Cole Allen is a first-rate song writer and a fine singer in the tradition of Steve Earle or Townes VanZandt. He explains on the title cut, “I don’t smoke/I’m not broke/I’m not very eclectic/and my mind ain’t aesthetic/I guess you could say I’m not your typical musician.” A clever and funny song. He’s known as a blues rocker, particularly as guitar slinger with the Sena Ehrhardt Band, but this is a collection of pure and wholly impressive Americana. The Hills of Odessa, with a gorgeous steel guitar from the great Lloyd Maines, is about shouting it out that he doesn’t miss her anymore and that he’s getting on and getting along just fine.  Be The Man (I Want You To Be) accompanied by superb acoustic picking and strumming offers advice to a young son. “My dad was ten feet tall when I was a kid/I emulated every little thing that he did/I’m thankful for the example that he set for me/because he was the man I wanted to be.” Independence Day speaks to the homeless veteran: “The band marches on Main Street in the big parade/the people pass on by him/they don’t look his way/they celebrate the freedom that he fought for.” On Hangin Round With You he sings about the advantages of hangin’ out with his girl in a John Prine or Bob Dylan style and Piney Woods Blues is a delightful acoustic sketch of the Piney Woods women who will “kill ya.” Stalker (Make You Mine) is a creepy song, which is to say it’s a well-crafted story. “I’m gonna prove to you that you still love me/if it’s the last thing I do…” La La Land is a twangy piece that reminds of Jerry Jeff Walker, and if there is a theme here it is brilliant songwriting about the simple things. Dusty West Texas music by a man who stands tall with his heroes and contemporaries. A stand out collection of standout tunes. Recommended songs: All of them!