Fans of Texas music have been inundated with new artists lately. Finding interesting and absorbing music isn't a problem, but wading through the releases can be expensive. So compilation albums are useful in introducing a bunch of artists in one fell swoop. Brewed in Texas serves as a decent primer, showcasing numerous newer artists and throwing in a couple of original Outlaws. Jerry Jeff Walker does a live version of "Sangria Wine" that includes a derogatory reference to Waco, while Rusty Wier offers "Quervo's Gold," a song that inspires mass tequila shootings at live shows. Brewed In Texas bills itself as "handcrafted fine Texas" music, although most Texans refer to this music as "drankin' songs."

Six of the c.d.'s 20 songs are previously unreleased. John Rich's "One Bud Wiser" is destined to become a honky-tonk staple, and Hayes Carll's "Barroom Lament" is another good'un, with its opening line, "I'm tired of drinking whiskey by myself," and verses such as, "I go down to the bar most every night / the girls don't even notice and the boys all want to fight." Other previously unreleased songs, however, are bland remakes of country classics. Cross Canadian Ragweed's cover of "Whiskey River" is tolerable, but Cooder Graw's "Whiskey Bent And Hellbound" is mundane, while the forced dialogue and self-congratulatory name-dropping by Kevin Fowler, Jason Boland, and Clay Blaker on "I Think I'll Just Stay Here & Drink" is downright embarrassing.

The bulk of the c.d. is fresher material from interesting artists, including Roger Creager, Cory Morrow, Reckless Kelly, Tommy Alverson, Chris Wall, Todd Snider, Beaver Nelson, Wayne Hancock, John Evans, and Adam Carroll -- familiar faces at area clubs and music festivals. Slaid Cleaves' "Horseshoe Lounge" and Eleven Hundred Springs' "Raise Hell Drink Beer" particularly stand out.

Brewed In Texas is Compadre Records' follow-up to last summer's Texas Road Trip compilation album. Unless you already own these artists' solo efforts, both albums are worth fetching.