Kevin Bryan delivers his verdict on some of this week’s CD releases Taylor Young Band,”Mercury Transit” (Hand Drawn Records)- The first album from laid-back Texan tunesmith Taylor Young and his like minded musical cohorts mines a rich vein of jangling melodic power pop which has already prompted highly favourable comparisons with the likes of Tom Petty, The Byrds and Alex Chilton’s cult heroes Big Star. Young’s heady fusion of Americana and radio friendly mid-tempo rock certainly repays closer investigation, with timeless gems such as “Shine On Me,” “Rattled” and “Get Around” capturing the essence of his unashamedly accessible sound.

Waylon Jennings,” Singer of Sad Songs etc.” (Cherry Red)- This hugely influential performer was credited with helping to found the anti-establishment Outlaw Movement in country music half a century ago in tandem with his close friend and fellow Texan Willie Nelson, and this splendid CD re-issue brings together four of Waylon’s RCA albums from those far off days. Waylon’s choice of subject matter reflects this uncompromising character’s eclectic approach to music-making as he applies his distinctive imprint to everything from Tom Rush’s “No Regrets” to the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women” and Three Dog Night’s 1971 hit,”Never Been To Spain.”

David Ferguson,”Nashville No More” (Fat Possum Records)- The first album that Award winning Nashville recording engineer and studio owner David Ferguson has released under his own name during the course of a career which now extends over more than forty years is a star studded affair featuring contributions from illustrious sidemen such as lap steel guitar ace Jerry Douglas and the multi talented Tim O’Brien. They provide the ideal musical backdrop for Ferguson’s richly resonant vocals as he tackles a selection of his favourite songs for your listening pleasure, including Ian Tyson’s “Four Strong Winds,” Gordon Lightfoot’s “Early Morning Rain” and Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times Come Again No More.”