Singer/guitarist Tom Gillam’s corner of the Americana/alt-country world features rocked-up country often smothered in his searing guitar work. The album’s tone is set on the opener, “Diamonds in the Rough,” an Allman Brothers-flavored rocker with Gillam’s trademark electric slide all over it. What might set this artist apart from the pack, however, is his songcraft — most noticeable on the title track, which has just the right balance of guitar crunch, winning melody, and manly anguish. Dallas bears the influence of the long history of roots rock success stories, from the Flying Burrito Brothers to the Allman Brothers to Tom Petty to the Jayhawks (particularly on the guitar intro to “Got to Make it Work,” which sounds an awful lot like the Jayhawks’ “Sister Cry”). And while the album may be somewhat lyrically anemic, stepping in clichés at every turn, it’s wise to file this under highly likable. – Erik Hage