by Stephen Thomas ErlewineOn It's About Time, his first album for RCA Records, Tracy Byrd slyly adds some pop flourishes to his neo-traditionalist style. Some longtime followers may be surprised how smoothly the opening track "Put Your Hand in Mine" goes down, but Byrd straightens things out with the next two cuts, "It's About Time" and "Can't Have One Without the Other," which glide along with mildly twangy guitars and his rich baritone. From that point on, It's About Time follows a strange path, bouncing between good, neo-traditionalist country and music that seems a little too smooth for Byrd. That's not really a problem, since he's a very good singer and he sounds good no matter what he's singing, but the pace of the album nevertheless is a little awkward, mainly due to the fact that the pop-tinged material isn't quite as strong as the straight country. Still, Byrd is a classy, professional performer, which makes sorting through the chaff to find the wheat a worthwhile experience.