Changing perceptions from the past is hard work. It's not that Peter Searcy minds being name-checked as an alternative and punk rock influence, but these days he would rather get his due as the singer-songwriter he's become - not for the teenage punk (howler? screamer?) he used to be.

When Peter moved to Atlanta from Louisville in 1997, his goal wasn't to put together another band - he had done that - he was in search of a way to clear the cobwebs left in his head from fronting well know bands in Louisville, KY for over a decade. "It was just time to try writing." he said about why he moved. "I needed to gain some perspective in my life." This perspective meant going somewhere he wasn't comfortable with - and Atlanta happened to be a place without the safety net he was used to. The result of this move was the start of a solo career with the release of Could You Please and Thank You on the Arista/Time Bomb label.

The change in sound was stark enough that many critics lauded his growth as a writer over his Big Wheel and Starbilly days and supposed that Could You Please and Thank You would "leave an indelible mark on your consciousness (Magnet)." Unfortunately, just as critics and fans were saying that Peter was finally getting his due, Time Bomb severed ties with Arista/BMG, Peter was left with a chart climbing record and no label to service it.

In the midst of all of this, Peter moved back to Louisville, got married, and started writing his next record. He continued his relentless schedule of touring performing alongside such notable artists at Bob Dylan, John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting, Evan Dando, and Paul Kelley to name a few. Through touring Peter became well known for his skills as a classically trained cellist and subsequently appeared on albums by Black Cross, Freakwater and Butch Walker.

Putting aside the pressures of hit singles, videos, producers, and six figure budgets that accompanied following up his debut record - Peter started spending more time writing songs on his cello, piano, and acoustic guitar. It was in this spirit that the album Couch Songs was born. Peter turned his basement - affectionately dubbed the "Litter-box" - into a home studio originally to record demos, but ended up producing a record. Couch Songs was released on Louisville independent Initial Records in early 2004. The compositions, often performed live with only his acoustic guitar and later accompanied with whatever other instruments Peter had around, contained a stark, compelling, undeniable strength. Unfortunately, as the year wore on, Peter would need lots of strength.

"Trust Falls was written during a pretty confusing and angry time, for me personally," he said. Peter's marriage was falling apart, his record deal with Time Bomb was unraveling, and the songs reflected it. From the yearning of "Ready" which tells the tale of "a faded rock star" who "never learned to play guitar" to the hopeful love song "One Thing" that urges a lover to "tell me if I get it right because this might be the only way I've ever played this game before" Trust Falls explores universal themes of love and loss, of abandonment and hope. "The idea of a trust fall is you fall into someone's arms, and you trust that person to catch you. It's part of being in a relationship with anybody. That person stopped catching me and I guess I stopped catching them."

Trust Falls comes across as an edgier release than Peter's solo debut. The record has a more expansive band sound than what appeared on Could You Please and Thank You, but manages to maintain the melodic hooks that Peter's fans have come to love in his music. He explains that it's not quite time to throw out the template and start over again, a fact that will surely please his fans that have followed his career. "I'll always be a fan of guitars; my musical foundation is always going to be punk rock."