Pursuit of Happiness

During their early years on MCA/Curb, the Beat Farmers always seemed slightly out of place. It was almost as if they couldn't decide if they wanted to be the hell-raising roots rockers of their indie debut, TALES OF THE NEW WEST, or more commercially-acceptable mainstream heartland rockers, like the John Cougar Mellencamps and Bob Segers of the world.
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS splits the difference, kicking over the traces much more than Seger or Mellencamp ever did, but balancing the war whoop of drummer/singer Country Dick Montana with the more pop-oriented gloss of new songwriter/guitarist Joey Harris. Harris pens most of the album's best tunes, the questioning "God Is Here Tonight" and the smirky "Texas" foremost among them; but as always, Montana steals the spotlight whenever he opens his mouth. It's a draw.