JUST 25 but sounding like someone of 65, here is a voice that could make waves.

Rolling Stone said the cracked and grizzled young Texan sounded like Steve Earle's dad.

It is an apt comparison and Mescalito is not dissimilar to some of Earle's rockier early albums.

It packs a punch and there are some rollicking songs, the exciting slide of Bread And Water standing out.

Unfortunately these moments are relatively isolated. Hard Times is typical, it should be great; a dusty lyric about working men sung in that authentic rasp, an anthemic bridge and chorus and attractive country instrumentation; yet it's rather boring.

For a first release it shows considerable promise, but the song pacing and selection are too similar, which serves to water down the overall impact.