New Mexico native Dickie Lee Erwin has been kicking around Austin for 38 years, since arriving here, reportedly, with “a guitar, a banjo, a dog, and a girlfriend.” He insists he still owns the guitar and banjo, the latter plucking out the intro to the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” at the start of “Given Up,” then driving a reinterpretation of the Glen Campbell oldie “Gentle on My Mind.” Otherwise, not much distinguishes Erwin’s seventh long player. It’s pleasant, competent, well-played and crafted, with lots of lyrics about rain and regrets and rural longings. Problem is, there’s as much of that in these parts as there is a population boom. How can you hope to stand out in the vast Sargasso Sea of Central Texas’ warbling troubadours without any sort of edge?

*.5

This article appears in October 21 • 2016.

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Tim Stegall contributed to The Austin Chronicle 1991-1995, and was a staff writer 1995-1997. He returned as a contributor in 2013. He has also freelanced for publications ranging from Flipside to Alternative Press to Guitar World. He plays punk rock guitar and sings in the Hormones.