It's hard not be skeptical about Trace Adkins [ tickets ]' new CD; he claims in his press release that the majority of "Songs About Me" is "autobiographical," which is more than slightly peculiar, given that he didn't write a single track on the album.

It was penned by what amounts (in a good way) to a Larry, Curly and Moe of Nashville songsmiths. Perhaps someone should buy Adkins a dictionary, so he can look up the word "autobiographical," or he should just change the title of the album to something like "Songs Written by Others That Somewhat Remind Me of Me." OK, so the marketing folks at Capitol probably wouldn't go for it.

Once you get past the ill-fitting title, there's plenty to enjoy on "Songs About Me." Adkins' warm baritone voice is in fine form as he builds a case for the relevancy of country music on the winning title track, gives props to veterans in "Arlington" and croons convincingly about "an unlit fire down in my soul" on the tender "I Learned How to Love From You."

Having topped the country charts with his "Greatest Hits Collection, Volume 1," Adkins seems on the verge of becoming a legitimate superstar. "Songs About Me"--even if none were written by him--should take Adkins' career to the next level.