Randy Travis:   You and You Alone (DreamWorks)

Right from the first it's "the voice" that's so compelling--the voice that started Country's new taditionalist movement in the '80s, returning the genre closer to its roots. Beginning with "The Hole," the soon-to-be-released second single from You and You Alone, Travis sounds more assured and vulnerable. DreamWorks Records Nashville principal executive and Travis coproducer, James Stroud, says, "Never have I heard Randy sound more sure of himself. His voice has that unmistakable believability that commands the feeling of music."

"The Hole," tells the story of a man digging for riches but not realizing he's being swallowed by the hole he's dug. With renewed vocal sensitivity Travis sings movingly of a man growing from exuberance of youth to hard-earned maturity on "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man." The ballad "One Word Song" and the modern country "I'm Still Here, You're Still Gone" sound like much that's on country radio except, again, for the voice--emotional and real. His choice of notes and inflections are unique and true to the lyric and meaning of the songs. In the end, Travis leaves, as he should, with a "Satisfied Mind."

The album also features Travis with guest musicians and friends. Vince Gill and Melba Montgomery sing with Travis on the title track, "You And You Alone." Patrick Swayze, Travis' costar in the new movie Black Dog sings background vocals on "I Did My Part" while "I'm Still Here, You're Still Gone," features the voices of Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski.

Peter Case:  Full Service No Waiting (Vanguard)

California singer-songwriter Peter Case has finally done it on his new Vanguard release, Full Service No Waiting. He has delivered a masterful record in which the words, music, and emotion come together to create a transcendent work--whole and complete.

Indeed there is no waiting now for Case who first showed such promise as a member of the Plimsouls in the '80s and then with five critically acclaimed solo projects. He now has gathered all his considerable talent, song craft and life's experiences in words and music. The songs, performances and straight up production illuminate common yet often invisible emotions.

In fact, ramblin' folksingers and itinerant bluesmen have inspired Case's life and music. He opens with "Spell of Wheels," a road song of regret and hope. Framed by an aggressive finger picking groove and growlin harmonica, Case sings, "Watchin' through the windows for what the night reveals/And waitin' for the Spring to come/Beneath the spell of wheels/Beneath the spell of wheels." Then Case is "On the Way Downtown" to "where my friends who died still hang around."

Throughout Case's journey he keeps running into his old self and coming away with hope and his heart scarred but intact. "From "Until the Next Time" he sings plaintively, "and I'm tryin' to keep my feet/until the next time the race/starts close to the finish line/&down in my heart/I know this could be the start of something/and I know I'm gonna wait until the next time for you."

From the 3/4 feel of "Green Blanket" to country blues of "Honey Child" and Delta shout of "Crooked Mile," Case finds, after all, with life, love, and family it's a "Beautiful Grind."

Check out Peter Case at the Vangaurd Records web site.

Huffamoose:   We've Been Had Again (Interscope)

Huffamoose is contradictions. The Philadelphia quartet has the jazz sensibilities of Steely Dan and the loose, alternative attitude of Cake. Yet they rock hard while creating fresh, even sensual pop.

Above all, Craig Elkins and Kevin Hanson write literate songs with sobering honesty. In "James," an idealistic, young couple concede to the real world. "He stepped on his dreams so many times and/Wore out the path he needed to take to find/The life he thought would just happen to him/Like the changing of a season." Yet "Buy You a Ring" is pure romance. "I wanna buy you a ring/Maybe I'll make it myself/Do you like rubies/And diamonds and emeralds and gold and silver?"

The band is powered by Elkins' brown, '63 ES-335 Hanson's '70's, sunburst Les Paul Custom. They both thrash and caress their guitars as they move through verse and chorus. While one guitar rings the other growls.

In the end, these contradictions are most alluring and memorable.

Huffamose is currently on a club tour. Check Pollstar for upcoming dates.