I'm country to the bone," Marty Stuart growls in "Me and Hank and Jumpin' Jack Flash," an update of the hokey hillbilly-heaven theme and the opening "spoken word" track on This One's Gonna Hurt You. He ain't joshin': Stuart played mandolin and guitar with the gospel group the Sullivans, bluegrass king Lester Flatt and hall of famer Johnny Cash – all before he could legally buy a bottle of whiskey. The native Mississippian's musical experiences and influences make This One's Gonna Hurt You, his third MCA release (and sixth solo effort), a lesson in traditional country sounds, from the old-timey, mandolin-driven "High on a Mountain Top" to the weepy pedal-steel-swept "Just Between You and Me" and the ball-and-chain classic "Doin' My Time," originally recorded by Cash, who joins in on this version.

Stuart isn't mired in past glories, however. His originals, such as the rockabilly-pop "Hey Baby," the bluesy "Now That's Country" and the barroom rocker "Honky Tonk Crowd," show off gutsy guitar playing and a mean rhythm section. The title cut, a duet with Travis Tritt, sounds tailor-made for George Jones.

Stuart's no crooner, though; his earthy vocals are no-nonsense. As articulated in "The King of Dixie," a tribute to Hank Sr. and Elvis, Stuart's passion for the music is this album's overriding message – and he's one country picker who's got the goods to make his passion yours. (RS 640)

HOLLY GEORGE-WARREN