Album Review – The Doohickeys – “All Hat No Cattle”

#578.5 (Comedic Country) on the Country DDS.
Some folks forget that comedy in some ways is just as integral to the classic versions of country music as fiddle and steel guitar. It’s just that all of these elements have been forsaken by certain modern versions of commercial country. Country music duo The Doohickeys don’t need a history lesson though. They’re here to inject all of these elements back into the country music conversation in clever songs that are decidedly country, and that include a cool, modernly informed perspective.
Not quite as cornpone is Gary Mule Deer, but nowhere near as raunchy as Wheeler Walker Jr., The Doohickeys find the comedic sweet spot where a swear word or two might make it through, but innuendo is also employed so it’s a bit more intellectually stimulating. It’s smart, but makes damn sure to not take itself too seriously. The opening song to their debut album “Rein It In Cowboy” has some sarcasm and attitude to it. But overall it’s just a great country song to listen to.
From there the debut Doohickeys album called All Hat No Cattle is full of silly songs that feature serious country instrumentation. Some are full of one side-splitting line after another like “I Wish My Truck Was Bigger,” others will be super relatable to certain folks like “I Don’t Give A Damn About Football,” while a song like “Farm Lawyer” conveys a deeper message and meaning about eminent domain.
Haley Spence Brown and Jack Hackett are from Missouri and Georgia respectively, where they both inherited a love of country music. They actually met while both attending USC in California studying film, and working on a satirical news program together. That’s one of the reasons this album and their often hilarious social media content take on a decidedly cinematic and comedic aspect. It also includes ample self-awareness of who they are and where this project is from, while also being willing to call out the fake cowboys of country cosplay.

What’s real as rain is the pickers they assembled to flesh out their concept with producer Eric Corne. It’s some of the top talent in West Coast country, including Dwight Yoakam’s guitarist for the last decade, Eugene Edwards, as well as Dwight’s keys player Skip Edwards. They also enlisted fiddle player Aubrey Richmond who’s known for working with Shooter Jennings, and Adam Arcos who’s played bass for Whitey Morgan. If you’re going to make a country album, you might as well make it right. That’s what The Doohickeys did.
What they also do right is all the skits and “content” they create for social media as part of this project, which along with being funny as all get out, often includes smart commentary on the economic hardships facing many young people, and the wild realities facing the music industry today. All this stuff is very much part of The Doohickeys experience.
As great as the concept and the execution is with this album itself, it also feels a little nascent, while some of the songwriting is undercooked. When it works, it works. But sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes comedy songs lose their zeal once you’ve heard the punchline before. But even though this is a silly project, it’s good enough to be taken seriously, by both the audience, and by The Doohickeys. They’re the kind of oddball stuff country needs more of, while still showcasing quality talent, including the singing voice of Haley Spence Brown.
Maybe this will be one of those one and done albums recorded on a lark, and we’ll wonder where The Doohickeys went years from now. Or maybe they will go on to become the next great country music comedic duo, reviving an art form that has been lost in time. Either way, you appreciate the recess from overly sentimental 30-track songwriter albums and throwback country weepers that The Doohickeys supply here.
Album score = 7.9/10
Overall concept + social media presence = 8.5/10
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Purchase from Forty Below Records
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January 29, 2025 @ 9:46 am
Rein it in cowboy must have been written about the dudes i went to high school with
January 29, 2025 @ 11:35 am
Trigger really can’t resist not giving an album an 8.
January 29, 2025 @ 6:07 pm
Good for him… and for us as well!
January 29, 2025 @ 12:27 pm
Not just commercial country that has forsaken the comedy sub-genre. It can also be said of the deep, drab, foreboding areas of niches such as Americana and much of roots, though they haven’t forsaken it, they just don’t have any, or too little to notice.
Of course, comedy will, and should, be a minority but it is an important one. There is room for light-hearted songs in all areas of country. I mean, come on, we need more Marie Laveau and She Got the Goldmine!!
January 29, 2025 @ 1:15 pm
Brad Paisley had a good run of funny songs for a while, probably still does. Todd Snider, Corb Lund, and Elizabeth Cook all do a good job of adding humor to their songs, with each having at least a couple “funny ones”, and many “regular songs” with humor incorporated. Toby Keith to a degree. Speaking of Toby Keith, in the last 20 years or so there has been at least a half dozen Willie Nelson/pot songs I can think of. Speaking of Willie Nelson, Tyler Childers has an unreleased song called “Waylon on my Willie”. I don’t say this to contradict you, because I think you are right. There is no Shel Silverstein in country music today, that is for sure.
