Record Rack / In Brief

* * Randy Travis, “Wind in the Wire,” Warner Bros. Travis heads way out West in an album that doubles as a soundtrack for his recent TV special of the same name. His foray into cowboy music is pleasantly diverting for a while, but his stoic delivery brings little warmth to these tales of dogies, coyotes and the lone prairie. The Sons of the Pioneers’ early stuff, and Riders in the Sky’s currently, displays more conviction, authenticity and a much-needed sense of humor.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).