John is best-known as an actor whose charming turns on TV’s Sex and the City and Northern Exposure left women swooning. And while his debut album leaves no doubt about his devotion to country music, it does prompt one to wonder whether this music would exist if the guy singing weren’t a famous actor. 

Backed by a dream team of A-list Nashville songwriters and players, the pressure is on to justify all the heavy hitters behind him—and John’s mildly appealing voice isn’t distinctive enough to suggest that he’d have a country career if he were just another aspiring singer.