Tim Ryan (1990)

Ryan, a 26-year-old Montanan, makes his freshman bow in Tim Ryan, with tunes in that reflect the Big Sky way of life-rodeoin' (''Honky Tonk Highway''), barn dancin' (''Dance in Circles''), and true romancin' (''A Little Love Won't Hurt a Thing''). Backed by scampering fiddles and weepy slide guitars, he often settles in the Western-swing groove, sidestepping occasionally for ballads and rhythm numbers. As a singer, Ryan is unusually poised, with a winning way of sliding into falsetto. But as a writer (with partner Alex Harvey), he serves up thinnish radio fare — high-energy vignettes of improbable encounters and cowpoke fantasy. B-