January 30, 2025 @ 2:31 pm
Also brennen Leigh and noel McKay, Melissa Carper, sometimes nick shoulders and friends, etc. probably not like Jeff foxworthy/leanin tree postcards type of comedy but plenty of great songwriters have plenty of awesome songs. Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers, both together and separately, Scott Southworth, etc. I’m not sure where you got the idea that there isn’t any comedy country and Americana but you should do a little more exploring and you’ll find lots of great stuff
January 29, 2025 @ 2:25 pm
: D look up The Doohickeys, spelling bee.
Good stuff.
Just secured tickets to Hayes Carll/Corb Lund, 22 April. Would be stupid to let this opportunity slip through fingers, since they are going to be so close.
I think Corb f’ing rocks.
Will expect Mr. Carll to keep up. : D
January 29, 2025 @ 4:14 pm
Corb Lund and Pandora opened this whole world up to me 15 years ago. I love his songwriting, he really paints a picture with songs like Hard on Equipment or Cows Around.
January 29, 2025 @ 5:31 pm
And, “Truck Got Stuck.”
January 29, 2025 @ 3:47 pm
Love the concept and the funny songs. Breath of fresh air.
Feels like a lot of the instrumentation is very similar to other songs. All Hat, No Cattle is Heads Carolina, Tails California. Mr. Fix It feels like Road Crew from Silverada nee MATMP.
January 29, 2025 @ 4:30 pm
Boy, that name really takes me back. Up until the early “80s, Monty Dupuy had a Saturday morning cartoon show on channel 4 in Greenville, SC, and his on-air sidekick called himself “Mr. Doohickey”.(The name of the show was “Monty’s Rascals”, so you can guess what the show mainly consisted of.) And the theme song was “Yakety Axe” by Chet Atkins Thanks, Trigger. I haven’t thought about that show in YEARS.
January 29, 2025 @ 4:39 pm
“All Hat,No Cattle” describes LOTS of folk,especially some here,but….
January 29, 2025 @ 5:59 pm
Hey Trigger off-topic I know and I apologize but do you remember the song that was written as a “rebuttal” to “Girl In A Country Song”? I was trying to bring it up in an online conversation tonight and could have sworn it was “God Made Girls” but no, that song came out a month before “Girl In A Country Song”. The song I’m thinking of had very similar “Pick-me” vibes to “God Made Girls” and was explicitly a rebuttal to Maddie And Tae. Thanks in advance
January 29, 2025 @ 6:10 pm
I don’t remember a song being written as a rebuttal to “Girl in a Country Song.” The song was a rebuttal itself. Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, but I’m not recalling one off the top of my head.
January 29, 2025 @ 7:58 pm
You might be thinking of “Girl In Your Truck Song” by Maggie Rose. Which Trigger reviewed! Look it up!
January 29, 2025 @ 9:39 pm
That’s gotta be it. Thank you!
January 29, 2025 @ 9:52 pm
Yeah, I was thinking maybe you meant the Maggie Rose song, though it was more just a single trying to piggy back off of Bro-Country than a response to anything. Maggie has recently become a big deal in Americana. The music is fine, though not very country. And every time I see her name I think of “Girl In Your Truck Song.” Honestly, it was the worst piece of music from the entire Bro-Country era.
January 30, 2025 @ 1:46 am
…you may be a jeff foxworthy fan, if you like this stuff. guilty as charged and enjoying it big time.
January 30, 2025 @ 7:08 am
The instrumentation and vocals are great, and it’s refreshing to hear an independent country female not trying to sound like Patsy Cline. They seem really self-aware, and if “You Look Like You Love Me” can get airplay, so can their stuff. Let’s hope for continued good things from them!
January 30, 2025 @ 7:50 am
This handsome black cowboy RARELY reins it in…. but these songs seem to be very topical,so I’ll likely check out the Doohickeys.(What became of Maddie and Tae,who sang “Girl In A Country Song?” And isn’t “Bro-Country” “Girl In A County Song’s” rather dumb rebuttal?)
January 30, 2025 @ 8:48 am
Dont forget bobby bares mermaid song. That was great.
January 30, 2025 @ 4:44 pm
Early Kacey Musgraves meets Hot Country Knights. A fun listen.
February 1, 2025 @ 7:40 pm
Bobby Bare will be 90 Apr.7.
February 3, 2025 @ 2:47 am
Hah, funny. They have a good sound.