Self-produced albums by local artists are hit-and-miss, and lean toward miss. Score a hit for James Hinkle's latest c.d. of 13 original songs. Hinkle is mostly associated with blues, but on the uncharacteristic Roads he delves into country, swing, folk, jazz, Spanish, and pseudo-pop balladry. There's plenty of tasty guitar for fans, but the material spotlights Hinkle's voice and lyrics, both of which stumble occasionally but ultimately combine to make this c.d. so distinctive and enjoyable.

Local radio listeners typically hear Hinkle's music on KNON's blues program. This c.d. will sound more at home on the Texana show. Backing musicians, most notably organist Robert Cadwallader, capture the songs' varying flavors. Hinkle does the rest, even producing goosebump moments, such as when he belts out "Slow down, girl!" on "Wild Weekend."

Hinkle is an independent sort and doesn't try to emulate commercial Nashville lyrical formats -- for example, starting and ending choruses with the same hook lines for familiarity's sake. Still, Roads could have taken a few paths less traveled. The standard-format "Never Thought of Leaving Texas" and "Long and Lean" surely get club audiences drinking and dancing, but they seem stale amid the more interesting and eclectic "All I Can Do," "Ticket to Excitement," "Sister Reader Advisor," "She's A Road," and the brilliant "Seldom Seen."

Call Roads a hit. Not a home run, but a solid double that might stretch to a triple. The c.d. is available at Hinkle's shows and a few local record stores.