*** Dale Watson
I HATE THESE SONS
(Hightone)
So Dale Watson hates his
own songs -- 14 of them, all penned by the Austin-based singer/songwriter/
guitarist for his third album in three years. And what does Watson like? "I
love real country music, I love Texas, and I love my Momma," he sings without a
whit of irony on the Merle Haggard-esque "That's Pride."
Like the rest of the disc's tracks, which include honky-tonk shuffles ("Wine
Don't Lie"), country weepers ("I Think of You"), truckin' tunes ("Hey Driver"),
and doses of Western swing ("Leave Me Alone") and Tex-Mex ("Count on You"),
"That's Pride" finds Watson honing an earnest, no-bullshit approach so steeped
in the roadhouse tradition you can almost hear the buzz of a neon beer sign.
Watson certainly wears his hearty influences (Merle, George, and Lefty) on his
denim sleeve. But backed by a lean band who put the steel guitar front and
center, he comes across more as an heir to his heroes than as an imitator.
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