Country newcomer Andy Griggs debut RCA release You Won't Ever Be Lonely is not the strongest of efforts for a new act on a major label.
   That isn't to knock Andy, his voice or what he has tried to do here, after all he has a very strong guttural voice, backed up with nice music and nice lyrics. Therein lies the problem with Lonely. It isn't until the albums eighth cut, "Shine On Me," a duet with Waylon Jennings, co-written by Jennings and Beth Nielson Chapman, that this album begins to make a forceful statement, and that is largely due to the vocals of Jennings.
   The highlight of this album is a rocking rendition of the Rodney Crowell authored "Ain't Livin' Long Like This." Griggs presents himself in two opposing views in the liner notes, first with a reference to himself as a 'wayward son' and then as a Christian in a paragraph of thanks. It is the latter aspect that comes across more strongly on this album, with a positive "Christian" ideology running throughout most of the songs. That puts You Won't Ever Be Lonely in a strong position to make a good solid run at the contemporary Christian country scene. Griggs does transmit an energetic and wholesome image of himself through the lyrics and song selection here. I'm sure there is a story behind the 'wayward son' reference but whatever it is he would have been well served to have delved into that psyche more for this album.

-Charlton Wiggins