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Tommy Alverson has some miles on him. He has been recording country music since…well, since there were cassettes, actually, and gotten around enough so that it is entirely possible that more people have heard of him than have actually heard him. That is an unfortunate state of affairs, since his recorded work is excellent, understated where it should be, exuberant where it ought to be, music that will jump start a party one minute and have you crying in your beer the next.

Country to the Bone is Alverson’s brand new disc, and is infused with an energy that belies Alverson’s years. Alverson’s delivery is understated but never weak; he sounds best on his own compositions, particularly on Got Here As Fast As I Could, a tribute song to his adopted state of Texas. Arguably the strongest disc on Country to the Bone, however, is Tequila Rose, the bittersweet story of a twice-a-year love affair, where all of Alverson’s strengths shine. It might seem to overstate the obvious to point out that the strength of a country project is in the songwriting, but it’s a point that is lost on some singers. Alverson’s material for Country to the Bone, however, is for the most part selected with care, thus including compositions by Doug Sahm (the under recorded Be Real), Mickey Newberry (She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye), and Jim Lauderdale (I’ll Still Be Around). These songs, and most of the others on Country to the Bone, bring out the best of Alverson’s vocals. Though his voice may not be original or distinguished, it’s pleasant and believable, nothing forced or artificial about it. The relatively spare arrangements on Country to the Bone are well-suited to Alverson and his material as well; nothing flashy, just solid competent musicians who feel the music, rather than phone it in. It would be unreasonable to expect or ask for more.

Alverson, in spite of decades in the business, sounds on Country to the Bone like he’s just getting warmed up. He indicates on his liner notes that he is now where he always wanted to be; it sound like a good place.