Like many a country singer before him, Bud Rokesky writes songs on the road. To be exact, he pens them while driving massive trucks up and down Australia’s more remote highways. That lends a certain mediative quality to the tunes on his debut album, Outsider, named for his newcomer status on the Aussie country scene. But he shouldn’t remain on the outskirts for too long: Rokesky cut this album with indie folk star Matt Corby co-producing, and The Jezabels' Hayley Mary drops by for a simmering duet on “Tell John.” He also neatly balances mainstream country motifs (see “Baby & I”) with an indie-friendly solemnity that could appeal to fans of Bill Callahan (see opener “Floodlights”). The instrumentation is sparse and clean throughout, adding to the record’s timeless feel. Between Rokesky’s darkly quivering voice and thoughtful lyrics, he could be well on his way to becoming a household name.