Weir's Fly My Pretties project is the closest reference point to this alt-ish country album.
It's the quiet moments of FMP that listeners will recognise on Tarot Card Rock, and this is where Weir is at his best.
The title track chugs along nicely enough and Do You Remember Fun?
is a jingle-like composition that conjures up images of Trumpets eaten in the back of convertibles by hair-tossing Rachel Hunter lookalikes.
Old Friend hints at Weir's talent when given just a guitar and minimal backing.
But when the slide guitar comes into play, Weir loses some of his individuality.
Weir is skipping across the surface of a vast talent pool on this CD, and in local waters it's bobbing somewhere near the surface.
But against international luminaries such as Ray Lamontagne or even Ryan Bingham, Weir remains an apprentice - a polished one nonetheless.
Anyone remotely interested in this album should turn their attention to Kiwi artist Andrew McKenzie's The Edge of The World.
It's rockier, more immediate and more fun and, if you're lucky, it may even still be available as a free download from Arch Hill.
Rating: ***
