Bret Michaels, "Custom Built" (Poor Boy)
If there's one thing Bret Michaels learned in winning this year's top prize on "The Celebrity Apprentice," Donald Trump's business-themed reality TV show, it's expanding a brand to appeal to the widest possible audience.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Poison frontman paid way too much attention to an episode in which the contestants had to market country music artists. Michaels drenches this entire disc in country-fried grease that's a jarring departure from his 1980s-hair metal franchise.
It's a strategy that paid off for fellow hair heroes Bon Jovi with "Lost Highway," which became one of their biggest albums ever, and netted a hit single in "Who Says You Can't Go Home," a duet with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles.
Michaels does likewise here, reprising Poison's power ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" with Brad Arnold, Chris Cagle and Mark Willis. And his duet with Miley Cyrus on "Nothing To Lose" is catchy enough to become a major hit.
But ultimately, this all sounds and feels fake, the obvious attempt of a guyliner metalhead pandering to a new demographic. It's doubtful true country fans will love this album, and just as doubtful Michaels' metal minions will warm to it either.
Don't underestimate Michaels, who is one of the hottest rockers around right now. Having won "The Celebrity Apprentice" weeks after surviving a near-fatal episode of brain bleeding, then jumping out on tour before being fully recovered, Michaels has gotten more publicity than any singer not named Lady Gaga in recent months.
But once the fiddles and steel guitars are packed away, it won't be long before he's back in pink and purple spandex, belting out "Talk Dirty To Me."
CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "Go That Far" is a dance-heavy club remix of the theme song from his "Rock Of Love" reality TV show that stands out among its country cousins.
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