TITLE: Dimestore Hemingway

ARTIST: True North

STARS: 4 out of 5 Stars

SOUNDS LIKE: Good natured Midwestern country rock with clever lyrics

Listening to True North is a little like listening to a good storytelling uncle. The group's lyrics are witty and cleverly satirical in a front porch story telling sort of way. A workingman's look at everyday life and relationships.

That's not to say this northeastern Kansas group can't jam. They can flat out get down when needed.

But their music most often helps to illustrate their tales of lost love, searching for life's truths from a dashboard radio or a Johnny Cash album and just having good old reckless fun.

It's the lyrics that pull you in.

That's why when I saw the title of True North's new CD "Dimestore Hemingway," I couldn't wait to hear what adventures these guys were into now. So I pulled up a porch chair and listened.

I wasn't disappointed. These guys just keep getting better. Their music is tighter than ever even though it sometimes has a bar band feel to it. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. It suits their blue collar lyrics perfectly.

"Dimestore Hemingway" starts out with "Youth Gets Wasted on the Young" a foot tapping tune about "paving the road with guilt" and burning "bridges" on the way to growing up.

"Near Mrs." is a sweetly clever ballad with lead singer Gary McKnight strumming a tale about leaving love standing at the altar.

"What Would Johnny Cash Do?" is a fun sideways tribute to the great singer.

If any of the 11 songs here show how these guys jam its "Three Chords and the Truth." The song starts out like it's going to be a mild little shuffle but quickly morphs in a boot scooting jam fest with McKnight's hot guitar picking and Will Gladhart's possessed fiddle playing. The only regret here is that the song ends too soon.

I say buy the "Dimestore Hemingway" CD but see these guys live while you still can. They're only going up.