No Sweat (1991)

On Honky Tonk Heart, his 1990 debut, cowboy singer Chris Wall rolled tuneful songs, a raucous enthusiasm, and wicked humor into a notable fireball of a package. This time, with No Sweat, Wall's cowpoke fans are less likely to sing his praises round the ol' campfire. Despite one jaunty toe-tapper, ''Rodeo Cowboy,'' which features some great lyrics (''He got his heart stomped flat like an old spare tire/In the back of his pickup truck''), Wall's current output is mellower than before, and his sense of humor comes up drier than a trail boss' throat. Still, there are some fine, uncomplicated musings on life and love, particularly ''Faded Blue,'' ''Better Things to Do,'' and ''I'll Take the Whiskey,'' a bittersweet account of an itinerant musician's disillusioned travels. Sounds like Wall's been thinking more, and enjoying it less. B-