If there is flaw in Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz otherwise remarkable song writing, it's that he writes too damn many of them. For each of Buffalo Tom's five albums, Janovitz has penned nearly 40 songs. Most of his work is in the vein of the band's familiar power-pop, with plenty of big guitars and boasting the melodic hooks that fuel songs like "Taillights Fade." But it turns out Janovitz also pens morose, acoustic, country-tinged ballads that demonstrate a range much wider than Buffalo Tom albums suggest. And it was these songs that inspired the Boston-based singer to cut his first solo record, "Lonesome Billy."

"I didn't come up with the idea that 'I want to go solo' or anything like that," says Janovitz, who insists he is still very happy in his role as frontman for the trio. "It was just a matter of all this stuff piling up in my basement, and wanting to do something with it."

So Janovitz got together with some friends from the twisted-country band Giant Sand, and headed down to Tucson, Arizona where he cut the 10-song record in just three days. Two more days and the record was mixed, and ready for the world.

But the quick turnaround is not evident on the disc. The songs flow together smoothly, showcasing Janovitz's talent at twisting a phrase and a surprising aptitude for straight-forward country and western, evident on his cover of "My Funny Valentine." Next up is a short East Coast tour to support the record before heading back into the studio for the next Buffalo Tom record.

RS.com: How much did the change of scenery effect this record?

Bill Janowitz: I could have done this at Fort Apache in Boston, but it wouldn't be the same record. I liked the idea of completely making a break, getting away from what I know. I went out with just the packet of songs and an acoustic guitar, and that was it. The hot summer sun of Tucson and the Mexican food, the slow vibe out there, it all leaked its way on to the record. Literally as well -- at the end of the song "Red Balloon", when you hear the freight train going by, that really was a train that passed by the studio.

Could the songs on this record have been Buffalo Tom material?

Maybe. We as band sit down, and wherever the common ground that hits all three of us on the same level -- those are the songs we pick. But for a song like "Red Balloon," I knew they would not be interested in it, because I could barely see myself doing the song. It was so different from anything I had written up until that time. It was very sweet, very country, a very straightforward metaphor. I had never really written in that style before. I almost felt like I was tuned to somebody else's frequency when I picked that one up.

There are some sad songs on this album, which fit well with the genre. Did you turn to country music because you were writing sad songs,or vice versa?

Both. I chose this style because it allows for this kind of thing, and maybe the style influenced the lyrics as well. I tended not to worry as much as we do with Buffalo Tom records about the balance of upbeat pop rock vs. folk rock vs. this or that. I just made the record with songs that flowed into one another. So, yeah, they tend to be sad. That is what I am drawn to, not just in music, but in movies, books, and other art forms as well. It all tends to have a little twinge of melancholy. But they are very personal songs as well. "Shoulder" might be as personal a song as I have ever written.

How did your cover of "My Funny Valentine" come about? That is not a song I would expect you to tackle.

It is a bit of a self-indulgent move. But if you are going to do a solo record, you might as well have a couple of self-indulgent tracks on it. Because certainly Buffalo Tom would never allow that, and perhaps rightfully so. People should just be happy that I am not