Three Payments (Netherota, 1998)

A composer for several TV shows, including "Casper - the Animated Series," and one-time Emmy nominee for his music, Eban Schletter is an unlikely country singer. Yet, Schletter has substantially more respect for old-time country than most artists on country radio.

Many songs here, with titles like "I've Got Better Things to Drink About Than You" and "If You Hear Me Playin' George Jones," are straight-ahead, tear-in-your-beer country music. But Schletter also displays a quirky sense of humor with "The Most Socially Accepted Mental Disease," and "Rain Dance" has an intriguing lyric and Native American feel. The album's closer, "At Least You Won't Be Lonely," treads closest to mainstream country, as Schletter sings the pretty tune backed only by acoustic guitar and harmonica.

Schletter self-produced and recorded this album, playing all of the instruments and singing the lead and backup vocals in a Hollywood studio. He doesn't have the best voice, but his songwriting and arrangements are creative and fresh while retaining ties to the honky tonk of yesteryear.