Poor Boy

The Good Intentions—an Americana/folk group from Liverpool—feature the husband/wife core of R. Peter Davies and Gabrielle Monk and their longtime friend Frank Roskell. In 2012, Davies appeared in 56 Up, part of a long-running British documentary series by director Michael Apted he'd been involved in. Davies said he returned to the series to promote his group, which by then had earned a British Country Music Award for Americana Act of the Year. Poor Boy is an early work that shows all of The Good Intentions' strengths, from lyrical songs to close three-part harmonies and arrangements that stay true to their acoustic roots. Clearly, Davies has a fascination with the history of country music, which he fully expresses in songs such as "She's in a George Jones Mood," "You Love Jimmie Rodgers," and "From Liverpool to Nashville." Comparisons to the songwriting of John Prine, Phil Lee, and Kevin Welch are all well-earned and deserved. Various respected friends and musicians join them on acoustic instruments, with drums kicking in when needed. The Good Intentions sound like The Byrds had they continued on their country way.