Album Review – Charley Crockett’s “Music City USA”

While others were thinking and scheming, Charley Crockett was out there doing. While some were complaining about closed doors and walled gardens, Charley Crockett was making his way over, under, and through. When people said it couldn’t be done, Charley Crockett did it. When people said his music was no longer relevant to the modern ear, he made it so … through the sheer determination of his will, and to the tune of being one of the fastest-rising artists in independent country at the moment.
You aren’t going to upend the system and flip the script sitting at home on your couch and complaining. So Charley Crockett is out there on the road, writing songs left and right, recording them when he can—his songs and others—generally running circles around everyone else, and proving if nothing else that he’s the hardest working man in country music. Sure, country music isn’t factory work. You don’t get paid by the piece. But Charley Crockett is proving that quality and quantity don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
On Charlie Crockett’s second record this year (the other being a tribute to James Hand), the south Texas native whips up a gumbo of old school country, blues, early rock and roll, and vintage R&B influences, all assembled under the directive of a style he characterizes as “Gulf and Western,” interpreted fabulously by his incredible and versatile band, The Blue Drifters. If he skimped on anything in this one, it might be country, but few will complain since everything included here is such a close cousin to it, and so cohesive.
On your first pass through, you may give Charley Crockett credit for little more than aping old sounds as opposed to contributing anything original, however good the execution may be. But among the pithy sentiments and plainspoken language of this specific volume is quite a bit of commentary on modern life, however poetically veiled it might be, and non-specific in nature. Like so many artists, Charley Crockett views today’s world and is rendered heartbroken, and has something to say about it.
A song like “Are We Lonesome Yet” isn’t about some soured relationship, neither is “The World Just Broke My Heart.” Crockett takes the parlance of old love songs, and uses them to express his broken heartedness over things such as divisiveness, greed, and consumerism, using the word “lonesome” as a catch-all phrase for the cause, which might not be entirely off. In fact, it feels outright prophetic.

You wouldn’t want to characterize this album as being political or anything. But Charley having something to say is underscored when he concludes with a rendition of the old country classic “Skip a Rope.” He also has something to say about working hard, sticking to your principles, and steering clear of those who may steer you away from them. This is an overarching theme as well, and the subject of the opening song “Honest Fight,” as well as “Music City USA.” Charley Crockett isn’t shy about professing his self-made character and hard-fought success, and he’s eager to impart those lessons upon his audience.
Don’t worry though, Country Music USA doesn’t come across as a sermon. If anything, it’s the most consistently enjoyable selection of songs he’s compiled to date. If you followed him from the very start, and maybe through the era of lispy singing as he was trying to find his footing and voice, all of that soul-searching and foundation setting has resulted in a guy who sings and performs as effortlessly as he breathes, and is completely comfortable in his own skin, regardless of how much or little shtick it may involve.
All of the diagramming and pontificating aside, Country Music USA just kicks, and cuts. The horns fire up on “I Need Your Love” and “I Won’t Cry,” and the soul reverberates to your core. The banjo opens up on “Round This World,” and you’re immediately on board. Crockett could’ve kept a few of the final tracks off this record, which would have tightened it up a little bit, but that’s just like him to blow through the stop sign. And yes, he works in shades of cliche. But his skill is saying new and fresh things through old modes.
Charley Crockett says on one of the early songs on this album, “I can’t ask to move the mountain, so just give me the strength to climb.” Starting as a homeless street performer, and now quickly assembling one of the tightest shows on the road drawing swelling crowds, Charley Crockett is a living testament to persistence and hard work surmounting odds and overcoming obstacles. With music 70 years too late and in a genre that some insist is hostile to diverse voices, Charley Crockett isn’t just succeeding, he’s setting the pace.
It is Charley Crockett’s time, because he made it that way.
1 3/4 Guns Up (8/10)
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September 17, 2021 @ 7:57 am
only listened to the first half so far, but seems to be another great effort from chuck.
September 17, 2021 @ 8:06 am
My only issue with this album right now is that i can’t stop hitting repeat once it finishes.
September 17, 2021 @ 8:10 am
Mr. Crockett is very talented, no doubt. But is this country music? If so, are there any definable differences between soul and country anymore? Or does ‘country’ just refer to any throwback sound (soul, 20s jazz, rockabilly, etc) mainstream radio won’t play?
