Craig Morgan lost his first record deal with Atlantic Nashville when the label closed as the result of a merger.  Broken Bow Records signed him up, and up to that time, the label had found absolutely no success at radio with their artists. However, all of that changed when Craig released "Almost Home" to radio.  While Broken Bow worked with Craig for three albums and multiple big hits (including 2 Number ones), Craig had reached a point in his contract where he could opt out and search for greener pastures.  He found a new label home with Sony Nashville's BNA Records label.  What enticed him about BNA is that Sony's label head Joe Galante promised to allow Craig to make the record his way because it had worked at his older label already.  Craig, for his part went into the studio with his good friend and co-producer Phil O'Donnell and "That's Why" is the result of their work.

With a short 10 tracks, Morgan and O'Donnell (who co-wrote 6 of the 10 tracks together) have managed to build upon the sound that has made Morgan a radio star.  It's a distinctly country record with modern production flourishes.  Lead single "Love Remembers" also starts the album off and while I originally thought that it wasn't the best of single choices, the song has grown on me and it now is one of the better singles currently on the radio.  The instruments are noticeable and the production is clean while Morgan sings a relatable lyric about the way memories are tied to events in our life, like being in love for the first time.  "Looking Back With You" is a sweetly romantic love ballad that sounds like it's ripped right from Morgan's own life.  It's the kind of song I can see people dancing to at weddings as it talks about enjoying a long, fruitful life with your spouse.  Craig's own daughter even sings a line in the song (about her driving, much to his amazement).  

"Sticks" is another song in a long, long line of cliché-ridden country songs that seem to be on every male country singer's albums (Craig already has "Redneck Yacht Club" and "I'm Country").  Still, Morgan's strong vocal and the jovial production save the song. "God Must Really Love Me" is a song that finds Morgan a bit befuddled at why God is able to forgive him despite all of his failures and faults.  "Bonfire" is the third single from this album and it was recently tacked onto this album (along with "This Ain't Nothin'," a ballad that recalls Emerson Drive's "Momemts").  "Bonfire," with it's amped-up production and redneck rock vibe, feels totally like it's Redneck Yacht Club, Part II" which means that it has some clever lyrics, a sing-a-long melody and is something tailor-made for summer airwaves and parties.

The title track, "That's Why," with it's pretty melody is a song that speaks to and about the everyday folks.  It's not a song about tiki bars or beaches but rather about the everyday life we all go through.  The mid-tempo melody guides the song as Morgan sings about why he does what he does, even if he may not like doing it all that much.  "Ordinary Angels" is another song that speaks to the common folks, it may be a clichéd power ballad to some but it is real to the audience who will hear it. And that's what's at the heart of this album and all of Craig Morgan's albums to date; Music for the common man.  Craig Morgan may be a recording star but he can relate to being a salt-of-the-earth worker and he records albums that appeal to those kinds of people.  It's also why this album may relate more to men than women.  Sure the love songs will get the girls to listen but their boyfriends and husbands will likely enjoy "That's Why" even more.

Click here to read the Rougstock review of Craig's Broken Bow Records "Greatest Hits" collection.