With his days as a rocker in Grant Lee Buffalo now long behind him, Grant Lee Phillips is settling into a very promising career as a country balladeer. Women figure prominently in the songs on his second solo album, suggesting that the mysteries of the fairer sex have been weighing heavily on his mind. From the mythical swamp queen of 'Josephine of the Swamps' to the orphaned Indian girl of 'Susanna Little', these are quietly affecting character sketches, backed up with evocative imagery of life in rural America. There's not a great deal of drama here, but Phillips's gentle croon lends a comforting authority to the proceedings, backed up by a stellar group of folk musicians on mandolin, banjo and fiddle. If you're not in the mood for anything too cool or trendy, just heartfelt, well-crafted songs, then look no further.

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