September 17, 2021 @ 8:29 am
i’ve since finished the album and it’s clear that you have not. there’s maybe three songs that lean decidedly more into the ‘soul’ genre, but this is definitely a country musician and album. i suggest more people try to enjoy music than categorize it.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:34 am
I agree. I threw it on again after reading Trigg’s review. This is more country than soul, not sure why people are saying this isn’t country. Although I love much more than country music and always appreciate the soul vibes a lot too.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:20 am
I definitely wouldn’t say this “isn’t” country, but clearly there are a lot of other influences thrown in there. As i said in the review, I was kind of surprised there wasn’t more straight ahead “country” in it, but when you go back to the era he’s working in, the lines between genres were much more blurred.
September 20, 2021 @ 10:45 am
This is where I get confused. “Country” itself started through a number of different influences and doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Is it, as a music genre, allowed to evolve (for better or worse)?
September 20, 2021 @ 11:17 am
Of course. But country is also a roots genre, which means it should adhere to its roots to some extent. This is what makes it different from rock or hip-hop.
September 20, 2021 @ 5:13 pm
Well then these guys got it totally wrong https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roots_music. Some would argue hip hop is a roots genre and I was going to write in the previous post that I tend to hear the same arguments about hip hop that I hear about country, regarding what is real or original.
September 17, 2021 @ 8:44 am
I just clicked through all sixteen songs on the album, and out of those twelve were unmistakably Country at the first sound.
Three-quarters of the record is Country. If you want to say that some of that is Rockabilly, well… that’s a genre distinction that people have been arguing over the edges of since the 1950s, so I’ll just say that all twelve of those songs could have been played on Country radio in the 50s or 60s.
September 17, 2021 @ 8:55 am
Like all of Charley’s album’s it is never 100% straight down the middle country but rather draws from a variety of influences. Differentiating factor between Charley and a lot of others is how those influences and genres will complement country much more than some genres other artists may draw from. Some of the songs are more blues and some more soul, but if you can listen to the title track and not think that’s country I don’t know what to tell you.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:17 am
Hey JM,
Like I tried to express in the review, Charley Crockett works in all kinds of classic influences, and seems more interested in era than genre. I was actually surprised how many soul and rock influences were on this record, but there’s also definitely a lot of country here. It might be because he just put out a stone cold country record with his James Hand tribute. I don’t take issue with calling it country, but I would qualify that by saying Crockett fools around with all sorts of roots influences.
September 24, 2021 @ 9:05 am
It’s 100% country. The melodies and song writing are as country and traditional as it gets. If you’re going to say this isn’t country, then you should be calling Tyler Childers “Irish mountain folk” or something too.
September 17, 2021 @ 8:26 am
Butter me up, Mr Country Crock
September 17, 2021 @ 8:32 am
“Vintage R&B influences”….
C’mon Trig, don’t insult the genre. It’s ” Doo-Wop”
I’m curious if many other country artists have ever added Doo-Wop influences to their songs?
I vaguely remember someone did a cover remix of “In the Still of the Night” (Lost in the Fifties Tonight” back in the 1980s.
I know that Thomas Rhett has done it occasionally on two different album cuts.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:40 am
‘a sailor’s guide’ has plenty of these influences.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:00 am
That would have been Ronnie Milsap.
September 18, 2021 @ 1:58 am
Many of the artists in New Orleans and those on the label Mashed Potato Records have doo wop influences to varying extents. And I think for Charley’s music vintage R&B might be more appropriate than doo wop (a style of R&B) because it isn’t reliant on the vocal harmonies typical of doo wop.
September 18, 2021 @ 2:24 am
“Lost In The Fifties Tonight (In The Still Of The Night)” was my first country song…lol.
1985…I was 5 years old, christmas with my father in Germany, i was bored, turned on the radio & public radio SWR from Baden-Baden had a weekly country radio show.
It was a special…playing all the country #1 hits of 1985 & Ronnie Milsap had the only multi-week #1 of the year.
A couple of month later i went full country with Tanya Tuckers 1986 #1 hit “One Love At A Time”.
I had no clue what she was singing about…but i loved it & sang it all the time (& i still do).
It was a pretty big shock for my family because i wanted more input…albums & more albums hard to buy (well…impossible to buy) back home.
