Kweller's new horse is disingenous

In Ben Kweller's 2006 self-titled effort, traces of alt-country were present, but now with the release of 2009's "Changing Horses," his transformation to a beer-guzzling, barbeque-cooking, rockabilly persona has now taken form.

Ben Kweller burst onto the Dallas local music scene as a teenager in 1994 with the trio and grunge-rock band cult-favorite Radish.

He then introduced his solo career with a string of EPs, and singer/songwriter Kweller was prophesized to be the next Kurt Cobain.

Now married and a recent father, Kweller is seemingly wiser, and more mature.

A pedal-steel has replaced the once catchy angst of his classical piano he played on anthems like "Sha, Sha."

Trying to appease the Americana crowd in Texas seems like a project Kweller has been working at for a while, but unfortunately his efforts are a little disingenuous.

Fans that have followed the redhead's career since his solo debut won't be too excited by "Changing Horses," but fans of classic alt-country will find it refreshing.

The track "Fight" is a toe-tapping hootenanny in the vein of Johnny Cash, and the best track on the record is due to his great storytelling on "On Her Own."

Kweller reminds his old fans of his penchant for piano-pop with "Sawdust Man," but he falls short as he is still attached to the thematic elements of countrified indie rock.