Dog Tags (Mighty Sun)

Good songs here, well-written with a lot of wisdom and skill. Still, the execution is a little weak, especially on the electric side (the other side is acoustic, of course) which tends to sound like Buffalo Springfield practice sessions. But incoherent instrumentation can't destroy Pinetree's lyrical foundation. The title song is quite a treat. Tone down the lavish production, the arrangements, and you've got something here. -- Joe Mitchell

Meat & Teeth & Bones (Mighty Sun)

The Mighty Pines run into the same problems as their label leader, Pinetree: good material, less than good recording. They're basic rockers, sounding like True Believers in need of a producer. Still, there are some gems here. "The Fire," featuring Susan Voelz on violin, is worth repeat listenings as is "Our Hero." Mighty Pines have potential, they just need a good producer. Ring... ring.. Hello? John Croslin? -- Joe Mitchell

Exploring a Diverse Universe (Carpe Diem)

On a one-man production, Dallasite and former Pop Poppins' frontman Broose Dickinson attempts to explore the diverse universe of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and all too often falls victim to his own pedestrian pop songwriting -- where even a smart re-working of Buddy Holly's "Wishing" seems too easily lost in the shuffle. -- Andy Langer

Primarily Yours (Yearoftherabbit)

You ever go to grab a bite only to wind up confronted by a singer-songwriter armed with an acoustic guitar and a plateful of autobiographical confessions that should've stayed locked away in a diary? Primarily Yours combines that fatal syndrome with Nashvillian lyrics you can see coming for miles in a way that really makes you want to pay the check and leave. -- Greg Beets

Live at Tha Mine Shaft Tavern

One of those hybrid records, where the maximum daily allowance of hyphens doesn't even begin to cover it. Little mandolin here, some of Tom Waits' throaty growls, jazz riff here and there, and a funk bass line for -- what else? -- variety. Sort of like the guy who ate the first hamburger. "I don't know what it is," he said, "but it ain't half-bad."
-- Christopher Gray

"Bonus Tracks," reviews all local and Texas-based releases commercially available:Send to "Bonus Tracks," The Austin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765