My violine teacher was a nervous wreck because a very (very!) stubborn 6 year old refused to play the classic stuff…he wanted to fiddle…& hell yeah…he did (& does from time to time).
September 17, 2021 @ 8:39 am
Saw him live for the first time (finally) recently. Quite the show. Great time, despite leaning dangerously close to hipster vaudeville. He lays on the “gee shucks, y’all” schtick super thick.
I might be hitting some Charlie Crockett fatigue lately, honestly. Have played the new album a bunch of times and it’s kinda same-y sounding to my ears so far, and it’s got the longest runtime of any of his albums so far. Not bad by any means, nice polished production and singing (he’s definitely found his style), but I keep itching for him to get funkier and reintroduce some of the, dare I say it, quasi-hip-hop flavor of his earliest material (“I’m Workin'” etc.).
All in all, my favorite thing about Charley is the diehard can-do hustle. 110% respect for that. He deserves all the success he’s had and, hopefully, will continue to have.
September 17, 2021 @ 8:41 am
Had this on repeat all morning. Lost count of how many listens.
I’ll admit I was slow to catch onto his music. But after finally seeing him live 2 weeks ago, I am hooked and I get it now.
September 17, 2021 @ 9:27 am
Yet another hyper inflated score for an album that isn’t actually that good but because it sounds a certain way it gets a pass. It has zero cultural relevance. Nobody cares about this. I mean it’s tasteful and the arrangements are very good but what’s the point? It doesn’t move the needle. It does really have anything to say. Stuff like this sounded old in the 70’s. Country music can be country and still sound modern. Mike and the Moonpies, Cody Jinks, Parker McCollum, etc… But this just isn’t interesting
September 17, 2021 @ 9:33 am
Parker McCollum and his pretty heart heart hearttt
September 17, 2021 @ 10:35 am
culturally relevant? we’re talking about country music here. all jokes aside, what would be the last culturally relevant country album? i would have to say ‘metamodern sounds’ because of the broad appeal it ended up having. cultural relevancy is a poor metric to judge music by – especially music that came on the very same day. lol.
anyways, plenty of people care about this. just because you don’t doesn’t mean they’re wrong.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:58 am
That’s fair. “Culturally relevant” wasn’t the best choice of expression. I just wish modern artists would make modern sounding music. Doesn’t mean electronic drums and hand claps just something that doesn’t sound dated the moment it’s released.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:21 am
I don’t know. He’s not singing about outdated stuff is he? I think the old style sound sets it a part from all the other artist that you mentioned.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:27 am
I think it’s the actual production choices that I don’t like. He’s got a great voice and the lyrics are fine but the standup bass, doo wop background vocals, and heavy reverb on the lead vocals just makes it sound old but not in a good way. Too much echo. Idk just my two cents on it. I don’t think it’s an 8/10
September 18, 2021 @ 2:03 am
I think a lot of artists like Alexa Rose, Janet Simpson, Holly Macve, and Jess Jocoy incorporate very modern sounds into their style of country. Rich, delicate, full sounds set to intelligent lyricism that isn’t reliant on repeating 50s/60s honky tonk sounds and aesthetics.
September 18, 2021 @ 4:47 am
I never really “got” Crockett until last year when I listened to the Welcome To Hard Times album and loved it. It moved me and made me feel feelings and that’s what I want my music to do so for me he is very relevant.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:36 am
“Nobody cares about this.”
Wrong, read the comments on just this sight alone. People care.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:53 am
Yeah dude 19 whole comments! This site consistently gives more attention to the things it claims to hate than to the things it claims it loves. The new Kacey Musgraves album received a terrible review and yet that article is at over 100 comments. Not sure you made the point you think you did.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:34 am
Also. 19 = more than “no one”
I also said “this sight alone” which implies that there are plenty of positive reviews elsewhere.
Therefore I did make the point I think I did.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:48 am
Comments don’t always denote interest, whether it’s a bunch or not very many. Album reviews tend to get both less traffic, and less comments. But for an album review, I would say it’s received above average attention for sure, though no, not as much as Musgraves.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:34 am
“Yet another hyper inflated score for an album that isn’t actually that good but because it sounds a certain way it gets a pass.”
Well that’s just like, your opinion, man. 🙂 But I respect it.
“It has zero cultural relevance. Nobody cares about this.”
