The first disk I listened to was Skittish. I was immediately struck by the sparseness. I knew that it was an acoustic album, but I was unaware that it was a true solo album, I had figured that there would be other instruments involved. Quickly I discovered that it did not need anything else, it grooves along with it's own mellow rhythm. Doughty has created a laid back, jazzy, funky album that has a very natural ebb and flow to it. It still has the trademark coffeehouse type lyrics, but it strikes me as being something more personal than he was able to express within the confines of the band environment. Standout tracks include "Real Love/It's Only Life," "Thank You Lord, For Sending Me the F Train," and "Language Barrier." But in the end, the entire album plays well together, although it is on the short side.

Next up was Rockity Roll, recorded in 2003. This is a bit of a departure from the previous work. It still has that trademark Doughty droning voice and quirky arrangements, but where previously it was a strictly acoustic affair, he adds in some synthesizer and drum machine beats to the mix. These additions give these tracks an odder feel when combined with his acoustic guitar and lyrical delivery. In addition to the 6 new tracks, there are also 2 live tracks recorded in 2003, a couple of unused tracks from the Skittish sessions, and a song used for a soundtrack to a film called Evenhand. The standout track here would be "27 Jennifers."

Bottomline. This is a very easy set to recommend. It is highly original, and deserves a wide audience. So if you are a fan of Soul Coughing, or just like music that grooves and stands out from a crowd, pick this set up, you won't be disappointed.

Highly Recommended.

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