Chris Hillman, formerly of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, had an overly slick country act, the Desert Rose Band, in the ’80s; in 1996, he reunited with one of his partners in that group, Herb Pedersen, for this album, which is pure Bakersfield country. Their voices twine around each other in a pleasing harmony on lyrics about drinking and heartbreak, as their guitars do just as much singing and bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Willie Ornelas (Hollywood studio pros rather than pure country players) lay down a subtle but strong backbeat. The album includes versions of Red Simpson’s “Close Up the Honky Tonks” and two Buck Owens songs, “He Doesn’t Deserve You Anymore” and “There Goes My Love.”

– Phil Freeman