Not quite country but definitely western, the dozen songs assembled here provide a flattering look at some of Arizona's best singer-songwriters. With influences ranging from Ani Difranco (Ralo's "Being Alone") to Johnny Cash (Hans Olson's "Dancing Shoes"), the featured performers suggest that Friday nights in Arizona's coffee shops aren't too different from New York's or Chicago's (though maybe with a little less smog).

The contributors do an admirable job of navigating the tricky path between paying homage to their inspirations (both artistically and culturally) and defining their own distinctive voices. As you might expect, these are songs less likely to evoke images of bustling streets and wide open highways than painted deserts and venerable cacti. Rich Hopkins's "Have a Heart" and Norm Pratt's "Maintenance" epitomize the melodic, laconic approach we're encouraged to take when enjoying this disc, while Valerie Sack's "Sea Dreams" takes flight into the clear blue sky. While none of the artists aboard show much evidence of breaking out of the standard singer-songwriter mold just yet, 2 Hours from Anywhere proves that there's a vital and vibrant music scene in Arizona with respect for its "big city" peers and a voice strong enough to call its own.