(Lone Star Records) Heartaches and honky tonks just seem to naturally gotogether  and you'd be hard pressed to find someone who delivers the combination in better classic country style than Justin Trevino. His much anticipated sophomore release for Lone Star Records, Scene of the Crying, hit the shelves November 12th.

The album is anchored by Justin’s ability to pull together an extraordinary roster of musicians; in particular, Bobby Flores (fiddle) and Dick Overby (pedal steel) who accompany Justin's plaintive golden tenor in the role of instrumental duet partners throughout the project.

Heartaches come in all different shapes and sizes, and melodies. From two-steps to shuffles, Justin's new album covers the range. From the sadness of a father realizing his child no longer considers him a part of 'the family' in She Doesn't Color Daddy Anymore to the Mel Tillis' 1969 classic "Old Faithful" that reminds us that sometimes what we take for granted can walk right out the door.

Long forgotten treasures have new life breathed in them as Justin dusts off classic songs from country music's honky tonk heydays. From 1965 comes the heartbreaker Two Empty Glasses and Connie Smith’s ‘Then and Only Then’ (penned by Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson)

1962 is also well represented by tunes from some familiar names. Justin Tubb’s You'll Never Get A Better Chance weathers the four decades since it hit the charts for Ernest Tubb amazingly well, as does George Jones’ timeless Three's A Crowd, as Trevino pulls from the opening track from George’s 1962 album New Favorites into the 21^st century.

Following the tradition he started on his last album, Travelin' Singin' Man, when he invited Texas legend Johnny Bush to join him, the new album includes a couple of new with some familiar names. Rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson revives her 1966 release "What Have We Done" with a classic flair that secures the track as one of the album's highlights. We're used to Jimmy C. Newman and his trademark Cajun sound, but he breaks away from the expected on this album as he and Justin shuffle their way through a remake of Jimmy's 1954 hit "Daydreaming".

Painting shades of blue with every song, Justin blurs the line drawn between yesterday and today with songs that have stood the test of time, alongside others that sound as if they had. The album’s musicians also moonlight as songwriting contributors for the album. Ernie Reed contributes fiddle on his self-penned Sounds That A Breaking Heart Makes, steel player Dick Overby penned the title track, The Scene of the Crying and Levi Mullin, (lead guitar) contributes I Saw A Man Dying that almost rivals Lefty’s I Never Go Around Mirrors.

Long time country music fans will also undoubtedly appreciate the inclusion of the previously unrecorded “Rest Of My Years’ penned by Johnny Paycheck under the name of Donny Young.

Who's gonna fill their shoes? I can't guarantee you that Justin Trevino will, but he's giving it one heck of a shot. Easily the best kept secret in Texas, it's time that someone let the cat out of the bag on this one.  No one sings the honky tonk blues better than Justin Trevino. If you've got a hankering for some honky-tonk heartache, delivered with impeccable conversational style, pick up Scene of the Crying. 

Laurie Joulie Take Country Back November 2002