We have a theme this week. Hope y’all like country! Actually, it’s not entirely country – one album is bluegrass (which is country adjacent), and one album is eclectic enough that only a few songs would fit into the Stetson and boots genre. Time for the lowdown on the hoedown.
So grab your Wranglers, and make sure they’re tight. Let’s round ’em up.
Look at those suits! Man, I wish I could get away with wearing some fancy duds like those. Anyway, these slick looking dudes sound like they’ve been raised on some 80’s George Strait and Dwight Yoakam. You could even imagine Huey Lewis & The News doing a few of these tunes (they started as a country-rock band, after all). Or the Eagles if they had survived into the 80’s. Midland starts strong right out of the gate with a stellar debut.
The Texas Gentlemen – TX Jelly
Actually, only half the album sounds like pure country. The rest sounds like a mix of jam band, Texas rock, light psych, Delaney and Bonnie & Friends, and Traffic.
I don’t know what TX jelly is, I just know I want to eat it straight from the jar.
Whitney Rose – Rule 62
A throwback to the 60’s and 70’s country pop stars like Brenda Lee, Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell, and Elvis Presley. Beautifully sung and played.
Billy Strings – Turmoil & Tinfoil
Wow. This dude can play. If you want a bluegrass band that can give you great 3 minute tunes and then jam out on a song for 9 minutes (and make it compelling) then you’re about to be very happy. Step into the dream.
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