Album Review – Steel Saddle (Self-Titled)

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#510.7 (Classic California Country) and #577 (Country Soul) on the Country DDS.

Take yourself a trip back in time in an avocado green Chevelle to the moment when Jesus freaks, acid testers, and neo folkies all discovered the virtues of American country music, and set to contributing to that legacy in intrepid and imaginative ways. This is music to take you back to the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, and the Haight-Ashbury just before heroin ravaged it, or Laurel Canyon when they got clued into Merle Haggard.

Canada’s Steel Saddle reminds you of folks like The Flying Burrito Brothers and Jerry Reed, with a little Canned Heat, Mason Proffit, and Muscle Shoals soul and horns thrown in the mix. It draws from a large palette of influences, but it all fits together so seamless when the dimension of era is evoked and marries it all together. It’s both a fresh sound that’s innovative, while still drawing from vintage nostalgia to feel immediately familiar.

The unlikely location of Montreal, Québec continues to prove itself as a haven and incubator for throwback country talent and incredible instrumentation. We already gushed over steel guitar player Ben Vallee’s debut album Introducing... from earlier in 2024. He happens to be part of the Steel Saddle outfit as well. Vallee’s rather incredible instrumental prowess is matched by lead guitarist Charlie Zucchero and a killer rhythm section that makes the music of Steel Saddle worth the attention if nothing else.

Then topping it all off is primary songwriter and lead singer Austin Boylan who brings a blue-eyed soulful delivery to this music, completing the immersive sound. Sometimes Steel Saddle is straight country boogie like in the songs “Travelin’ Light” and “Donny The Satanist.” At other times it’s more ’60 R&B with steel guitar, like the song “Can’t Be Satisfied” where Austin Boylan becomes so emotive, he figures out how to make the word “bag” include three syllables.


Though some may proclaim this music as cosplay, these Canadian throwback country freaks sure make it easy to suspend disbelief. Everything has that sweaty, soulful, loose, funky country vibe that either true chemistry lends to, or you can’t even try to pull off without falling on your face. The recording is just distressed enough to put you in that classic mood without being too frustrating to the ear.

It’s fair to wonder if at times Steel Saddle tries to get a little too cute and involved with the horns and such instead of just letting the words, music, and melody speak for itself. But you do appreciate that they went all out on this album as opposed to cutting corners and compromising. Steel Saddle wanted to hold a seance for late ’60s country rock, and they accomplished this with flying burrito colors.

It seems like everybody these days is caught up in reprising country music’s ’90s and the sound of Brent Mason and Brooks & Dunn. That’s fine and good, but the great thing about country music is its capacity to always feel timeless, while affording so many different eras and influences to explore and revitalize. Steel Saddle definitely does this for late ’60s country rock to great success.

8.1/10

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Steel Saddle is Austin Boylan (vocals, acoustic guitar), Coleman Canton (drums, percussion), Nic Power (piano, organ, vocals), Mackenzie Sawyer (bass), Charlie Zucchero (electric guitar, vocals), and Ben Vallee (steel guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals).

Purchase from Steel Saddle on Bandcamp

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