Country traditionalist Alan Jackson made his debut with the uncompromising Here In the Real World. Written before he’d even become a star, two of its best songs were about show business: On the title track, Jackson laments its false portrayals of romance, but on "Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow" he dreams of joining its biggest names. The rest of the LP lies somewhere in between, as the singer honors his form by trying to wrench something new—something real—from the familiar twang. Thanks to a sturdy voice and soft wit, he succeeds to an extraordinary degree.