Dave Insley

There's something about the twang of the steel and the spunky lead guitar of Dave Insley's Here with You Tonight that reminds one of early-'70s country and country-rock. Perhaps it's the expansiveness of "Open Road," the first cut, or just the basic production that allows all these instrumental voices to shine through. Even Jimmy Buffett used lots of country steel on his early albums, and Kinky Friedman, despite all the clowning around, knew the difference between traditional country and cosmopolitan. Insley's vocals have a warm, quirky quality, and his lyrics, as on "White Cross," manage to be occasionally morbid without being depressing. This puts him at odds with a number of alternative "whiney" boys who manage to evoke depression even when singing a love song. Insley's lyrical twists and turns, as on "Other Trails to Ride," are down to earth (despite their oddity), as though he's talking instead of singing. He even -- strengthening his country connection -- offers a spiritual, "Grace," complete with soulful background vocals. At around 35 minutes, Here with You Tonight is short, but what of it? It's a solid album without filler, made somewhere outside the bounds of Austin and Nashville, and will be greatly appreciated by country-rock fans from yesteryear. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide