Pat Green

On "Country Star," the centerpiece of the recently released What I'm For, Texas singer-songwriter Pat Green croons about "ridin' shotgun with Kenny, Faith and Tim" and "breakin' all the young girls' hearts like Keith Urban" in an ironic tone, as if he thinks such a possibility is about as likely as Rush Limbaugh volunteering to become Commerce Secretary for Barack Obama. These days, the prospect isn't totally implausible: What I'm For entered Billboard's album chart at number two and has lingered in or near the top ten for several weeks. Nonetheless, Green remains an improbable candidate for widespread adoration. His vocal style is simple and straightforward, and the arrangements of tunes like the unexpectedly dark "In the Middle of the Night" avoid the showbizzy affectations that afflict so much modern country. If Green, joined on this bill by Randy Houser, does become a country star, Kenny and company will probably be as surprised as he will.