Four songs have "love" in the title, and two more are explicitly about his desire to write a hit song. Listening to "Lucky 13," it's clear what's on the mind of Brainerd country crooner Wayne Renn.

His most autobiographical song, the beautifully reflective "Maple Street" - about his connection to Brainerd airman Leo Mustonen, who died long before Renn was born - has already become a word-of-mouth hit on the Internet.

Country songs often put a negative spin on love, but Renn will have none of that. "Nasty Old Sad Song" is exactly the opposite of its title. Renn sings: "I made a decision since you walked out like nothing/That I'm gonna get famous with a happier tune."

"Don't Mess with a Cowboy Singer" transcends the cliches with its fun vibe: "Good morning, heck/My wife just left, and moved in with her high school sweetheart/She left the yard a mess, played me like a game of chess/She's not making it hard to forget her."

Renn's love songs flirt with the obvious, but they often dodge it with an original twist. "13 Kisses" is about finding love on the Internet and on "The Very Best Invention," the narrator credits daily conveniences - sidewalks, curtains, door locks - to his wife.

"When I Make Love to You" and "Listen to My Heart" are from the standard love song playbook, but they sound good anyway. Renn's vocals are strong and the band's catchy riffs (four members of the five-piece are members of the Renn family) will get your foot tapping.

"That Norwegian Would" is unabashedly playful, making puns about Renn's beloved Beatles ("Where did my ring go?") and at one point mixing in a "yeah, yeah, yeah" from the backup singers.

Renn gets even closer to one of heroes on "Prisoner of Love." The recording is a rougher than the rest of the disc - which was recorded in Nashville and Brainerd - but it works for the song. Renn teams up with Doug Kershaw, who inspired his career as a fiddler. Kershaw's gruff singing blends nicely with Renn's more traditional vocals, and of course, they both go crazy on the fiddles.

"Lucky 13's" nice mix of radio-ready beats and personal tunes makes it the best local country CD you'll hear this year.

The Wayne Renn Band will perform for KUK fans Saturday, August 30, 2008 at the Thief River Falls Fairgrounds.