Now this you’re just outright wrong about. This isn’t an opinion. It can be measured by the folks going to the shows, buying the records, and streaming the tracks. Charley Crockett is a top tier artist in independent country and roots right now. You may find this as curious. But it’s verifiable. Dude’s on fire.
September 17, 2021 @ 12:13 pm
A lot to unpack here.
“It has zero cultural relevance”
Crockett has 3/4 million listeners on Spotify in spite of playing music that radio or popular channels wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole and also remaining fully independent as an artist. While packing out shows to boot. Also I don’t think most people listening to independent country are doing so to be associated with the most “culturally relevant” thing.
“Country music can be country can be country and still sound modern…”
I don’t think there I are many here making the assertion that it can’t? Few are out here claiming Mike and the Moonpies and Jinks are not country (I would assert Parker’s recent stuff is not very country). They aren’t mutually exclusive and it seams like you made up an opposite viewpoint that no one is expressing.
September 17, 2021 @ 12:23 pm
“Maybe you made up an opposite viewpoint that no one is expressing”
Valid criticism. I think my original point is being lost though. An artist can make whatever kind of music they choose I just think it’s pointless to make music that intentionally sounds like it could have been recorded in a by-gone era. It’s like that movie “The Artist”. It was a silent film made in the 21st century. People fawned over it for a few weeks and then it disappeared because it wasn’t actually meaningful and no one actually cared as much as they claimed. I think the same is true here.
September 18, 2021 @ 8:11 am
@Brandon
I’m trying to understand the core of what you’re saying and, although I don’t agree that Charley Crockett is “irrelevant” to his fans now, I’d say he does run the risk of becoming irrelevant decades from now in retrospect.
In other words Crockett’s got the gimmicks on point right now, but does he have the substance required for decades of longevity? He’s got the the retro sound, the snappy outfits, the cool artwork, the flattering photo shoots and magazine spreads, the good marketing and buzz etc. but he’s not a great songwriter or picker and, in adhering to a hyper-retro aesthetic, he’s not contributing to the evolution or canon of the music.
Unless he evolves and starts doing something or saying something truly memorable, revolutionary, or long-lasting, he’s going to become a novelty act at best and a forgotten curiosity at worst.
Seeing him live for the first time recently I was struck by the fact that most of the audience seemed to be curious indie-rock fans and irony-obsessed hipsters playing dress up. The kind of crowd that doesn’t love country for its own sake, but treat it like a curiosity or a trend.
In speaking with folks in the crowd (the venue was about 1/3 full) people would describe Crockett to me as “cool” but I never heard anybody describe him as “good”. I don’t think that’s a great sign. “Cool” isn’t going to cut it in the long run for Crockett.
By contrast, and maybe this is an unfair comparison (but I think, still relevant), I saw Jamey Johnson at the same venue a few years back (sold out, btw) and that was a 100% country crowd. I think in that scenario people would describe Johnson as “good” but not “cool”, and the gig reflected that – you were witnessing something solid and timeless. Something transcendent. Crockett’s gig on the other hand, despite being totally fun, played like cheap vaudeville. Even if folks had a blast, I wonder how many audience members who weren’t already country fans were moved to dig deeper into the genre afterward. I suspect not many.
September 18, 2021 @ 8:19 am
Spot on man. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I think Charlie Crockett conforms to an aesthetic that is trendy but when the trend is no longer popular he won’t have songwriting to fall back on. And I don’t think his songs will age well because his music isn’t actually about music it’s about image. And people shit on Jamey Johnson but like you said he’s written songs that will last forever. “In Color”, “Thankful for the Rain”, “That Lonesome Song”, “The Last Cowboy”, “Lonely at the Top”, the list goes on. Charlie just doesn’t have that
September 20, 2021 @ 8:43 am
One of my favorite comments ever on this site for trying to understand someone who most people have dismissed and honestly admitting why this guy gets so much buzz, even though you like him. Personally, though I respect his hustle, I’m yet to be moved by one of his songs. I’ll give this one a spin because people are saying he’s getting better (and therein lies almost an admission that they WANT this to be good), but based on previous efforts I’ve made, awww shucks, my expectations aren’t the highest. And there is plenty of music out there that does move me enough not to have to will this guy into my favor because of the buzz, or because he has an allegedly cool and “authentic” bloodline, or because he “has arrived.”
