Steel Magnolia generally takes up residence in the pop-country camp, with drumbeats and guitar licks giving it a modern and polished flair, while generous amounts of banjo and steel give it a discernible country identity. But when the album reaches its end, the twosome tones back their sound for the soft and sweet acoustic ballad "Glass Houses." The pop-friendly ear candy stylings lead one to suspect some Keith Urban influence, which seems likely considering that the duo covers an Urban tune ("Homespun Love") from his days with The Ranch. Ironically, "Homespun Love" ranks as one of the most roots-oriented country-sounding tracks on the album.
The undeniable chemistry between Josh and Meaghan makes their performances a real treat, with Josh's smooth rock-and-roll baritone and Meaghan's soulful Southern drawl sweetly blending together like chocolate and peanut butter. The album is dominated by full-fledged duets between the two cohorts, making Steel Magnolia unmistakably a duo effort.
By far, the album's most notable misstep is the second single "Just By Being You (Halo and Wings) which takes limp lovey-dovey balladry to new heights of cheesiness and pure sap. While there are a few lackluster mid-tempos, the overall product is a fun and frisky country romp that provides plenty of entertainment for the present, while suggesting even greater potential for the future.
STEEL MAGNOLIA'S SCORE: 7
(Scores are given on a scale of 1 to 10)
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