Brad Paisley's inventive, note-bending guitar work is as much a part of his signature sound as his voice and songwriting. Usually, he hides this skill within songs that focus attention his other talents.

Except on the occasional instrumental, a listener has to pay close attention to hear Paisley's dazzling string work.

On "Play," however, his guitar is the star. For the most part, he shuts up and plays, tilting the album toward instrumentals in a variety of styles that show off his speed, technique and range. He plays surf, rockabilly, blues and swing. There's Charlie Daniels-style back-country jams and Chet Atkins-style country melodies, and he enlisted his old friend, Buck Owens, for a Bakersfield-style country rocker recorded shortly before Owens' death in 2007.

Owens isn't the only guest. On the humorous "Start A Band," one of the few tunes with lyrics, Paisley and Urban trade guitar licks while celebrating the rites of passage found when a young musician forms his first group. Actor Andy Griffith shows up in a re-recording of Paisley's hit, "Waitin' On A Woman," reprising a role he played in the song's video. And on "Cluster Pluck," Paisley gathers seven ace guitarists, including Vince Gill and Steve Wariner, for a course in country guitar styles. B.B. King also makes an appearance.

As usual, Paisley emphasizes good-time humor and tender romanticism, showing his personality even when he lets his fingers do the talking.

By MICHAEL McCALL For The Associated Press

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