Aaron Watson
opens
Vaquero
-- his 11th set of original material, but his third since he started making waves on the Billboard charts -- with "Texas Lullaby," a salute to the Lone Star State he calls home.
Watson
is a proud Texan -- it's very rare to find a Texan who isn't -- but
navigates the territory between tradition and modernity, sounding strong and open, never making concessions to pop but never adhering to a calcified notion of country, either.
is straightforward but nimble, happy to play with familiar sounds --
is filled with songs that recall everyone from
George Jones
to
George Strait
-- but it always swings back to the present. Often, this materializes through tales of commitment -- much of the album is about being in a long-term relationship -- and that, combined with his allegiance to old-fashioned music, conveys how
is devoted to building upon the past, and that is ultimately what gives
its kick:
is an old-fashioned singer/songwriter, but he applies his traditional values to the present, and that's what makes
seem fresh. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine