The lyrics are wonderfully droll and befitting of the blues and country origins of the music itself. Catchy and mellowly uplifting it would have been better placed as the second track, as its shuffling vibe would have been the perfect wind down from 'Saving Grace' and a more suitable lead-in to 'Square One.' With 'Down South' Petty continues the stripped down, yet slightly upbeat acoustic burst. Petty shifts momentum yet again by the third track, dishing out upbeat acousticality on 'Flirting With Time.' Again there's mild country swoon instilled on the track, but it's really a rustic pop song hidden under a thin veil of roadside dust. Beautiful in its delicacy, it comes as something of an abrupt shift from the driving opener and ultimately suffers because of this jarring transition. Petty immediately shifts gears, however, on the downright introspective 'Square One.' Nothing more than Petty, an acoustic guitar, and some filtered keyboard ambiance, this song is like a moonlit lullaby. The elements of organ and spry guitar blow-outs add a whisky driven flair to the proceedings, as well. The album's lead off track, 'Saving Grace,' meanders along to a loping blues shuffle (think George Thorogood on valium), Petty's reedy timbre giving it a rusticated flavoring that is more backyard BBQ sing-a-long than murky front porch lament.

This isn't to say that it's bubblegummy, just a little less rough around the edges. The sound, while not as late '80s popcentric as FMF, still bristles with more pop energy than most of the Heartbreakers material. With this release he again teams up with Lynne (who contributes bass, rhythm guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals) and employs the services of Mike Campbell (proving that Petty can never stray far from the Heartbreakers) on lead guitar.

Tom petty highway companion