Brian Douglas Phillips divides himself into East and West. The East is a familiar home, overgrown with hazy memories and rocking chairs; stories are settled deep in its soil. The West is not as welcoming -- angry winds howl across the high prairie, buzzards sneer from twisted limbs ... With GUNNISON, Phillips heads straight into the sunset.

Phillips' second full-length release is an exploration of the American West -- ferocious, spectral and sweet. His colloquial ballads and soul-tinged voice find a thrilling new backdrop on the frontier. Phillips approaches GUNNISON with a fresh grit and charisma; his vocals are bolder, angrier and more desperate. GUNNISON pushes the boundaries of typical singer-songwriter fare, probing modern rock, indie and soul, and diving headfirst into classic country.

GUNNISON is Phillips' follow-up and antithesis to 2008's BULLETS & BONES, an acclaimed Southern gothic panorama of narrative, love and death. But the unassuming voice heard on BULLETS has matured to one of command and confidence.

"I'm proud and very fond of BULLETS & BONES," Phillips said, "because the performances are naiive and charming. And I'm glad to let that be what it is. But GUNNISON is on a new level. I've learned to take charge."

Though a native Texan, Phillips didn't join the Austin music scene until 2008. His prior years were spent elsewhere along the I-35 corridor, honing his craft. He describes GUNNISON as an "Austin record," it being the end result of his first two years in town. And GUNNISON features performances from a handful of friends, Austin artists and longtime collaborators.

"All the people I've met, and the things I've learned from them made this record what it is," Phillips said. "I've been fortunate."