Amid the plethora of female country music sensations bombarding the airwaves today, one exciting act is Right In The Middle Of It all. Chely Wright's new sophomore release is hot with both heart-wrenching ballads and up-tempo fun story songs.
   Wright's throaty vocals provide depth and power to such songs as "The Love He Left Behind," a story of a woman raising her child alone after the death of her husband and the torch of love she'll always carry for him. "The Love That We Lost," paints a vivid picture of a couple who suddenly find themselves wondering where their love went.
   The title track "Right In The Middle Of It" and "The Other Woman," both penned by Wright, and "What I Learned From Loving You" represent an artist who is a once conscientious and mature in song selection.
   Best known for your robust honky-tonk flavored hit "He's A Good Ole Boy" from her debut album, The Woman In The Moon, Wright agains serves up a wonderful light-hearted tounge-in-cheek rowdy song with "Alligator Purse," and the first cut, "Listenin' To The Radio."
   Right In The Middle Of It won't gather dust on your CD rack, it's mature and full sound will make you keep it spinning.

-Wynn Hayden*