classic.