This album is a like an anthology- a collection of short story songs of different styles & subject matter.  Though much of the overall feel here is country, there is a lot of variety.  A third of the album cuts were co-written with others which contributes to the diversity of melodies and themes.  Some of these songs have done business in Nashville. Both ‘Brothers’ and ‘One More Rung’ have been with Nashville publishers over the years.  The song ‘Brothers’ tackles both homelessness and a broken family,  as lost brothers reunite by chance. ‘One More Rung’  tells of a parent climbing the ladder of life, step by step.  ‘I Can’t Quit Loving You’ was placed with Johnny Penn and his cover version of that song ended up in the Miramax movie ‘Strange Dreams’.  The opener, ‘No Telling’ is an engaging pop song with a country twist of word play.  ‘What was the Question’ is a comedic song delivered in a swamp rock style similar to Jerry Reed or Creedence.  Ed Tree’s slide guitar really wails and Alan’s harmonica solo connects. This is a song about dodgy responses while caught in the act.  There is an Irish feel to  ‘Peasant Wedding Dress’, a love story, arranged with the twin fiddles and a bohdran.  The haunting rock ballad ‘So Much Magic’ is performed as a duet with Charity Chapman, an up and coming LA vocalist.  Jaydee Maness, famous for his work with Chris Hillman & the Desert Rose Band contributed pedal steel to 3 songs here including ‘I Can’t Quit Loving You’.  There is fine craftsmanship in these songs and it is easy to imagine them placed with more well known artists.