September 17, 2021 @ 9:46 am
Really good review. I always felt his writing was …off. Maybe it was too simple at times. This record kinda shocked me. The depth of which he is talking about. I was kinda shocked. Good for him for relaly diving into it
Question for you trigger- you watch his documentary that was released this week on YouTube? Curious your thoughts. I kinda always thought he was trying “too hard” at his image. And he actually addresses this and what folks may have thought about him. I was surprised he did and gotta give him respect. The doc. Actually made me like him for what he is doing
September 17, 2021 @ 11:02 am
Have not seen the documentary yet. Wanted to focus on the album and not let the doc influence me. I will come back to it and perhaps feature it in the future.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:08 am
Please don’t mention McCollum in the same sentence as The Moonpies and Jinks. He isn’t even close
September 17, 2021 @ 10:10 am
Supposed to be a reply to Brandon!
September 17, 2021 @ 10:19 am
Idk man Parker McCollum is pretty damn good. I’m a champion of his. Sure he’s not as “authentic” as some other guys but he’s a net positive for mainstream country music. Anytime a Parker McCollum song is playing on the radio it means a Walker Hayes song isn’t being played. I also think “authenticity” is an ambiguous and overhyped trait. I mean Chris Stapleton can convincingly sing heartbreak songs despite being happily married. We have to be willing to suspend disbelief from time to time.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:48 am
More Good Music:
Natalie Henry – White Heat – Album (13 Tracks) – Released (09/17)
Ready for some traditional australian country music? Here we go…
White Heat is the first album but Natalie Henry is not the next aussie Taylor Swift clone, TikTok sensation or Keith Urban electro-pop influenced teenager (like many of the younger “country” acts down under). Natalie Henry is 40 years old, a mother & writing songs for a couple of years now.
Catherine Britt (yes…the Catherine Britt with a short career in Nashville) with one US Top 40 hit, a duet with Elton John below the Top 40 & no album release thanks to RCA Nashville burning another talent…well…she is a major country star down under, a mother, a songwriter, a label owner, a producer & a cancer survivor…oh & she is the “boss” of Natalie Henry now.
Natalie Henrys “classic” country voice, songs about “Weed, Wine & Woman” (a mid-pack hit on the Aussie Country Songs Top 40), the production skills of Catherine Britt & Michael Moko makes White Heat (not my AotY) but a Top 10 album of 2021.
My Highlights: “White Heat”, “Leavin'”, “When’d You Change Your Mind”, “We Don’t Stand Together”, “Reckless” & “Rockabye”.
But, but, but…we are not here for an obscure australian 40-something singing about “Weed” (whatever weed means…) produced by a former Nashville starlet…
…ok, ok…the Charley Crockett album…it’s very, very good.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:47 am
No offense to your girl (or Brothers Osborne), but there’s only one 3 W’s!
Whiskey
Weed
Warren Zevon
(God bless anyone who gets that reference)
I do like the song though.
September 17, 2021 @ 9:56 pm
Weed, Whites, Wine
September 17, 2021 @ 10:15 pm
I guess Natalie got her “freedom pass” from Australia for the right to make music and to have a normal life.
Good for her.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:57 am
It’s fine, but I find most of Charley’s songs run together and become largely indistinguishable from each other.
Carly Pearce by far had the superior album released today, even if we had already heard half of it previously.
September 17, 2021 @ 11:22 am
swing and a miss buddy. but nice try.
people still care, regardless of what you think.
next.
September 17, 2021 @ 12:07 pm
Not sure why this didn’t post as a response.
Oh well. Done with negativity.
Everyone have a great weekend and enjoy whatever music makes you happy.
September 17, 2021 @ 3:31 pm
Far from a swing and a miss.
I thought it was a terrific album
September 17, 2021 @ 1:02 pm
Sounds like good music to me. Will listen to the rest of the album to see if I like it.
September 17, 2021 @ 1:31 pm
If today was absolutely overflowing with too many damn releases I’d have listened to this Music City USA start to finish hours ago… This album is at the top of MUST LISTEN stack of albums this weekend. Can’t wait
September 17, 2021 @ 2:15 pm
A Stonewall Jackson cover. Are you kidding. Thats worth it right there and takes away the argument about weather or not this is a Country Record. It Is.
September 17, 2021 @ 4:22 pm
Thank God for Charlie Crockett!!
