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BY DEBORAH EVANS PRICE LET IT RIP Paisley Plugs In, Rocks Out On Mostly Instrumental

It might seem a bit ironic that after winning the Assn. and Academy of Country Music's male vocalist titles, 's next album is an instrumental project. But then Paisley has developed a reputation as a multitalented maver- ick who always keeps things interesting, and he does just that on "Play," due Nov. 4 via Arista Nashville. "When we settled on Election Day for the release of the album we realized we're taking bit of a chance, but we're tak- ing a chance with this record anyway, so why not ?" he says. "Play" comes on the heels of Paisley's 2007 album "5th Gear," which has sold 1.2 million units, according to Nielsen Sound - Scan, and spawned four No. 1 country singles. He recently scored his eighth consecutive No. 1 on with "Waitin' On a Woman," a song originally released on his 2005 album "Time Well Wasted," which he'd promised the song's writers would eventually be a single. In recording "Play," Paisley worked with longtime producer Frank Rogers to record an album that would be palatable to fans who were not guitar aficionados. "The last thing people want to hear is stuff that you have to have a music degree to enjoy. We made this record a little more relatable and corn - merciai than expected," says Paisley, who won the Grammy Award for best country instrumental performance this year for "Throttleneck" from "5th Gear." "That's why we're taking six months and focusing on it instead of putting it out simul- taneously with '5th Gear' or in the middle of any other record." "Play" spotlights Paisley's prowess on the guitar and also in- cludes duets with the late Buck Owens, B.B. King, Steve Wariner and Keith Urban. "," which finds Paisley and Urban trading vocals and guitar licks, is the project's lead single. "More Than Just This Song," co- written by Paisley and It Wariner, is a tribute to their mentors. Wariner salutes Chet "Waitin' On a Woman" appears as a bonus track and fea- coffee -table people want to have in their collection. Atkins, and Paisley honors a hometown hero. "My guitar men- tures Andy Griffith speaking, as he did in the video. That fits a lot of different formats and a lot of different age groups." after his con- tor was a guy named Hank Goddard, who was a great finger - was probably the biggest response we've ever gotten to one Paisley admits people frequently comment style jazzy player somewhere between Les Paul and Chet Atkins of Brad's videos," Arista Nashville VP of marketing and artist certs that they were stunned by his guitar skills. "I think what in feel," Paisley says. "I studied with him and he let me in his development Jon Elliot says. "Brad does that version in con- has surprised people over the years about some of the things be to this instrument as band when I was a teenager. On the record, Steve plays one of cert with Andy on the big screen. We thought it would fit the I've done probably could credited my mind and go Chet's guitars and I had Hank's old Gibson. Each of us tried album really well." much as anything, allowing me to open up to play not like ourselves but like our mentors." Paisley is slated to appear on "Good Morning America" Nov. some places unexpected," says the artist, who began playing The backbone of the project is Paisley's soulful guitar play- 4. "Obviously people will be tuning in on their way to vote," at age 8. ing on such tunes as "Huckleberry Jam," penned for his son, Elliot says. "He was also on 'Good Morning America' on Sept. And while "Play" is somewhat of a departure from his usual and "Kim," inspired by his wife. "Sometimes in a song like 17 as part of their 50 States in 50 Days campaign. He performed studio albums, Paisley thinks fans will enjoy the ride. "It is that, the spaces can mean as much as any note, especially when two songs on a farm in Ohio and talked about the new album." my love affair with this instrument," he says. "Hopefully, we it's a name like Kim. There's a part where it breaks down into The election timing also lends itself to "some interesting won't lose momentum with this record. Ifwe do, then I'll just a minor section and gets dark, and trust me, that happens in viral stuff," Elliot says. "We think this will be one of those al- have to work twice as hard to get it back, but it's worth the risk real life as well," he says with a laugh. bums that if word -of-mouth starts on it, it could be one of those because it's such a labor of love for me."

OCTOBER 4, 2008 ' www.billboard.biz 45

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