Out There in Bloomington, MN

Jimmie Vaughan
's second solo album,
Out There
, is quite similar to its predecessor,
Strange Pleasure
, delivering a familiar blend of Texas blues and roadhouse blues-rock. Of course, that isn't a problem. Ever since the
Fabulous Thunderbirds
,
Vaughan
has been at the forefront of Texas blues-rock, and while he's calmed down some with age, he remains a vital, classy guitarist -- even on the weaker material, his tasteful solos are utterly engaging. It's too bad that his material doesn't always match his skills, but there's enough straight-ahead, enjoyable music here to make it worth a listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine