I'm Already There

by Maria Konicki Dinoia Lonestar has a way with passionate songs that either make hearts soar or eyes well up with tears; think previous number ones "Amazed," "Smile," and "Tell Her" from the triple platinum Lonely Grill. That album solidified and shaped their career -- and yet, they don't want to be known as a "ballad band." I'm Already There has five ballads, including the title track, so it doesn't seem they're working overtime to change their image. But why fix what isn't broken? This four-member band delivers full-on on those moving ballads, due in part to Richie McDonald's big vocal prowess. But they do pretty well on the other seven tracks of up- and mid-tempo tunes too, including mentionables "Unusually Unusual" and "Every Little Thing She Does." Accomplished songwriters Annie Roboff, Holly Lamar, Lari White, Chuck Cannon, Mark McGuinn, and McDonald himself lend themselves to the pool of talent that makes I'm Already There another platinum album in the making.