Wave on Wave
In his home state, San Antonio-born, Waco-raised Pat Green fills arenas and has the status of musical legend. Judging fromWave on Wave, his second major label release, he'll soon be making waves elsewhere, too. Green has an edgy, scuffed-up voice with passing similarity toRobert Earl Keen. Yet Green's originals like "Wrapped" and the haunting title tune are more often tinged with tender issues of the heart and soul rather than dark irony. Even on chugging, world-weary Texas-flavored heartland rockers like "I'm Tired" and "All the Good Things Fade Away," the tow-headed singer's winning affability and optimism glimmer faintly through the despairing lyrics.--Bob Allen