When it comes to country music, I'm very picky.

I'm not a fan of modern country, although Kenny Chesney always makes me smile.

When I lived in Wichita, Kan., I had two music choices, country music or rock.

I chose rock but appreciated country because it, along with the blues, is the foundation of rock 'n' roll.

My favorite country artists are older (or dead) — Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Hank Williams Sr.

I also like Clint Black and Hank Williams Jr.

As for alt-country artists, I dig Son Volt, BR 549, the Blasters, the Knitters, Calexico, the Flatlanders, the Jayhawks, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, Old '97s, Uncle Tupelo and Whiskeytown.

That brings me to country-flavored artists such as the Eagles, Crosby Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young), Gram Parsons, early Dan Fogelberg and the Flying Burrito Brothers. The list goes on.

Notice the lack of Faith Hill or Tim McGraw. It's not that I have anything against them personally, I just don't like their slick style.

As of late, I've been listening to Steve Azar's new album, "Slide On Over Here," which was released in June on Ride Records.

Azar's career has lasted more than 14 years, and "Slide on Over Here" is his best album to date.

Azar's feel is more toward the mid-career Eagles. In fact, sometimes I swear I can hear a little Don Henley delivery in Azar's tunes, especially during the single "Moo La Moo."

But there are also shades of Bruce Springsteen in the opening track, "I'll Find Me," and some Mac Davis in "Sinkin' or Swimmin' (With You)."

However, when it all comes down to the end, the album is Azar to the fullest. Sure he may draw from his influences, but the crafty songwriting isn't too slick and the pop is contagious.

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In fact, he actually gets his feet wet in the sacred waters of southern gospel funk on "Sweet Delta Chains."

One of my favorite songs on the album is "Startin' Today," where Azar finds his open-road freedom on a song that has the singer making goals to change his life.

It's a song that will be put into one of my many iPod road-trip playlists.

e-mail: scott@desnews.com

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