Chuck Brodsky, Radio (Red House Records 1998) - Chuck Brodsky works in the classic folksinger vein. What sets Brodsky aside is his wit and barbed sense of humor - when Brodsky sharpens his elbows, no one's safe, as exemplified by his classic "Blow 'Em Away" (a light-hearted song about an angry motorist with a pistol and an attitude).

Now age 39, Brodsky was raised in Philadelphia, where he developed a passion for hockey and baseball. Brodksy's love of baseball is reflected in "Moe Berg: The Song," a tale about the former Dodgers catcher who also worked as a pre-World War II spy for the U.S.

Brodsky moved to California, and lived in the Bay Area for many years. (In fact, he wrote "Blow 'Em Away" while stuck in traffic on the Bay Bridge in a company van.) Brodsky now lives in the quiet environs of Ashville, North Carolina, and recorded Radio at Nickel & Dime Studios in Decatur, Georgia.

Backed by a full band, Brodsky displays his wit on such tracks as the "Hockey Fight Song," and "On Christmas I Got Nothing," as well as his signature, "Blow 'Em Away." Yet Brodsky is not all fun and games - many songs are more somber, such as "Our Gods" and "Creepsville."

Notwithstanding the downcast moments, Brodsky has stellar songwriting skills. Fans of folk and intelligent songwriting will enjoy Radio.

Shawn Mullins, Soul's Core (Columbia 1998) - Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Shawn Mullins delivers his major label debut in Soul's Core. With its folk rock influences, and hit single ("Lullaby"), Mullins shows that hard work pays off.

And Mullins has worked hard at his craft, with six independent releases to his name, and hundreds of gigs across the county. Mullins says he gets much of his inspiration on the road: "I can take my own stuff and put it into these characters and hide behind them a little bit. It's cheap therapy," Shawn confesses.

Shawn was signed to Columbia Records based on the radio success of "Lullaby," with its images of Hollywood heartbreak and redemption. Shawn also delivers a fine six-minute cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," a classic song about drug and alcohol excess.

For an acoustic songwriter with a future, try Soul's Core.