Dubbed by People magazine as "the Springsteen of the Southwest," popular country artist Pat Green has followed up his first album of covers from nearly a decade ago. Songs We Wish We'd Written II is a smartly assembled mix of sleek rock-based country, blues, and heartland tunes. Joe Ely's "All to Get to You" and Glen Ballard and Shelby Lynne's "Jesus on a Greyhound" are tricked out with an arena-ready sound, while Tom Petty's "Even the Losers" takes a slower pace for a heartfelt vocal that brings out the song's sentiment. Warren Haynes' "Soulshine" retains tough electric guitars, while Lyle Lovett's wistful and humorous acoustic reverie "If I Had a Boat" is kept to its piano-and-guitar arrangement. Best, perhaps, is the cover of Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown," which is available as a bonus track; it brings out the best in Green's interpretive abilities.