POP MUSIC REVIEW : Arty, R&B-Flavored; Rock From Texas via Scotland

The band Texas is from Glasgow, Scotland, and its place in the pop spectrum is similarly ambiguous. Its thoroughly American-sounding R&B-flavored; rock would seem to make it an ideal opening act for, say, the Allman Brothers Band. And its hints of an arty edge suggest an “adult alternative” audience that might slip Texas into the multi-disc CD player with Cowboy Junkies and Maria McKee.

As a result, Texas hasn’t been able to get onto a commercial fast track. After three albums, it’s still playing to small audiences at clubs like the Roxy, where Wednesday’s show presented the band’s established strengths--Sharleen Spiteri’s arresting vocals, Ally McErlaine’s forceful, flavorful blues-rock guitar, evocations of a panorama of Southern music, from roots blues to Stax soul to Al Green.

On the Green hit “Tired of Being Alone,” Texas showed the value of following the spirit rather than the letter of a song, avoiding the easy, seductive band arrangement it plays on its new album in favor of a spare, acoustic setting that encouraged a free, instinctive performance by Spiteri.

But for all these admirable ingredients, Texas’ impact was spotty instead of sustained. Its best material conveys disturbing currents of emotional conflict, but the melodies and arrangements often tend to be dry and anonymous, and on stage the band tends to fall into flavorless power jams.

There’s still great potential in this outfit, but after eight years it’s time to get it in gear.