Ness plays Solitaire

The opening track, however, sets a standard that, unfortunately holds for nearly the entire record. "The Devil In Miss Jones" is virtually a carbon copy of the country classic "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" - the similarity is so striking that the song functions primarily to draw listeners' attention to the derivative nature of many of the album's other tunes.

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"Solitaire"'s high-profile guest appearances do little to break the derivative monotony of the music, offering little in the way of creative tension. When Bruce Springsteen shows up to sing and play guitar on "Misery Loves Company," the track ends up sounding like, well, a Bruce Springsteen song. And "Crime Don't Pay," on which Brian Setzer guests, sounds more than a little bit like "Stray Cat Strut."

Perhaps it is unsurprising then that some of the album's finest moments are found in the songs Ness chooses to cover. The two best of these are a slightly amped-up, bouncy rendition of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice" and an earnest cover of Hank Williams' "You Win Again."

Returning to its mission statement after listening to "Cheating At Solitaire," it is difficult to judge the success or failure of that mission. By so closely adhering to the musical visions of his influences, Ness does treat them with a significant amount of respect. But perhaps by not demonstrating how their music factored in the creation of his own original, separate vision, he fails to pay them the highest possible tribute.

Reviewed by

Daily Arts Writer

Brian Egan

Timebomb Recordings

Cheating at Solitaire

Mike Ness

04-13-99