A "rock 'n' western" singer/songwriter/guitarist hailing from the same country-folk scene that spawned Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett, Vince Bell follows his acclaimed debut album (Phoenix) with the brilliant, beautifully told saga of life and love that is Texas Plates. Bell's a press favorite not only because of his music, but also because of his astonishing recovery following a near-fatal 1982 car accident (Bell's fascinating biography was published late last year).