Dave Insley may have left Arizona for Austin, but he hasn`t let the neon flame he carries for vintage honky-tonk dim. With a reedy baritone recalling early Willie Nelson (vibrato and all), Insley`s delivery and material make him less of a singer, more of a storyteller. And he is capable of telling a fully-formed tale in less than four minutes ("Geneva," "Exit 93"). His backing band, The Careless Smokers, provide the Bakersfield-inspired instrumental foundation for Insley. Several songs feature hints of modern jangle-pop like the bouncy "Waitin` Where She Hides" and "Beating Ya Down." There are also whimsical touches - such as the jaw harp and glockenspiel on "Everything`s Broken Again" - that nicely underscore the lyrical content. Insley isn`t afraid to go back to the country catalogue. His intriguing choices are performed admirably. On Johnny Darrell`s "Come See What`s Left Of Your Man," he comes across with the sly charm of early Roger Miller. He puts his own deft touches on "Ol` What`s Her Name." A solid, engaging recording. -- Linda Daily Paulson, countrystandardtime.com
