The Mercy Filter is the third solo outing from the one-time Six String Drag singer/songwriter Kenny Roby and is certainly not shy on the vocal presence that has marked all of his recorded work. But in relation to his previous release, Rather Not Know, this one breaks through his alt. country veneer to sport a collection of decidedly edgier rock-oriented tunes. Crafty Costello-esque pop songs and straight-ahead John Hiatt-style rockers dominate this crackin` good record, which is offset with some mellower, yet darkly compelling, material too. Tracks such as lazy acoustic tunes "Foot Soldier" and "Everything Goes Black", as well as the waltz-y "Lead Dancer`s Dance", are haunting and somber slices of Americana with the expected clever twists. But the bulk of the goods here muscle through with admirable strength and zeal touting Roby as potent a performer as he is a songwriter. That`s no revelation, but this record is. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music (Pulp Recordings)
