These days “country” music is too often just overproduced pop schlock tricked out with perfunctory twang and steel. But there are still some authentic country artists out there, and one of the best is Dale Watson, who sings in a hearty baritone reminiscent of Johnny Cash, and plays a Tele-style Tomkins with a bunch of old coins and a horseshoe nailed to it.
This record picks up where Watson’s popular The Truckin’ Sessions left off, spinning tales of the trucking life, from “Yankee Doodle Jean” to a “Truckin’ Queen.” There isn’t a lot new going on here musically, but that’s sort of the point. If you dig road-ready, old-school country à la Owens and Haggard, pumped up with lots of hot guitars and fiddle, this disc will set your toes tapping and put a smile on your face as you head down the highway. Hyena.