You Ruined Everything
Previously best known as the band behind rising starTift Merritton their1999 EP collaboration, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, quartet Two Dollar Pistols step out here on their first studio album in five years. Songwriter John Howie sings in a baritone that falls somewhere between gritty growl andOrbisonian splendor, and it seems he's always in the throes of another doomed romance. Bassist Neil Spaulding and drummer Mark Weaver provide the foundation for their rock-edged honky-tonk, while Scott McCall takes the tasty guitar leads, both acoustic ("All I Can Think of Is You") and electric ("Where Was Love" and "You've Grown Tired of Me"). Twinkling piano, whirring organ, and whimpering steel help keep things interesting even when Howie's lyrics tread tired ground, but at least he's upfront about his obsession: "If you hear us on the radio, just sing along ... you inspired me the last six songs."--Anders Smith Lindall