Eight Belles' debut album Girls Underground has a lot going for it. The important things, like Jessi Phillips’ strong, seductive voice and a solid backing band with a spot-on talent for understated and meandering country tunes. Phillips sings with the voice of a young, wise woman and perfect parallel harmonies about horses running at night and returning home. It’s a nice listen.

Unfortunately, for her, it’s already been done better, with depth and darkness (Neko Case), and clarity and subversiveness (Jenny Lewis). A compelling personality is necessary to make these proven country forms more than what they are, and none emerges from Eight Belles. The album is left impersonal by the lack of wit, anger or leisurely sex appeal to balance these classic sounds.

However, a country song is still a country song, and some of them are bound to get it right. "Dirty Habit" lets Phillips' soulful voice fill the lonely vista left for her by a slow, solo fiddle; “Not Gonna Leave” could be a mellowed Johnny and June duet. Phillips' lilting voice can be clear or smoky, and her band is a low-key country variety show. But it's just not enough. Almost none of the lyrics caused me to think twice, and I was left yearning for her predecessors.