September 17, 2021 @ 5:00 pm
“… all assembled under the directive of a style he characterizes as “Gulf and Western,” interpreted fabulously by his incredible and versatile band, The Blue Drifters.”
Oh, he** Yes
Charley & his band are great
September 17, 2021 @ 5:07 pm
Meh.
I’ve tried to get into Crockett but just can’t.
The thing about these East Nashville acts is that they have zero concept of melody. They strum a few chords on the guitar, spit out lyrics, and blindly sing in the key they play in. You can’t feel any inspiration melodically.
September 17, 2021 @ 6:15 pm
Charley Crockett is in no way affiliated with East Nashville, and never has been.
I guess it is true. Crockett has officially arrived. It’s a tell tale sign when folks start shitting all over you for weird reasons.
September 17, 2021 @ 8:27 pm
Strange that you’re playing dumb on the “East Nashville” charge. It was obviously used in place of the word “hipster”.
Why play dumb? Why not just acknowledge the reference, and then explain why dressing in 1950s attire and presenting a contrived persona in public are perfectly normal things to do?
Whether you like Charley’s music or not, and I think he’s a talented dude, his image is a character he has decided to play, for whatever reason. It’s okay to admit that, and like his music at the same time.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:33 pm
“…these East Nashville acts” denoted geography to me. Maybe he meant it differently. Not playing dumb. I really don’t think of Charley Crockett in the East Nashville vein.
September 20, 2021 @ 10:38 am
*Disclaimer: I say this as a fan of Midland AND Charley. I really do enjoy Charley’s music*
A lot of people here give Midland shit for their marketing schtick, but the same people ignore that Charley does that exact same thing with his public image. He’s an indie darling though, and not signed to a major label like Midland, so I guess that automatically makes him more “authentic”. Honestly, the retro attire doesn’t bother me and it’s a smart move marketing wise, but I don’t think it’s fair he doesn’t catch shit for it around here. That being said, I can understand the confusion on Trigger’s part. It’s not really clear what the above commenter is trying to say, even though I understood what they were getting at. He is technically tied to the Texas scene, even though he’s got some East Nashville hipster vibes.
September 17, 2021 @ 5:20 pm
Another excellent album from Charley! I love that he blends old style Country with new his songs!
Beats the heck out of so much new music thats alleged to be Country!
September 17, 2021 @ 5:47 pm
With all due respect to Charley Crockett, Buffett’s got the original “gulf and Western” tag – his music has worn that label for decades. I think Tom McGuane was the first to apply it in the early 70’s on some liner notes, but could be wrong. Nevertheless, it’s already been taken
And regardless of what you think about the current version of Buffett, his early 70’s pre-Margaritaville songwriting and output is fucking incredible.
September 17, 2021 @ 6:00 pm
“Gypsies In The Palace” – hands down fav.
Scuba/spearfishing buds, we all refer to it as Pirates In The Castle, after a day of spearfishing, and after throwing back a couple adult beverages. Sitting around, bone tired (Nothing like scuba, and swimming for miles, to give you an incredible high – always Best Sleep Ever, especially after making love on top of all that.)
So, like i was saying, sit around knock back a few adult beverages, laughter, giggling, great friends.
Beautiful, easy nights
September 17, 2021 @ 8:33 pm
I’ve got tickets to see him Monday night at a pretty small venue. Glad I’m getting the chance because he might be playing a lot bigger stages from now on. I haven’t heard the new album yet but I’ll probably listen in the morning.
September 17, 2021 @ 10:43 pm
Way to kick out the jams in a particular style- it’s good to see him having some success. The marketing is hard for me- vid after vid/photo after photo of the guy looking into the distance/across the plains/mountains-it’s a parody of some idea at this point- like the ubiquitous hat band photos. And the bio stuff is so wrote- struggles, hardship, has some success, goes to Nashville, has a bad time, stares at a plain. This is country music, home of the greatest/most interesting voices- still waiting for any dynamic range other than tossed off/bored delivery- some growth- something that doesn’t need great reverb to hit in any way. It was cool to throw some light on James Hand, but man- Hand had exquisite players, great songs and a legendary voice- would be like me doing stand up in the style of Norm Macdonald right now. Not complaining – anything to amplify the style- but nine albums deep – just hoping for more.
