Pete Droge - Necktie Second (1994)

Pete Droge's debut album, Necktie Second, finds the singer/songwriter following the footsteps of Tom Petty and Neil Young. At this stage, Droge might not be as melodically sturdy as either of his influences, yet he can turn out a charming piece of roots rock like "If You Don't Love Me (I'll Kill Myself)" without much effort. "If You Don't Love Me" isn't indicative of the rest of the record -- throughout Necktie Second, he's hunched over an acoustic guitar, singing sensitive, confessional songs. He's got a more distinct backbeat and a bit more grit than most singer/songwriters, but many of the songs fail to be really compelling, making Necktie Second a promising debut, but not a particularly remarkable one.~© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo