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Sun Sep 30, 6:31 PM ET

NEW YORK (Billboard) - A Merle Haggard bluegrass album may be a strange concept to some, but it's not really a stretch at all.

Backed by an all-star band that includes Marty Stuart, Carl Jackson and Rob Ickes, Haggard sounds right at home as he winds his way through new and familiar material on "The Bluegrass Sessions."

"Big City" gains fresh breath as a bluegrass tune, and the hardscrabble life Haggard describes on "Mama's Hungry Eyes" fits the genre well. "Jimmie Rodgers Blues Medley" is an intriguing blending of blues, bluegrass and Haggard's timeless voice.

Newer songs intertwine seamlessly with the classics.

"What Happened?," on which the singer laments the loss of the America he once knew, might be a modern "Okie From Muskogee." And "Pray," a simple verse and chorus, allows the singer and the players to shine.

ARTIST: BROOKS & DUNN

ALBUM: COWBOY TOWN (Arista Nashville)

Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have it down. That's not to say their albums all sound alike, but during the past 16 years they've built a sound that's unmistakable even when they're branching out. First single "Proud of the House We Built" is classic Brooks & Dunn, while "Country Girls Don't Cry" finds Dunn channeling George Strait. "Drop in the Bucket," which features Brooks on lead vocals, sounds like a tribute to former labelmates the Tractors. The album's best moments are when the duo goes retro. "The Ballad of Jerry Jeff Walker," which features Walker himself and vocals by Brooks, is a fitting homage to the Texas legend and the '70s Austin country-rock party scene he dominated. And with its Musitron organ, "Tequila" sounds like a blast out of the '60s.

ARTIST: BILLY JOE SHAVER

ALBUM: EVERYBODY'S BROTHER (Compadre Records)

A legendary hell-raiser in his time, Billy Joe Shaver preaches with absolute authority on this sterling collection of mostly self-penned gospel that emanates from the honky-tonks. Armed with heavenly pickers, brothers-in-arms and a fire-and-brimstone attitude, Shaver is convincing indeed on cuts like the resolute "When I Get My Wings" and the churning "Winning Again." The great John Anderson chimes in twice, most effectively on the fiery boogie "Get Thee Behind Me, Satan," and Kris Kristofferson is a grizzled compadre on Johnny Cash's social commentary "No Earthly Good." But this is uniquely Billy Joe, a man who comes off like he'd kick your ass one minute and save your soul the next.

ARTIST: RICHARD HAWLEY

ALBUM: LADY'S BRIDGE (Mute)

Like its predecessor, 2005's Mercury Prize-nominated "Coles Corner," Richard Hawley's new album, named after another Sheffield, England, landmark, is focused on matters of the heart. The sentiments, mostly painful or longingly bittersweet, are delivered in Hawley's trademark baritone croon. From the elegant orchestral opener, "Valentine," through the rumbling and somber "The Sun Refused to Shine," the album moves from affecting ballads to more playful rockabilly, Johnny Cash-inspired country ("Dark Road") and touches of doo-wop, Hawley bringing it all to life.

ARTIST: MARK HARRIS

ALBUM: WINDOWS AND WALLS (INO Records)

When an artist walks away from a successful group after 15 years, the future can be uncertain. But for Mark Harris, the same vocal and songwriting gifts that helped propel 4Him to the top of the Christian charts also serve him well as a solo artist. When Harris and his 4Him cohorts parted ways, he made his solo bow with 2005's acclaimed "The Line Between the Two." He follows up with an impressive collection of songs about faith and family. Harris has a strong, warm voice that imbues each track with honest emotion. "Writing on the Wall" finds an original way of expressing every parent's feelings about children growing up too soon, while "For the Glory of You" is a passionate, up-tempo worship number.

ARTIST: KEVIN MICHAEL

ALBUM: KEVIN MICHAEL (Downtown/Atlantic Records)

Based solely on some of the company Kevin Michael is keeping, the R&B newcomer is attention-worthy. Wyclef Jean, Lupe Fiasco and Q-Tip guest on the self-titled album, while the singer-songwriter's tour credits include opening stints for Maroon 5 and Lily Allen. Michael calls to mind Prince and Rahsaan Patterson with his sweet, smooth falsetto and outside-the-box mix of pop, R&B/soul and funk. Whether discoursing about Jesus freaks and thugs, wanting something real out of life ("We All Want the Same Thing" featuring Fiasco) or his biracial background ("It Don't Make Any Difference to Me" featuring Jean), the Angela Davis-fro'd Michael takes the listener on an energetic romp that swerves from lovelorn R&B to playful funk. Keep an ear open.

Reuters/Billboard