Many of the song have lyrics that are written in such a way that I best describe them as "clever".

Dallas Smith - Somebody Somewhere. This is the chorus

Somebody somewhere is saying those things I know I should have said
Somebody somewhere ain’t gonna let her go quite as easy as I did
I hope that she’s happy as much as it hurts me to see it all go down from here
Ya there’s somebody out there holding my somebody somewhere

That phrase is turned so well into a different context, and that is what I consider "clever".

Or the way to take some common phrase and make a play on it. One of my songs was written about when a girl dumped me saying that she was just way too busy with her job, her kids and her band that she just didn't have enough time to spend with me and wanted to part ways because I was distracting her from her life. So, as my significant other sent me packing, that line became

You said you had no time for me
And so I guess I'm gonna be your
INSIGNIFICANT OTHER from now on

Some GREAT lyric writing in country music. Usually very good harmony singing, and as the line between what is country and what is not are becoming less and less defined, some really good guitar players are popping up. Keith Urban is one of my faves. Of course Real Band makes Brent Mason very visible to Real Band users, but I don't know if I ever saw anything of his own on the market (though I never looked). He just plays for everybody on the planet in the studio.

That and the level of some of the girl singer push the "hot-o-meter".....

Hot-O-Meter

Martina McBride ..... NOT HOT _____________/_ HOT
The Dixie Chicks ..... NOT HOT _____________/_ HOT
Leann Womack ......... NOT HOT _____________/_ HOT
Jo Dee Messina ....... NOT HOT _____________/_ HOT
Shania Twain ......... NOT HOT _____________/_ HOT
Jessica Harp ..........NOT HOT _____________/_ HOT
Michelle Branch .......NOT HOT _____________/_ HOT


And those are just a few..... I don't even know the newer breed.