Aaron Watson Announces New Album “Vaquero”
Aaron Watson will try to make history once again when he releases his 11th studio album called Vaquero on February 24th via his own Big Label Records on Thirty Tigers. Co-produced by Watson with Marshall Altman, the record will feature 16 total songs, half of which were penned by Aaron Watson himself, and the others co-written by the likes of Mac McAnally, Leslie Satcher, Kendell Marvel, and others.
“‘Vaquero,’ which means the ‘original cowboy,’ is an intensely reflective and personal set of songs filled with compelling narratives,” says the Aaron Watson team in an announcement. “Throughout, he depicts stories of a rugged people, humble but hardworking, like himself. He puts a playful spin on an insider’s view on the Texan way of life with ‘Amen Amigo’ and delivers life lessons courtesy of an old vaquero with the title track. On the poignant ‘Diamonds & Daughters,’ he opens up his heart for his little girl. ‘Mariano’s Dream’ is a companion piece to ‘Clear Isabel’ and on ‘They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To’ he sings of the longing for the nostalgia of an earlier time. Listeners have come to know Watson’s pragmatic style and authenticity as an artist over the years. With ‘Vaquero,’ he keeps his Texas flare and honest songwriting at the forefront.”
Aaron Watson shocked the country music industry in early 2015 when his 10th studio album—ironically named The Underdog—went to #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. This was the first time such a distinction had been won by an independent male solo artist in recent memory, and set the table for the independent upsurge country music has seen on the albums chart since. A now 17-year veteran of the music circuit, the Amarillo native has a strong following in rodeo circles, and has created a strong following among traditional country fans, regularly packing out halls across the country.
December 5, 2016 @ 12:28 pm
Aaron is always good for a few good songs on each album. Thought The Underdog was his best in a few years. Hopefully this one will be as good.
December 5, 2016 @ 12:42 pm
I’m not holding my breath on this one yet unfortunately, the first two singles of this album “Outta Style” and “Big Love in a Small Town” were hot garbage. I’m just hoping that those will be the only two dings against the album, I’ve loved his last two.
December 5, 2016 @ 1:32 pm
Same here.. I haven’t heard Big Love in a Small Town but Outta Style is awful. Had to listen to Reckless right after it to remind myself why I like Aaron Watson to begin with.
December 5, 2016 @ 3:33 pm
Well let’s not just make blanket statements. Why do you consider them “hot garbage”? “Big Love in a Small Town” actually gave me a lot of hope for the rest of the album. It was a fairly familiar topic that managed to avoid worn out lyricism. The style of the song and instrumentation felt just right. Outta Style certainly had its own style. It wasn’t exactly traditional country, but I’m not sure it was exactly trend chasing either.
His last two albums have certainly been a mixed bag for me, but I’m fairly hopeful for it after the two songs released thus far.
March 27, 2017 @ 8:08 am
1st- “Big Love In A Small Town” was not a “single”
2nd- It is NOT “hot garbage”. Have you ever written a song that got recorded, pal??
December 5, 2016 @ 12:49 pm
Since you mentioned Kendell Marvel in the article, he also has an album on the way.
December 5, 2016 @ 1:20 pm
Is “they don’t make them like they used to” a Will Hoge cover?
December 5, 2016 @ 6:37 pm
I was wondering that too, but no, in the video announcement today from Vegas they show the album credits in the background. Aaron wrote it himself. Would be awesome to hear his version of the Will Hoge song too.
December 5, 2016 @ 7:22 pm
You aren’t going to write a better song than that Hoge/McConnell version. That’s interesting he’s realeasing a song of the exact same title, being that it’s specific and released around the same time.
December 6, 2016 @ 12:24 am
i was curious about that too
will hoge is such an underrated artist/songwriter, yes eli young cutting even if it breaks your heart got his song on the radio but he still deserves more recognition and they don’t make em like they used to is probably my favorite song of his
December 6, 2016 @ 10:01 am
Either WH is being overlooked, or I am overlooking the recognition he should be getting.
December 7, 2016 @ 12:44 am
he’s definitely overlooked other than a few album cuts as a songwriter (last one i can think of is lady antebellum covered better off now that you’re gone which was alright with charles singing lead) and strong being part of a chevy campaign a few years back he’s been pretty much ignored by nashville
December 5, 2016 @ 2:16 pm
Sounds promising. Marty Robbins concept album type stuff. Can’t wait.
December 5, 2016 @ 6:42 pm
Saw his interview about the album and songs like “That Look” from The Underdog and “Outta Style” he wrote in a style that pleases his wife. I’m positive he won’t disappoint on the rest of the album and if he makes a couple songs that don’t sound like traditional AW but are for his wife and family, great for him. I feel like we get so drawn to a style of an artist and when they have fun with a few songs (like Kevin Fowler) or change something like Watson for his wife, everyone jumps to the sellout pop country route. I think these seasoned artist have earned the right to record a few songs that are out of the element we began to love them for. I’m sure some on here will disagree and that’s cool. The fact that people continouisly come to this website to discuss country music shows we are moving in the right direction.
December 6, 2016 @ 1:41 pm
Excited for this one. Aaron Watson is the man. Not as lyrical as Isbell, not as daring as Sturgill, and not as traditional as William Michael Morgan, but you can bet the man will always sing songs from his heart that relate to the common man. His music is what I like to call “good ole boy” country- songs about life, love, family, friends, good times, bad times, Friday nights, Sunday mornings, etc.- and it’s sung with authenticity that can’t be replaced by a hundred laundry lists rapped off a tailgate. Is he Waylon or Willie? Lord no. But he’s one of the guys we can relate to the most. Can’t wait for the album.
December 7, 2016 @ 7:57 am
Well said, that’s exactly what I like about him. He’s a regular guy that sings about the things he likes to sing about for the people he likes to sing to. He’s one of us.