When Storms of Life 's singles were climbing the charts in 1986, they sounded like a miracle. After all, at the time, Randy Travis was just about the only young exemplar of traditional country you could hear on the radio. Travis's first hits ("1982," "On the Other Hand," "Diggin' Up Bones") helped put twang, briefly, back in the saddle, inspiring what was quickly dubbed the new traditionalist movement. So, yeah, this is an important album, but what's really important here is Travis's beautifully expressive and quivering baritone. On the bridge of "No Place Like Home," he gets down on his knees and begs his wife to take him back in--and, with that voice, it's no wonder he pulls it off. --David Cantwell