September 18, 2021 @ 6:19 am
Emmons, i completely get you. Its true that Crocketts vocal range is limited and he doesnt do any impressive gymnastics with it. I see him as kind of an Ernest Tubb in vocals. Nobody ever accused Tubb of having a great voice! It was more about his plainspoken drawl and the overall sound and vibe. At the time, other folks like Marty Robbins and Ray Price could sing rings around him. But, the Texas Troubador had a “style” he perfected and it worked for him. Tubb also had a marketing and branding approach that was successful. Crockett is creating a “brand” for himself with the throwback style and look. The videos are sort of an artpiece and are definite curiosities in their own right. Again, marketing, which isnt a bad thing, its the key to going places and building a following. Of course hes unashamedly “throwback”, and as such its gonna appeal to certain demographics more than others. People love or hate throwback acts, very little middle ground. Personally, i embrace the retro sound and look. Wish i could have been around in the 50s and 60s to see all that great music in the true heyday. I like what Crocketts doing and im gonna support it. But i certainly understand its not for everybody.
September 18, 2021 @ 8:39 am
I hear ya. Just to be clear, I like it to. It’s a modern approach- just selling an older image. As a fan of musicians, The Texas Troubadours were an exceptional band in the history of country/of music- Crocket would be much easier to take if he had a hot band. I agree that 50’s and 60’s we’re an exceptional time for music, but that has very little to do with Crockets music, much more to do with his stylist.
September 18, 2021 @ 2:12 am
I really like this album. The Dallas Burrow cowrite is fun, each song hits hard, the quality of writing has definitely improved since last year’s effort. I feel like there isn’t one stretch of songs that’s clearly better than the rest (like the middle songs of Welcome to Hard Times being far better than the rest of the album). On the subject of genre I’d say this is one of his most country releases, even if there are a few R&B/blues songs and influences throughout the album. Honestly I would love him to do another fully blues album because he does that genre so well.
September 18, 2021 @ 2:59 am
Parker McCollum is moving a needle?
Where? In the mirror universe?
Well…there are some other good looking (?) guys who sing circles around Parker McCollum like Casden Gillard (“Too Good To Turn Down”), Cody Hibbard (“Half Whiskey Half Lonely”), Luke Prater (“The Right One”), Clay Hollis (“Anybody Lovin’ You Lateley”), Colton Venner (“Sundance Square”) or Hunter Thomas (“Go For A Drive”).
Oh…& i’m pretty sure i saw a photo of Luke Prater with a gold chain.
September 18, 2021 @ 3:13 am
Was planned as a reply to Brandon.
September 19, 2021 @ 10:36 am
I was introduced to Crockett though this site and bought Welcome to Hard Times which is great. Loved the spaghetti western feel to some tracks. Got this and think it also great. Some differing influences but this is without doubt a country album. Most country singers past and present explored other genres. In fact almost all of them. Crockett is unique and so different to any other artist. Great album of great music. It is on repeat play.
September 19, 2021 @ 6:54 pm
And even more impressive – Charley has done all this just a couple of years out from having open-heart surgery. He has a cow valve in his chest.
September 21, 2021 @ 5:50 am
This fella is new to me. Liking him so far. So thanks for that, Trig.
What I do not like is movie-style title and credit sequences on 3 minute promotional videos. It is laughably pretentious, and seems to have spread through the music industry like a plague. I know, First World Problems. It’s no biggie, just irks me. 🙂
September 21, 2021 @ 10:10 am
Hi Trigger (or anybody else),
I love your Reviews and found some great music on this Website over the years. Maybe you can help me with a “problem”
I’m from Germany and I’ve been looking for some great american Country/Folk Radio Stations.
Now that there are so many, can you maybe recommend any? ‘Really would appreciate it.
Thanks in advance
Volker
September 21, 2021 @ 10:56 am
Hey Volker,
Thanks for reading. I don’t have any specific recommendations for Germany, but I am working on an article running down online radio stations folks can access. Sometimes you can’t access them out of country though.
September 21, 2021 @ 12:13 pm
Cool, that sounds great. Looking out for it. Thanks
September 24, 2021 @ 6:17 am
I have been listening to this since it came out and I think it is his best record so far. I absolutely love it!
I think the sound is even a little fresh from previous albums. Charley has a very unique voice, so I think for some people they get used to that sound and feel like a lot of it is alike, but I think he did an excellent job of mixing up this record and believe it is his strongest to date. I can’t think of anyone I like more than Charley Crockett right now.