(emergent/92e) Aaron Watson follows up his last outstanding and buzzworthy release shutupanddance, with his new offering The Honky Tonk Kid, an album that definitely lives up to it's title. Produced by Ray Benson (who seems to have become an in-demand producer of late- in addition to his duties fronting Asleep At The Wheel and with the recent release of his own solo album), Aaron is also backed by a powerhouse group of musicians that include Ray Benson, Jason Roberts, David Sanger, Floyd Domino, Redd Volkhaert, Lloyd Maines, Riley Osbourn and Benny McArthur. Willie Nelson, Asleep At The Wheel and Dale Watson drop by for duet numbers. Aaron writes all of his own songs with Neal Lowry and they get some occasional co-writing contributions on a few songs from Rodney Hayden, Jason Roberts, Chris Bergsnes and Terry Allen.

On The Honky Tonk Kid, Aaron balances more traditional honky tonkers with a few songs in a more contemporary county vein. He sets the tone of the album with the opener "The Right Place," a fiddle and steel driven two-stepper that includes a shout out to county music legends and country life and good naturedly scolds anyone who doesn't like them to "go slap your Mama, 'cause your Mama raised you wrong." He delivers some first rate classic style shuffles with "What She Doesn't Know" and "For What It's Worth," while "If You're Not In Love" is a hard driving two-stepper. Asleep At The Wheel joins Aaron on the terrific Texas swing number "Honky Tonkin' Around Texas" and honky tonk king Dale Watson (no relation) teams with him as they tear their way through a smokin' classic style trucking song, "Diesel Driving Daddy." A duet with Willie seems almost a pre-requisite the past couple of years, and unfortunately most have been forgettable throw-aways. Not so on the title track "The Honky Tonk Kid," a dusty ballad about a successful honky tonk singer and how his life isn't all it seems- full of sacrifices and loneliness.

Aaron offers up a bit of more contemporary fare, but 'contemporary' isn't a dirty word here as it's rooted firmly in country and not pop. "Reckless" is a strong fiddle driven Texas roots rocker, while "Fools Paradise" is a laid back honky tonker with a quirky melody. "Will You Still Love Me In A Trailer?" delivers a 'take me as I am' message as a pretty, mid-tempo two-stepper. Aaron sadly reflects on a lost love in the mid-tempo ballad, "Mackenzie Park." He rounds things out with a pair of outstanding tender ballads, the beautiful "Let's Lose Some Sleep Tonight" and the swaying steel driven "Next To Heaven."

Aaron Watson's music would have easily fit in among the best of the neo-traditionalists heard on country radio in the 80s and early 90s. His music is unabashedly country, yet accessible and radio friendly- whether he's singing classic style honky tonk shuffles or more contemporary country fare...if only country radio still played country music. He had the chance to sign with a major label and decided against it in favor of remaining an indie. He was apparently unwilling to compromise his country sound for Nashville pop-gloss. Aaron Watson is a talented singer and songwriter and he represents the kind of artists and music we should be hearing on country radio today and very sadly aren't.

Standout Tracks: "The Right Place," "The Honky Tonk Kid," "What She Don't Know," "If You're Not In Love," "Honky Tonkin' Around Texas," "Diesel Driving Daddy," "Next To Heaven," "For What It's Worth"

On The Net:  www.aaronwatson.com 

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack April 2004