** John Michael Montgomery, “What I Do the Best,” Atlantic.

Precious little on Montgomery’s fourth collection ever dips below the chipper surface. The resulting emotional deficit is the sad byproduct of the “keep-it-positive” thinking that rules contemporary country music.

The title tune and “I Can Prove You Wrong” are middle-of-the-road country ballads, a la his 1993 hit “I Swear,” that offer simplistic romantic wish fulfillment. Forget coming to terms with dashed expectations, forget the tough struggles and sacrifices that are inseparable parts of love--and of the most memorable country music.

The single “Ain’t Got Nothin’ on Us” misfires magnificently, comparing without a trace of irony a couple’s deliriously happy relationship to the Grand Canyon (one of nature’s great rifts) and then to Romeo and Juliet (one of the quintessential romantic tragedies).

Montgomery’s no Vince Gill, but his vocal limitations at times allow him to emerge as an engaging Everyman rather than a Superman. Consequently, the hunky Kentuckian sounds best on light, quasi-novelty songs: “Cloud 8,” an ordinary Joe’s lament at feeling one step removed from the good life, and “Lucky Arms,” a driving honky-tonker.

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