Tradition Lives

In the very title of 2016's , wears his allegiance proudly: he's not concerned about the present, he's determined to keep old-time country alive. That doesn't mean that consists of nothing but hardwood honky tonk tunes, although the album has a fair share of those to be sure: "Lonely Ain't the Only Game in Town" and "Never Been to Texas" are the kind of songs that would feel comfortable in any beer joint south of the Red River. surrounds these songs with softer tunes, ones that echo the smoother sounds of the '80s and early '90s, the time when the Texan first started to gain some traction. These cuts aren't pop so much as they are soft and elastic, demonstrating how can lean into a lyric, and they also benefit from the aesthetic that ties together the whole of . Throughout the album, keeps things simple, spare, and easy, keeping the focus on the song and the instrumental interplay -- the very things that make for great country, of which this is proudly part of that long tradition. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine