With his songs described as having "an undercurrent of raw melancholy", it's no wonder that Philadelphia-based Phil Roy has pretty much seen every depressing aspect of the music business. An acclaimed and accomplished songwriter, Roy toiled for years in L.A.: heading a band, churning out a multitude of songs for other artists -- then packed it in, moved back to Philly and released a string of fine solo albums...for big labels and small and varying degrees of support and indifference. While he's always gotten great press (Stephen Holden of the NY TIMES called his album Issues + Options "one of the year's two or three most satisfying") and the occasional radio spin, Roy has always seemed just one break short of major success.

In an interesting turn, Roy has looked elsewhere for the inspiration at the heart of his new album, the wonderfully titled - and self-released - In the Weird Small Hours (September 29). After all, who best to choose a great song than another songwriter? The result is an inspired set of interesting and eclectic songs from the likes of Radiohead, Conor Oberst, Joseph Arthur, Anna Ternheim, Ryan Adams and The Eels backed with intimate, minimalist beauty by Julian Coryell on guitar and John Leftwich on bass. Songs such as Arthur's timeless "Honey and the Moon", a study of pure, sweeping melody, are rendered with obvious affection and care, Roy's husky voice offering a warm lyrical embrace. Recommended.

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Phil Roy - "Honey and the Moon" (from the album In the Weird Small Hours)

Track listing:

1. HONEY AND THE MOON - written by Joseph Arthur
2. ALL I NEED - written by Radiohead
3. I SEE MONSTERS - written by Ryan Adams
4. SIGN YOUR NAME - written by Sonanda Maiteya
5. EVERYTHING REMINDS ME OF HER - written by Elliott Smith
6. LOVERS DREAM - written by Anna Ternheim/Andreas Dahlback
7. FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE - written by Conor Oberst
8. BEAUTIFUL FREAK - Mark Everett (Eels)
9. NOTHING LEFT TO USE - written by Julian Coryell
10. PILGRIMAGE TO CHANGE - written by Phil Roy/Nicholas Cage (?!)