Drew Womack (Smith Music Group, 2004)

In his self-titled solo debut, Drew Womack isn't afraid to get by with alittle help from Sons of the Desert, the successful country band he fronted during the 1990's. Womack includes a remake of his old band's "Leaving October," and former band-mate (and brother) Tim Womack contributes a bluesy guitar solo on "Waiting On a Bullet." SOTD bassist Doug Virden sweetens "Fastest Way to Texas" and "Hey Daisy" with his backing vocals, and keyboardist Scott Saunders is heard throughout this 12-song release.

Womack wrote or co-wrote the entire set, and his lyric range spans from thecleverly humorous "Fine Art of Failure," where he proclaims "carving out aplace at rock bottom is a creative way to lose," to the tortured barroomweeper "Tearin' It Up Tonight." Radney Foster co-wrote the power ballad"Any Love At All," and Tara Womack partnered with her husband in penning thejaunty "To Her and Back." Even with Womack's obvious affection for the sound and company of his oldgroup, he's clearly not afraid to test new ground. The hard-rockin' "PremiumGasoline" sounds more like classic Doobie Brothers than anything ever heardon a Sons of the Desert record, and the closing cut, "Melancholy Cafe" is a piano ballad ò la early Elton John.

Womack also co-produced (with Mark Capps) and offers his own competent acoustic and electric guitar and electric Dobro work. While not quite a bold declaration of independence from his Sons of the Desert years, "Drew Womack" does ably succeed in positioning the veteran artist as a solo act to be reckoned with.