You know when you share someone’s musical taste, you’re gonna like the music they come up with. So if you like Hayes Carll, Jon Dee Graham, Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, and those kinds of guys, Leaving, TX, is right down your alley.
In Anywhere On Good Roads, the boys from Leaving, TX have come up with a fine sophomore release filled with songs about drinkin’, smokin’, lyin’, and killin’. And drinkin’. Okay, pretty much all the songs are about drinkin’. But that’s okay. We like that.
A most welcome surprise that fell into our lap last week was Leaving TX’s “100 Miles to Sunday.” Without knowing anything about it, we popped it in the player, and loved it. Just like that. 
Lead singer Chris Patterson’s voice has the rough edges that invite comparisons to Brent Best, Patterson Hood, and one of my current favorites, Creosote. Leaving TX’s website cites a strong Jon Dee Graham influence but you don’t need to read it on the web to hear it.
The music is rowdy; the lyrics, rebellious. With titles like “My Own Songs,” “You’re To Blame,” and “Give A Damn,” these guys appear to have a chip on their shoulders. The kind of chip that leads to good music. The one cover on the disc is Nick Lowe’s tongue-in-cheek “Peace, Love, and Understanding,” a song that resonates this year.