ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 22, 1996
By Steve Newton
Fans of the Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers school of jangly, melodic, grassroots rock should check out the second release by Seattle singer-songwriter Pete Droge.
Lined up again with hotshot producer Brendan O’Brien (Matthew Sweet, Neil Young, Pearl Jam), the 27-year-old tunesmith follows his 1994 debut, Necktie Second, with another winning blast of folksy, countrified pop delivered with homespun charm.
Taking a cue from Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, Sinners picker Peter Stroud takes the understated route, and his choice lead- and slide-guitar ministrations provide just enough spit and polish to help turn Droge’s rough-hewn, acerbic observations on everyday life into sparkling roots-pop gems.
“Wolfgang”, “That Ain’t Right”, “Sooner Than Later”, and “Find a Door” are some of the catchiest little numbers I’ve heard since the Traveling Wilburys reached the end of the line.
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