Buffalo Tom: Three Easy Pieces (New West/Elite)

I well remember one night at dusk, somewhere in the American mid-west, driving a long and empty road as Buffalo Tom's melancholy classic Tail Lights Fade to Black came on the radio.

I lifted my foot off the accelerator and enjoyed the perfect moment.

And then two days later on a faster and more demanding road another of their more edgy songs -- I can't remember which -- blasted out and it too complimented the moment.

This Boston three-piece disappeared a decade ago and seemed to miss their time, what with the rise of alt.country and alt.rock as viable alternatives to the mainstream. Now re-formed it is almost like that old song, "it's yesterday once more".

It is pleasing to report that not much has changed in the BT camp. They have a powerhouse of energy when required but singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz can still conjure up that mid-point between gritty power-pop and country melancholy, and the rhythm section of drummer Tom Maginnis and bassist Chris Colburn drive this stuff with uncompromising energy.

When they compile another A-sides collection (and this was a band whose B-sides collection was stunning) you can bet a number of tracks from this long-overdue return will be on it.

If it ain't broke . . .

Can't wait to take it for a drive.