Daragh Downesfinds the reissue of Conway Savage's back catalogue hardly worth the bother.

CONWAY SAVAGE

Conway Savage *

Soon Will Be Tomorrow **

Nothing Broken *

Wrong Man's Hands *

Rare Songs & Performances 1989-2004 *

Quicky for Ducky **

Beheaded

Chances are you're not familiar with the solo career of Nick Cave's sidekick. As this reissued back catalogue shows, there's a reason for that. Savage may be a decent pianist and singer (the latter in a Cash-lite, Cohen-lite kind of way), but he is an exquisitely uninspired songwriter.

Nearly every track is a hapless coalition of tired melody lines, say-nothing lyrics and stock barroom arrangements. No doubt it all gets real soul-soothin' after a couple of fine oak single malt scotches, but what doesn't?

The occasional good song turns out to have been written by or with other people - a talent gap most cruelly exposed on Soon Will Be Tomorrow, Savage's 1998 collaboration with Suzie Higgie. Of the solo releases, only 2007's Quickie for DuckyEP is worth checking out.

www.myspace.com/conwaysavage

DARAGH DOWNES

Download tracks: Listen to You, Cruel Trick