Personnel: Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, National guitar, banjo); Pat Bergeson, B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar); Pat Buchanan (electric guitar, baritone guitar, harp); Kenny Greenberg, J.T. Corenflos (electric guitar, baritone guitar); Frank Rogers (electric guitar, banjo); Dann Huff (electric guitar); Michael Johnson (steel guitar, dobro); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Ilya Toshinsky (banjo); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); Jim "Moose" Brown (piano, Clavinet, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboard); Gordon Mote (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Mike Brignardello (bass instrument); Greg Morrow, Shannon Forrest (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Wes Hightower (background vocals).

Nashville star Trace Adkins returns with his 10th album in a dozen years, a no-nonsense collection of traditional-style country tunes with subtle rock and R&B influences. The gospel-tinged first single, "Muddy Water," and the old-fashioned country tearjerker "Sometimes A Man Takes A Drink" are particular highlights, as are the funky, R&B-flavored "Better Than I Thought I'd Be" and the sly "Marry For Money" and "Hillbilly Rich." Adkins adds to the patriotic tradition of country music with the heartfelt "Till The Last Shot's Fired," which also features the West Point Cadet Choir. Well into his second decade as a hitmaker, X shows Trace Adkins maintaining his signature sound without falling into the danger of retreads or self-imitation.